The Word

A complete harmony of all four Gospel accounts of the burial and resurrection, with grouped witness testimonies and ten Old Testament prophecies fulfilled.

There is no doubt, that one of the most debated issues, in modern Christianity, is the issue of the security of salvation given to the believer by God the Father through Jesus. The views for security and those who would argue salvation can be lost, are held sincerely. Therefore, in this study, I wish to honour those sincere believers, and endeavour to set out the arguments for both views fairly and clearly. I must be open from the start, that I stand in the place of believing salvation for the true believer is secure. In this I will comment on Scripture in that light, to ensure the context and other Scripture is brought to bear. In this I want to avoid any charge of ‘text proofing’ but allow the Scriptures to establish the truth. We start with a look at the Tanach/Old Testament and look at Ezekiel: “But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity and does according to all the detestable acts that the wicked man does, will he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done will be remembered; for his trespass that he trespassed and for his sin that he has sinned, for them he will die.” Ezekiel 18:24 (TLV) “When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he will die in it.” Ezekiel 33:18 (TLV) These verses are ones used to support the lack of security of salvation. It is important to put these verses into context. The Jewish people were arguing over the sins of the fathers being laid on the sons and deeming it unfair. “Yet you say, ‘Adonai’s way is unfair!’ Hear now, house of Israel! Is My way not fair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? Ezekiel 18:25 (TLV) They were then wanting to have their own good works accounted to them and thus God not judging their bad actions. They were believing themselves to be righteous in their own eyes. God makes clear His merciful heart: ““Do I delight at all in the death of the wicked?” It is a declaration of Adonai. “Rather, should he not return from his ways, and live?”” Ezekiel 18:23 (TLV) As we know from Isaiah, good works avail nothing in terms of salvation: “We are all dirty with sin. Even our good works are not pure. They are like bloodstained menstrual rags. We are all like dead leaves. Our sins have carried us away like wind.” Isaiah 64:6 (Literal rendering) The prophet’s word re brutal but clear. The woman’s monthly period is a sign that the womb has not been fruitful. The people who look to good works for salvation will find it fruitless too. As Habakuk the prophet made clear: “For the vision is still for an appointed time, but it speaks to the end, and it does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it; because it will surely come. It will not tarry. Behold, the soul of him is lifted up, and is not upright; but the just shall live by his faith.” Habakuk 2:3-4 (MKJV) This is the Gospel message for true salvation in Jesus. At the end of the day, those who have truly trusted in Jesus, by faith, will be saved. This is why Peter writing to Jewish people declared: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, make all the more effort to make your calling and election certain—for if you keep doing these things, you will never stumble. For in this way entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Messiah Yeshua, will be richly provided for you.”  2 Peter 1:10-11 (TLV) We then turn to the Gospels and consider what they say on the matter in hand. We consider Matthew’s Gospel and there are four Scriptures that are to note in the argument against security of salvation. They are Matthew 7:21-23, 10:22, 12:32, and 24:13. Also, Mark 13:13. Luke 8:13, 12:45-46 and John 15:6 need to be considered. In Matthew chapter seven, the verses noted above speak of those who come at the end and claim: “….‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, and drive out demons in Your name, and perform many miracles in Your name?’...” v.22 They are told they were never known by the Lord, because of their lawlessness. The simple act of acknowledging Jesus as Lord, without true faith in Him is vacuous. It has no meaning. This is what the sons of Sceva discovered: “But some traveling Jewish exorcists also tried to invoke the name of the Lord Yeshua, saying, “I charge you by the Yeshua whom Paul preaches.” Seven sons of a Jewish ruling kohen named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “I know Yeshua and I know about Paul, but who are you?”” Act 19:13-15 (TLV) Even the demonic recognised false claims. In Matthew chapter ten, we see it said that in times of persecution, those who stand firm will be saved.  This is also reflected in chapter 24. This is also in Mark 13:13 and Luke 8:13. The thought is that those who do not will be lost. This needs to be understood in the light of other Scriptures. Not everyone who is in church or who professes to be followers of the Lord are true believers. John writes: “Children, it is the last hour. Just as you heard that the anti-messiah is coming, even now many anti-messiahs have come—by this we know that it is the last hour. They left us, but they didn’t really belong to us. If they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But they left us so it became clear that none of them belongs to us. 1 John 2:18-19 (TLV) Jude is even more blunt on the matter, specifically on the common salvation of believers: “Dear friends, although I have been eager to write to you about our common salvation, I now feel compelled instead to write to encourage you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. For certain men have secretly slipped in among you – men who long ago were marked out for the condemnation I am about to describe – ungodly men who have turned the grace of our God into a license for evil and who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” Jude 1:3-4 (NET) “These men are dangerous reefs at your love feasts, feasting without reverence, feeding only themselves. They are waterless clouds, carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit – twice dead, uprooted; wild sea waves, spewing out the foam of their shame; wayward stars for whom the utter depths of eternal darkness have been reserved.” Jude 1:12-13 (NET) This is the reality of the visible church. That is the church we see on earth. However, God sees the universal unseen Church, in which the true believers stand firm. Chapter 12:32 is about those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. This is often referred to as ‘the unforgiveable sin’. It has caused so many to have unnecessary concern. The context is vital here. This is when the Pharisees were accusing Jesus that it was not the Holy Spirit at work, but that Jesus was in league with Satan. This sin is solely related to that one time. We are comforted by Scripture in the matter: “Therefore, I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:3 (EMTV) Of course, as we have noted, many can say ‘Lord’ but this is not Paul’s point. He is referring to the heartfelt sincere believer. It is not just using the name that is important, it is that it comes from the heart. Again Paul: “…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and you believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart, one believes resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.” Romans 10:9-10 (EMTV) You see, it is not just using the mouth. It must be coming from a sincere heart. The ones who fall away and are, in heart unrepented, were never true believers, as shown by John and Jude. We turn to Luke 12. Here we are in a Parable of the unjust servant who beats fellow servants. The master says of hm, “appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.”. Context is of huge importance. There are two attitudes highlighted: “And the Lord said, "Who then is a faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?” Luke 12:42 (ESV) And “And that servant who knew his master's will and did not get ready or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many blows.” Luke 12:47 (ESV) The first servant was faithful and was prepared for the Master’s return. The latter was not faithful nor ready or to do the Master’s will. Yet, there is a third servant “But he who did not know…” He was punished but not condemned. This again shows the grace of God. The faithful is saved and the ignorant punished and forgiven. Only the one who knew the will of the Master and deliberately ignored it, was condemned. It is the prophet Isaiah who helps us understand: “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV) This brings us back to wilfulness and contrasts to God’s mercy. The writer to the Hebrews brings this home: For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Hebrews 10:26-27 (ESV) God can reveal Himself and show His Son as The Truth. But if having that knowledge and it is rejected, then judgement comes. This Scripture, as I understand it, is referring to those who hear the Gospel understand it. They may well even know of their sin as an affront to God and yet the choose not to make that step of faith needed for salvation. Scripture is replete with such warnings. Matthew 13 recounts the parable of the Sower and how the seeds are scattered. One grows but the others die or are snatched away. John is clear: “The one practicing sin is of the devil, because the devil sins from the beginning. For this the Son of God was revealed, that He might undo the works of the devil. Everyone who has been begotten of God does not sin, because His seed abides in him, and he is not able to sin, because he has been born of God.” 1 John 3:8-9  We need to be clear here. The ability to sin is to continue in sin by choice. John has already made clear in the earlier chapter how the believer is to act: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous that He may forgive us the sins, and may cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9 (LITV) In this John again is looking back to what he knows about Jesus. His Gospel tells us a very important truth: “Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who hears My Word, and believes the One who has sent Me, has everlasting life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” John 5:24 (LIVT) The truly saved, born again, believer has within them the Holy Spirit. When there is a stumble by the believer, the true believer is immediately sensitive to this and repents immediately. Turning to John in chapter 15 we read: “I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one abiding in Me, and I in him, this one bears much fruit, because apart from Me you are not able to execute, nothing. Unless one remains in Me, he is cast out as the branch and is dried up; and they gather and throw them into a fire, and they are burned. John 15:5-6 (LITV) Here we see the principle of ‘abiding’. This the one who decides to accept the offer of salvation and through baptism is placed into Jesus. There the believer remains secure. The one who simply ‘visits’ to have a look but does not enter in by faith, deliberately rejecting Jesus, is the one who is cast out. Hosea speaks: “Those dwelling in his shadow will return. They will grow grain and bud like a vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim: “What more are idols to me? I have responded and observed Him. I will be like a luxuriant cypress tree. From me will be found Your fruit.” Who is wise? Let him discern these things. Who is intelligent? Let him know them. For the ways of Adonai are straight, and the just walk in them, but the wicked stumble in them.” Hosea 14:8-10 When we look at Paul in Romans, we find similar thought about branches. In Romans 11:20-22, Paul writes of the Jewish people of that day who rejected Jesus being cut off. His warning was to the arrogant Gentiles, that they must be careful, “..perhaps He may not spare you either.” A similar idea is written in Colossians: “..if indeed you continue in the faith, having been founded and firm and not drifting away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was proclaimed to all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.” Colossians 1:23 (EMTV) This again brings us back to being firm. Paul also addresses being firm in 1 Corinthians 15:1-2. If you are not firm and anchored in Jesus, then you will drift away. This thought is also echoed in 1 Corinthians 10:11-12. Therefore, we return to the question of how the person started out. The Sower parable again comes to mind. Has the seed taken root? If not, then the person is rootless and not grafted into the True Vine (John 15:5-6). Surely, the Hebrew writer speaks to this: “Thus God, wanting to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His counsel, guaranteed it by an oath, in order that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong encouragement, who have fled to take hold of the hope being set before us; which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and secure, and which enters into the inner side of the veil, where the Forerunner has entered in on behalf of us, even Jesus, having become a High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:17-20 (EMTV)   It cannot be clearer, that for the true believer it can be said, “..we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and secure..”. In Galatians 5:4, Paul speaks of justification: “You have become estranged from Christ, you who are justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” Galatians 5:4 Again, context is so important. Paul is arguing about how we are justified. True justification comes from faith. “For we by the Spirit eagerly await for the hope of righteousness by faith.” Galatians 5:5 (EMTV) Those who rely on circumcision and the law, the main thrust of Galatians, are not saved. Paul made this clear to the Roman church, quoting Habakuk: “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."” Romans 1:17 (EMTV) Therefore, falling away from grace is not loss of salvation, as salvation had not been received yet by faith. The grace is seen in the fact that the Lord reveals Himself to the lost, the sorrow is that it is rejected or it is allowed to be stolen by the demonic or anti-Christs who have gone out into the world. This is also addressed by Paul, when we turn to the letters to Timothy, which needs examination. (1 Timothy 4:1 and 2 Timothy 2:12). The first address those who are abandoning faith because of demonic influences and the latter with those who disown Jesus in this life. In the former text, as we noted before, the seed has been stolen by the thief and robber (John 10:1). As we will see later it is the security of the true believers that safeguards them as they truly put their faith in Christ and act on it, showing the fruits of repentance. That is what we find in Luke when the unbelievers are confronted: “Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.” Luke 3:8 (ESV) Then we turn to those who do not acknowledge Jesus in this life (2 Timothy 2:12) also Matthew 10:33. Again context is so important. The Timothy verse in context reads: “Therefore, I endure everything for the sake of the chosen, so they might obtain the salvation that is in Messiah Yeshua with eternal glory. Trustworthy is the saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. 2 Timothy 2:10-13 (TLV) “If we died with Him..” is the key phrase. If we have died with Him in sincere faithful baptism, the promise is that we will live with Him. The Matthew Scripture is of further instruction: “So do not fear; you are worth more than many sparrows. Therefore whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will also acknowledge him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:31-33 (TLV)  In this context, the disciples are being sent out to spread the Gospel to Israel. Jesus has made clear in the account of the sparrow how valuable they are. They are in His care. If we then look to Peter’s denial (John 18:15ff) later, we see that that denial did not lead to Peter being lost. This because despite not having the fullness of the Holy Spirit, Peter was still devoted to Jesus. This is acknowledged by Jesus, when He confirms Peter’s restoration (John 21:15ff). We can bring much Scripture to bear on this to give understanding. “Then Yeshua said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 16:14-25 (TLV) There is the point. Those who do not deny themselves and have not taken up the cross, cannot be disciples of Jesus. If they do not deny Jesus they find life. Then we have the Jude Scripture mentioned already, These false disciples deny the Lord not only by word but by behaviour. Paul wrote to Titus about such people: “They claim to know God but their deeds deny Him. They are despicable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.” Titus 1:16  John again has encouragement: “I know where you live—where Satan’s throne is. Yet you continue to hold firm to My name, and you did not deny your faith in Me even in the days of Antipas, My faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan resides.” Revelation 2:13 (HRB) The writer to the Hebrews makes clear those who will be denied: “How much more severe do you think the punishment will be for the one who has trampled Ben-Elohim underfoot, and has regarded as unholy the blood of the covenant by which he was made holy, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews 10:29 (HRB) The letter to the Hebrews has six references to the matter of insecurity of salvation (Hebrews 2:1-3, 3:12-14, 6:4-6, 10:26-27, 10:35-36 and 12:14-15). These are serious warnings and need to be understood. First the overall context of the letter is understood to be to the Jewish people who had professed the had accepted Jesus as the Messiah. The letter has over sixty-seven references or allusions to the Jewish Tanach/Old Testament. That demonstrates the thrust of the letter is Jewish and for Jewish instruction. What the writer is addressing is the conflict that was happening in the hearts of these Jewish people. They were under persecution and trial from their own Jewish community and families who had not turned to Jesus. They were also being mis-treated by Gentiles. In this there was the question of returning to the Jewish faith. This echoes the Exodus and the experience of the wilderness. The Jews having been brought out of bondage, grumbled and complained constantly to Moses. They had no faith in God’s deliverance. Therefore, it says that ‘..not one of those who provoked Me shall see it [the promised land]..”. (Read the full account in Numbers 14). Only those faithful men and their families entered (Caleb, Joshua). Indeed, it is the Hebrew writer calls this to our attention: “,,so I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter into My rest." Hebrews 3:11 (HRB) This is also referred to in Psalm 95:7-11. Here we see that despite the cutting off of that generation, there is still a Rock of Salvation: “O come, let us sing unto the LORD; let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.” Psalm 95:1  Those who are on that Rock will never be shaken. As is written|; “He is like a man who built a house and dug deep and laid the foundation on a rock; and a flood occurring, the stream burst against that house and could not shake it; for it was founded on a rock.” Luke 6:48 Those who place themselves on the Rock Christ Jesus, are secure and will be like Caleb and Joshua, they will reach the Promised Land. James makes clear in his letter that faith and action are bedfellows and must come together. He too, writing to Jewish believers, also warns about straying from the truth. The comments on Hebrews applies here. Peter then also writes this: “For if—after escaping the world’s pollutions through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Yeshua the Messiah—they again become entangled in these things and are overcome, the end for them has become worse than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after learning about it, to turn back from the holy commandment passed on to them.” 2 Peter 2:20-21 (TLV) This study has covered much of the context of this. Peter, the Apostle to the Jews, is writing to Jews. The ones addressed had been shown the way of righteousness but were now being warned to test their faith – was it a true faith? This is what he pointed to in the opening chapter of this letter. Note also this verse at the head of the chapter under discussion: “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies. They will even deny the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their immoral ways, and as a result the way of the truth will be maligned.” 2 Peter 2:1-2 (TLV) Here we are back in the references made to Jude’s letter. It is a constant theme in considering the insecurity of salvation. Such insecurity comes from the lack of true faith in Jesus for salvation. It comes for those who enter in but are false in their faith. It comes for those who seek religion and not the true faith that is called for in Scripture. There are references in Revelation which suggest insecurity but again these have been covered here in other places. The controversial point comes in understanding Revelation. My contention is that it is a revelation by John to the Jewish people about their covenant with God and its fulfilment. We will now turn to look at the Scriptures that confirm the security of salvation for the true believer. In this we start with the Psalmist, who in a Psalm about the preservation of the holy ones (saints), writes: “For Adonai loves justice and does not abandon His godly ones. They will be preserved forever, but the seed of the wicked will be cut off.” Psalm 37:28 (TLV) Here is a sure and certain promise: God will preserve His Godly ones forever. In Isaiah God speaks to Israel, and those same promises apply to God’s faithfulness to His faithful people (Isaiah 43:1, 46:4, and 54:8-10). In Isaiah 54:8 we read: “In a surge of anger I hid My face from you a moment, but with everlasting kindness [chesed] I will have compassion on you,” says Adonai your Redeemer.” (TLV) The word ‘chesed’ is a word God often uses when talking about His loving kindness. It speaks of the Great Power – God, who cannot help but have pity and love for a lower power – mankind. It is that which is the security of our salvation through our Redeemer – Jesus. Jeremiah also reminds us of this chesed: “From afar Adonai appeared to me.” “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness [chesed].”” Jeremiah 31:3 (TLV) This assurance is carried through into the New Testament, to which we turn. The greatest testimony to our security must surely come from Jesus. In John’s Gospel we find the direct words of Jesus on the matter. Looking at John’s Gospel, we find this most well-known verse of has a clear unambiguous statement: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (EMTV) The central point is that faith in Jesus is so that believers ‘should not perish’. It is important to speak to the underlying language. ‘Should not’ expresses an absolute denial in both Greek and Hebrew. In other words there is no possibility of perishing. This is further confirmed by John later in the chapter: “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; and he who does not believe the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." John 3:36 (EMTV) See also John 6:47, where this is also confirmed. Faith in Jesus brings possession of eternal life. John brings this home with the inspired Word of God: "Most assuredly I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” John 5:24 (EMTV) Here we see that true faith in Jesus, has the assurance that the believer will not come under judgement. In fact, the believer has passed from death to life. This can only mean that the person once dead in sin has come to life and indeed, life to the full (John 10:10). Then John has Jesus’ great encouragement: “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” John 6:37 (ESV) For the one who truly and sincerely through faith, are gathered up in Jesus, has this promise from the lips of Jesus, as to their security in Him. This is more concretely assured in a following verses: “I didn't come from heaven to do what I want! I came to do what the Father wants me to do. He sent me, and he wants to make certain that none of the ones he has given me will be lost. Instead, he wants me to raise them to life on the last day.” John 6:38-39 (CEV) Verse 40 also continues this reassurance. Therefore, here is a certainty from the Lord Himself. God will make certain that true believers will never be lost. (See also John 17:12) These preceding verses are brought together by Jesus in a wonderful and glorious declaration: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give to them eternal life, and they shall never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and the Father are one." John 10:27-30 (CEV) Can it be any clearer? The true committed believer who has heard the voice of Jesus, the great Shepherd, has eternal life. They shall not perish. They will never be snatched out of Jesus’ hand. The assurance is wrapped up in the Father’s promises. Jesus and the Father are one in this matter. Then we turn to John’s writing further, Holy Spirit inspired encouragement. Jesus is standing at the grave of Lazurus. His sister is concerned about her brother and his being dead and not understanding what Jesus had said, "Your brother will rise again.". Then He speaks very clearly: “Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He that believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world." John 11:25-27 Jesus points her to eternity. Natural death will come to all human beings. This is as a result of the Adamic fall. However, after natural death, every person will face one of two things: eternal life or the second death (Revelation 20:6). The matter will be decided by the person’s choice whilst alive. For the true confessor, that Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God, and who has placed their faith in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, will not face the second death and shall never die – that is have eternal life (See also John 17:24). In turning in to the Apostle Paul we again see a pattern of confirmation of the security of the true committed believer. In the great letter of Romans, Paul sets the whole basis of salvation. In the justification of the believer through the blood of Jesus: “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” Romans 5:9 (ERV) The Tanach, or Old Testament, provided the blood sacrifice of animals for justification before a holy God. This would have to be renewed every year on the day of atonement. Their annual renewal was their guarantee of justification. However, through the propitiation of Jesus’ sacrificial death, there is the permanent justification for those who believe. In Hebrews it is written: “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.  For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” Hebrews 9:11-14 (ESV)  Note, “..thus securing an eternal redemption”. It is again certain that Jesus secured an eternal redemption for all true believers, through His blood.  This is also clear from Paul when he writes: “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. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” Romans 8:29-30 This needs unpacking. There is the Calvinist view that states God has chosen who will be saved in advance. There is the Armenian view who place human choice above God’s sovereign actions. It is my view that both fail to grasp the wider more gracious intentions of God. If we turn to Psalm 139 we read: “Your eyes saw me when I was unformed, and in Your book were written the days that were formed—when not one of them had come to be. Psalm 139:16 (TLV) God knows each individual. In His Word we see how His foresight works with the prophet Jeremiah for instance, who was called before he was born (Jeremiah 1:5). Furthermore, it needs to be understood that the predestination is not individual, it is for those in The Christ: “ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Messiah. He chose us in the Messiah before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before Him in love. He predestined us for adoption as sons through Messiah Yeshua, in keeping with the good pleasure of His will - to the glorious praise of His grace, with which He favoured us through the One He loves!” Ephesians 1:3-6 (TLV) Therefore, for those who have responded with true faith, to the offer of salvation, and baptised into Jesus the Christ, are included in the promise of predestination. We can accept or reject the gift, but once accepted, it will never be lost. A glimpse of this is seen in the encounter between Jesus and Mary (Miriam in Hebrew): “…but only one thing is necessary. For Miriam has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42 (TLV) It is in this spirit that Paul was inspired to write: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Messiah Yeshua.  Romans 8:1 (TLV) And I will quote this in full: “ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Truly He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he condemning? It is Christ who has died, but rather also who is raised, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, "For Your sake we are killed all the day long. We are counted as sheep of slaughter."  But in all these things we more than conquer through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39 (MKJV) This is of great comfort as to the security of the true believer. Their faithfulness to God in the Messiah, even through the suffering and disappointments of life, will still see them triumphant and secure. This is further underlined by Paul when he writes: “..being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ..” Philippians 1:6 (MKJV)   Paul’s confidence of God’s work being completed in us until Jesus’ return is a great security. God it is at work in us. God it is who will see us through. Again Paul reaffirms this confidence: “He shall also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called to the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:8 (MKJV) Paul also reminds his true believing readers, that they are not storm-tossed strangers. They are children of God the Father who has made them heirs. It is the Holy Spirit that bears us witness: “But when the fullness of time came, God sent out His Son, born of a woman and born under law - to free those under law, so we might receive adoption as sons. Now because you are sons, God sent the Ruach of His Son into our hearts, who cries out, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son - and if a son, also an heir through God.” Galatians 4:4-7 (TLV) This is a wonderful truth – true believers are children of God. This is something that is sealed by God through His Holy Spirit. “After you heard the message of truth the Good News of your salvation - and when you put your trust in Him, you were sealed with the promised Ruach ha-Kodesh. He is the guarantee of our inheritance, until the redemption of His possession - to His glorious praise! Ephesians 1:13-14 (TLV) Paul brings home this principle of being sealed to the Ephesians in another place, with a warning: “Do not grieve the Ruach ha-Kodesh of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30 (TLV) The grieving of the Ruach ha-Kodesh, the Holy Spirit, is not an unforgiveable sin. It can be dealt with by coming to God in humble contrition and repentance, to receive forgiveness. More than this we have a promise again from Paul that it is God who will keep us secure: “And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (ESV) That this is the work of God in Christ is confirmed by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 & 2 Thessalonians 3:3. These confirm He will do it. In looking forward to the return of Jesus, Paul again is confident in his salvation, as we are to be. “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:20-21 (ESV) We can also see this in Colossians 3:3-4. Because we are ‘hidden’ in Christ, when He appears so will we. This is a confidence born on the knowledge that we are not saved by works but faith through grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) This gift from God is truly a gift that will never be taken back. We are assured of this principle by Paul, again. “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” Romans 11:29 (ESV) Some final thoughts on Paul before we move to other Scriptures. In 2 Timothy we find Paul’s assurance that is also ours: “For which cause I also suffer these things; but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I have been persuaded that He is able to guard that which I have committed to Him until that Day.” 2 Timothy 1:12 (MKJV) Paul had committed his whole life. As a Jew, he had given up everything to be a faithful follower of the Lord Jesus, his Messiah. He was certain that having done that God would protect him and he would arrive safely home. Why was this confidence so strong? He tells us: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” 2 Timothy 2:13 (EMTV) Paul again makes clear the security of the true believer: “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and will deliver me safely into His heavenly Kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:18 (TLV) What a confidence this is. God will never deny Himself or His Word. He will deliver us safely home. As we turn to other Scripture, we find the writer to the Hebrews state very clearly, the truth of our security: “Therefore He is also able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, always living to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25 (TLV) ‘Save completely’ is unequivocal. The Greek is clear in that it stresses that the salvation is perfectly kept by God. The same writer assures us, that He will never leave or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5). It is in the same letter the sacrifice has made those who have been made holy by Jesus are made perfect forever. (Hebrews 10:14) Peter tells us we are ‘shielded’ by God until the return of Jesus. (1 Peter 1:3-5) Again Peter, as Paul does, writes that it is God who will keep us secure. (1 Peter 5:10) What Peter advises us is that we are to make sure of our election, as stated before. Often asked is how can I know for certain I am saved? Let Scripture answer: “All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other." John 13:35 (MKJV) “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance..” Matthew 3:8 (MKJV) “Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you shall know them. Matthew 7:19-20 (MKJV) These Scriptures guide us. If we are true believers, there will be a genuine love of God’s people. In our lives we will show forth fruit that demonstrate a changed life that loves, cares and has compassion for others, especially the lost. When people see us and our character and behaviour, then they will see the light of Christ and be attracted to know Him.  There are those in Scripture who appeared to be true believers but were clearly not. John wrote: “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they were of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out so that it might be revealed that they were not all of us.” 1 John 2:19 (MKJV) There will be those who have appeared to fall away but they were never truly committed believers. However, there are some who appear to fall away but they can be restored. (Galatians 6:1) Therefore, we must be careful in our discernment as to which are which. Let us end this study with the comfort and encouragement of Jude, to those who were being tempted by false ones: “Now to Him being able to keep you without stumbling, and to set you before His glory without blemish, with unspeakable joy..” Jude 1:24 (MKJV) AMEN!  

Introduction: This Question is at the Heart of Christian Faith The doctrine of the Triune God is an essential and unique one, for the true Christian faith. It is also much misunderstood. Christianity is a monotheistic faith. Muslims believe it to be polytheism. Jehovah’s Witnesses simply deny it. Some Christians tend to avoid it as too complicated and not relevant for the practical outworking of their faith. There are even those who are genuine in their faith struggle over how one God can be three revelations, Father, Son and Holy Spirit? We cannot dismiss any of these, but as Peter wrote:   “... in your hearts honour Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect..” – 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)   This study will take the question with all seriousness. It will not pretend the question of a Triune God is simple. it is certainly a deep mystery of Christian faith. However, it will attempt to show that it is nether irrational, unbiblical and a later invention. The truth is, that the Triune God is the only way to make sense of everything the Bible tells us about God. The question is addressed with two convictions that are held together: humility (we are finite beings wrestling to understand an infinite God) and confidence in our faith (God has given us the Scriptures, in which He has revealed Himself, and what he has revealed is trustworthy and with the Holy Spirit leading we can discover the truth). I do not use the term ‘Trinity’ or ‘Persons’. These do not sit right with the revelations of God in the Bible. Rather, I use the term Triune God and Revelations. This is more in keeping with the Scriptures. For example, ‘God had revealed himself’ (Genesis 35:7 and elsewhere). ‘to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’, (Referring to Jesus (John 12:38). ‘But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit’ (1 Corinthians 2:10). I acknowledge that personal pronouns are used, but these are for the human reader to be able to understand the text and activity of God. The only revelation that is truly able to referred to as ‘person’, is the Lord Jesus, as He walked the earth in human form. Both God the Father and the Holy Spirit are spirit and do not have a personal body. Furthermore, the use of ‘person’ does give rise to the idea of three gods and hence the criticism from others. A Definition The doctrine of the Triune God teaches: There is one God, who eternally exists as three distinct revelations: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each one is fully and equally God, yet each are distinct from the others. One in essence; three in the revelations that are revealed in Scripture. Part 1: God Is Absolutely One — The Bedrock of Scripture Any discussion of the Triune God must begin exactly where the Bible begins: with the absolute, uncompromising oneness of God. However, before we get to the meet of the question, let us understand words that are used of God in Scripture. In the opening verse of the Bible re read:   “In the beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth;” Genesis 1:1 (HRB) The word Elohim is a plural word. Throughout the creation account, it is used. This is further emphasised in the creation of man: “And Elohim said, let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creepers creeping on the earth.” Genesis 1:26 (HRB) The Hebrew Shema — the great confession of Israel — speaks loudly through both Testaments: “Hear, O Israel, YAHWEH our Elohim is YAHWEH echad [one].”  -Deuteronomy 6:4 (HRB) Echad (one), the Hebrew word, used here reflects a compound oneness. When the Scriptures talks of marriage the word for the unity of two is also echad. (Genesis 2:24) When a sole solitary one is intended, yachid would be used. We must be clear. This does not mean polytheism – the claim of multiple gods. The Scriptures are clear that the Christian faith holds to monotheism. In that it enriches the Christan faith as it demonstrates the wondrous God who is able to reveal Himself in ways that are to the benefit of humanity. God as Spirit cannot be seen. The Hebrew Roots Bible brings this out: “Elohim is spirit, and the ones worshiping Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24 (HRB) Indeed, no man can see God and live: “And He said, “You are not able to see My face; for no man can see Me and live.”” Exodus 33:20 (HRB) Yet God did meet man face to face in a number of places: Check these Scriptures as examples: Genesis 18, Exodus 33:11, Deuteronomy 34:10, Numbers 12:8, These visitations are known as Theophanes, when God appears in a form, as a man. This is the eternal, divine and pre-existent Son of God, who came into the world as a man, in order to reveal the Father, and to carry out the plan of Salvation. As with the Holy Spirit, His presence is seen all over Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. “..and the earth being without form and empty, and darkness on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of Elohim moving gently on the face of the waters” Genesis 1:2 (HRB) Jesus Himself speaks of the Holy Spirit with personal pronouns: “,,the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, because He abides with you and shall be in you.” John 14:17  This again demonstrates the grace of God, who is enthroned in the heavens, sends the Holy Spirit, to allow human beings to live out the life of God on the earth. It must be stressed this is not Modalism, that is three persons with different roles. It is the same one God, who reveals Himself through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Neither is it Tritheism, that is three gods who cooperate. Rather it is a wonderous unity of the One God, who reveals Himself to humanity in a more personal way than we can ever conceive. Philo, a Jewish philosopher who was around before the birth of Jesus, in discussing the matter, said of it, that it ‘resembles an enigma’. This is indeed the case. The concept of the God we worship is indeed a mystery, beyond human comprehension. We can only be guided in our understanding by the Scriptures. Jesus said: “I and the Father are one.” John 10:30  Paul writes “Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.”  — 1 Corinthians 8:6 (NIV) “For YAHWEH is one (echad), also there is one Mediator of YAHWEH and of men, the Man Messiah Yeshua...”  — 1 Timothy 2:5 (NIV) Part 2: Scripture Reveals Three Who Are Fully God While the word “Trinity” or the term ‘triune God’, do not appear in Scripture (neither does the word “Bible”), they are terms that help us wrestle with the concept under discussion. The truth is that the idea of the Triune God is seen throughout both Testaments, producing a rich picture of a great God.  All the writers of the Scriptures were committed Jewish men (Luke may be an exception, but he too was committed to the God of Jesus). devoted to God, and latterly to Jesus, were monotheists. Yet they all, without exception, speak of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each as fully divine and yet, as distinct from one another. The Father Is God In both Testaments, the God of Israel: the Creator, Covenant-maker, and Sovereign Lord, is addressed as Father, particularly by Jesus himself. Jesus spoke of “my Father” and “your Father”. There is demonstrated in the Gospels, an intimacy and authority that indeed scandalised His hearers (John 5:18). The hearers of the time, could not grasp the awesomeness of what Jesus was teaching. It is written: “And this is everlasting life, that they may know You, the Elohim of truth, and Yeshua Messiah, whom You have sent.”  — John 17:3 (HRB) The Son Is God Jesus as the Son of God is the doctrine that challenges many. It is also the most crucial. The New Testament is very clear: Jesus of Nazareth is not merely a great teacher, prophet, or even the highest angel. He is God incarnate revealed to the world. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim.... And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.”  — John 1:1, 14 (HRB)  John’s opening, as captured by the Hebrew Roots Bible, which captures the original language used, is staggering. Even in the Greek we see the Word (Logos) was distinct from God (“with God” in a relationship) and yet was God (“the Word was God”: divine in nature). Both truths are stated in the same verse. There exists so called ‘christian’ groups, who would deny the very words that appear in this Scripture. “He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”  — Colossians 1:15–17 (RSVA) Remember Paul was a well-trained Pharisee. Equipped with a detailed knowledge of the Jewish Scriptures. Yet Paul attributes to Jesus the Messiah the very act of creation, which the Jewish Tanach points exclusively to God as creator (Genesis 1, Isaiah 44:24). This is not exalted language for a creature; it is the language of deity. “For He is the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His being, and upholding all things by the power of His Word; having made purification of our sins through Himself, He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high..”  — Hebrews 1:3 (HRB) We also have the internal dialogue of God Himself, again from the Tanach, that confirms the previous verse: “A declaration of YAHWEH to my Adonai: Sit at My right hand, until I place Your enemies as Your footstool.” Psalm 110:1 (HRB) Then we have the Jewish Thomas’ exclamation when he meets the risen Jesus. The sight of a resurrected Jesus, crucified as a man, now raised in glory, captures it perfectly: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Jesus does not reject the either title but He confirms and commends his faith. The Holy Spirit Is God The Holy Spirit is wrongly often referred to as “it” in popular speech. The error in this is to suggest that the Holy Spirit is just a force or influence. Scripture is clear: the Spirit is a direct revelation of God Himself having intellect, will, and emotion – and fully divine. The shocking account in Acts is clear: “But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart for you to lie to the Holy Spirit, and for you to keep back for yourself from the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain yours? And after it was sold, was it not in your control? Why have you purposed this thing in your heart? You did not lie to men but to God." — Acts 5:3–4 (EMTV) This is direct and deliberate: lying to the Holy Spirit is lying to God. Paul warns the Corinthians: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” — 1 Corinthians 3:16 (EMTV) Paul makes clear that God dwells in believers because the Spirit of God is within them. If That were not so, then Paul’s argument that the believer’s body is a temple, the dwelling place of the divine, would be false. However, as we know, the Scriptures are God breathed and profitable for doctrine, (2 Timothy 3:16) which is being studied here Part 3: The Three Are Distinct The three Revelations are not merely three names in a book for the same God. Nether or they three masks God wears at different times, as if in a Greek play. No. They are truly, personally distinct. We see this most clearly in the baptism of Jesus: “And having been baptised, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon Him. And behold, a voice came out of the heavens, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I have found delight."’”  — Matthew 3:16–17 (EMTV) In one single moment, the one God is revealed as the unique echad: the Son in the water, the Spirit being seen descending, and the Father speaking from heaven. Three simultaneous, distinct presences — and yet one God. This scene alone destroys the views of Modalism, discussed earlier, and shows their views to be impossible. The relationship between the Revelations of the one God is also relational and powerful: This is demonstrated in the Father sending the Son (John 3:16); the Son praying to the Father (John 17); the Father and Son sending the Spirit (John 14:26, 15:26); the Spirit interceding for believers before the Father (Romans 8:26–27). A single divine Person cannot send, pray to, or intercede before Himself – the conclusion must arrive at the truth of the One God of our faith. The Great Commission — One Name, Three Revelations In Matthew 28:19 Jesus commands believers to be baptised “in the name” (singular - one God) “of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (three distinct Revelations). If the three were merely roles of one Person or revelation, Jesus would have said “in my name only.” If they were three separate gods, he would have said “in the names” (plural). Surely the use of the singular “name” encompassing three Revelations is the grammar of the Triune God. Part 4: The Three Persons at a Glance The following brings together the distinct identity and work of each Revelation of the Triune God, as revealed in Scripture. Each describes the same One God - viewed from a different personal dimension of His eternal being. We must be clear that the distinction of distinct works, in no way implies inequality of nature. All three Revelations are equally, fully, and eternally God. Paul makes this clear in Philippians: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the *form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming to be in the likeness of men.”  Philippians 2:6–8 (EMTV) *As appears to the sight This the humility of Jesus. His submission to the Father in the incarnation was a voluntary, eternal-purposeful submission – it is not evidence of lesser divinity. Jesus was fully God and fully man. Augustine on the Triune God and Love “You see the Triune God if you see love. For there are three: the one that loves, the one that is loved, and love itself.” (Translation) Augustine gives insight from his De Trinitate that brings to our mind, that the eternal life of God is not an isolated, self-contained individuality but a communion of perfect love - a life eternally shared within the Triune God. Part 6: The study of the Triune God, not as academic exercise The Triune God should not simply be treated as an abstract Scriptural conundrum with little or no practical consequence or purpose. This would be a mistake. The doctrine of the Triune God is the foundation of Christian salvation, prayer, community, and mission. 1. Salvation Needs the Triune God The gospel story cannot be shared without Trinitarian language. As stated above, The Father sent the Son into the world (John 3:16). The Son brings to fulfilment, redemption through his life, death, and resurrection. It is the Spirit who brings that redemption to individual hearts through conviction of sin, regeneration of the soul, and the sealing of the convert (Ephesians 1:13–14). If any Revelation is removed or activity diminished, salvation collapses. 2. Prayer Is Trinitarian Christian’s prayers are addressed to the Father. Prayed through the Son, and in the power of the Spirit (Ephesian 2:18, Romans 8:26–27). Every genuine act of prayer is direct involvement in the Trinitarian life of God - the Spirit prays within us (Romans 8:26), in line with Christ’s mediation, toward the Father. Prayer is not a monologue aimed at a remote God but an invitation into a divine relationship, where dialogue between the Father and His child can take place. 3. Church Reflects the Triune God In John 17:20–23, Jesus prays that his followers “may be one as we are one.” The unity of the Church is clearly modelled on the unity of the Triune God. The Father, Son, and Spirit each distinct but perfectly united in love, purpose, and self-giving. Christian community is called to be a reflection of that divine communion — diverse persons, genuinely united. As God is the echad, a composite one, the Church is also a composite one, united in the Triune God. The truly amazing and wonderful joy is that the Triune God is rooted in Eternal Love. Jesus communing with the Father expresses this sentiment: “Father, I desire that those whom You have given Me, that they may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me, for You have loved Me before the foundation of the world.  — John 17:24 (MKJV) Before the world began, the Father was loving the Son. Creation did not create love, it is, the overflow of an eternal love already perfectly complete within the Godhead. That loving unity is the heart of the Triune God, for the Church. Jesus referring to the earlier Testimony: “And Yeshua said to him, "You shall love YAHWEH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." (Deut. 6:5) This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Lev.19:18) On these two commandments all the Torah and the Prophets hang.” Matthew 22:37-40 — (HRB)  

If God Is So Loving, Why Does He Send People to Hell? A Study in God's Love, Human Freedom & Divine Justice   Introduction: A serious question that requires a Bibical answer. The question is not to be dismissed, not because the Bible does not answer it, but because it challenges the very truth of who God is. If God is love (1 John 4:8), how can a loving God send anyone into an eternity of suffering? How can hell be compatible with a God of grace and mercy? This question therefore, deserves serious consideration, and answered completely based on God’s Word. It cannot be one based purely on emotions or ‘feelings’ of any kind. There are many sincere people, including grieving parents, and those experiencing, or have experienced, the death of loved ones, who have desperately sought the answer to the question. This is especially true of those, whose loved one’s salvation may be in doubt. Believers and teachers of the Word have wrestled with the question posed. This study seeks to examine the key Scriptures, the theological tensions, and indeed, the pastoral realities of this profound question. There is no contradiction in the Bible between love and his justice. Or search will show this to be true. Love and justice are not at opposite poles, contradicting each other. Both expressions of His divine perfection and holy character. To gain understanding of their relationship will bring important light to shine on this relationship. This is a most important thing for a Christian to have gained, to allow them to be confident in their own faith and help others who are struggling with the issue. I am conscious that honest seekers for truth, and committed Christian believers, approach this question with genuine concern for an answer, There must be a sensitivity in the study, to this search for answers, as we honestly seek them with love and pastoral compassion. Part 1: Considering the Right Question Does God 'Send' People to Hell? The framing of the question really matters. We must challenge the popular image of a harsh judgemental God, simply banishing people against their will into a fiery pit of hell. We need to ask: is that what Scripture actually teaches? The biblical picture is more nuanced. God does not enthusiastically inflict hell on anyone. It is about what people choose, and God finally, with sorrow, honours their own choice. Hear the words of Peter: The Lord does not delay concerning His promise, as some reckon slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (EMTV) Then consider how the Bible speaks: " For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world so that He might condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness more than the light, because their works were evil". John 3:17–19 (EMTV) It must be noted that condemnation is not a verdict God eagerly gives. It is the state people are found in already through the nature of sin and rebellion. Jesus whole purpose in coming was not to condemn but to save. Those who reject that salvation remain in their condemnation. This is not because God put them there, it is because they preferred darkness to light. To demonstrate this heart of God in the Christ Jesus, consider the woman caught in adultery. She was caught red-handed so to speak. There were witnesses to her sin. They were challenged and they all went away. The account ends: And standing up and seeing no one but the woman, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."” John 8:10-11 (EMTV) You see, Jesus has the heart of compassion. He does not condemn but sends her away to make better choices about her life. She goes away with that responsibility – it will be her choice as to how she responds. “Ah”, but someone might say, “why doesn’t God force people to accept salvation? If He did that everybody would be saved.” Sounds so plausible. However, consider love. Is true genuine love between parties, really love if it is forced on them? God, who is love (1 John 4:8), created man in His own image. God has a will. Man was given a will. God’s will, was to freely love. God gave man the freedom to chose to love.  God will not force man to choose to love Him and in turn accept the gift of salvation. God will not take away man’s freedom. Therefore, salvation cannot be forced upon anyone. What Is Hell? It is best to be exact about what hell is before asking whether it is compatible with love. The Bible uses several images and words: Gehenna (Greek) — the word Jesus most often uses, drawn from the Valley of Hinnom outside Jerusalem, a site of ancient idolatrous fire sacrifice. Jesus uses it as a vivid image of ultimate destruction and judgement. Hades — the realm of the dead, sometimes used interchangeably with Sheol (Hebrew). In Revelation 20:14, Hades itself is 'thrown into the lake of fire' — it is temporary, awaiting final judgement. The Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:14–15) — the final, permanent state of judgement, described as the 'second death.' This is the ultimate separation from God. The most challenging definition of hell in Scripture, is not flames but separation. Paul writes: “These shall pay a penalty: eternal destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might..” in 2 Thessalonians 1:9 The Psalmist declared: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” Psalm16:11 (ESV) To be shut out of the presence of God, is to be separated from the source of all goodness, beauty, life, and the perfection of joy everlasting. To go into that permanent separation from Him, is to be separated from everything that makes existence worth living. Yet that will be the eternal state. The absence of God is an earthly choice made permanent. Part 2: God's Love Is Real — and So Is His Justice God's Love Is Not a Sentimental Love One of the most important correctives I want to bring to mind is about the much-abused word, ‘love’. What is love? Is a question often posed in modern songs, that is often asked. What must be understood is that love is not an emotion. That ‘feeling’ experienced is no more than chemicals being released in the body, that causes a change in our biology. Do not get me wrong, I do like the feelings, but that does not mount to love. In so many relationships, the feelings change, and too often the relationship breaks down.  One or both of the parties go off in search of getting the feeling back. True love is a decision of the will that does not rely on ‘feelings’. The marriages that I have encountered where this is the case, last. The marriage will go through many ups and downs, but the decision of the will to love brings the couple through. As we turn to God, a similar thing happens. A common view of God's love is along these lines: 'God loves everyone, so in the end everything will be fine for everyone.' This is not what the Bible teaches. Similar emotional beliefs are fine, until life gets tough. Those who are saying they are with God, find these periods difficult, and many fall away. This is because they have not made a committed choice to love God as the Scriptures teach. “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment”. Mark 12:30 (EMTV) The important phrase, I want to highlight is ‘..all your mind..’. This is where the act of the will in conceived. A true commitment to do what Scripture says here, is to stick with God no matter what. The Bible's often quoted Scripture about God needs to be read carefully: is not 'God is nice' but 'God is love' (1 John 4:8), Love is not God, yet so many pursue love and its feelings, rather than the God who is love, in His very nature, love. We see this very quality in Jesus in the garden. He asked if the cup of suffering, could pass. But, He declared that it would not be His will but His Father’s will. An act of His will, that was the greatest act of love. You see, love is holy, has purpose, and costs. The love of God and His Son, is most clearly displayed at the cross, where God bore in himself the full weight of human sin and rebellion: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, the Messiah died for us. — Romans 5:8 (TLV) This is not the love based on ‘feelings’. It is the decision of a God who loved us. The Scripture that brings this home is the oft quoted, John 3:16. Read it carefully, word for word, note the action involved. ‘He gave’. This was a divine act of will of a wonderful God who is love. This is an act of love of a holy God who took sin and its consequences for humans, so seriously, that He made that deliberate decision to send his own Son to deal with it. That act of will, provided the means for people to be saved and not to face judgement. The cross is surely the final proof that God's love is not incompatible with justice — at the cross, they meet. Dwell for a while on this Scripture:  “Psalm 85:9-10 “Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other”. Psalm 85:10-11 (RSV) God's Justice Is an Expression of His Love Let me put a case to you. A father has a daughter who is treated terrible by her husband. She comes to him for help. The father knows that the brute of a husband is determined to continue to harm his daughter. What is the loving thing to do? Surely, it is to go to law and demand justice to protect his daughter. You see love and justice are partners. They do not oppose each other. In God's character, both of these qualities are united. Consider this: if God was not of a just character, how could He be fully loving? A God who ignores evil, abuse, oppression, and injustice would not be a good God and Father. In fact, He would be morally indifferent and unloving. Perish the thought. God in His very nature brings love and justice together. Read this of Isaiah and His confirming this unity: "And therefore, will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have compassion upon you; for the LORD is a God of justice, happy are all they that wait for Him”. Isaiah 30:18  (JPS)  The prophet makes clear, God's justice and His compassion and love are not in tension. Both of them come from the heart of the same holy character of God. The very existence of hell is God’s declaration that evil will not go unanswered forever. The oppressor and robber will not triumph eternally. Every victim will be vindicated and receive justice. This shows that the charge of God being unloving is not the truth, in fact, a God who judges and gives justice, is indeed, a God who cares passionately about righteousness. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you”. Matthew 6:33 (MKJV)  C S Lewis wrote: “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ All that are in Hell choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. To those who knock it is opened.” C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce The Parable of the Prodigal Son — Love That Does Not Force Many will challenge the notion that that those who choose to follow God lose their free will. However, Jesus uses a parable that is so clear about free will.  The parable found in Luke 15:11–32. In the parable, the younger son demands his inheritance whilst his father lives. Shockingly, he was in reality, wishing his father was dead. In the well-known account, the son goes off and squanders it in reckless living. Note the father does not run after him. Neither, does he frustrate or not revoke the son’s right to make a free choice. He simply watches and waits: "And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.."  — Luke 15:20 (ESV)  Do you notice the father’s response? It is unrestricted by concerns about the condition of the son. He had stood patiently until the son made his own choice. God, who is love, waits. watches. rejoices at the return of people. This is the attitude of God toward every human being. He does not force anyone to come to His embrace. In fact, like the father in the parable, the heavenly Father also has a celebration meal on the return of a lost one. “Just so, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:10 (EMTV) God will never drag or force anyone to come to His open arms. The parable ends with a very angry second son. He opposed the fact that love triumphed over judgement. The father’s words end the parable: “But it was necessary to be merry and to rejoice, because your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.' " Luke 15:32 (EMTV) If there is still a question over love and justice being friends, consider that. Part 3: Answering the Objections Objection 1 — Eternal punishment is disproportionate to a finite life There is of course the objection often raised. “How can years of sin deserve an eternity of punishment? That seems wildly unfair”. This question fails to recognise the truth about sin. God is not keeping a tally of sins committed and giving justice according to the number of sins. Justice requires us to truly see that sin is not so much about actions. It is a state every human is in whilst unreconciled to God.  For the believer, God offers the solution to the Christian who falls into sinful actions:  “If we claim that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we claim that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us”. 1 John 1:8-10 (EMTV) This again is the love and justice of God meeting beautifully. No, sin is more than actions it is the deliberate choice by an individual that leaves them in a state of rebellion against God. It is the decided will of the person to reject the infinite love and goodness of God. Speaking to Israel, Jesus reflects this attitude that can be applies to those who reject God’s offer of salvation and righteousness in Jesus the Christ. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” Matthew 23:37 (TLV) This brings home the eternal consequences for those who, by their own choosing, reject the God of love and justice. Objection 2 — What about those who never heard the gospel? This is one of the most pastorally sensitive questions and needs careful attention to show respect for the question. Therefore, we will let the Scriptures speak. Romans 1:18–20 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. In unrighteousness they suppress the truth, because what can be known about God is plain to them, for God has shown it to them. His invisible attributes, His eternal power and His divine nature, have been clearly seen ever since the creation of the world, being understood through the things that have been made. So, people are without excuse”. (TLV) This clearly teaches that all people have access to what is known as general revelation. That is that the knowledge of God through creation is clearly there. Because of this we are all are accountable. The Psalmist well understood this: Psalm 19:2-4 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky shows His handiwork. Day to day they speak, night to night they reveal knowledge. There is no speech, no words, where their voice goes unheard”. (ERV) Romans 2:14–16 “Those who are not Jews don't have the law. But when they naturally do what the law commands without even knowing the law, then they are their own law. This is true even though they don't have the written law. They show that in their hearts they know what is right and wrong, the same as the law commands, and their consciences agree. Sometimes their thoughts tell them that they have done wrong, and this makes them guilty. And sometimes their thoughts tell them that they have done right, and this makes them not guilty”. (ERV) In this Scripture, Paul addresses the specific question. The honest person will admit that even if they were ignorant of anything to do with God, will know that immediate feeling of guilt and knowing their actions were wrong. Of course, there are those who are so deceived that have no conscience about what they do. Paul again addresses this: 1 Timothy 4:2 “..through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared..”. (ESV) They are guilty because of the hardness of their hearts. Paul addressing a Greek audience, says: Acts 17:26-27 “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us..”.  (ESV) Here again we see love and justice at work together. God holds Himself near to us and there is a time and a place when God will provide opportunities to hear the Gospel. It is the choice of each person as to their response to that Gospel. These Scriptures make clear that God is the perfect judge. The great Abraham asked in Genesis 18:25, 'Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?'  The answer is  an unqualified yes. No one will be unjustly condemned who did not deserve their condemnation. No one who genuinely sought God will be turned away. We can trust His justice precisely because we know His character. Objection 3 — If God was loving He would eventually save everyone (Universalism) Universalism, simply stated is the belief that all people who ever lived will ultimately be saved. This is a natural human response. Indeed, it is an appealing position emotionally. There are many sincere people who would lean towards this view. However, anyone who looks at the Scriptures honestly will find it difficult to sustain biblically. Jesus' warnings about hell are stark and unambiguous. Jesus, speaking of those who acted wrongly, states: Matthew 25:46 “And these shall go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life”. (EMTV) Jesus is clear that there two destinations and the same adjective is used – eternal. People will go to either one depending on their choices in life. Revelation 20:10 is horrifyingly clear: “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone where also the Beast and the False Prophet are. And they shall be tormented day and night forever and ever”. (EMTV) The clarity of the words cannot be understood as a temporary period. It describes the devil, the beast and the false prophet being 'tormented day and night for ever and ever'. The very urgency of the gospel as expressed in Hebrews is so clear as well:  Hebrews 2:3 “How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?'. Urging people to respond to the Gospel would make no sense if all roads lead to the same idyllic destination. Universalism, however compassionate in motivation, removes the purpose for Jesus' own stated mission and indeed, the church's call to evangelism. Finally, we address the case of reading Scripture without bringing other Scriptures to bear on it. It can be said, “Doesn’t 1 Timothy 2:4 say God 'wants all people to be saved'? Then why doesn't he just save everyone? The Scriptures do make clear God’s desire, but note the qualification in that Scripture, people “must come to the full knowledge of the truth”. 2 Peter 3:9 also says, that God is 'not wanting anyone to perish.' God's desire is genuinely universal. However, we need to understand that Scripture distinguishes between God's desire and God's decree. God desires all to be saved, yet he has also decreed that salvation comes through repentance and faith, not by divine override. His love is real; so is human freedom – that is the power to choose. The tragedy of hell is that it is possible to choose to resist what God desires for you. Part 4: The Cross — Where Love and Justice Kiss The question 'How can a loving God send people to hell?', could be debated all day long and great philosophical arguments made. However, that will never give a satisfactory answer. The truth is that the answer is found on a hill called calvary. The cross is how God settles the question of righteousness, sin and judgement and punishment. What had an uncalculatable cost, was offered with out cost to every human being. Think about this. Every human being as has been said above has fallen short of God’s standard. Revelation 21:6 “And He said to me, " I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give from the spring of the water of life freely to him that is thirsty”. (EMTV) The definitive answer to the question is found, not in philosophical argument but at Calvary. The cross is God's answer to the problem of sin and judgement and the offer of love that covers it. It is offered freely, at infinite cost, to every human being. There needs to be a blunt statement made: All human beings are born into sin and a penalty is required - death. If that is rejected then the love and justice of God will never be understood. " For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him".  — 2 Corinthians 5:21 (MKJV) This is the amazing and wonderous truth. At the cross, God does not simply dismiss sin and pretend it did not happen. His justice demands sin is seen for what it is and the penalty that must be paid. As the Scripture says, the wages of sin is death. Therefore, He the unique Son of God, took upon Himself the totality of sin, ever committed: past, present and future. He paid the full penalty for all human beings in Himself. In Christ, divine love and divine justice meet in the costliest imaginable act. God does not excuse sin — He makes propitiation for it. Offers us that gift of salvation. All we have to do is accept it or reject it. It is a choice. This shows that hell is not God's desired outcome. In this it is of great sorrow to Him, as we saw in Jesus weeping over Jerusalem. Hell is God accepting and honouring a final human choice. The cross stands as that eternal proof that God did everything possible - everything - to make a way out. Jesus Himself said:  “.. "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me”. John 14:6 (RSVA) God’s door to eternal life is thrown wide open. The invitation is unlimited. The price has been paid. "The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let him who hears say, "Come." And let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the water of life without price".  — Revelation 22:17 (RSVA) Hell exists not because God's love is unable to meet the need of fallen human beings. It is because God's love is offered and never forced on anyone. He will not force anyone love Him. He will not drag anyone into His joyful presence if they do not wish to enter. He stands at the door and knocks (Rev. 3:20). Those who open it find grace. Those who do not, in the end, come into his presence, to discover that their choice has brought them to a terrible, tragic and permanent future, away from His presence. This the heart of the Christian Gospel message. God’s love is not contradicted by His justice. God’s love is the motivation The Heart of the Gospel God's love is not a contradiction of his judgement — it is the sole reason He provided a way of escape from it. The gospel is precisely the proclamation that in Christ, the wrath we deserved has been fully borne with satisfaction, and reconciliation with God is now freely available to all who will receive it. " For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life". John 3:16 (MKJV)   Part 5: Living in Light of These Truths How Should This Change Us? Doctrine that does not move us to worship in Spirit and truth and inspired action has not yet been truly understood. If we genuinely believe that God is love, that hell is real, that the cross has made a way: how should we then live? 1. Deep Gratitude So often in life, we meet those who do not know the words – thank you. That should not be the believer. We should be profoundly grateful to the Father. We were not saved because of our goodness or wisdom. We were saved because God, in His mercy, gave us eyes to see and hearts to respond. That is grace — pure and undeserved. Romans 5:8 should bring us to our knees: 'While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' 2. Urgent Compassion for the Lost If we are convinced that hell is real and the gospel is the only way of deliverance, then evangelism is not an optional extra for committed Christians — it is the most loving thing any believer can do. Paul captured this urgency in Romans 10:14: " But before people can pray to the Lord for help, they must believe in him. And before they can believe in the Lord, they must hear about him. And for anyone to hear about the Lord, someone must tell them?" Romans 10:14 (ERV) A genuine understanding of these doctrines should make us more compassionate, not more disinterested. We should be more willing to share the good news with gentleness and respect (1 Pet. 3:15), not less. 3. Humble Confidence, Not Arrogance We hold these truths of Salvation as stewards; we do not own them. We do not know men’s hearts as Jesus did. The final state of every soul is God’s business. We know that God is perfectly just and perfectly merciful, and that His judgements will be the right ones. We cannot and must nit judge any person. Our task is to proclaim the gospel to all and leave the judging to the One who alone is qualified to judge. 4. Hope, Not Fear For the believer, the doctrine of hell is not a source of fear or dread. It is a great security. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). The same God who is Judge is also Saviour — and those who are hidden in Christ need not fear the judgement. Hell confirms that God takes evil seriously. Heaven confirms that he takes love seriously. And the cross confirms that he takes us seriously. This then throws us back to answer the question for ourselves. If God Is So Loving, Why Does He Send People to Hell? As a believer or a non-believer, what is your answer and response?  

Introduction Reading the New Testament without understanding that it is a Jewish document can lead to misunderstandings. With the exception of Luke, the writers were all Jews. The mistake is reading it as if it were a Greek or Western document. It is clearly not. Jesus Himself, was a first-century Jewish teacher: a Rabbi He grew up in a Jewish home, read the Jewish Tanach (The OT), worshipped in a Jewish synagogue, often debated with Jewish scholars, even at the age of twelve (Luke 2:46). The people he often talked to in groups our singularly, were Jewish. They, like all Jews were at that time, steeped in the Jewish law and traditions. Paul was equally Jewish and more than that he made it clear (Phil 3:5). He studied at the feet of Gamaliel the Elder, one of the most celebrated rabbinic teachers of his generation. Paul’s reasoning and arguments throughout his letters reveal a Jewish mind and patterns of thought. When we fail to see the Jewish background and read about divorce and remarriage, through the lens of Greek logic or any Western legal thinking, we will have mis-read them. We will turn Jesus and Paul, two passionate Jewish teachers defending vulnerable women, into lawmakers constructing a new divorce code with strict legalism. We therefore, miss what they were actually saying, alongside to whom they spoke, and why. This study attempts to restore that Jewish background and in doing so allow the texts to speak with their original force and meaning, bringing the compassionate and merciful God fully into the picture. The Two Stages of Divorce Under Jewish Law To fully understand what Jesus was dealing with, we must first need to understand how divorce actually worked in first-century Jewish society. It is important to grasp that this is not a minor technical point: it is the key that will unlock the entire passages under this study. This is what the Jewish Torah stated about divorce If a man wished to divorce his wife he was required to write her a certificate of divorce: in Hebrew the get (גֵּט). It was to be given to the woman before sending her away. The text reads: Deuteronomy 24:1 "When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement (siphrâh kerı̂ythûth), and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house (min bayith )". This shows that Jewish divorce had two distinct steps: The first was the putting away (Hebrew - shalach - Greek – apoluo). This was the act of expulsion from the household, the physical sending away of the wife. The second was the certificate of divorce (Hebrew – legal term is the get - Greek - apostasion). This was the legal document that formally dissolved the marriage. Importantly it freed the woman to remarry. These were two separate acts. By the first century there developed a truly unjust practice among some Jewish men. A man would put away (shalach) his wife: expel her from the home, withdraw all financial support, refuse to live with her. However, he would withhold the certificate of divorce. In other words, he would not give her the divorce certificate (get). The reasons were almost certainly financial. As long as there was no formal divorce, she remained his legal wife. Her property, her dowry, her inheritance rights — all remained tied up with him. By putting her away without the get he kept financial control while abandoning all his marital responsibility. In the first century, the consequences for the woman were obviously disastrous. She was what Jewish law (halakha) called an agunah — a ‘chained woman’. Re-marriage was not possible because she was still legally married. With no modern welfare state as we know it, she was without any financial support. The husband had abandoned her and had denied her justice. She was socially ruined and economically destitute. She was trapped: chained to a marriage that only existed on paper. She could only look to an impoverished future. Unlike modern women, she had no recourse to the law. It is this specific injustice — this deliberate exploitation of vulnerable women — that Jesus was addressing, when He dealt with divorce. The Shammai and Hillel Debate — The Context of Matthew 19 The Pharisees approached Jesus with the question Matthew 19:3 "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?". As usual this was another trap being set for Jesus by the Jewish authorities. Their question was not about asking an abstract theological question, looking for an honest answer. They were inviting Him to take sides in a live and heated debate that had divided the Rabbinic community for a generation. Whose view would Jesus support? Again Jewish background is needed here. There were two major schools of rabbinic thought that had formed around the interpretation of the phrase in Deuteronomy 24:1: "some uncleanness." Rabbi Shammai was a strict interpreter: the only valid grounds for divorce was sexual immorality, specifically ervat dabar, that is a matter of nakedness or sexual indecency. His school held a high and protective view of marriage. Rabbi Hillel on the other hand interpreted the same phrase with an astonishing laxity opposed to Shammai. Hillel’s school taught that a man could divorce his wife for virtually any reason — including, burning his dinner: "Even if she spoiled a dish for him" is the Mishnah record of the Hillel’s position. One of Hillel's own disciples, Rabbi Akiva, went even further to allow divorce simply if a man found a woman more beautiful than his wife. Hillel’s position had become dominant and was what was widely practiced among Jewish men. They were putting away their wives for trivial reasons. They also, were withholding the get. It was widespread. The Pharisees wanted to know where Jesus stood. Which school would He support? His answer was as always one of wisdom. He did not support either Shammai or Hillel positions. He went above both schools entirely. He went back to creation, back to Genesis, back to God's original intent before the Torah and its concessions even existed. Also, before human sinfulness had entered the world. Matthew 19:4-5 "Have you not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female... For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?". He refused to enter their debate on their legalistic terms. He was reframing the entire question and demanding they look at the matter from God’s perspective. What Jesus Was Actually Condemning Having established the God’s creation foundation, Jesus then addressed the specific practice He was condemning: Matthew 19:9"And I say unto you, whosoever shall put away (apoluo) his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, commits adultery: and whoso marries her which is put away does commit adultery". Read this through Greek legal eyes and it might sound like a new divorce law with one exception clause. However, read it through Jewish eyes and it is something far more specific and far more radical. The word translated put away is the Greek apoluo, which is the first stage, the expulsion from the house, the abandonment. Jesus is condemning the practice of putting away a wife without giving her the divorce get. When a man does this and then takes another woman he is committing adultery. Why? Because his first wife is still legally his wife. He has not properly divorced her. He has simply abandoned her while retaining her legal status for his own benefit. And critically it puts the woman in a terrible position. Why? Because when the abandoned woman is eventually driven by destitution or desperation, as many were, they were forced to find another man to survive. In that she is said to commit adultery. This was not because of any moral failure on her part but because legally, having never received the get, she was still married. The man who abandoned her has made her an adulteress through his own selfishness. Jesus was not creating a restrictive new divorce law. He was defending abandoned women against the legal exploitation they were suffering. He was being compassionate towards the woman. He was making clear that the men who practiced this were responsible for the situation they have created, and would be called by God to account for their actions. The exception clause — except it be for fornication — is Jesus acknowledging that where genuine sexual unfaithfulness has occurred the situation is different.  Totally confirming Scripture and yet lifting it to a higher level. The covenant has already been broken by the unfaithful party. The innocent spouse is not in the same position as the guilty man who puts away his wife for burning his dinner or for financial advantage. Mark 10 — The Same Teaching, Different Audience Mark's account of this same encounter (Mark 10:2-12) contains no exception clause. This has puzzled many Western readers who assume Mark and Matthew are simply recording the same event with an inconsistency. Understanding the Jewish context clears this up. Matthew was writing primarily for a Jewish audience who would have immediately understood the technical distinction between apoluo and apostasion. He included the exception clause because his readers needed it to understand the nuance. They were after all Jewish. However. Mark was writing primarily for a Gentile audience who were more specifically Roman readers. They had no knowledge of Jewish divorce laws. He gave a much simpler summary statement suited to his audience. Furthermore, Jesus in Mark 10 goes beyond Matthew by adding:  Mark 10:12 "And if a woman shall put away (apoluō) her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery". Under Jewish law women could not normally initiate divorce: only men could give the get. This addition was specifically directed at the Roman practice where women could and did initiate divorce. This is another example of the Scripture writer being inspired to write to address Jesus’ teaching to the specific legal and cultural context of His audience. This is not inconsistency. It is again, a Jewish author addressing different audiences with the same truth applied to their specific circumstances. The Sermon on the Mount — Matthew 5:31-32 The earlier reference to divorce in Matthew (Matthew 5:31-32) follows the same pattern. It sits within a section where Jesus repeatedly uses the formula: "You have heard that it was said... But I say unto you." In each case Jesus is not contradicting the Torah. He is going behind the legal technicality to the heart of God's intention. He also did this with murder: the law says do not kill, He says do not harbour hatred. He does this with adultery: the law addresses the act, He addresses the desire of the heart. He does the same with divorce. The legal technicality was being exploited — men were using the letter of Deuteronomy 24 to justify the abandonment of their wives. Jesus goes behind the letter to the spirit. Matthew 5:31-32 "It hath been said, whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce: But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causes her to commit adultery". Jesus is exposing motives: they had taken Moses' protective provision for women and turned it into a tool for exploiting them. This was never God's heart. They were causing their abandoned wives to become adulteresses through theirr own legal manipulation. That is what they would be answerable for. Paul's Rabbinic Reasoning — 1 Corinthians 7 Paul's teaching on marriage and divorce in 1 Corinthians 7 is frequently read through Greek understanding.  That sees Paul as a Greek moral philosopher laying down legal principles. That I not what he was. He was a Jewish Pharisee, highly trained in the school of Gamaliel. His reasoning is in recognisably Jewish patterns. Paul uses the kal v'chomer. That is the rabbinic light-to-heavy argument that he uses throughout his letters. He reasons by metaphor, analogy, by what was previously agreed, by the comparison of one case against another. This is what any first-century rabbi would do. His handling of the marriage question in 1 Corinthians 7 is no different. When Paul writes: 1 Corinthians 7:15 "But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases". Paul is making a distinctly Jewish legal ruling on a new situation. That is one that arose specifically in the Gentile mission context. Among Gentiles, the Jewish divorce law did not apply.  The unbelieving party was simply leaving a marriage, without any formal Jewish process. The phrase ‘not under bondage’ is the Greek ou dedoulotai: not enslaved, not bound, free. This is the language of release from obligation. Paul is ruling that the believing spouse who has been abandoned by an unbelieving partner is not bound.  That is not an agunah , a chained one. They are released from the marriage bond. This is the abandonment justification for divorce. This is a ruling that the rabbis themselves would have accepted as a reasonable application of the principle behind the get. Paul is not just making a simple pragmatic ‘get out clause’ to cover difficult cases. He is reasoning as any trained Jewish scholar would. He is applying the principles of the Torah to a new pastoral situation. He does it with care and rigour: just as his teacher Gamaliel would have recognised. The Prophetic Background — God as Divorced Husband Let us consider another aspect of the Jewish background that Western readers may miss. It transforms the emotions of these texts. The image of marriage and divorce was used by prophets to describe God's relationship with Israel. Read these beautiful verses: Isaiah 54:5-8 "For your Maker is your husband—Adonai-Tzva’ot is His Name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer. He will be called God of all the earth. For Adonai has called you back like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of one’s youth that is rejected,” says your God. For a brief moment I deserted you, but I will regather you with great compassion. In a surge of anger I hid My face from you a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says Adonai your Redeemer". This is extraordinary, indeed amazing. God Himself is presented in the prophetic literature as having gone through the experience of a broken covenant relationship: as the faithful husband whose wife was unfaithful. Yet there is the sweetness of forgiveness. When Jesus talks about marriage and divorce, He is talking as a Jew who knew these prophetic texts intimately. His concern for the permanence of marriage is not cold legalism: it is rooted in the understanding that marriage reflects the covenant faithfulness of God Himself. His openness to grace for those who have known failure is equally rooted in the prophetic portrait of a God whose steadfast love endures even the breaking of covenant. Pastoral Application Reading these texts through their proper Jewish background does not change the difficulties Pastors and Elders are faced with. In fact, in some ways, it makes it harder. That is because it calls for a more careful, loving, graceful and contextual thinking approach. It does not call for an easy of the peg legal approach, applying rules. But it makes it more faithful, and ultimately more compassionate. Indeed, the Scripture says: Rom 9:15 “For to Moses He says, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”  Several things emerge clearly from the readings we have considered. Jesus was not primarily focussing on the legality of divorce. He was defending vulnerable people, who in His day, were primarily women. He was speaking against legal exploitation of women by men. Any application of His teaching that results in further harm to vulnerable people has misread Him. The two-stage Jewish divorce process tells us that abandonment and the withholding of proper legal protection is in itself a serious moral failure. The person who walks away from a marriage and uses legal technicalities to maintain control and cause harm to their spouse is exactly the person Jesus was condemning. Grace and truth must be held together. The Lord of all is beautiful: Psalm 85:11 “Lovingkindness and truth meet together. Righteousness and shalom kiss each other”. Remember, it was Jesus who took the covenant of marriage with absolute seriousness, also said to the woman taken in adultery John 8:11 "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more". It was Paul who wrote with care about the binding nature of marriage also wrote that in the Christ "there is neither male nor female" (Galatians 3:28) Men and women are equally saved by God, through Jesus. Both have equal blessings and compassion from God. This was a radical statement of equality. Bear in mind, this was in a world where women were frequently the unprotected victims of divorce law. Many men thought they could see women as chattels who they could treat as they wished. God has other ideas. And finally, we must be mindful of those who have known the pain of a broken marriage. In divorce, there are those who were wronged or the one who bears responsibility for that wrong. Both stand before a holy God who has Himself known what it is to love faithfully and to experience a covenant broken. He does not stand at a distance from human marital pain. He has entered it. Of Jesus it is written: Hebrews 4:15-16 “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but having been tempted in all respects in quite the same way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us come boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need”. Furthermore, God, even in anger, has a word to encourage us: Isaiah 54:8 “”In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer”.  Conclusion In divorce and remarriage, the Bible, properly read in its Jewish understanding, is not primarily approaching it from a legalistic position. Rather, without any compromise of the law, it is a passionate defence of the vulnerable. It is a call back to God's creational design for mankind. It is ultimately a reflection of God's own faithful and enduring love for people. Jesus lived as a Jewish Rabbi. He loved the Torah and loved the people the Torah was designed to guide and protect. Paul reasoned and argued as a Jewish pharisee who applied Torah principles to the pastoral situations he met. It was with compassion, care and precision. Both Jesus and Paul, would have been astonished to see their words interpreted as a Western legal system. They would not have wanted to see the precious Word of God sometimes turned to cause further harm to the very people God’s Word was seeking to protect. Read in context, these texts will always call the Church to take marriage seriously and to take people seriously urging them to honour the covenant of marriage they entered, However, the Church must extend grace to those for whom the covenant has broken down in imitation of the God who is both the faithful husband of Isaiah 54 and the running father of Luke 15.  As James wrote: James 2:12-23  "So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment".  and John reminds us: John 3:17 “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".

Introduction Outside of the name of Jesus, what word is the most important? I would suggest it is ‘salvation.’ It is the centre-piece of the gospel message. It is the reason Jesus the Christ came. It was then sole purpose of the cross. It is the hope in the heart of every believer. Luke 4:43 “..but He said to them, "I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent."” John 12:27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour””. (ESV)  Because of this clear statement about salvation, there are many people, even some who have attended church for years, struggle to give a clear and confident answer to the question: what exactly is salvation and how does a person receive it? This study seeks to answer that question clearly and from Scripture, from the basics upwards. We will look at the question of why salvation is necessary We need to fully understand what it cost.  What exactly does it achieve. Finally, how it is received? This is an important, if not the most important, teaching, if we are to explain salvation to the unbeliever and see people saved. Why Salvation is Necessary — The Problem of Sin The Bible is very clear about the human condition. Ever since Adam disobeyed God and was expelled from the garden of Eden, man had a problem. The human nature was corrupted and everyone is born into the world with this fallen nature.  Paul was referring to this when he wrote: Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” There are no punches pulled here. The Psalmist is even more stark: Psalm 58:3 “The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from the womb, speaking lies”. (MKJV) Even the man, king David, was brutally honest: Psalm 51:7 “Behold, I was born in iniquity and in sin when my mother conceived me.”  This is the truth of Scripture. The human condition is one of sin, no matter how ‘good’ a person might feel. Unless this understanding is clear, any discussion on the subject of sin will be unprofitable. It teaches that every human being is born with a nature that is fundamentally turned away from God. This is why salvation and the cross is offensive to many. Let us be very clear from every part of Scripture the truth is plain. The Apostle Paul again: Romans 9:30-33 “What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness—that is, a righteousness of faith. But Israel, who pursued a Torah of righteousness, did not reach the Torah. Why? Because they pursued it not by faith, but as if it were from works. They stumbled over the stone of stumbling, just as it is written, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and whoever believes in Him shall not be put to shame.”  Understand there are no exceptions. Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, all are under the same charge. It also includes the morally upright and the openly wicked, the religious and the irreligious, the educated and the unlearned. Every human being who has ever lived, with the sole exception of Jesus the Christ, are sinners. All have sinned against God, be it in action, words or the thoughts that fill our minds. We also need to be very clear about sin. To sin is not the making mistakes. It is not falling short of our own standards and regretting it. Sin is transgression against the holy law of a holy God. It is choosing our own way over His. It is saying my will not God’s will. When we place ourselves at the centre of our lives, we reject God’s sovereign authority in our lives. He alone is to be held in the highest honour and worshipped as the only true God. before anything or anyone, even ourselves! Deuteronomy 6:5 “..and you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might”. This is not my view or opinion. It is the truth spoken by Jesus as the greatest of all commandments. Matthew 22:37-38 “And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment”. Sin, is at its root, rebellion against our Creator. Sin has consequences. Paul declares: Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death". Think about the word 'wages'. Its meaning brings light. You earn wages, you deserve them for what you have done. It is just, that you should be paid what you have earned. In the case of sin, that is death. Death has been discussed in another study that can be found here. Briefly, death includes physical death, spiritual death and is a separation from God in this life. If left undealt with it is also separation in eternity.  That is eternal death. It is the final and permanent separation from God which the Bible calls the second death. There you have the human predicament. Every person stands as guilty before our holy God. We are unable to save ourselves. We deserve to be judged and paid the wages of sin. I appreciate this is an un comfortable truth.  It is the essential foundation upon which the gospel stands. 1 John 3:4 “Every one who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness”. The Barrier Between God and Man Isaiah the prophet understood the problem and with great clarity wrote: Isaiah 59:2"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, that he will not hear". Sin creates a barrier. It is a moral and spiritual gulf that is created, between the Creator and His creation. Man has no power to cross by his own effort. Learning from history is difficult for human beings. Hegel, the philosopher, wrote, "What experience and history teach is this — that nations and governments have never learned anything from history, or acted upon any lessons they might have drawn from it". Experience tells me that, that notion, applies to the greater majority of people. We human beings have tried to bridge this gulf by human means. Religion, strict morality, good works, ritual, philosophy: every culture that existed has produced its own system for trying to reach God or trying to have inner peace. The Bible is consistent in its verdict: none of these can deal with the fundamental problem of sin and guilt before a holy God. Paul makes it plain: Titus 3:5 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us". Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." It we learn anything from this study, it has to be that salvation cannot be earned, achieved, or deserved. It can only be received from a gracious God and Father. God's Answer — The Plan of Redemption I was once told by a dear friend and international teacher of the faith: God cannot help Himself - was one of the implication of the Hebrew word Hesed: Often translated as 'lovingkindness'. He loves us so much He will never leave us to perish. Indeed, is not the Gospel story - an amazing wondrous exciting story that was ever told? The God against whom we have sinned. The One we have rejected and rebelled against, did not leave us in our pathetic lost condition. He could not simply change His standard to a lower bar or just forget about our guilt. That would nether be righteous or just. He did something infinitely more costly and more wonderful: He Himself stepped into human history to pay the price of the wages of sin that were due to us and that justice demanded. This is what the incarnation means. The eternal Son of God, Jesus the Christ took on human flesh, being born of a virgin as prophesied by Isaiah, lived a perfect sinless life, something no other human being could ever do. He voluntarily chose to go to the cross. There He died and bore the penalty of sin in the place of us guilty sinners. This is what called substitutionary atonement: The Christ dying in our place, bearing our guilt, taking into Himself, the wrath of God that our sin deserved. Isaiah foretold it seven centuries before it happened: Isaiah 53:5-6 "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" The Holy Spirit inspired Paul it with great clarity: 2 Corinthians 5:21"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him". The Christ Jesus took our sin. In exchange He gave us His righteousness. This is sometimes called the Great Exchange. That is what it is. An act of gracious love from a merciful Father, who gave us His Son for this purpose. It is the very heart of the gospel. As Jesus declared from His wooden throne on Calvary: John 19:30 “…it is finished..” The Resurrection — Proof That it Worked The cross is essential in understanding the Gospel. Whilst it dealt with the problem of sin, it alone is not the complete gospel. If the Christ had simply died like any other man and remained in the tomb, then His death would have been no different from any other man. It would not have any meaning in terms of salvation. However, on the third day He rose bodily from the dead through the direct Divine poer of God's Holy Spirit: that resurrection changed everything. For Paul it sealed His understanding of the work of redemption: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." Romans 1:4 “..and designated Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord..” For Paul, the resurrection is God the Father's declaration that the sacrifice of His son was accepted, He had paid the debt, and death itself had been conquered. Again Paul: Romans 4:25 "[The Christ] was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." The empty tomb is the final receipt that the price has been paid in full. This is what gave the apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, the courage to preach. They were not proclaiming am earthly philosophy or a man-made moral system. They were announcing a historical event, something that happened in history: a dead man had risen by the power of God — and now, though His people, was inviting the world to respond to it. What Salvation Achieves When a person receives salvation, the Bible describes a transformation so profound that Jesus called it being born again (John 3:3). Certain things happen simultaneously at the moment when faith comes to a person at salvation. Firstly, a person is ‘quickened’ or made alive, by the Spirit of God: Ephesians 2:5 “Even when we were dead in sins, has made us alive together with Christ, by grace you are saved”.  Repentance: When the Spirit comes, He convicts of sin, righteous and judgement. (John 16:8). If the response to the Gospel is repentance, it leads to life, as is seen in Acts: Acts 11:18 “When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life”. Regeneration: It then follows that repentance and belief in the work of the Christ, the believer is sealed by the Holy Spirit: Ephesians 1:13 “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation: having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise..”. In this then the person a new nature is given by the Holy Spirit. This is the fulfilment of the prophetic word: Ezekiel 36:26 "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you…" Paul makes the case for the believer’s change; 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in the Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come”.  This is only the start as the Holy Spirit begins to live within the believer, beginning the lifelong process of transformation into the likeness of The Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit”. Justification: New believers are declared righteous before God. This is not of themselves but is an act of grace from God, who gives the free gift of righteousness: Romans 5:17 “If, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus the Christ”. Because the righteousness of the Christ is credited to a believer’s account, they are justified: Romans 5:1"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Along with the sin being cleared out the associated guilt is also removed. There is no more condemnation (Rom 8:1). The gulf between God and man is removed. Redemption: We start with the truth of what Scripture tells us. Romans 6:20 “When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness”. The unbeliever is in the bondage of sin. To be made righteous there needs to be a payment, a ransom, made. In other words, the person has to be bought back from slavery to sin. The word redemption comes from the slave market and it it means to purchase freedom for a slave. The Christ's blood is the price that was paid to set us free from sin's bondage and its penalty. Peter is very clear on this point: 1 Peter 1:18-19 “..knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your futile way of life handed down from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb blameless and spotless..”. It is often discussed to whom was the ransom paid? I cannot accept the argument that the ransom was paid to God the Father. That to me is unthinkable that the Father of the unique Son of God would demand such a ransom. Then there is the argument that it was paid to Satan. Again, an argument that cannot be held. We were in the power of sin not Satan. It is my belief that the ransom was paid to justice. The Scripture says: 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 “Christ died for all, and His death brings life to those who receive Him”. 1 Timothy 2:3-6 “God desires all people to be saved and gave Christ as a ransom for all”. How does salvation come about? Through Justice being satisfied. The Canons of Dort, stated this: God is not only supremely merciful, but also supremely just. His justice requires (as he has revealed himself in the Word) that the sins we have committed against his infinite majesty be punished with both temporal and eternal punishments, of soul as well as body. We cannot escape these punishments unless satisfaction is given to God’s justice (2.1) I believe it was one of the things discussed they got right. When Paul wrote: 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”. Here was God giving His Son as the price for justice. That merciful and gracious act satisfied justice. It says in Hebrews: Hebrews 12:24 “..and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel”.  See also Hebrews 11:4. Abel’s sacrifice satisfied God (Gen 4:4), Cain’s did not (Gen 4:5).  Abel’s blood cried out for vengeance, the blood of Jesus was better. It brought salvation and peace. Adoption: This is a great joy of salvation. The new believer becomes a child of God and joins the family of God – the Church. Not a denomination or cult, but the universal Church, the household of God. John 1:12 "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God”.  This is the wondrous amazing truth. The dead have been raised spiritually and given a home in the Father’s family. The rebellious becomes a beloved child. The fatherless are brought to a loving Father’s home. Eternal life: Here is the most joyous of joys: the person is given the gift of eternal life! This is a fullness of life (John 10:10) alongside an endless existence with God. A quality of life defined and made sweeter by knowing God. Jesus Himself declared: John 17:3: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent". How Salvation is Received We turn to the very important question of the entire study. Salvation is necessary – salvation is available – how does a person receive it? This question can only be answered with one word – Grace! The person who is dead is incapable of doing anything. It is the sovereign act of God that happens when a person hears the Gospel and is convicted of the need to be saved. In this the Bible is consistent. Salvation is received by grace alone, through faith alone, in the Christ alone. Paul gives the most clear statement on the matter: Romans 10:9-10 “…because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”  We learn from these verses two things: believing and confessing. Believing — Faith in the Christ It is important to understand, that faith is not merely an intellectual agreement with Biblical facts about Jesus. The Bible is clear that even the demons believe that God exists and tremble (James 2:19). Biblical faith is a wholehearted trust and reliance upon Christ alone for salvation, and nothing else. It is a turning from confidence in oneself and placing full confidence in Him. The Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas the most important question a person can ask: Acts 16:30-31 "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" The answer was direct and simple: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved".  When Peter preached at Pentecost, he also was asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37) His response was “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”.  Faith boils down to three things: knowledge of the facts of the gospel. accepting those facts are true and having a personal trust and commitment to and in the Lord Jesus. That last part transforms mere belief into saving faith. The personal entrusting of oneself to the Christ: that is true saving faith. Repentance — Turning from Sin Repentance is the essential accompaniment to faith. Throughout the New Testament, the two are consistently linked. They cannot be separated. Repentance does not simply mean feeling sorry for sins: a person can feel sorry but never turn away from sin. It involves a complete change of mind about sin and its offence to a holy God. Whilst teaching a class of seven-year-olds, a young lad when the class was asked at their level about repentance said, “It means not doing bad things again”. From the mouth of babes…. Repentance is all about seeing the beauty of the Christ Jesus and the overwhelming desperate need a sinner must have, that results in a change of direction. Acts 3:19 "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out..”.  True repentance is not a work by which we earn salvation — it is the natural response of a heart that genuinely understands the grace of God and the seriousness of sin. Romans 11:6 “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace”.  Confessing — Declaring Faith Openly As we seen Romans 10:9 links salvation to confession of the mouth that Jesus is Lord. This is not a magical formula spoken by rote. It is the outward expression of an inward reality. A faith that cannot be declared openly is questioned in the New Testament. Jesus said: Matthew 10:32 "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven". Confession is the natural overflow of genuine saving faith that acknowledges the saving grace of God: it cannot be permanently suppressed. The Assurance of Salvation “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine….” So goes the old hymn. It is one of the most precious gifts God offers the believer: assurance That is the confidence that they are truly saved and eternally secure. It is not arrogance. It is a humble acceptance of the truth that a sinner has been shown grace that God will never withdraw. As Paul expressed it: Romans 8:38-39 “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 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”.  This is faith in the faithfulness of God. John wrote his first letter precisely for this purpose: 1 John 5:13 "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that you have eternal life". Salvation can be known. It is not presumptuous to be certain of it: it is the appropriate response to the truth of the promises of God. Jesus Himself gave this assurance:  John 10:28-29: "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." Such a statement from the lips of the Saviour must bring deep encouragement of security. We are in the double clasp of the hands of the Son and His Father. No power in heaven, earth or hell can remove them from that grip. Salvation is For Everyone No one is excluded from the possibility of salvation The most glorious truth about salvation is its openness to all. It is not reserved just for the morally respectable, the religiously educated, or those who feel worthy of it. It is offered to all, without exception. The well-known verse should never become so common we forget its power: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This verse is the greatest invitation the world will ever receive. It is an open door that nether the powers of hell or the world can close.  It is for the filthiest sinner. It is for the young and the old. It is for men and women It is for the one who has been seeking over a long time. It is for the newest seeker. It is for those bowed down with striving religiously and failing. It includes those who think their sin is too great to be forgiven. It includes you! Revelation 22:17 “And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Conclusion Surely, salvation is the greatest need of every human being, whether .they realise it or not. It is certainly the greatest gift God has ever given through His beloved Son. It was planned in eternity, purchased at Calvary, proclaimed in the gospel, and is received by faith. You cannot earn it. You cannot buy it. You cannot ever lose it, if you truly possessed it. The question that matters above all others is not theological but very personal. This is not merely an intellectual exercise. Understanding salvation and all about it is one thing: but have you received it? Not Just know how is it obtained: have you obtained it? If you have never placed your trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, there is no better moment than this one. The promise is as clear today as it was the day it was written: Romans 10:13 "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved". Will you do that now? If you have received Him. then live in the joy and the assurance of what He has done. You are justified. You are redeemed. You are adopted. You are His — and nothing shall ever change that. Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”.  

Introduction The truth is that every human being is mortal. Death is a guaranteed destination of life. It is a question that transcends culture, age and background. The young think it is something that is well into the future. The older one gets the more the question of the afterlife begins to be more of a question. How many young people die unexpectedly? Young sportsmen have fallen whilst at their peak from an undiagnosed complaint. Mid-life death has carried of those who hoped for a long retirement. True Christianity does not shrink back from the question of the afterlife.  The Scriptures have the answers. The Bible speaks with great clarity and consistently speaks about what lies beyond death. The answers Scripture gives are on one hand sobering but on the other it is gloriously hopeful. Death is Not the End The first and most foundational truth many wish to avoid is that there is an existence after death. Their faith, yes, their faith, is that there is nothing after death. However, the Bible makes clear that physical death is not the end of existence. Jesus Himself states it clearly: John 11:25-26, "I am the resurrection and the life. He that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die." Here is the simple truth: all human beings will die. But the deeper truth is that man is not merely a physical being. God created men and women. The creation of the first man is recorded: Genesis 2:7 “..then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Man became a living being. The word for that in the Hebrew is ‘soul’. The physical body contained a soul. That is the invisible reality within all mankind. It does not cease to exist when the last breath is given. It goes on to live after death. Death is an interesting word. It indicates a separation. In actual death there is a separation of the soul from the body, not the extinction of the person. The writer of Ecclesiastes confirms this: Ecclesiastes 12:7 "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it". It could not be clearer. The body goes into the grave. The spirit returns to God. This is the truth about every soul that ever walked the earth What Happens Immediately After Death The Bible teaches the good news, that when death comes; the soul/spirit of the believer goes immediately into the presence of God. The apostle Paul expressed this with joyful confidence when he wrote 2 Corinthians 5:8 "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord". Let us be clear. The Bible has no purgatory, no ‘soul sleep’, no ante-waiting room. To depart this life is to continue in existence. For the believer it is to be with Jesus the Christ. Paul underlines this in his letter to the Philippians, writing from prison and facing possible execution: Philippians 1:21"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain". There is no loss in death for the believer, rather it is gain — it is to be in the immediate, presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Think about the thief on the cross. Death was guaranteed within hours. All he did was recognise Jesus as his King. In return he was given the promise of eternal life with Jesus. He heard that directly from the King on the cross. Luke 23:43"Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise". Notice there is no period of waiting in purgatory. No delays. That very day he would be in Paradise with Jesus. Heaven — The Promise of God's Dwelling Place It is to be understood that heaven is not some mystical state of bliss.  The Scriptures are clear: it as a real place that our Saviour Jesus said He would prepare for believers. Jesus said:  John 14:2-3 “In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself, so that where I am you may also be.” (TLV)  The book of Revelation gives us the most graphic description of what awaits the redeemed. John writes of a new heaven and a new earth, a holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down from God. He records these beautiful encouraging words: Revelation 21:4 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away". Heaven is a place where everything that was a great burden to human beings: sickness, grief, disease, loss, loneliness, even the event of physical death itself. For the believer all these have passed away forever. It is not just that there is an escape from suffering. But it is more, a glorious restoration of everything God originally intended for humanity, in the original creation of Paradise, but even more so. The greatest glory of being in heaven, however, is not its wondrous beauty or even its freedom from pain. It is the very presence of God Himself. Revelation 22:4 “They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads“. At last, what all believers have longed for has come! Hell — The Solemn Warning of Scripture The subject of hell is an awesome and terrible thing that has to be spoken of. Whilst there is joy is looking forward to heaven; the Bible is honest - we therefore must speak of hell. We cannot speak of one without the other. It was Jesus Himself — He who wept at the tomb of Lazarus, who welcomed children into His arms, who forgave the adulteress, was gentle with the Samaritan women, living in sin. His concern was that He wished hell on no one. He spoke of Hell more than anyone else in Scripture. His concern was a great act of mercy and grace. He was clear: Matthew 25:46 “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life”. We need to think long and hard about this: "everlasting punishment" for some and “everlasting life" for others. Everlasting describes both destinations. If heaven is eternal, so is hell. We cannot accept one without the other. Jesus told a parable that is both sobering and heart rendering. Luke 16 tells of a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. They both died. Lazarus was taken by angels to Abraham's bosom, but the rich man found himself in the torment of hell. He cried out to Abraham: Luke 16:24 "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame". This parable teaches vital truths about hell. It is a place of conscious existence. We are told that the rich man thinks, feels, remembers and speaks. It is a place of torment and there is a complete separation from God's blessing. There is no escape from hell. That gulf of separation is permanent it cannot be crossed. It is to be remembered that hell is not God's spiteful revenge on sinners. It is the righteous consequence for those who by their own free will choice, lived a life of rejection. That is a rejection of God and His Son Jesus, who He had sent into the world. It is the rejection of God’s mercy and grace. 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not purposing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance". The death of Jesus on the cross opened a door to salvation, from the consequences of sin – death. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The salvation God offers is a free gift. The door of grace and mercy stands open whilst people live. To reject the gift and close the door in God’s face, has the consequence of the eternal Hell. The Gospel has to be the great call to people by all who teach and preach. The Scripture speaks eloquently: Deuteronomy 30:19 “I call Heaven and earth to record today against you. I have set before you: life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore, choose life, so that both you and your seed may live..”.  This was spoken to the Jewish people by Moses about their choices to obey or reject God. It is the same in the matter of heaven and hell – choose life. The Resurrection — The Great Hope The Bible teaches a bodily resurrection. This is the believer’s hope has within it, that the soul is going to be with God at death and will be reunited with the resurrected body This doctrine sets Christianity apart from every other worldview. The return of the Christ, will see the bodies of the dead being raised and the soul and the new spiritual body united, they are transformed and glorified through Jesus. The soul is not just some disembodied ethereal thing it will be clothed: 1 Corinthians 15:44 “..it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 “For we know that if our earthly house [our body] of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our dwelling-place out of Heaven; if indeed in being clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tabernacle groan, being burdened; inasmuch as we do not wish to be unclothed, but to be clothed, so that the mortal might be swallowed up by the life.” Paul further writes with great pastoral tenderness to believers grieving their dead: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord". The resurrection body will be real and physical, but transformed and imperishable. Our hope is not to drift around on clouds as disembodied spirits forever. Our hope is the resurrection of the body - a redeemed humanity dwelling in a renewed creation, in the full and glorious presence of God, for eternity. Hebrews 3:6 “But Christ was faithful as a Son over his own house; whose house we are, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.”  The Final Judgment We must start our understanding that God’s throne is established, not founded on love but on righteousness and judgement: Psalm 89:14 “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of thy throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before thee.” These Scripture teach that every human being will stand before God in judgment The Scriptures make clear God looks to see if a person has lived righteously and depending on that, justice must be done. From an earthly perspective, if someone breaks the law, say they murder another, it is expected that they will be subject to justice. But  this judgement is made in the context of steadfast love. This is how the Hebrew word ‘Hesed’, used. is translated. However, it means that the judgement is carried out with mercy and in faithfulness and truth, as meant by the Hebrew word ‘emeth’. Everyone will be treated fairly. We therefore, can now turn to what the Scripture teaches. There are two places of judgement. The first is the Bema or judgment seat of the Christ. There are two key Pauline portions of Scriptures to note here. 2Co 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body.” 1Co 3:11-15 “For no other foundation can anyone lay, other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work shall be made manifest; for the Day shall reveal it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall test each one's work, as to what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built remains, he shall receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, but so as through fire.” For the believer, this is the Bema, the Judgment Seat of the Christ. This is not a judgment of condemnation, for Paul also makes clear: Romans 8:1"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus". The believer’s judgement is an assessment of faithful service and a time of eternal reward. This is not a choice that God makes as a form of favouritism. Rather it is a judgement made as to the person having made the right choice. As said above it is a judgement about righteousness. For a believer, they do not stand before this set in their own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Jesus Himself. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (See also Romans 3:21ff and Romans 10:10) The second place of judgement is for those who have not accepted Jesus the Christ. It is the Great White Throne of judgment that awaits them. This is described by John in Revelation: Revelation 20:11-15 “Then I saw a great white throne and He who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled. And no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened the books. And another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged by the things having been written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to their works. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death, the Lake of Fire. And if anyone was not found having been written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire.” This is a deeply sad portion of Scripture, because it is a place of finality of judgement. It is where the books are opened and every life is assessed against God's perfect standard. Those whose names are not found written in the Book of Life, that those who have rejected God’s gift of the Lord Jesus and His righteousness, face the second death - the lake of fire. This is not a comfortable doctrine. But it is a biblical one, and as a teacher who loves people, I cannot hide it or dismiss it. I can only hope that people will choose wisely whilst they have their opportunity to do so in life. The Urgency of the Gospel Everything the Bible says about heaven, hell and the afterlife gives weight and urgency to the message of the gospel. Paul makes the most succinct and clear appeal: Romans 10:13 “For "whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved."” The Scriptures outlined here are clear. Heaven and hell are real. it is therefore profitable to accept what God offers in love – the gift of Jesus who imparts righteousness. Pursue this above all things. Avoiding hell is worth any sacrifice. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life: no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). To share that message with those we love is not a burden. It is a great act of love we can offer. The invitation of Scripture remains open today: Revelation 22:17 "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely”. Conclusion Let us be clear. What the Bible teaches on the afterlife and heaven and hell, is not designed to frighten but to give light in the darkness. It pulls back the curtain on death and what lies beyond. It invites us to live in the light of eternity. For the believer, death has lost its sting. The grave has lost its victory. Quoting from the Jewish Scriptures Paul confirms this: 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 “” O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Christ has conquered both, and those who are in Him share in that conquest. Heaven is real. Hell is real. The resurrection is real. And the God who made us, redeemed us and promises to receive us, is more real than anything this present life contains. Romans 8:38-39 "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (KJV)  

Introduction Of all the questions ever asked about the Christian faith, this is a key doctrine. The whole of a Christian’s life depends on the answer. Salvation is futile and our faith impotent, if Jesus was just another man. Read John 1:1-14 carefully. John was the last living witness who actually walked and talked with Jesus. Note these verses particularly: What the Gospel of John Declares John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”  He wrote this Gospel with a purpose: John 20:31 “..but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the [yachid = unique*] Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” In the mind of the Jewish John, He would understand that the Scripture is clear that Jesus was yachid, unique. It is therefore clear that the Scripture from John is confirming – Jesus was truly God in human form. John wrote through the Spirit, that Jesus was not only with God from the beginning, but was God. This is not John being prosaic, or using an allusion. He was making a profound theological declaration, of the doctrine, that Jesus was God. Jesus was, from eternity, God. He never ceased being God. He reigns now as God in one essence with the Father and Holy Spirit. This is what is called the hypostatic union - fully divine and fully human simultaneously. He was put simply the God Man. Jesus' Own Words Jesus could not be clearer in what He declared: John 10:30 “I and the Father are one.” This was clearly a declaration of His divinity. The outraged Jewish leaders of that time wanted to stone Him for the remark! To them it was blasphemy. On another occasion Jesus used the divine name "I AM" — this was what God revealed to Moses about Himself at the burning bush — for Jesus he had full entitlement to the name. John 8:58 “Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” This brought about the same reaction – an attempt to stone Him. Jesus would use this phrase in other statements. (See John 10 for example) What the Apostles Declared Paul of all the Apostles was one of  the greatest educated Jews. He was trained in his Jewish theology to the extent of becoming a chief Pharisee – a Pharisee of Pharisees, he declared himself. There was no way Jesus could be, who He claimed to be – the God Man. So convinced was he about this that he sought to destroy the Way as the Jesus community was known (Acts 8:1-30). That was until he was confronted by the Lord Jesus! No longer could he deny that he had met a man who was dead and now stood in front of him on the Damascus road. That is why he would declare: Colossians 2:9 “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;” Do you note the words of Paul? ‘.. all the fullness of the Godhead..’ Paul was making a very important point that he had come to understand. In Jesus every aspect of God the Father dwelt in Jesus. His omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, holiness and perfect love. The writer of Hebrews, writing to a mainly Jewish community makes a very stark and clear argument about the divinity of Jesus: Hebrews 1:5-8 “For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, today I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be a Father to Him, and He shall be a Son to Me"? But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him." And on the one hand he says to the angels, "He who makes His angels spirits and His ministers flames of fire." But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.”  A clear statement of the divinity of Jesus is there. What the Prophets Foretold  The writer of Hebrews had in mind the prophecy from Genesis:  Genesis 49:10 “The scepter will not pass from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs will come. To him will be the obedience of the peoples.” We can also turn to Isaiah who seven centuries before the birth of Jesus the Christ, declares; Isaiah 9:6-7 “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be on His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. There is no end of the increase of His government and peace on the throne of David, and on His kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now on, even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Hosts will do this.”  This was the pointer to the Son being born who was ‘the mighty God, the everlasting Father.’ The term Mighty God is El Gibbor in Hebrew. This was used by Isaiah and Jeremiah elsewhere, to refer to Yahweh. Turning to the prophet, Micah, who wrote: Micah 5:2 “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”  This declaration is pointing to the eternal nature of the promised one, who was to be the ruler of Israel and that rule would also be eternal. Why This Matters  This doctrine matters as it is the foundation of our faith. The deity of Jesus the Christ is not an add on to faith or an optional doctrine that can be taken or left. It is the central core of the entire Christian faith. This is why: Only God can forgive sin. Many men had died on crosses. Not one of them could bear the sins of the whole world, not even their own and claim forgiveness. It was only the divine Son of God, taking on flesh and living and dying as a perfect man: the spotless Lamb of God – could bear those sins. He alone was able to pay the debt and bring righteousness to those who would believe on Him. Only God is worthy of worship. From Genesis to Revelation all worship belongs to God alone. Every act of worship was for God alone. Any other worship to any other false god or object was condemned. However, we see Jesus receive worship from His followers and His disciples Many of those He healed, worshipped Him. The very angels of heaven worshipped and adored Him. Jesus never rebuked or stopped any of them from worshipping Him. Unlike Peter who highlighted the difference between worship of man and Jesus (Acts 10:26). Who else but the divine Saviour can give eternal life. He declared  "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." (John 11:25) There is no human being whether priest, prophet, teacher, man or angel can make that promise and bring it about. Only God can. There will be objections It is argued that Jesus never said or invited people to worship Him. It is true that He never made any statement to that effect. However, the entire witness of Scripture is overwhelming. Those who walked with Him, those He healed, those delivered from demons, did not need to be asked to worship Him. Their immediate response was to recognise His divine power and authority. Every thing He did, His actions, His acceptance of worship, His authority to forgive sins, His power over death — these all declare His deity beyond any reasonable doubt. Some will try to point to Jesus saying, "the Father is greater than I" (John 14:28) and then say that even Jesus accepted He was not God. This is to misunderstand what Jesus had done. He had laid aside the divine privileges of being God to live as a man. In His humanity He accepted to be the obedient Son within the Triune Godhead — He was not denying His divine nature. Paul makes this clear: Philippians 2:5-8 “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself [Laid aside His divine privileges], by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” The doctrine of the Triune Godhead teaches that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are distinct revelations of the Godhead who are co-equal in nature. Conclusion The whole question of the divinity of Jesus is not an abstract theological conundrum. It is deeply personal to every believer. The fact that Jesus is God, gives great weight to His invitation:  Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" There is divine authority and power that underlines it. His invitation to come to Him for the forgiveness of sin, is to find life and peace. In these invitations Jesus is offering Himself. The very God in human form, the author of life, the forgiver of sin, the conqueror of death. It is to all who will receive Him by faith. It is underwritten by His divinity and that divine authority. This study is showing the testimony of Scripture, of prophecy, and even of Jesus Himself, along with those who walked with Him. There is a unanimous agreement: Jesus the Christ is Lord. He is fully and truly God. Let us give the doubting Thomas the last word: John 20:28 "And Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!'"