No person can know it all, especially when it comes to God. Even so, there is that glorious light who was sent to this word in the perfect image of the invisible God. A light for the gentiles and the promised Messiah. The Wonderful Counselor, The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace — The Christ!
Jesus is the only name by which Man can be saved. He is the perfect sacrifice without spot, the first born Son of God and the son of David, raised up on the cross that whosoever looks upon Him might be healed. Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death (sin), we will fear no evil because He is with us. For His name’s sake, He leads us on the straight and narrow path of righteousness — the path of life and freedom from sin and death.
The broad way looks like life to many, made of nearly innumerable paths, beckoning those who God has not retained for Himself. Other religions or lack there of, the religion of science, and false Christian denominations — all of which create that broad path of total destruction.
God has always reserved a people who follow His narrow way. Since the coming of the Messiah, His chosen are led by God in the fleshly form of Jesus Christ. Jesus is our pillar of smoke by day and flaming fire by night, guiding us away from the captivity and broad path of death. He is the spiritual rock out of which flows living fountains of water.
He is the rock upon which all our hopes rest — a stone cut out of God’s holy mountain, cut out without hands. He is the firmly set stone upon which our spiritual houses too must rest, so when the waves roar and the winds blow, we will not be moved.
Jesus Christ — the rock of our faith — is also the rejected cornerstone. Despised among His own people, crucified, and His truth falling on deaf ears. Even to this day, His truth is not widely received.
Though we all see God through a glass darkly, the Light — Jesus Christ — has given us some measure of truth. A truth by which we can be saved. A promise of entering into His rest even as we live in a den of lions, a fiery furnace, as strangers in a strange and dark land.
No more will we lay house to house or field to field. We are a separate people, united as a single body under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In seeking what we are given — evident truths made known through a real, living God — we can establish ourselves on the rock of offense, unwavering, unyielding, a fortress of righteousness standing on a hill as a beacon of light among desolate houses and wasteland.
First, we need a foundation. Fundamental truths are available to us in Jesus Christ, and within Him we see a glimpse of the invisible God, understanding of the mysteries of His creation, victory over death — all the promises fulfilled — perfectly orchestrated by a majestic God to whom belongs all praise, glory, and honor forever.
The focus of Kindling Truth at this time is to carefully search out these truths and present them as clearly as the Lord allows, so that we may seek He who has taken law written on stone, fulfilled it, perfected it, and purposed to write His laws on the tables of our hearts. There is some information about the basics of salvation as well as some other lessons pertaining to Christian life found on the teachings/bible study page, but without a proper foundation these things are like random windows and walls, serving little good when not rested upon the rock of Jesus Christ.
In very basic terms, here are the ideas we will explore together:
- The sacrifice of Jesus. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, by whose stripes we are healed. Do we really know why He came here and why we need Him so badly?
- The promise of perfection. Jesus and the apostles teach us that we are called to walk righteously, soberly and Godly in this present world. We are never told to sin more so grace can abound. The Son will make us free indeed!
- God chooses who are granted eternal life. Not everyone is created to inherit eternal life. Sounds completely unfair and unjust on the surface, but with a perspective that only the Lord can give, there is wisdom and peace in this understanding.
- Hell is largely misunderstood. There is judgment and punishment for the wicked, but our fables about hell lead to a lot of confusion when it comes to other doctrinal issues.
- The mature of the kingdom of God. Remember when Jesus said, “some of you will not taste death until you see the kingdom of God coming with power?” The kingdom of God came and the kingdoms of this world were indeed overturned by the Messiah, Jesus Christ — restoring spiritual Israel by the power of His Holy Spirit, bringing the kingdom into the hearts of all believers. But, the Kingdom will come in a physical sense one day, and everyone will confess that Jesus is Lord!
- No one escapes tribulation, but there is a resurrection of life. It’s easy to believe in the rapture, but despite what many teach, it isn’t a truthful teaching which is why there is so much disagreement on the timing of this event. The resurrection is what many confuse with the rapture. Praise the Lord! Death has no sting over us!
- The nature of the Holy Spirit. What or who is the Holy Spirit? How do we receive the Spirit, and how does this event affect our lives? What does it mean to walk with the Spirit?
We all have room for growth, whether in understanding of the gospel and being firmly rooted in it so we can stand strong, or in other areas as we look to the Lord for making us more effective for Him. There is no shame in not knowing something. The danger is in presuming that we know already, or in trusting Man without forming a relationship with the Lord so He can instruct us, lead us to those who are His appointed not self appointed, and give us His Holy Spirit who will increase our fruitfulness for the Kingdom.
KindlingTruth 