Some undeniable facts to consider regarding Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ and Son of God:

1. Jesus existed before the world was created.

     "And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was" (Jn. 17:5). "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made" (Jn. 1:1-3).

2. Jesus came to the earth.

     "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (Jn. 1:14)

* He came to give us an example of how man should live. "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you" (Jn. 13:15).

* He came to provide atonement for sin that we might live. "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him" (1 Jn. 4:9).

* He came to destroy the works of Satan. "He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil" (1 Jn. 3:8).

3. Jesus died, was buried and rose again.

     After His resurrection, Jesus interacted with man. These acts were viewed and verified by many, by rich and poor, male and female, friend and foe. "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He
was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time" (1 Cor. 15:3-8).

4. Jesus ascended into heaven where the Father is.

     "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you" (Jn. 14:1, 2). The disciples saw Him ascend; "Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight" (Acts 1:9).

5. Jesus will return to raise the dead, ushering in judgment and rewarding those who are His with paradise while rejecting those who are not with punishment.

     "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (Jn. 14:3). "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Cor. 5:10; see also 2 Thess. 1:7-10).

6. Jesus will only save those who obey Him.

     "And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" (Heb. 5:9). There is no promise of blessing made to any person who will not obey the Master. Water baptism is a command to be done in order to be saved, "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned'" (Mk. 16:15, 16; see also Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3, 4; 1 Pet. 3:21; etc.).

To learn more facts about Jesus Christ, come and visit the church of Christ!

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

1. Each person must give God His rightful place of homage in their heart and life, Eccl. 12:13; Acts 10:34-35. (Rom. 1:18-32)
2. What is the fear of the Lord?
  a. Reverence/awe/respect for God: Causes one to shrink back from doing anything that would displease or dishonor God.
  b. Dread of displeasing God -- Controlling motive of life, 2 Cor. 7:1.

I. THE FRUITS AND BENEFITS OF THE FEAR OF GOD.

  A. It is the Chief Part of Knowledge and Wisdom, Prov. 1:7; 9:10; Rom. 1:21, 28.
  B. The Beginning of Wisdom, Prov. 9:10; 15:33.
  C. It Leads People to Depart from Evil, Prov. 16:6; 8:13; 3:5-7 (Rom. 1:28).
  D. It Leads Us to Pursue Righteousness, Deut. 10:12-13; 6:13; Matt. 4:10; Rev. 14:7; Rom. 1:24.
  E. It Gives Protection and Strength, Prov. 14:26-27; Psa. 33:18-21 (Rom. 1:18).

II. THOSE WHO FEAR GOD, Eccl. 8:12.

  A.    God's Goodness is Laid Up for them, Psa. 31:19; cf. Rom. 2:4.
  B. They Shall not Want (lack), Psa. 34:9.
  C. God's Mercy is upon Them, Psa. 103:11.
  D. God takes Pleasure in Them, Ps.147:10.
  E. Are Happy People, Prov. 28:14.

III.    WHEN PEOPLE DO NOT FEAR GOD, Eccl. 8:13.

  A. Moral Restraint Disappears, Rom. 1:24, 26, 28.
  B. They Live in Rebellion against God, Psa. 36:1 (Rom. 3:18).

Conclusion Where is our fear of God? Mal. 1:6

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Successful Spiritual Growth

I. GIVE ALL DILIGENCE TO GROW, 2 Pet. 1:5, 10.

  A. Earnest Zeal, Exertion, to Endeavor, Eph. 4:1; Rom. 12:11; Rev. 3:2
  B. We must Choose to Make Our Calling Sure (firm), 1:10; Phil. 2:12.

II. SPIRITUAL GROWTH MEANS INCREASING IN SPIRITUAL QUALITIES, 2 Pet. 1:5-7.

  A. Faith is the Foundation of all other Spiritual Qualities, Heb. 11:6, 1 (2 Cor. 5:7).
  B. Add (Supply) to Your Faith:
    1. Virtue: "Moral goodness," excellence; courage (manliness) of faith, 1 Cor. 16:13.
    2. Knowledge: Understanding of the truth, Hos. 4:6 (2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:18).
    3. Self-control: Temperance, self-government (1 Cor. 9:25; Jas. 1:13-15).
    4. Perseverance: Constancy, endurance, steadfastness, Jas. 1:3-4; 5:7-8; Heb. 12:1, 3.
    5. Godliness: Piety, reverence, devotion; reverent respect for God, 1 Tim. 4:7-8.
    6. Brotherly kindness: Brotherly affection, warmth, Rom. 12:10 (1 Pet. 2:17; 3:8).
    7. Love: Active devotion, goodwill, charity, 1 Pet. 1:22; (Mt. 5:43-48) 1 Jno. 4:7-11; 3:17-18; Matt. 22:37-38.

III. THE BENEFITS OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH, 2 Pet. 1:8-11.

  A. Being a Christian will be the Enthusiasm of our Lives, 1:8.
  B. Greater Awareness of Our Spiritual Blessings, 1:9.
  C. Protection from Falling (security), 1:10.
  D. Abundant Entrance into Heaven, 1:11.

Conclusion If we supply these attributes to our lives, God will supply heaven to us (2 Pet. 1:5, 11).

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Lawmakers in Mexico City are considering a law that would offer short term marriage contracts (the shortest being two years) in an effort to strengthen marriage and prevent divorce (Mexico City Considers Two-Year Marriages, latino.foxnews.com). Hum. It sounds like they have it turned around backwards, doesn't it? To strengthen marriage people must be educated to respect the permanency of marriage. Laws designed to make it easier to end a marriage will not strengthen it. (Matt. 19:4-6)

   The proposed Mexico City law provides no incentive to improve a good marriage or to salvage a troubled marriage. "We want to generate affectionate and harmonious relationships between spouses and, in the case that they don't want to stay together, enable them to separate without cumbersome proceedings that only harm families," the PRD's Lizbeth Rojas, who proposed the reform, said. Now that's rationalization if I ever heard it (Prov. 14:12)! The Roman Catholic Church in Mexico has labeled the proposal "absurd" and contrary to the nature of marriage, calling it  an "irresponsible and immoral" move (Ibid). They are correct (Heb. 13:4).
   Marriage is far more than a legal contract stipulated by the laws of civil government. Marriage is a covenant of God that is made before Him (Prov. 2:17; Mal. 2:14). God created marriage and He regulates it for all of humanity (Gen. 2:22-24). God ordained marriage as a lifelong relationship, not a temporary legal contract. "For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband" (Rom. 7:2).

    God expects men and women to honor marriage's lifelong commitment. Failure to do so is sin (Matt. 19:6; Rom. 7:3). God expects us to help our marriages thrive; not put away our mates when we become dissatisfied (Mal. 2:14-16; Eph. 5:22-33; 1 Pet. 3:1-7). If you can't commit, then don't get married; marriage is for life!

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