Who do you say I am?

There is no greater question in the bible that was ever asked that today is so relevant that the answer has eternal ramifications. Jesus asked the disciples who do you say that I am?

Think about your answer.

Jesus asked the disciples before who do others say I am?

Is your answer based on who Jesus is from others or a personal relationship with Him?

Is Jesus your LORD and Savior?

Is Jesus just your Savior?

We honor Jesus at times with our words as our Savior, but our hearts are far from Him.

If He is our LORD we put all our hope and trust in Him, that is why the apostles could face what came their way, be it beatings, imprisonment, or execution.

That is why the Holy Spirit tells us in Hebrews 11.24-38. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

You see if Jesus is your LORD and Savior, you trust Him always living a life that man cannot take, but you willingly lay down in service to Him, no matter what the outcome.

You live by faith in Him alone. Let us take up our cross and follow Jesus, no matter what and answer Jesus question in word and deed.

Mark.8.27-29. And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”

Our efforts are in vain.

James Boice writes: “The only way anyone will ever be saved is if God operates entirely apart from us and for his own good pleasure”

We get caught up in our own efforts , and believe we can save ourselves, a foolish belief we at our best break God's law daily no matter how hard we try.

How could we earn our salvation if we cannot keep simple laws, like love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, body and souls and love your neighbors as yourself?

Thank God that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and that no man can come to God the Father except through Him.

Don't you see , He gave us the way, Himself! God says I know you can't keep my laws, sin has a stranglehold upon you,it is deceiving and enticing, but I made a way, put your faith in me, I will deliver you out of death into life.

Those who believe that all “good people” will be saved, no matter their religious affiliation believe in man's works, that will keep you from Jesus!

There are none good, we need to be constantly reminded of this, and none of us would love or even serve God apart from His grace.

Titus .3.3-11 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Where to find Peace

Pursuing peace .joy, and happiness seems to be the way to go, after all if we had these things life would be grand.

The problem is if you're pursuing these goals, and not God you will never obtain them, for they are only found in Him.

We may find temporary peace, joy and happiness but everlasting peace , joy and happiness is what we need to live in a world scarred by death, destruction and pain.

Whether your goals are temporary, or eternal determines where you look for peace, joy and happiness.

Jonathan Edwards said this. "This is the main difference between the joy of the hypocrite and the joy of the true saint. The former rejoices in himself, the latter rejoices in God”

Psalm 16:2-11 I say to the Lord , “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips. The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

The Love of God

God's love is greater than our understanding, He loves all of mankind for the scriptures tell us,

Romans 5:6-8 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

That us is everybody. Period. Yet His love is not accepted by all of us.

John 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

There are many who reject God, God has not rejected them, He says whosoever will, then He says if you do not believe, that's your choice.

Once you do believe, God loves you so much He will not leave you as you are, He starts changing us from the inside out. To be like Christ.

Romans 8:28-29 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Some people don't like this transformation at first, and fight God but He is getting rid of that old sin nature in us, which like a cancer grows in us, but Jesus is the cure.

You will not be the same after you receive Him into your life.

Philippians 1:6-11 ESV And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Wherever you are today if you feel God calling, if you know God's working, if you're struggling with life, know you have God who is working and waiting on you. Today would be a great day to talk with Him, and let Him embrace you where you are.

The Buck stops with you!

Children very seldom take responsibility for something they have done wrong, and while sometimes their response can be cute or funny this action spills over into society as they get older. The difference between a child and a mature person is their willingness to take personal responsibility for their actions.

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

God's word teaches us the concept of personal responsibility: Ezekiel 18:20“The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them”

Personal responsibility is tied to the law of you reap what you sow.

Galatians 6:7-9 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Isaiah 3:10-11 “Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done”

God clearly defined right and wrong, and His people are expected to do what is right. This has been the case ever since the beginning in the Garden of Eden, when Adam was given a specific command and expected to obey it.

God held Adam and Eve accountable, expelled them from the garden and they eventually tasted physical death because of this. Genesis 3.

God expects us to take personal responsibility in every area of our lives.

 Able-bodied people should work for their food.2 Thessalonians 3:10“The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat”

 Men are to take responsibility for providing for their households . 1 Timothy 5:7-8 Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Today's society in America people do all they can to avoid personal responsibility through blame-shifting. From the small town America to the nations capital, personal responsibility is avoided like the plague in our nation of political correctness.

God sees and knows what our hearts attitude is, when mankind chooses to deceive and shift blame, God knows.

From the beginning Adam tried to blame Eve for his sin , then God, Eve blamed the Serpent (Genesis 3). Cain tried to dodge responsibility (Genesis 4:9). Pilate attempted to absolve his guilt in the matter of the crucifixion of Christ: “‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said. ‘It is your responsibility!’” (Matthew 27:24).

Every attempt to pass the buck is foolish. Numbers 32:23“....You may be sure that your sin will find you out” .

Every person has to take personal responsibility to repent and believe in Jesus, and when you don't God says your still responsible.

John 3:16-19 “For God so loved  the world,  that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not  perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

Salvation is found in Christ, alone. Judgment is held for those who reject Christ, rewards are given to those who have accepted Christ.

Harry Truman had a sign on his desk as President that simply said " the buck stops here"

Every person will stand before God one day and give account on their words and deeds, I wonder what will your response be?

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

God's response is already recorded.

Matthew 25:31-46

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him,   then he will sit on his glorious throne.  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’  Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’  And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’    “Then he will say to those on his left,   ‘Depart from me, you   cursed, into   the eternal fire prepared for   the devil and his angels.  For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,  I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’  Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’  Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’  And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”