Verse 1:1: BIBLE STUDY IN THE BOOK OF JONAH "Insights on the book of Jonah in the age of end times Apocalypse."
JESUS said, Build your House on the Rock, not on sand.
Opening prayer
Thank You, Father in Heaven. Here we are once more to study your Word found in the Bible. We ask You to reveal its wonders and mysteries, build our faith, and give us the wisdom to live in a fallen world. Help us to apply these teachings to our lives, enabling us to persevere, drawing us closer to You as we study, making Your presence known and felt, and equipping us for every good work we pray in JESUS' Holy name. Amen.
"And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!" Psalm 90:17 NLT
"What are "we" doing here?"
"There, he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 1 Kings 19:9 NIV
"All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all." Isaiah 53:6 NLT
Humanity is in a dark state of rebellion against their Creator. Most have departed from seeking GOD, no longer asking the question that the LORD has placed in every heart, "What are you doing here?" as people created in GOD's image, Humanity has rejected their Creator for not answering Him back, no longer the need to know the answer, people have become distracted and unconcerned, the LORD’s Question pushed back into the deepest recesses of their hearts, His Question always trying to surface but to no avail.
The choice to live in rebellion, to reject GOD's call to answer His Question, has become a standard, a normalization of a sinful lifestyle. We are studying the Book of Jonah to answer His question. "What are we doing here?"
More Reasons Why we should study the Book of Jonah?
Most importantly, we should all have a burning desire to experience an earth-shaking, life-changing encounter with the one true living GOD of the Universe, the LORD Almighty. And since the LORD is the one thing in all the Universe that never changes, always remains the same, who can always be trusted, never breaks His promises, always tells the truth, never lies, who loves us more than anything, and who always has our best interests in His plans, it becomes the only reasonable response to have and a reason like no other to study the Bible.
Therefore, we should desire to draw closer to GOD as He, in turn, draws closer to us. In a world that is suddenly becoming darker by the hour, as governmental and World institutions that once held a small degree of honesty, trusted on issues of life and death, health and well-being have now, for the majority of them, turned on the people of this World.
He said, "Go and tell this people: Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving." Isaiah 6:9 Isaiah NIV
Stupefied blindness: a condition of completely dulled awareness, diminished sensibility, dazedness, blankness, coma, state of unconsciousness, thoughts not clear, incoherent, confused, delirious.
Lies and corruption have replaced all morality. Right and wrong have turned upside down, rejecting GOD with the fatal consequence of having no way to distinguish between good and evil. Sadly, hearts have waxed cold, and for the most part, people have come under a severe condition of stupefied blindness. Not able to see the sudden demonic plans of wicked destruction that have come upon the world. We live in times of Apocalyptic events, and to deny it would be a peril of great cost.
Studying the Bible makes us wise, fills us with courage, and increases our faith and trust in GOD, reassuring us that He is in control and will protect us from Evil, knowing we have hope for a secure future where GOD Himself will eternally maintain real Peace. So, with all that said, now is the time to focus on GOD and get serious about living close to Him. Letting Him prepare us in His strength to endure these perilous times, being a witness to those around us, showing them that there is a better way, and that way is JESUS.
#1"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6 NKJV
Quote from the Introduction to the Book of Jonah: "Evil increases rapidly when no belief or accountability exists in a morally perfect GOD. The desire to seek GOD and to know Him becomes unimportant, leading to a deprived state of mind where people no longer are concerned if something is true or false, resulting in a distorted reality that leads to not having a valid concept of right and wrong.
Tragically, this condition always replaces GOD with oneself as the standard of righteousness. Consequently, the people become deceived by false wisdom, thinking they are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight but void of the proper understanding of things, and unknowingly, over time, the World around them turns upside down. Because they have normalized evil and are no longer concerned with right or wrong, a fallen wicked World will always ensue, in which the people begin to call evil good and good evil." INTRODUCTION to the Book of Jonah.
"Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight." Isaiah 5:20-21 NIV
"When people start to lose the concept of morality (Right and wrong), they, as a fatal consequence, start calling evil good and good evil, then over time, it becomes routine, all the while thinking that they are doing good when they are actually doing evil.
As we look at our present World, studying the Bible and having good judgment about things becomes more relevant today than ever. We can understand why Mankind has no discernment because it has taken GOD out of the picture and, as a tragic result, can no longer discern between good and evil.
By eliminating GOD altogether, Humanity has destroyed the only reference point for good, which is only (GOD) because JESUS said, "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked. "Only God is truly good.” (Mark 10:18 NLT) Without understanding their sinful condition, they will persist in their blindness and eventually suffer the consequences for their actions, being eternally condemned to hell in the final judgment." INTRODUCTION to the Book of Jonah.
"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the Book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of life was thrown into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:12-15 NIV
Why am I doing this Study?
"GOD called me to write on Sub-stack a year before I first started. I told Him repeatedly nobody would even read what I had to say. Finally, I couldn't say no anymore and started writing. GOD proved me wrong because the first Letter published on April 1st this year has gotten 524 Views already, as of 2/8/24. I've committed to saying yes now, 100%, no longer holding back, and saying no to GOD." Quote from Part #3 of my Christian Testimony.
The first two letters, part #1 and part #2 discussed the Dangers of the COVID-19 Vaccines as Bioweapons used in a Genocidal Campaign against the Welfare of Humanity. Evil entities incorporated the use of Cognitive Warfare tactics to Capture the minds of GOD's people into final submission, getting people worldwide to receive the lethal injections, COVID-19 Vaccines. After finishing Part #3, the conclusion, my Christian Testimony, GOD made a strong impression on my heart about doing a Bible study and reminded me of this scripture.
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear him, who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28 ESV
The LORD gave me a burden to partner with Him as a privilege in His service to be concerned now about the human soul. Where will people spend eternity? Will they spend it in Heaven or Hell? And how will we endure the trials coming in our near future? Will we be equipped to persevere? I am now on assignment. I don't know what comes after this Bible Study. All I know is to do this first, and in the end, I will be given the next task. This Bible study will equip us to persevere, encourage, and fortify our faith and trust in the LORD. But let me state something now that needs to be understood clearly. Sometimes, I might say things you don't like.
"Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths." 2 Timothy 4:2-4
The Bible doesn't always teach us what we want to hear. It teaches us what we need to hear right now in this moment. And sometimes, that might not fit our lifestyles, but when we walk with JESUS, it's not about our way. It's about His way, and that way is better.
#2"Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the father except through me." John 14:6
If we want to walk the way of JESUS, it's not about tickling our itching ears, chasing after myths, rejecting the truth, and having everything we desire. It's His plan for our lives, not ours, because His plan is better, so let's follow Him. Turning back shouldn't be an option for us as we walk with the LORD now.
The question He has for all of us is this. Are we willing to surrender to Him 100%? Is it our way or His? Is there lots of time to decide? Should we just wholly trust in ourselves to survive? Or the opposite, to live our lives thriving and trusting in the LORD's faithfulness? There is a vast difference between those choices. “We must commit and move in the right direction.”
Do we still have one foot on one side of the fence and one foot on the other side? Are we straddling between the two sides? If you don't know the answer and you are sincere. I believe everyone will have their answer when this bible study is over. For me, I already have mine. I'm in. I'm His, 100%
" Wisdom is knowing what to do with what you know." Pastor Chuck
The movie, The Jesus Revolution, 2023 Lionsgate
The Book of Jonah Bible Study
"But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the LORD alone." Jonah 2:9 NLT
We are about to embark together on one of the most extraordinary adventures, as told only in the Bible. Indeed, we will all be forever changed for the better as we study this book together. We will become more robust and better able to withstand the many dark storms of world conflict. Storms that lie just ahead of us, and one's in our mists now. My dear friends, these are times of apocalyptic events happening in our World, and we are here at this time for a particular reason. It's not by accident. GOD has put us here in this part of human history by divine decree, and our destinies are unfolding right before our eyes.
The LORD will speak to us about all this, talking to our hearts and making Himself known." A quote from The INVITATION
"One night, the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, "Don't be afraid! Speak out! Don't be silent!" Acts 18:9
"(The LORD) spoke his word to Jonah, son of Amittai. He said," Jonah 1:1 GWT.
“The word of (the LORD) came to Jonah, son of Amittai" Jonah 1:1 NIV.
“(The LORD) gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai" Jonah 1:1 NLT.
It's significant to notice, and one of the most revealing things verse 1:1 makes known is that it starts with the LORD as the central figure in this story. The same as in Genesis 1:1, the Bible's first book "in the beginning "GOD" created the heavens and the earth." It is also the same as in the Gospel of John 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with GOD, and the Word was GOD."
Although the title of this book is Jonah, this narrative is truly about the LORD revealing himself to all of mankind. So, with that said, who is the LORD? Is He just a whimsical imagination of our minds? Is the LORD like a mythical figure in a fairy tale, or is the LORD similar to a god in ancient Egypt, or maybe one of those Babylonian gods worshiped and adored by the people of Jonas' era?
Let's first look at some of the many false gods in the Bible and then “make an attempt to” compare them to the one true GOD Almighty.
What is a man-made god?
Man-made gods are believed to help people in times of need and hardship, such as war or famine. They are created to fulfill a purpose and are paid tribute to by devoted worship. List of Mesopotamian deities - Wikipedia
For example, the Egyptian sacred bull-deity APIS is a god worshipped for his image of rulership, powerful physical strength, and fertility. Another god, the Canaanite sun god Baal, was honored for his ability to make the earth produce good crops and help the people to have strong offspring.
Unfortunately, this god demanded the sacrifice of the firstborn child as a sign of complete dedication and reverence, as did the Canaanite and Ammonite god Moloch, and there was also Marduk, the patron god of the Babylonians, followed by the goddess Asherah of the land of Canaan and finally the Moabite god Chemosh.
And there's Dagon, the half-man, half-fish god, and Ashur, the supreme god of war, wisdom, and agriculture, and both worshiped by the Ninevites, the people from that great city of Nineveh.
Still, looking at a later set of gods recorded in the Greek writings of mythology, adopted by the Romans, the first being Zeus, a mighty King of Mount Olympus, who fathered other gods, including his son Apollo, just two in a long list of a vast multitude of deities. There were so many gods to choose from it's hard to know where to start and finish, but now let's ask this question. Is our reason for believing in a god just a deficiency not to rely upon our own independent abilities for success, like a never-ending longing for help from an outside source to come and rescue us in time of need?
Or is our belief in GOD because that is the only reasonable conclusion that makes sense after one looks at the complexity of the Universe and everything within and then inevitably concludes it must be by design and not to have happened by random chance alone?
Another valid reason might be that GOD created us longing to discover our Creator, and when it happens, we'll know it for sure, like a missing piece in a puzzle with many parts. We desperately look everywhere to find the missing one, and when it is discovered and placed in its correct setting, we celebrate because it fits in perfectly. The whole puzzle is finally complete without question. Now, there is no longer a need to search because everything is present.
"For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So, they have no excuse for not knowing God." Romans 1:20 NLT
Why is God described as God Most High?
Who were the man-gods in the Bible?
The Egyptian Pharaohs were not only kings who ruled over the people with absolute power and authority but were also considered gods, representing a link between other gods they worshipped and a living god ruling over the people in person. The Prophet Moses and the Pharaoh of his time had an encounter that revealed his attitude as a man-god.
"After this presentation to Israel's leaders, Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh. They told him, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor in the wilderness."
"Is that so?" retorted Pharaoh. "And who is the LORD? Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don't know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go." Exodus 5:1-2 NLT
The Pharaoh responded with arrogance and pride because this LORD of Moses was not one of his known gods of worship. He was the living god ruling over his people and wouldn't obey an unknown God, not for any consequence.
Shortly after, the LORD would inflict Egypt with ten plagues because of the Pharaoh's unwillingness to acknowledge that the LORD was the only true GOD. The Pharaoh wouldn't listen until the final plague, the taking of the life of the firstborn son of the Pharaoh, all because of his hardened heart and god-man delusion.
Using the Pharaoh as an example, we see what happens when someone thinks they are a god. They become self-centered, blinded to reality, believing they are superior to everyone else, privileged and divine, no longer the need to listen to the voice of reason, and, as a result, reside in a sad state of delusion.
"Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18 NIV
I'm sure everybody reading this Bible study knows people (Leaders, Institutions, Governments, False religions, and the like) who act like they are gods, self-centered, blind, and disillusioned, in a dark, altered state of reality, unaware of their wickedness and the devastation they are causing others, thinking they are doing good but only constantly doing evil. These are the ones deceived by the Devil to do his will, all on their way to destruction at the same time, attempting to take everyone else with them.
"For the leaders of the people have misled them. They have led them down the path of destruction." Isaiah 9:16 NLT
The Roman state (Imperial Cult) considered the emperors and some family members to be descendants of the gods, being themselves divine and worthy of worship.
Julius Caesar considered himself divine and was worshipped as a man-god, and upon his death, the Senate officially declared him a god. His adopted son, Augustus Caesar, the first Roman emperor, claimed he was a "son of a god," also allowing himself to be worshiped by the people as a living deity. After his death, he was also officially declared a god by the Roman Senate.
Nero Claudius, the fifth emperor of Rome, was known for his persecution and cruelty against Christians. Nero considered himself equal to the god Apollo and was worshiped by his faithful subjects. Still, after his death, the Roman Senate didn't officially recognize him as one having god status and hence wasn't deified.
"Then this message came to me from the LORD: "Son of man, give the prince of Tyre this message from the Sovereign LORD:
"In your great pride, you claim, 'I am a god!
I sit on a divine throne in the heart of the sea.
But you are only a man and not a god,
though you boast that you are a god." Ezekiel 28:1-2 NLT
It is a rebellious attitude against the LORD to think we are anything more than human. The view that man can become a god or is one always leads to self-exaltation, which takes glory due only to GOD and applies it to oneself. Pride is a delusion of superiority over others, which devalues humanity instead of humbly seeing each person as unique and precious, created in GOD's image. In contrast to pride, humility is an attitude of submission to GOD's plans, acknowledging His authority over everything, while pride does not recognize anything but its selfish desires.
"All who fear the LORD will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech." Proverbs 8:13 NLT
The Antichrist, the self-proclaimed God-Man.
"He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God." 2 Thessalonians 2:4 NLT.
What The Antichrist Will Do in 2024, Lion of Judah Ministries.
This person (the Antichrist), called the man of lawlessness, will either be human or a demonic transhuman hybrid in disguise and will be empowered by Satan and be a deceiver and a liar, just like his father the Devil. He will exalt himself, proclaim that he is God, enthrone himself in the temple, and demand that people worldwide worship him. His boastful attitude will make lying promises of peace and unite all nations under his leadership. His greatest accomplishment will be to convince most of the world's people that he is God, as they willfully receive his mark (666) in allegiance and worship to him alone.
It's interesting to note that since Satan himself empowers the Antichrist, the Antichrist isn't going to claim to be a god, but instead, the only real God there is, and that is GOD Almighty, the Creator of the Universe. Satan knows that there is no other god, and to claim anything less wouldn't be convincing enough to fool the whole World.
Satan, a false god of this fallen World.
"Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God." 2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT.
Further explanation of the god of this World
Satan defines what a false god is. He fools people into worshiping him, which causes them to reject the LORD, the one true GOD, as he continues making false promises of health, wealth, and prosperity, only deceiving them further into thinking he can do what they ask while only promising lies. Satan is a false god because, like all the others, his power isn't innately his own.
The only forces the Devil has are the powers GOD gives him for the LORD's purposes. Satan's authority isn't his own either but is always entirely governed by the LORD due to His Absolute Sovereignty over all things.
When JESUS was led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan, he tempted JESUS three times (Matthew 4:1-11). The last time, he said if You kneel down and worship me, I will give You all the Kingdoms of the World. Yes, Satan is a false god of this World, and his Kingdom is one of evil, which opposes GOD just like all the other false gods that can’t truly create anything. Therefore, only imitating GOD Almighty, the Creator of all things.
"Therefore, my dear friends, get as far away from the worship of false gods as you can." 1 Corinthians 10:14 GWT
Now, who is the LORD?
"(The LORD) spoke his word to Jonah, son of Amittai. He said," Jonah 1:1 GWT.
“The word of (the LORD) came to Jonah, son of Amittai" Jonah 1:1 NIV.
“(The LORD) gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai" Jonah 1:1 NLT.
Attributes: a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something. A quality belonging to or a part of the total.
“To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?" Isaiah 46:5 NLT
How does the GOD of the Bible compare to all other gods everywhere? How does GOD reveal Himself to us? Does it really matter that we know all the details about who GOD is? Can we grow close to the LORD if we don't know who He is? Learning everything about Him is part of drawing near. Knowing GOD helps us understand the LORD's actions, motives, plans, and how He views Humanity.
Knowing GOD deeply intimate gives us the courage to travel His path of eternal life victoriously, reassured that He is with us every step of each moment as we trust in Him and His faithfulness. A relationship of this kind makes a difference in how we conduct our lives because we now look to the LORD for His guidance in all life decisions. Knowing GOD intimately profoundly affects our worldview, a more transparent view of our present reality, and a sure vision of the future with a significant destiny. Therefore, seeing it from a Christian perspective is essential to living a triumphant life as we follow JESUS, the Good Shepherd of our souls.
Let's now look at some of GOD's attributes and characteristics as spoken about Him in the Bible.
Incommunicable attributes: Things about Himself that we can't as yet comprehend, or those things not yet revealed.
Communicable attributes: Those things that are openly displayed for us to know and can be understood in a limited way.
GOD is one
Monotheistic: the belief in only one God, a single God, the existence of only one God. All other gods are false gods.
“Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone." Deuteronomy 6:4 NLT
GOD makes it very clear throughout the Bible that He wants everyone to know that there is no god but Him. He's the only one, the Creator of all things, and all other gods are false. They are all imposters and imitators of Him and nothing more.
GOD is Sovereign
"He existed before anything else, and he holds (ALL) creation together." 1 Colossians 1:17 NIV
Sovereignty: Complete, absolute control over everything, ruler of the Universe and all Creation
The LORD sustains (ALL) things. Holds (ALL) creation together. Having made (ALL) things. He causes everything to work together for those called according to His purposes. He knows (ALL) things. He numbers the stars and calls them (ALL) by name. He searches everyone's hearts and knows (ALL) our thoughts.
Yes, GOD is Sovereign, meaning He has absolute control over everything and is the ruler of the Universe and all Creation. GOD is likewise maintaining or sustaining all things that He has created. Nothing would function or be able to exist apart from Him.
INTRODUCTION to the Book of Jonah. More information about God's sovereignty, explained in more detail.
GOD is Love
"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them." 1 John 4:16 NIV
Demonstrate: clearly show the existence or truth of (something) by giving proof or evidence:
Display: put (something) in an open place so that everyone may readily see it.
Prove: demonstrate the truth or existence of something by evidence.
Claim: an assertion that something is true, declaration, assertion.
Remember, Christianity is an evidence-based faith, meaning its claims are verifiable, unlike other faith systems that can't prove their claims for lack of evidence.
Evidence for the Historicity of the Bible. A few interesting points of interest.
"There is much objective evidence that supports Christian beliefs, many facts apart from personal views or opinions. Archaeological artifacts, historical sites, and documents of history are used to validate persons, places, and things as told in the Bible. Hundreds of detailed fulfilled prophecies sometimes foretold thousands of years before their occurrence, the fine-tuning of the Universe (cosmology), and the complexity of all living organisms that display self-evident design.
The eyewitness testimonials by more than one witness of the same historical events thus reinforce the validity of the incident. The evidence for the resurrection and the empty tomb of Jesus and the testimonies of millions worldwide over the last 2000 years impacted and miraculously transformed lives, all claiming that Jesus is alive and the one who changed them forever."
Quote from Part #3: "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." Exposing what's behind this Evil curtain of deception, My Christian Testimony, Apocalyptic future events."
Evidence For the Resurrection of Jesus! A few interesting points of interest.
"But God (proves) His Love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 BSB
"God (showed) how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him." 1 John 4:9 NLT
The attribute "GOD is Love" visibly distinguishes Him from all other believed gods, not only because He is Love, a part of His character, but also because He demonstrates or proves to us that His statements are true, for example. The Bible says God is Love, but how does GOD prove it to everyone?
One of the ways GOD proves His Love is by His actions, those things that manifest His Love into our World so we can see, touch, and feel His Love using the physical senses that He has created us with.
How do we know His Love is real?
How has God displayed his Love to us in this World where we live?
Can we reach out and touch God's Love?
Let's look at one instance of how GOD openly displayed His love, where a person reached out and touched it and discovered without doubt that it was real. (Tangible) something that exists is actual, as fact, is true.
There was Thomas, who was one of the 12 disciples of JESUS. After the resurrection, JESUS appeared to some of His disciples one Sunday evening as living proof that He had risen. Thomas wasn't there with them when they saw JESUS. They told Thomas after, "We have seen the LORD!" but he didn't believe them and needed physical proof.
He said, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in His hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in His side." Let's look at the record of this event as spoken by the apostle John, written in the Bible.
John: 20:19-29 NLT: "That Sunday evening, the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! "Peace be with you," he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!
Again, he said, "Peace be with you. As the father has sent me, so I am sending you." Then he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he replied, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side."
Eight days later, the disciples were together again, and this time, Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. "Peace be with you," he said. Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!"
"My Lord and my God!" Thomas exclaimed.
Then Jesus told him, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me." John: 20:19-29 NLT
JESUS had proved to Thomas that He was indeed alive. Death couldn't hold Him, but He had risen. When Thomas reached out and touched JESUS, he felt and saw GOD's evidence of the resurrection and proof of His Great Love. In reality, Thomas touched GOD's Love. He touched JESUS.
"And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his Love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners." Romans 5:5-6 NLT
For all of us here who have received GOD's gift of eternal life, being born again, and being given the Holy Spirit, our hearts have been filled with GOD's Love. Now we know how dearly GOD Loves because we have the evidence of GOD's Love within us. For this reason and more, we ought to live a Holy life because we are now “the living proof of His Love” on display to a lost and hopeless world.
"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the World that you are my disciples." John 13:34-35 NLT
GOD openly displayed His Love to the World through the Crucifixion of JESUS Christ
The Passion of Christ (2004) crucifixion scene "Watch this short video for a graphic visual of what took place."
"For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 NLT
Agape: the highest form of love, sacrificial, a love that transcends all others, selfless with unlimited boundaries, costly, faithful.
Sin: transgression of the Law, an act against GOD, the act of disobedience, rebellion, or perversity.
Substitute: in place of another, stand-in, exchange, take the place of.
Crucifixion: a method of capital punishment, a form of brutal torture of execution, an act of humiliation and horrific torment.
Sacrifice: giving up everything for the sake of something else, surrender, a loss for a gain, sacrificial, costly, love offering, gift, “laying down one's life for another, authentic Love, genuine.”
A Few Humble Thoughts about the Crucifixion and GOD's Love
"The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18 NLT.
Something needs to be understood clearly at this juncture. The Crucifixion of JESUS is much more complex than just a few words could ever make an effort to explain adequately.
As stated here, all of GOD's attributes were equally displayed at the Crucifixion simultaneously, unlike any other event in the Bible. This overview of how GOD demonstrated his Love through the Crucifixion only attempts to look at just one attribute related to this event. I could write much more, and honestly, this humble attempt of mine is not a definitive effort to explain this, which would, in reality, require endless volumes of written words to uncover all the details and even still not fully arrive at a place to understand everything completely. Ultimately, this means there is an element here of the incomprehensible.
The Crucifixion, authentic Love defined, everything Points to JESUS
The Crucifixion is GOD's ultimate expression of His Love on display, unlike any other event in human history. It was one of the most meaningful moments in the Bible, where GOD demonstrated the magnitude of His “authentic Love” like never before, defining the meaning of Love for us. The LORD intentionally set the Crucifixion apart from everything else that happened, being so critical for everyone to notice that all the Old Testament writings point forward to the Crucifixion and all the New Testament writings point back to it because it was the one singular event where GOD expressed His Love in a way so overwhelming that it would be forever impossible for anyone ever to forget it.
Pointing Forward to the Crucifixion
In the Bible, before the Crucifixion, GOD exhibited His Love many times in various ways, for example, when the LORD parted the Red Sea, delivering His people from over 400 years of Egyptian captivity to slavery. That incredible act of rescuing his people from bondage and setting them free was a profound exhibition of His Great Love, a Love so significant that He would part the waters of a sea to save His people, which also points forward to the Crucifixion, where GOD would display His saving Love once more, this time as an act to rescue all Humanity, not just for the moment but for all eternity.
"With your unfailing Love you lead the people you have redeemed. In your might, you guide them to your sacred home." Exodus 15:13 NLT
David, the King of Israel, pointed forward in time as he prophesied about the coming Messiah (Yeshua), looking ahead to the Crucifixion.
"My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs,
an evil gang closes in on me.
They have pierced my hands and feet.
I can count all my bones.
My enemies stare at me and gloat.
They divide my garments among themselves
and throw dice for my clothing." Psalm 22:16-18 NLT
"When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. So they said, "Rather than tearing it apart, let's throw dice for it." This fulfilled the Scripture that says, "They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing." So that is what they did." John 19:23-24 NLT
Pointing Back
In the New Testament, the Apostles of JESUS point back to the Crucifixion as they wrote about what happened in their letters. For example, as the Apostle Paul said.
"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Galatians 6:14 NIV
And also, the Apostle Peter said.
"He personally carried our sins
in his body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
and live for what is right.
By his wounds
you are healed.
Once you were like sheep
who wandered away.
But now you have turned to your Shepherd,
the Guardian of your souls." 1 Peter 2:24-25 NLT
And again, the Apostle John said.
"This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." 1 John 4:10 NLT
The Crucifixion GOD's Love on Display
Around 2000 years ago, GOD's Love was purposefully displayed to an undeserving, rebellious World. On a dark day that shook the Earth at a place they named Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), JESUS of Nazareth was nailed to a wooden cross, wearing a torturous crown of thorns, having been (flogged) whipped close to death, suffering from unthinkable pain, humiliated and mocked by Roman executioners, religious leaders, and many people nearby, all crying out words of scorn and rejection as JESUS hung there in agonizing torment.
It was the most brutal and horrifying Crucifixion there ever was for a crime of innocence. He had done nothing wrong, determined guilty for only speaking the truth.
Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the World to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” John 18:37 NLT
In those daunting moments, all the sins of Humanity came crashing down upon JESUS as He took all of them on Himself. He bore our punishment in His body as a substitute for our sins, thus forever making atonement for us. The punishment we deserved was placed on Him, satisfying GOD's righteous judgment against sin, destroying once and forever the wall of separation between GOD and man, "casting all our sins into the depths of the sea" and restoring that close union with Humanity that GOD once had with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden before humankind had fallen, a reclaimed fellowship between the Creator and His people, as the Bible says, even when we were still in our sins, GOD loved us.
"But God (demonstrates) his own Love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 NIV
He Loves Us
To conclude, somebody might ask why JESUS would need to die such a brutal, torturous death to atone for the sins of Humanity, thus demonstrating to everyone that GOD genuinely loves the world.
The Crucifixion of JESUS shows us in a shockingly graphic way just how abhorrent (heinous) our sins are in contrast to GOD, who is Holy. GOD hates sin because it is the one thing that has separated us from Himself. Our sins grieve the LORD, and those transgressions have caused us to turn away from Him, rejecting the only real Love that seeks to save our souls.
Love Unfathomable, Overwhelming
The Crucifixion is honestly the most unfathomable event in the Bible. Because to thoroughly comprehend how GOD displayed His Love through the most unbearable pain and suffering of JESUS is something hard to apprehend. Attempting to understand this kind of Love is overwhelming because it seems unreasonable.
Why would someone willingly suffer such horrendous pain, slander, humiliation, ridicule, and hatred from undeserving rebellious people who hated you, who were crucifying you unjustly and falsely accusing you of crimes you didn't even commit? Does this type of Love make sense? Is it a Love that is easy to understand?
It's because this kind of Love is not human. It comes from a place and a Person, not of this world. GOD's Love transcends our understanding of what we believe Love is. When we look to the dictionary for a definition, it defines Love as an intense feeling of deep affection. It becomes strongly apparent that Humanity can't truly express this form of unconditional, sacrificial Love apart from GOD. It's impossible because GOD's Love (Agape) is much more than Humanity's inadequate definition.
A Love Like None Other
The Crucifixion of JESUS defines for everyone what Love is and shows us the contrast between our love and His, which is far superior. First and foremost, it forces us to feel the way GOD feels about our sins. The Crucifixion takes us deep inside GOD’s heart, where all His attributes come together simultaneously.
His Grace, mercy, compassion, judgment, Holiness, righteousness, goodness, faithfulness, and more all come together in perfect union to define a love so magnificent it is hard to find words to express its meaning. A love of enormous sacrifice that would give up everything to save a life, even if it meant giving up your own life to save another. Only through the revelation of His Spirit inside us do we begin to comprehend its Greatness. This Love is everlasting and knows no boundaries. It never stops giving and never stops loving.
This sort of Love comes down from Heaven above. A Love not found in this world apart from GOD. So Great is His Love for us that He would come in person to earth from Heaven in humility, being born as a mere man, suffering a horrific death in our place, taking on Himself the penalty of our sins, all this to show how much He truly Loves us, by rescuing us from death, and giving us a new life, thus proving for all eternity without any doubts that He truly loves everyone more than anything.
His Love is Astounding
In closing, the Crucifixion of JESUS is the most astounding display of GOD's Love in the Bible, defining what true sacrificial Love is. It forces us to feel the way GOD does, to experience His deep, heartfelt Love, overwhelming us with His sincerity. This act of GOD is the ultimate expression of His Love in making a way for Humanity to have a rightful relationship with their Creator, no longer separated by the devastation of sin.
The Crucifixion of JESUS “should humbly draw us all to our knees in sincere repentance,” uniting us to GOD forever and revealing that life without His Love would be utterly meaningless.
Repentance: sincere regret or remorse, the act of changing one's mind, turning away from sin, a turnaround, surrender, walking with GOD.
Reconciliation: restoration of fellowship between GOD and Humanity, restoration of a rightful relationship with GOD, making peace, friends with our Creator, no longer separated from GOD but reunited forever.
Jehovah Rapha: GOD Who Heals, restores, unites, wholeness.
Nothing can separate us from GOD's love.
Romans 8:31-39 ESV 31. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32. He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33. Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36. As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long,
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39. nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:31-39 ESV
GOD'S Love is everlasting, constant, unchanging, forever enduring, incomparable, perfectly complete, absolute, all-powerful, and finally, nothing can separate us from GOD's Great Love.
"Long ago, the LORD said to Israel: "I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing Love, I have drawn you to myself." Jeremiah 31:3 NLT
Yes, GOD is Love, absolutely. It can't be denied because no god believed or worshipped by man anywhere on earth comes close to GOD's Love. There's no comparison.
"O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. For His lovingkindness is everlasting." 1 Chronicles 16:34 NASB
GOD is Eternal
"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." Psalm 90:2 KJB
Eternal: lasting or existing forever; without end, ceaseless, perpetual, continuous, infinite duration.
Finite: limited, with a beginning, subject to space and time, not infinite.
Self-existent: existing independently of anything else. Without external cause
"God is eternal." This phrase is, without a doubt, the most profound concept in the Bible. The meaning of Eternity for us as finite humans is an almost incomprehensible concept. In the Bible, GOD reveals to us there was never a time in all Eternity when He didn't exist. GOD had no beginning, and He will have no end. The LORD is our maker, Himself unmade, GOD is eternally pre-existent. Because GOD is eternal, He is self-existent, meaning He does not depend on anything to sustain His existence. Unlike us, who rely on the elements of the earth, such as oxygen, to maintain our physical existence.
"He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put (Eternity) in their hearts, but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11 CSB
How does GOD prove that He is eternal to us? GOD created us with the ability to know that He is eternal by placing Eternity in our hearts, the yearning inside us to ask, is there something more out there than this World? Is there life similar or different somewhere else? Are we the only ones in the whole universe?
GOD answers our questions about life to the most profound degree once we are filled with His Spirit when we become born again and given a mind and heart no longer of this World.
"But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets. No one can know a person's thoughts except that person's own Spirit, and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit. And we have received God's Spirit (not the World's Spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us." 1 Corinthians 2:10-12 NLT
God has created every one of us with a void in our hearts. An emptiness that can never be satisfied until His Spirit is placed within. He has also set Eternity in our hearts. Humanity constantly searches for something to fill that space. Because of this lack of wholeness, people continually seek ways to satisfy the feeling that says something is missing.
So, as a consequence, the main reason we have so many man-made gods in our world is to solve this dilemma. Until a person has GOD's Spirit living and dwelling within them, they will always try to satisfy that longing to know GOD because this is how He created us. The emptiness GOD places in everyone's hearts can never be quenched until He fills it with His Spirit and our Salvation becomes a reality.
And when this miracle happens at that moment, everything previously not understood makes perfect sense for the first time because only His Spirit can impart this knowledge, this life-changing revelation about who the one true GOD of the Bible is, the Eternal GOD Almighty, the GOD of Jonah, He is the everlasting GOD.
GOD is all-powerful, Almighty, Omnipotent
Omnipotent: having unlimited Power, able to do anything, Power without boundaries or limits.
El Shaddai: the all-powerful One, Almighty GOD.
Omni: all, in all ways or places
The Power of God, more great information about this attribute
"For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense." Romans 1:20 AB
GOD's creative works and His revelation of Himself have been on display throughout the history of Humanity since the beginning. When an individual says there is no Creator and then believes the opposite, that the finely tuned universe and everything it contains just happened by random chance, it’s not out of ignorance if one refuses to accept the obvious that GOD exists. It's undoubtedly due to a condition of a rebellious heart in opposition to GOD's authority that would blindly reject the thought of a Creator as the evident plausible cause for the existence of all things.
This refusal or rejection to acknowledge the LORD as the Creator, as the Bible says, won't work as a justification for innocence at the last judgment. At that time, no one could use the excuse that GOD didn't show them He existed. So, again, pleading mercy due to ignorance will not suffice, now or at the final judgment.
For all those who have not received GOD's salvation, to believe in JESUS, to become born again, forgiven of all your sins, receiving new hope of a better future, now is the time to reach out to GOD. Say the prayer sincerely at the end and see how GOD will change you. Be a witness firsthand of His Power to transform your life.
Yes, so honestly, no one can deny that GOD is Almighty. GOD demonstrated His great Power through his unlimited creative acts. GOD's creation of the universe is an undeniable display of His Awesome Power and a constant reminder to all that He is GOD above everything called god. Because of this exhibit of Almighty Power, he declares to mankind that He alone is the one true GOD.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1 KJB
He again showed His great Power when He parted the Red Sea as the LORD used Moses to lead His people out of Egyptian captivity.
"But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides. That is how the LORD rescued Israel from the hand of the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites saw the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the seashore. When the people of Israel saw the mighty Power that the LORD had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the LORD and in his servant Moses." Exodus 14:29-31 NLT
This show of GOD's Power has always been on display throughout all of human history. It illustrates to humanity that there is no comparison between the gods made by man and Himself. Only He is truly the Creator of all things. He is constantly demonstrating that he is able and more than capable of doing everything He promises.
He is a GOD of validation, meaning everything He says is proven by his actions. Unlike all the false gods of humanity, they can't verify anything because, in reality, they don't exist. Only in the imaginations of the mind do they live, but the LORD is (Omnipotent) All-Powerful, alive and active.
GOD displays His power in us.
Beyond a doubt, one of the most remarkable displays of GOD's Power is in the ongoing transformation of human lives. This Almighty act of His Force is happening right before our eyes in real-time, every single moment of every day, worldwide. People's lives are being changed forever. This move of His Spirit is undoubtedly one of the most significant witnesses of GOD's Power, and everyone who experiences this miracle will testify that this phenomenon is undeniably happening.
Phenomenon: a fact observed to exist or happen, an extraordinary occurrence, seen and experienced.
"I'm going to give you a new heart, and I'm going to give you a new spirit within all of your deepest parts. I'll remove that rock-hard heart of yours and replace it with one that's sensitive to me." Ezekiel 36:26 ISV
"The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very Power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18 NLT.
GOD knows all things, Omniscience.
Omniscience: knowing all things, unlimited knowledge, absolute, infinite.
"Before a word is on my tongue You, LORD, know it completely." Psalm 139:4 NIV
All someone needs to do is go outside on a clear night, look up at the stars in the heavens above, and acknowledge that GOD has numbered and given names to all the millions and billions of stars displayed for all to see as a testimony of His unlimited knowledge.
"He counts the stars and calls them all by name." Psalm 147:4 NLT
Having absolute knowledge means that GOD is not learning anything new. There is nothing in the future that He will discover or anything in the past that will be forgotten. GOD knows all future events in exact detail. Even when we make things seemingly more complicated by adding our human choices to this equation, He can still determine the precise outcome of every event because all the choices every person will ever make have been already factored into His perfectly preordained plan for Humanity, so the conclusion of things will ultimately be by His wise design not as an undetermined result of random chance.
"From the beginning, I revealed the end. From long ago, I told you things that had not yet happened, saying, "My plan will stand, and I'll do everything I intended to do." Isaiah 46:10 GWT
God is everywhere, present, Omnipresent.
What does it mean that God is omnipresent? Got Questions.
"I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to Heaven, you are there,
if I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there, your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me." Psalm 139:7-10 NLT
When we think about GOD's attributes, it's almost incomprehensible to fathom how complex GOD is. With our limited ability to understand things eternal, we can only comprehend Him on a minimal level. Still, with any degree of comprehension, the only conclusion there is and must be admitted by all is that GOD is truly Awesome.
Since GOD is present everywhere at every moment, we can always be reassured that when we pray, He hears everything that we say, and when He says He is with us, we can know with certainty the LORD is by our side.
"So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid, and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you." Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT
GOD is Triune, three in one.
Triune: three in one, consisting of three equal parts (Trinity), a group of three in unity, united, three individuals or persons, coequal, comparable, corresponding to one another, equivalent.
Progressive revelation: Things are revealed in stages, not given to humanity all at once.
IN WHAT WAYS IS THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY IMPORTANT FOR CHRISTIAN BELIEF?
The Biblical Basis of the Doctrine of the Trinity
HOW CAN WE CATEGORIZE FALSE VIEWS ABOUT THE TRINITY?
This supreme attribute of GOD separates him uniquely from all other false gods worshiped by Humanity. Simply stated, GOD is Triune, meaning there is only one GOD but having three distinct persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all being coequal in all the attributes that GOD has revealed to us about who He is.
This attribute of GOD is vital for us to believe because if we don't accept it as the truth, it changes who we think GOD is. And if we have the wrong GOD in the end, that god will not be able to save our souls for all of Eternity. We will not escape GOD's judgment of our sins because our sins will be taken with us at death, never to be forgiven.
Let's look at an example. Starting with JESUS, He absolutely claimed to be GOD without any doubt. Here's just one instance.
"I and the Father are one.”
At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him. But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?”
“We are not stoning You for any good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, declare Yourself to be GOD.” John 10:30-33 BSB
Saying something about JESUS now, if we don't believe JESUS is GOD, what happens? And why does it matter that we believe in a Triune God?
Of all the determining conditions that define a non-Christian cult, rejecting JESUS as GOD is always the most significant mistake cults make, the Jehovah's Witnesses being a perfect example of this tragedy. They're a group claiming to be Christians at the same time, erroneously believing JESUS is only the Archangel Michael instead of GOD Almighty.
Consequently, they are left with only the Father (Jehovah) as God, even rejecting GOD the Holy Spirit, reducing Him down to a non-personal Power or active force. Because of this, there will be only devastating eternal consequences for them. They have created their own false god who will be unable to save them. If JESUS is not GOD, he cannot save your soul or anyone else's. Only GOD Almighty can do that.
"And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day." John 6:39 NLT
GOD being Triune, three in one, GOD the Father, GOD the Son, and GOD the Holy Spirit, is the progressive revelation of Himself revealed only in the Bible for people everywhere to know who He is more intimately. GOD is eternal, and we are finite. Therefore, we cannot fully comprehend GOD in his totality.
The attributes of GOD revealed to us are limited only because of our inadequate comprehension of them. To completely describe GOD, we'd need to be eternal ourselves. We are just beginning to know who He is and will be getting to know Him throughout all eternity. Without a doubt, we will always be learning something new about the LORD because his attributes must be infinite, like Him, never-ending.
Indeed, our understanding of GOD will always progress, and we will forever ascertain that He is more Magnificent than we could imagine in this lifetime and for all eternity. Yes, GOD is an AWESOME GOD!
GOD is Holy, Incorruptible, Righteous, and Just (Justice)
"Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in Holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" KJB
Holyis Qadosh (Hebrew) Holy: set apart, sacred, sanctified, infinite purity, without corruption, perfection, absolute completeness.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN, “GOD IS HOLY?
How is an eternity in hell a just punishment for only a human lifetime of sin? "Important to read and understand."
He is Holy
GOD is Holy is the absolute standard of good. His attributes are perfect, and His Holiness defines His purity. He is incorruptible, meaning GOD cannot be corrupted by anything outside Himself. He is absolutely pure and perfect and set apart from all other creatures in His creation. Because GOD is Holy, He can only speak the truth and cannot lie or break His promises. It would be against His nature to be dishonest. The LORD can be trusted in everything with absolute certainty because He is Holy.
"For the Scriptures say, "You must be holy because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:16 NLT
GOD calls every believer to be Holy, to set themselves apart from the World by practicing righteous deeds and forsaking, not participating in any acts of wickedness.
Sanctification: the action of making or declaring something holy. Set apart for a particular use. Progressive, ongoing purification.
Justification: declaring a person to be just or righteous, acquitted, atoning work, pardons, an act of righteousness, justification through faith, pronounced just.
"And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:11 NIV.
What does it mean that God is a holy God? What is the holiness of God?
HE is Righteous
Righteous: morally upright, blameless, sinless, uncorrupted, reasonable, noble, and moral.
Righteous are You, O LORD, and upright are Your judgments. Psalm 119:137 NKJV
GOD is righteous because He always does what is right, uncorrupted, and absolutely moral.
He is Just
"I said to myself, ""God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed." Ecclesiastes 3:17 NIV
Because GOD is Holy and Righteous, it only follows that His justice would also reflect those qualities of His perfect character.
In this World, there is no such thing as absolute Justice. Every justice system in the World is now being severely denigrated, reduced to just one of many corrupted systems of Humanity. Once JESUS returns, He will establish pure Justice, but not until then. That's why the Bible says,
"Vengeance and retribution belong to me. In time, their foot will slip, for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly." Deuteronomy 32:35 CSB.
(Perfect Justice) God's justice extends beyond the earthly realm. There will be a time in the future at the Last Judgment when every human who died without Christ and whose name is not recorded in the Book of Life will stand before Him and be judged.
"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." Matthew 25:46 NIV
Eternal Punishment: the final and eternal penalty for sins, conscience, endless suffering, torment, and everlasting separation from God's love.
Denigrate: diminish, discredit, deny the importance of the validity, run down.
Disavow: deny any responsibility, reject, repudiate, renounce, disown.
Book of Life (Lamb's Book of Life): this book has the recorded names of all persons (redeemed) saved by the blood of JESUS, those who will live with the LORD forever, heavenly citizenship, certainty of eternal salvation, chosen recipients of eternal life that will live in the Kingdom of the LORD forever, names written in the book before the foundation of the World. Ephesians 1:4, Revelation 17:8 and 20:12-15.
No one who ever lived who disavows (rejects) the LORD's gift of salvation will escape GOD's retribution, even though they think in this life that they got away with a crime or an act of horrendous Evil. GOD will judge them according to what they have done in the end. “There will be Justice!”
"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:12-15 NIV
Those words just spoken above are “Serious.” We need to understand what that verse is saying. If we die without JESUS, we will all suffer the consequences of our sins “for all eternity alive in conscious torment.” There will be no exceptions, and good deeds won't be a justification for the remission of our sins or entrance into Heaven. Only a sincerely repentant heart that cries out to GOD asking for forgiveness of all your sins will be accepted. The opportunity is now if you still need to confess. Once a person dies, it will be too late.
"GOD, forgive me of my sins, and cast all of them into the depths of the sea I ask. Make me a new person, I pray, fill me with your Spirit, give me a new life, and help me now to follow You until the end. In JESUS' name, I pray."
"He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast out all our sins into the depths of the sea." Micah 7:19 BSB
Repentance: to turn from Evil and turn towards GOD, change of mind and heart, feel regret and remorse for sin, a sense of guilt, a fear of GOD's judgment, contrition, a declaration to change, conversion, a decision to obey GOD.
Remission: the cancellation of a debt, charge, or penalty, forgiveness of sins.
"And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring Salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him." Hebrews 9:27-28 NLT
GOD is Merciful and Gracious.
Mercy: kindness, compassion, forgiveness, or forbearance is shown towards someone within one's power to punish or harm. Divine favor, leniency, forbears punishing even when Justice demands it.
PSALM 136- GOD's never-ending mercy
Grace: unmerited favor, pardon, kindness,
Psalm 136:1-26 ERV
(1) "O GIVE thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.
(2)) O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth forever.
(3) O give thanks unto the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth forever.
(4) To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth forever.
(5) To him that by understanding made the heavens: for his mercy endureth forever.
(6) To him that spread forth the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth forever.
(7) To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth forever:
(8) The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth forever:
(9) The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth forever.
(10) To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth forever:
(11) And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth forever:
(12) With a strong hand, and with a stretched-out arm: for his mercy endureth forever.
(13) To him which divided the Red Sea in sunder: for his mercy endureth forever:
(14) And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth forever:
(15) But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy endureth forever.
(16) To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth forever.
(17) To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth forever:
(18) And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth forever:
(19) Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth forever:
(20) And Og king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth forever:
(21) And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth forever:
(22) Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth forever.
(23) Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth forever:
(24) And hath delivered us from our adversaries: for his mercy endureth forever.
(25) He giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth forever.
(26) O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth forever." Psalm 136:1-26 ERV
If we notice closely here, (mercy) is repeated 26 times and (forever) 26 times. The LORD clearly emphasizes that His mercy endures forever and is always reaching out to the people of this fallen World, calling them to repent of their sins, come to JESUS, and be saved from His judgment on the last day.
"For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." James 2:13 ESV
GOD's Justice demands the judgment of sin, but then JESUS steps in and says my love for them outweighs the Justice so deserved. Therefore, this proves once more that His Mercy endures forever, and GOD's Mercy triumphs over Justice every time because JESUS said. . .
"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 ESV
GOD is Gracious filled with Grace.
What is the definition of Grace? Got questions.
Grace: unmerited favor, pardon, kindness.
GOD's Grace is bestowed upon sinful Humanity even though we are all Sinners and don't deserve it. His blessings come to us not because we deserve them. His unmerited favor (Grace) towards us is a gift. Even if we tried to return the favor, we couldn't because this gift came at too high a cost. JESUS paid for it when He took the punishment of our sin on Himself at the cross, delivering us from GOD's judgment and offering Salvation of our souls instead. That's why the Bible says Grace and truth came through JESUS Christ.
"For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His Grace and truth], we have all received Grace upon Grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift]. For the Law was given through Moses, but Grace [the unearned, undeserved favor of God] and truth came through Jesus Christ." John 1:16-17 AB
GOD's Grace is continuous. It's always active towards us. Grace upon Grace means an abundance, inexhaustible, never running out.
"So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find Grace to help us when we need it most." Hebrews 4:16 NLT
NOW, we can all come to GOD and stand in His presence unashamed and without fear because he has delivered (pardoned) us by His Grace from sin and death. Come now without any reservation. Come and receive His Mercy and Grace in time of need. "GOD is Merciful and filled with Grace." This attribute alone separates Him from all false gods worshipped anywhere. The gulf of distinction is so enormous that no comparison could ever be made because He alone is GOD.
"The LORD is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
Who is like the LORD our God,
Who is seated on high,
Who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?" Psalm 113:4-6 ESV
"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation." Isaiah 12:2 NIV
More Attributes of GOD
Goodness: absolutely without error, no darkness or Evil.
"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him." Psalm 34:8 NIV
Immanence: being near, always present, always with us.
"Am I only a God nearby," declares the LORD, "and not a God far away?" Jeremiah 23:23 NIV
Immutability: unchanging, always remaining the same, constant, permanent, unshakeable.
"But you are always the same; you will live forever." Psalm 102;27 NLT
Transcendence: GOD is not constrained by space or time, not controlled by anything created by Him; he transcends it all, outside, distinct, apart from, independent, not comparable to any other, existing apart from and not subject to the limitations, beyond, or above all things.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD." Isaiah 55:8 ESV
Righteousness: Once more, He is morally right, uprightness, perfection in every attribute. In contrast to evil, the standard of what is right is always against wickedness.
"The LORD is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does." Psalm 145:17 NIV
Self-Sufficient: needing no outside help, independent of creation, self-reliant, no deficiency, self-existent.
"You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing." Psalm 145:16 NIV
Faithfulness: trustworthiness, loyalty, constancy, reliability, steadfastness, firmness.
GOD's faithfulness is the foundation upon which we stand as believers because it reassures us that everything, He says is true and all His promises are absolute, meaning He will never change what He has pledged. Living a victorious life is possible because GOD is always faithful. We can be confident in the LORD because He is forever trustworthy.
"Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures." Psalm 119:90 NIV
In conclusion, to deny GOD any of His eternal attributes would be to diminish Him of His full Greatness, thus making Him only once more a finite man-made construct. Sadly, this way of thinking only results in a god created in our minds, not the transcendent eternal GOD revealed to us in the Bible.
Also, it should be profoundly evident to everyone that if GOD didn't exist, there would be no definition for true Love, real Grace and Mercy, Justice that is Just, Holiness that is pure and perfect, and so on. It is because GOD exists that we can define these things.
This humble list was just a few of His attributes revealed to us in the Bible. Since GOD is eternal, His attributes must also be infinite, meaning they have no end. In Heaven, I believe while all His angels around His throne are praising and worshiping Him, continually proclaiming Him as Holy and Almighty, something wonderfully new about GOD is revealed every moment that passes. The magnitude of GOD's eternal Greatness overwhelms the angels and everyone present. He is an AWESOME GOD, and no one will ever deny it, not now or for all eternity.
"For the LORD is an awesome God; a great king above all divine beings." Psalm 95:3 ISV
"And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen." Revelation 7:11-12 ESV
How does the (word) of the LORD come?
"The LORD (spoke his word) to Jonah, son of Amittai. He said," Jonah 1:1 GWT.
“(The word) of the LORD came to Jonah, son of Amittai" Jonah 1:1 NIV.
“The LORD gave (this message) to Jonah son of Amittai" Jonah 1:1 NLT.
“One day the LORD (spoke) to Jonah son of Amittai.” Jonah 1:1 GNT.
"WORD OF THE LORD" Further in-depth information.
During the Old Testament era, GOD used many different modes of communication to speak to people through His prophets. He sometimes sent dreams and visions. Other times, the LORD audibly talked to them, like the Prophet Moses, once through a burning Bush (Exodus 3:1-14), and also in the Tabernacle, GOD's voice was heard clearly by Moses (Numbers 7:89).
The LORD spoke loudly to the Prophet Samuel (Samuel 3:11-14), and now we see the LORD talking to his Prophet Jonah audibly. The book of Jonah is unique because of the many intimate verbal dialogues between His Prophet and Himself. Here are a few examples of the phrase "the word of the LORD came," used as an announcement that a prophecy was forthcoming from the LORD to the people.
"The phrase "the word of the LORD" came.
Jonah: "Now (the word of the LORD came) to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying." Jonah 1:1 ESV
Jeremiah: "Now (the word of the LORD came) to me, saying." Jeremiah 1:4 ESV
Samuel: “(The word of the LORD came) to Samuel." 1 Samuel 15:10 ESV
Ezekiel: "(The word of the LORD came) to me." Ezekiel 18:1 ESV
Hosea: "(The word of the LORD that came) to Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel." Hosea 1:1 ESV
Zechariah: "(Then the word of the LORD came) to me, saying" Zechariah 4:8 ESV.
Haggi: "(The word of the LORD came) a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month." Haggai 2:20 ESV
Joel: “(The word of the LORD that came) to Joel, the Son of Pethuel." Joel 1:1
Micah: "(The word of the LORD that came) to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem." Micah 1:1 ESV
Isaiah: "(Then the word of the LORD came) to Isaiah." Isaiah 38:4 ESV
Abraham: "After these things, (the word of the LORD came) to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." Genesis 15:1 ESV
Moses: "And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear (when I speak with you) and may also believe you forever." When Moses told the words of the people to the LORD." Exodus 19:9 ESV
It's important to note that when the phrase "the word of the LORD came," it explicitly indicates it was not from any other source but from GOD Almighty, who gave the word through the Prophet and then declared it to the people.
How does the LORD talk to Jonah?
Let's look at all the verses in which the LORD speaks to Jonah.
"Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me." Jonah 1:2 ESV
"Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you." Jonah 3:2 ESV
"And the LORD said, "Do you do well to be angry?" Jonah 4:4 ESV
"But God said to Jonah, "Do you do well to be angry for the plant?" And he said, "Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die." Jonah 4:9 ESV
"And the LORD said, "You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?" Jonah 4:10-11 ESV
The LORD and Jonah have an Intimate relationship.
We see the LORD and Jonah interacting with each other as friends, not strangers. They're not speaking to one another as if GOD was somewhere far away, thousands of light years between them, the LORD seated on a throne in Heaven, and Jonah far out in the distance on Earth below, but instead, face to face, side by side. This interaction clearly shows us that Jonah and the LORD had spent time together getting to know one another, obviously seen in their conversations. Jonah knew the LORD intimately that He was a GOD who was gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness.
"And he prayed to the LORD and said, "O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and relenting from disaster." Jonah 4:2 ESV.
"The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." Psalm 145:18 NIV
How does "the word of the LORD" come to us today?
"In the past (God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets) at many times and in various ways, but in these last days (He has spoken to us by his Son) whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe." Hebrews 1:1-2 NIV
We are now at this study's climax in Jonah verse 1:1, to know how GOD speaks to us today, which is one of the most valued topics of our discussion. We need to hear His voice because the LORD wants to speak to us intimately as He spoke to the prophets, a relationship that will transform our lives daily.
"I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me." John 15:15 NLT
GOD still speaks to us loudly through His written word, the Bible.
"Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice." 1 Kings 19:11-12 NKJV
His "still small voice" has gotten louder for many because they are taking the time to listen. GOD is still speaking audibly through His written Word. There is no difference. Both methods of delivery have the same authority. The written Word is superior in its permanence in comparison to verbal speech. By writing His words down, they become unchangeable, lasting for all generations, thus further establishing their superiority as a way to pass them on to all people everywhere. His words are as powerful now as when He first spoke them, such as when He created everything.
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light." Genesis 1:1-3 NIV
"For the word of God is alive and powerful."
"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and Spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." Hebrews 4:12 NLT
His Word sustains all things.
"The Son is the radiance of God's Glory and the exact representation of his being, (sustaining all things by his powerful Word.) After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." Hebrews 1:3 NIV
His Word is all-powerful: God is Almighty. Therefore, His Word has no limitations. It is boundless.
"Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light." Genesis 1:3 NLT
His Word is purposeful: it can accomplish anything intended.
"So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, (but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose) for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11 NIV
His Word is a two-edged sword: exposing everything and a powerful offensive and defensive weapon against evil.
"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, (which is the word of God.)" Ephesians 6:17 NIV
His Word is like a seed: it can grow and produce when planted and transform human life.
"This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God." Luke 8:11 NIV
His Word is profitable: for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and training in righteousness, able to equip and make complete.
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV.
His Word will give us direction and illuminate our path. His Word gives us the wisdom to walk without wandering into danger, stumbling, and becoming lost.
"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105 NLT
His Word gives us wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
"For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." Proverbs 2:6 ESV
"Various ways" GOD speaks to us, then and now.
The Bible, the Written Word
Through His Creation
Christian music, songs
Circumstances
Other Christian believers
“Still small voice”
The LORD decides how He will speak to us because He is Sovereign, even if he chooses to use a donkey. "Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and it said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?" Numbers 22:28 NIV or if He decides to write His words on a wall. "Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote." Daniel 5:5 NIV
Absolute: complete, not diminished in any way, perfect, undiluted, pure, fixed, undivided, sure.
The Word of GOD (the Bible) is His “absolute revelation” to us now, meaning in any other way GOD speaks to us, it will not contradict what has already been stated in the Bible because it is a finished work, complete, not lacking, and nothing more needs to be added.
If we say that the Bible has errors and has been corrupted by man, at that point, what we are making ourselves believe is that GOD isn't Sovereign, meaning His ability to keep his Word from corruption is inadequate. As a result, GOD becomes diminished of his Greatness, no longer the GOD of the Bible but just a man-made invention of a god that fits into one's faulty understanding of GOD's “absolute attributes.”
All other "various ways" the LORD speaks to us will always be in full agreement (never contradicting), consistently reinforcing what He has previously said in the Bible.
"Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has (entrusted once for all time) to his holy people." Jude 1:3 NLT
So, with that spoken, it is more urgent than ever in this period of history that we use the written Word of GOD as our final authority by which we test every other revelation. It is our primary source of GOD speaking to us because, without the written Word, we cannot confidently discern between good and evil, and we'll easily be deceived and quickly led astray.
The written Word of GOD is superior to any other "various ways" the LORD is using now to speak to us. I'm making this clear to everyone because we know that in the "last days," the level of deception will be like never before experienced. Lying signs and wonders will abound everywhere, deceiving many into apostasy, thus forsaking the Christian faith and the LORD altogether.
"For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." Matthew 24:24 NIV
The elect: those whom God has predestined for salvation, His chosen people.
Discernment: the ability to judge, astuteness, discrimination, awareness, perception.
Apostasy: abandonment, to fall away, heresy, defection, faithlessness, renunciation.
Sola Scriptura: the Bible is the infallible authority for the Christian faith.
The Church debate: Are there other ways GOD speaks to us today, as He did in times past?
"In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams." Acts 2:17 NIV, Joel 2:28
WHAT IS THE CASE FOR SAYING THAT ALL OF THE ORIGINAL SPIRITUAL GIFTS STILL EXIST? (THE NON-CESSATIONIST POSITION)
WHAT IS THE GIFT OF DISCERNMENT, OR DISTINGUISHING, OF SPIRITS?
Dreams
Visions
Prophecy
I congratulate you if you have gotten this far in this study. These letters are not short because so much needs to be said, and I hope most have been listening earnestly, regardless of that. We have arrived at an important topic, and you will need to decide on your own what you believe about this issue. The Christian Church has been having an ongoing debate on whether or not GOD is still speaking to us in the same way He did in times past through dreams, visions, and prophecies.
Whatever you decide. The most important thing is that the Word of God, the Bible, is always, without exception, the primary standard and final authority by which all other things are to be judged or tested. (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1 NKJV
If anyone desires a gift, the gift of "discerning of spirits" (discernment) is needed now more than ever, especially regarding our current apocalyptic World and its alarming state of affairs. For all who have noticed, societies have become darker overnight. Lies are being told as truth by every institution worldwide as the new normal. The level of deception has increased dramatically. What is true has become uncommon and lies common.
Deception: deceiving someone, fraud, scheme, deliberately hiding the truth.
What does the Bible say about discernment? Got questions.
"Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come." Matthew 24:12-14 NLT
Immorality has been redefined to appear righteous, and sinful lifestyles are being showcased as ordinary. We also know the church will go through a great apostasy (abandoning the LORD and the historic Christian faith) in the last days. People will fail to discern between good and evil and believe lies as truth. Instead, they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.
"Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons." 1 Timothy 4:1 NLT
What are doctrines of demons in 1 Timothy 4:1? Got questions.
What is apostasy, and how can I recognize it? Got questions.
"All the New Testament writers speak of the approaching apostasy. To them it was just a little cloud on the horizon the size of a man's hand. But that cloud has now darkened and covered the sky. Today you and I are in the storm. We are seeing one of the greatest departures from the faith in the history of the church." Dr. J. Vermon McGee, blue letter bible
"Studying the Bible is the only confident way to discern between good and evil. Unless you have a perfect representation of what is good (the LORD). Then, you have no actual reference point to decide what evil is. And for this reason, it's imperative to draw closer to GOD and to “know Him intimately” by studying His Word, the Bible." The Introduction to this study.
The conclusion of this study. In Jonah, verse 1:1, What have we learned?
One of the most notable things about this study is that the LORD stands out amongst all other man-made gods. Gods that are fabricated only in the imaginations of people’s minds and, in reality, unable to do anything good. The LORD is the only one who dares to predict the future with 100% accuracy, time after time.
"Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he." John 13:19 KJB
Looking at some of GOD's attributes and how he proves each one true compared to other gods who can't demonstrate anything because they don't have any real power, meaning originating from themselves. The LORD stands alone because no comparisons of who He is can be made to any other man-made gods or created things. When the Bible declares that the LORD is an Awesome GOD, it is because it's a proven statement, and no one can refute it.
"For the LORD is an awesome God; a great king above all divine beings." Psalm 95:3 ISV
Another remarkable aspect of the LORD is He's a personal GOD. He's not a God unconcerned with the affairs of Humanity, one who's highly exalted on His throne far above us in Heaven, being such a great distance away that He doesn't care about every detail of our lives. Still, to the contrary, He's a GOD who is always present and intimately concerned about every need and circumstance we are experiencing, good or bad. Each precious person He has uniquely made is dearly loved and cherished. He is endlessly drawing us closer to Himself, forever united.
"The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you with loving devotion." Jeremiah 31:3 BSB
He loves us, not just superficially, but personally as His treasured people.
"But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)" Ephesians 2:4-5 NLT
Another apparent quality about the LORD is He is not silent. He's always speaking to us in many different ways, every day and every moment. All we need to do is listen and take notice.
"The heavens proclaim the Glory of GOD.
The skies display His craftsmanship.
Day after day, they continue to speak;
night after night, they make Him known.
They speak without a sound or Word.
their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world." Psalm 19:1-4 NLT
Even in the silence of his creation, He speaks loudly to us all, saying look at what I have created. “Is there any god like Me? I know not one.”
"Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: "I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself." Isaiah 44:24 ESV
And because GOD is faithful and true to His promises, our future is secure. We now have hope for greater things to come. GOD Himself will dwell with us, and we will be in His care forever.
"I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever."
And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new!" And then he said to me, "Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true." Revelation 21:3-5 NLT
Closing prayer. . .
Father in Heaven above, thank You for drawing us closer to You through studying Your Word, the Bible. Because of Your great Love for us, our hearts have been captured forever, and forever will we praise You. Thank You, LORD, for Your mercy that has saved us and given us hope for a future in Your Kingdom. Lead us all to do what's right in your sight, enable us to redeem the time because the days are short, hold on to us tightly, we ask, until that day when we see You face to face, in JESUS Name we pray, Amen.
What's next?
In our journey together studying the book of Jonah, in the following letter, we will continue to discover the depths of GOD's Word as we dive deeper into the next verse, Jonah (1:2), drawing closer to the LORD through the study of the Bible, becoming stronger in our faith in Him and abiding in His Love which will keep us forever in His care.
"Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are." Jonah 1:2 NLT
Also coming next is the Jonah Bible study review.
After this study, I will post the Jonah Bible Study review, a short update on where we are in real time. What is the underlying message (the bigger picture) the LORD is impressing upon my heart about these last three studies? What do we need to know now before we move on to the next verse in the study, Jonah 1:2?
Dear beloved, I never really know what I will write beforehand because it needs to be what the LORD is speaking to us at this moment. I pray, seek GOD’s presence, and start writing. These letters are long but finishing them shouldn't be a burden when we sincerely desire to draw near to GOD. In prayer, I have asked the LORD for a special blessing on all who read these studies, that the LORD would encourage all who know Him and save the souls that don't.
These letters are arranged in a sequence, meaning one thing comes after another for a reason, with a climax at the end of each one. May the LORD draw us closer, more and more each day, until we meet Him face to face.
And for those who have not met the LORD yet. Please sincerely reach out to GOD in the following prayer. I promise you will not regret it. James. . .
Subscribe for free. There is no charge. I don't do this for money. The only reward I ask from the LORD is that I will see you in Heaven. GOD bless you!
“THE PRAYER”
Now is the time to pray, to ask GOD to hear from heaven above as we call out to Him together right here. The most critical moment of your life has arrived in this uncommon instant. It's when your life takes on a whole new meaning. It can be the first time you have understood everything, every question ever pondered, having them answered, seeing things not just from the outside looking in but from the inside looking out. Everything that has happened and will happen will make complete and absolute sense to you. JESUS said 2000 years ago, and it's still true today, that you must be born-again.
"So don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again." John 3:7
Come now, let us Reason together.
What does this mean? Everybody was born the same way the first time physically. We didn't get to choose that moment in time. It just happened beyond our control. But another birth needs to take place. This time, we get to make that choice. We get to decide. Now I have a question, if you say no instead of yes, why? If I told you, you would receive the most precious gift of all ages, priceless, worth more than all the riches you could ever acquire in this life, and still that wouldn't even come close to what GOD wants to give you now, and it is free for the asking.
Would you still say no? Some might say. Yeah, maybe someday, while others feel these are just a bunch of made-up stories passed down year after year, fairy tales at best, too good to be true, nothing is free. Some then might even say I'm a good person. I've never sinned or done anything wrong, and I don't need forgiveness?
And others say I've got so many sins that nothing or anyone could ever get rid of them. Even if someone could forgive me, you say, I still wouldn't feel forgiven in the end. Maybe you are afraid. Fear has got ahold of you and won't let go. I'm not sure about anything you say, there are so many choices in life, and I still need time to make them all. I'm not ready for this.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 NLT
The Difference Between "Hell" and "The Lake of Fire"
I need to tell you something very serious. GOD wants to give you eternal life. And he respects your choice. He will not force you to do anything that you don’t want to do. But you must understand something now. If you reject eternal life, you will receive eternal death. That means the difference between a Christian and somebody who rejects GOD's provision for sin is this. When Christians die, they leave all their sins behind because the Bible says God will remove their sins as far as the East is from the West, and they will go to heaven for all eternity to live with GOD.
"He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west." Psalm 103:12 NLT
But those who reject GOD's Great Salvation will take all their sins with them at death, stand before GOD, and be judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books at the final Judgment, and the consequences will be (eternal torment.)
"I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before GOD’s Throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books." Revelation 20:12 NLT
We can choose either eternal life or eternal Judgment. The choice is ours. There are only two ways that a person, after reading this letter, can leave. Eternally SAVED, forgiven of their sins with a new life in Christ, previously saved, saved now, or the one who says my way is better than GOD's and will leave this letter unsaved. The saved or the unsaved is all there will be.
Listen to me now. Are you listening? How will you ever know what's on the other side if you never go there? How can you tell if the water is warm unless you reach out and touch it?
"Turn to the LORD!
He can still be found.
Call out to GOD! He is near."
Isaiah 55:6-13 CEV
If you are sincere and ready to call out to GOD, acknowledging that you're a sinner and are ready to ask GOD for forgiveness, asking Him for a new life, then let us pray together now.
"If you openly declare that JESUS is LORD and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved." Romans 10:9-10 NLT
"JESUS loved you then, He still loves you now, and forever will He love you!"
My Personal testimony. GOD saved me and gave me a new life.
Please repeat this prayer after me.
“GOD, I'm ready to call out to You now and ask You to hear me from heaven above. This is my simple prayer to You, GOD. I've been doing everything my way, but now I'm asking you to give me a new life to do things as you want. GOD, I know I'm a Sinner. I'm asking for forgiveness for all my sins. I'm asking you to help me to turn from my sins and follow you from this moment forward. JESUS, I believe You died for me, and You rose again and are here right now. I want to be born again, made new, and filled with Your Spirit. Thank you, GOD, for Your mercy that saved a Sinner like me.”
"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT.
"Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like GOD—truly righteous and holy." Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT
PSALM 51 (50) IN ARAMAIC (language of Jesus)
Message to New Believers
JESUS said, "Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven." Matthew 10:32 NLT
If you said yes to that prayer with me, calling out to GOD. Now, tell everyone about what happened to you, and there are some things you need to do to start your journey with JESUS. You need to find a good Church and get involved with other believers. It's called Christian fellowship. Christianity is a family of many. It's not an army of one.
In this unique family, we are all supernaturally connected through GOD. We encourage, support, and build up each other with confidence. It's a powerful union unlike anything else in this world. It continuously strengthens us and keeps us on the path of eternal life. It's essential for a healthy Christian life. Become a subscriber to the newsletter for free. Join in on the upcoming Bible study in the Book of Jonah as we journey through one of the most precious books in the Bible together.
Get a Bible and start reading. You have now embarked on an amazing new life, more incredible than ever imagined. A life filled with miracles. The most incredible adventure ever has just started. You said yes to JESUS. I'm saying yes, too. May God bless you.
"In the same way, there is joy in the presence of GOD’S angels when even one sinner repents." Luke 15:10 NLT
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 BSB.
Leave a comment. Now is the time. "One night, the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent!" Acts 18:9 NLT
New letter concept. Called "Words In-Between"
In between posting each Bible verse throughout this study, I needed some way to communicate in a short letter format, anything relevant to current events that the LORD would place on my heart to share with others.
These letters will be brief and intended to inform, edify, and speak words to encourage and words of caution in times of crisis and to build up and give confidence to the hearer as we continue our journey together, as we seek to grow closer to the LORD.
CHURCH FINDER:
CHRISTIAN VIDEOS:
Greg and Cathe Laurie on the Jesus Revolution: Their love story and a New Jesus Revival
CHRISTIAN BOOKS: TESTIMONIES
Personal Testimony of Faith/ Willian Lane Craig
ATHEIST MEETS JESUS - AND SEES THE BATTLE OVER HIS SOUL
Zach Williams Testimony (Live)
Jesus Revolution: How God Transformed an Unlikely Generation and How He Can Do It Again Today by Pastor Greg Laurie, Ellen Vaughn
Pastor Raul Ries, Calvary Chapel Golden Springs, Ca. “His Testimony”
Pastor Jeff Johnson Calvary Chapel Downey, Ca. Sound Doctrine; OnePlace
Pastor Chuck Smith Calvary Chapel Distinctives
FOXE’S BOOK OF MARTYRS / JOHN FOXE
The Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom
A Confession/ Leo Tolstoy
The Chronicles of Narnia/ C.S. Lewis
The Space Trilogy/ C.S. Lewis
The Screwtape Letters/ C.S. Lewis
The Great Divorce/ C.S. Lewis
'A Grief Observed'/ C.S. Lewis
Goodreads / BOOKS/ Testimonies
Videos about Jonah and Nineveh and words of wisdom
Bible Evidence Unearthed at Nineveh!
WAR WITH GOD, HALLOWEEN IN YOUR HEART by Jamie Walden
The Sign of The Statue | Jonathan Cahn Prophetic
CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS: BOOKS
C.S Lewis / Mere Christianity
Blue letter Bible John Macarthur
Norman L Geisler / I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist.
Christian Apologetics: By- Norman L. Geisler
The Big Book of Christian Apologetics: An A-to-Z Guide Norman L. Geisler
Dr. Josh Mcdowell / The Evidence that Demands a Verdict
William Lane Craig / On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision
Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics/ William Lang Craig
Lee Strobel / The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus
J. Warner Wallace / Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels
Good Christian Apologetics Books
Defending Your Faith: An Introduction to Apologetics R.C Sproul
Apologetics: Books on Defending the Faith
Jamie D Walden / Book/Omega Dynamics: Equipping a Warrior Class of Christians for the Days Ahead
Thomas R. Horn /Forbidden Gates: How Genetics, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Synthetic Biology, Nanotechnology, & Human Enhancement Herald the Dawn of Techno-Dimensional Spiritual Warfare
Thomas R. Horn /We are Legion for We are Many: Dominions, Kosmokrators, and Washington, DC: Unmasking the Ancient Riddle of the Hebrew Year 5785 and the Imminent Destiny of America
The coming UFO Deception
UFO The Coming Great Deception – LA Marzulli – Dr. Tenpenny (drtenpenny.com)
UFO Disclosure coming invasion.
HIDDEN HISTORY: UFOS, ANCIENT PORTALS, GIANTS, ALIEN GODS AND THE END TIMES | TOM HORN
Aliens and the End Times Deception
UFOs are Demons.
What the Bible Says about UFOs
L.A. Marzulli: UFO Disclosure - Full -Length Film
Former Navy Officer tells the truth about the “Tic Tac” UFO.
SHOCKING TESTIMONY: Former Navy Pilot Describes Infamous 2004 'Tic Tac' UFO Experience
UFO hearing: Eyewitnesses describe encounters with "non-human" entities to Congress | FULL VIDEO
Dr. Hugh Ross— Little Green Men
Hugh Ross Responds to Latest Congressional Hearing on UFOs
MUSIC: that brings new life and Hope
4 Hours of Acoustic Praise and Worship Music Josh Snodgrass
WORSHIP WITH SAM
Leeland - Way Maker
Leeland - Midnight
Leeland & TAYA - Heart & Flesh
I Speak Jesus | Because of the Times 2022 - ft. Charity Gayle & POA Worship
Casting Crowns - Praise You in This Storm (Live from YouTube Space New York)
Amazing New Hebrew Worship with English Subtitles Music Video from Israel!
DANCE WITH ME/GLORY COME DOWN: JEWISH & GENTILE artists worshipping Jesus from a rooftop in Jerusalem.
WOW! Amazing New Hebrew Worship with English Subtitles Music Video from Israel!
Raise a Hallelujah - Sean Feucht - Let us Worship - Washington, D.C.
Phil Wickham - Battle Belongs
Phil Wickham - I Believe
Phil Wickham - This Is Our God (Acoustic)
Phil Wickham -Psalm 23
Leeland & Charity Gayle - You're Not Done (Official Music Video)
Lauren Daigle - "Come Alive (Dry Bones) (Live at the Centric Worship Retreat)
Zach Williams - Far Too Good to A Man Like Me
Zach Williams - Lookin' for You
Zach Williams - I Got You
Reckless Love (by Cory Asbury) Worship Mob live + spontaneous worship.
Venture 11: Defender, Surrounded/Battles, Lean Back, & Spontaneous | Worship Mob live + spontaneous.
HABITATION (LIVE ACOUSTIC) | Micah & Abby Mahoney | HEARTCRY OF DAVID
YOUR LOVE IS FIERCE | OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO (Israel + UK Collaboration) {Judean Desert in Israel} Heart-cry of David.
Nothing More Beautiful: UK Acoustic Sessions Heart-cry of David.
VICTORIOUS | NEW SINGLE (Israel + United Kingdom Collaboration) Heart-cry of David.
DANCE WITH ME/GLORY COME DOWN: JEWISH & GENTILE artists worshipping Jesus from rooftop in Jerusalem Heart-cry of David.
SACRED MUSIC FOR THE HEALING OF PEOPLES (in Gethsemane) Harpa Dei.
YESHUA: 1.000× the Name of Jesus (sung in Hebrew) Harpa Dei
PSALM 51 (50) IN ARAMAIC (language of Jesus) Harpa Dei
Come Lord Jesus, Maranatha (sung in various languages) Harpa Dei
Messianic Jewish Christian music in Hebrew.
Great is the Lord | Gadol Adonai
Praise to Our God 5 Concert - La Shamaim (Unto Heaven)
Praise to Our God 5 Concert - Ashuv Eleicha (Coming Back to You)
SATISFY ME WITH YOUR FULLNESS
Praise to Our God 5 Concert - Hineh Lo Yanum (Behold He Who Keeps Israel)
Praise to Our God 5 Concert - Lechu Nerannena LeAdonai (Let us sing to the Lord)
Praise to Our God 5 Concert - Ata Kadosh (You Are Holy)
Praises Of Israel - Halev Poretz (The Heart Bursts Forth) [Live]
Praises Of Israel - Lev Tahor (A Pure Heart)
Praises Of Israel - Hu Asher (He Who Did Not Spare)
Chokreni | Sheli & Dariel Myers | CC For English
MIQEDEM - DODI LI
MIQEDEM - Psalm 23 (Live in Studio)
MIQEDEM - BARCHI NAFSHI
MIQEDEM - BEELOHIM
MIQEDEM - SHIR CHADASH
MIQEDEM- HARPU
Hymn of the Cherubim (Extended)
Another closing Prayer
Lion of Judah | WARFARE sound | Sound of Shofar
When I finished this newsletter and felt I had said everything in my heart and mind, I prayed to GOD and asked for His blessing on these writings. Suddenly this scripture and verses came to me. It's for everyone who will read this work. GOD bless you all!
Well done. Lots of meat. Need to bookmark and save to go back to. Great resources. Thank you James.
Dear James, your study is powerful! Your words encourage and call ALL to draw near to God; not a distant or angry God but God The Father, who loves us so deeply, He gave us Jesus, to save us, to dwell within us by Holy Spirit. What you have written is strength to the Body; the Bride, which is so needed right now. I especially loved reading what you wrote about Jesus' crucifixion; "I realised later, upon reflection, that this subject was the most important part of the study"-James. You're right, Jesus is calling us right now, to truly appreciate and deeply behold the power of His sacrifice upon the cross; His precious blood, shed for us.
Thank you and God bless you James!