Recently, during our Bible Study, we were finishing up our study of the Book of Galatians. In Chapter 6, verses, 14 and 15, sits a major revelation that came to me in 1982, during the release of the book, The God Makers.
I was at a conference, signing the book for a line of people wanting their copy of this explosive book. A number of people asked me to add a scripture and because of the intensity of the moment I signed John 3: 16. But I knew that while it is a powerful, famous quote, it didn’t convey what I wanted to place below my name.
I prayed and fussed over it for a few days and finally I was led to the above scripture that Paul spoke to the Galatians in the final chapter of this important letter.
14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. Gal 6:14-15
I realized that with all the notoriety following my public ministry, the God Makers movie, the radio, TV and the many conferences and churches that asked me to come and share, it was becoming about me.
The Scripture that God gave me showed that it was all about Him and the Cross, that I was a new creature through what He did a the cross and not by anything else. I was set free from the law and free from the world.
Since that day, this has been my scripture and I place it under my signature with joy.
So many people don’t understand this key principle of the Christian faith. I have had hundreds of people tell me that they have assurance of heaven because they are good people and are at church every Sunday Morning.
So many just don’t know who Jesus really is and what he really did. Let’s take a look at who Jesus really is.
Who Do People Say I am?
The crux of the heresy of Mormonism, Islam, Freemasonry, The Jehovah Witnesses and a pot full of other pseudo-religious cultic groups is simply what they say about Jesus.
Jesus thought it an important enough point to bring it up with his disciples. It was important enough for them that you can read about it in three of the Gospels. [Ed: Scripture is from NKJV.
Please read the following article carefully. We need to know in whom we trust for our salvation. Not an idea, not a good life full of good deeds, not in an organization or temple rituals or secret/scared signs and grips. We need to why we Christians trust in the gift of salvation given by our Lord Jesus and we need to be able to tell the world what we know and why we know it.
Who do men say that I am?
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matt 16:13-16
Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?” Mark 8:27
And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijaa and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Luke 9:18-20
Who does Jesus say that He is?
I am the living bread
which came down from heaven. John 6:51
I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.” John 7:28-29
“I am the light of the world.
He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12
I am One who bears witness of Myself,
and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.” John 8:18
Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” John 8:58
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5
I am the door.
If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. John 10:9-10
”I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep John 10:11-12
I am the good shepherd;
and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. John 10:14-15
“I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6
“I am the true vine,
and My Father is the vinedresser. John 15:1-2
“I am the vine, you are the branches.
He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5-6
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” John 18:37
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,”
says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Rev 1:8
The Jesus of the Cults
There is literally a smorgasbord of Jesus Christs being served up to the public. Who is the Jesus of the cults? Let us give you just a brief idea. Jesus said, in the last days there’s going to come many false christs. Paul warned of it in the scriptures. We’ve got them by the hundreds today! By the millions, if you believe the New Age teaching that we are all “Jesus Christs.”
Who is the Jesus of Jehovah’s Witnesses? They say He is the archangel, Michael, and that He was the first creation of God, came to earth as a man, died on a stake and rose invisibly as a ghost.
The Mormons say that Jesus was simply one God in a pantheon of Gods, He’s the brother of Satan, that the cross and blood of Christ is foolishness. He points the way, but we ourselves are our own ‘way.’ Mary Baker Eddy taught in Christian Science that Jesus was a divine idea, a nice idea.
The Unitarians say that Jesus was a good man but his followers mistakenly deified him. The spiritists say that Jesus is an advanced medium in the sixth sphere in the astrological projection, wherever that is.
You need to understand that the Jesus of the cults is not the Jesus of the Bible. They have another Jesus, a counterfeit, a false Christ who can save no one. And the greatest question still before us is “what think ye of Jesus Christ? Who is He?”
Who is the real Jesus Christ?
That is the ultimate question.
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” (1 John 4:1-3)
John says to test these people. Do they confess that Jesus Christ is God come in the flesh? If they deny that, he says, then that they are of the antichrist. Now there are many cults that believe that their particular Jesus was actually in the flesh. But John had already recorded for us in his gospel who this unique one is that has come in the flesh and is from God.
Another key scripture is in the Book of John. John starts his gospel so there would be no mistake. God took on human flesh, God incarnate.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1, 14)
The cults have another gospel, able to enslave you into a man made system trying to earn and work for your salvation apart from Jesus Christ.
But Jesus Christ is ”…the way, the truth and the light. No one comes to the Father but by him. (John 14:6)
Acts 4:12 says: “there is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved but that of Jesus Christ.”
Salvation is not a man made system or organization, but it is a gift of God. It was bought and paid for by the eternal Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who was the infinite sacrifice, who shed His blood on the cross, for an infinite amount of sins, that we could come by faith and receive that free gift of salvation. That’s why they call it “good news.” It is the true power of God Himself in each and every one of us.
Another of my favorite scriptures and one that helped me in establishing myself only through Him and His grace is Galatians 2:20-21.
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
Think on these powerful scriptures today and see how your life measures up with them. Through the love and grace of God, we can live our lives in grace and peace.
I remember back in 2017 when Carol had been in a coma for 32 days and the outlook was grim. She was mumbling something over and over again in the coma. I bent down to hear what she was saying. It was scripture. Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.
Carol pulled through the impossible and shares this ministry with me today because she was living her life through Christ and His strength, not hers.
Be blessed. We love you all and keep you in our prayers daily.