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In the Summer of 1972 I returned from Vietnam with the Marines after being drafted before Graduate School in 1969. I had just become a teacher before I was drafted.
After arriving in Vietnam...... by the Grace of God I was put in a position to establish a GED High School Completion Course inside a Prison Camp for Marines called III MAF Correctional Center a few clicks outside of DaNang.
A number of Marines awaiting trial there had not finished High School so during my one year tour of duty I was able to help many of them complete their High School Education. During my tour of duty in Vietnam I had also lost a number of my fellow boot camp friends who were killed in action while serving in Vietnam.
Now back home I began my own personal search for answers to questions of being, meaning and purpose. What happens when someone dies and is there really life after death? I was searching for answers and the truth and found both to my great joy in (HIM)"Christ Jesus" searching the Gospels, (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John).
I later came to know HIM (The Truth) in a personal way as my Lord and Savior one warm summer evening in Berkeley, Calif when I invited HIM into my heart and was "Born Again".
On that evening my life was transformed for (Eternity) because I not only found the "Living Truth" but a new hope, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
YES its true �..believing what HE said in the Gospels has changed my life for (Eternity) and I have (Eternity) to thank and Praise HIM for it.....which brings me great (JOY).
WHO IS JESUS? I sincerely invite you to read and reflect on the scripture references I've listed below and discover as I did for yourself.
(John 14:6-9) "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know HIM and have seen HIM."
Philip said, "Lord show us the Father and that will be enough for us." Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father."
Jesus claimed to be God. He didn't leave any other option open. His claim must be either true or false.
You cannot put him on the shelf as a great moral teacher. That is not a valid option. He is either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord and God. The Apostle John wrote, "these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and "----more important-----"that believing you might have life in His name: (John 20:31).
C.S. Lewis adds: "You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."
Jesus continuously spoke of himself as one in the essence and nature with God. He boldly asserted, "If you knew Me, you would know My Father also (John 8:19); "He who beholds me beholds the One who sent me" (John 12:45); "He who hates Me, hates My Father also" (John 15:23); "All may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him" (John 5:23); etc. These references certainly indicate that Jesus looked at himself as being more than just a man; rather, he was equal with God.
Also in the Gospel of Mark we have the trial of Jesus (Mark 14:60-64). Those trial proceedings are one of the clearest references to Jesus' claims of deity. "And the high priest arose and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, 'Do You make no answer to what these men are testifying against You?' But He kept silent, and made no answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, 'Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?' And Jesus said, 'I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.'
An analysis of Christ's testimony shows that the claimed to be (1) the Son of the Blessed One (God); (2) the One who would sit at the right hand of power, and (3) the Son of Man who would come on the clouds of heaven. Each of the affirmations is distinctively messianic. He not only trusted in God (He Was God)��for He said, 'I am the Son of God."(Matthew 27:43).
Christ's Testimony About Himself:
Luke 22:70 They all asked, Are you then the Son of God?? He Replied, you are right in saying I am."
John 10:30 I and the Father are One
John 14:8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
John 14:9 Jesus answered "Don't you know me Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father�..How can you say show us the Father.
The Father Bears Witness:
Matthew 3:17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.
Matthew 17:5 While he was still speaking a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased��LISTEN TO HIM
Rev: 1:8 I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was , and who is to come, the Almighty
"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son."
This is my personal testimony. I invited Jesus into my heart in my early twenties when I came to believe with all my heart that Jesus really is who he said he was in the scriptures...."God In The Flesh".
I had no choice but to respond to such a great love for me and you when Jesus offered the forgiveness of all of my sins and yours also when he laid down his life for me....and you on a rugged cross at Calvary.
You might be asking now�.how then can a person have God's forgiveness, heaven and eternal life and Jesus as their personal savior and Lord?
By trusting in Jesus and asking Him for forgiveness and saying this prayer below.
Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and have displeased You in many ways. I believe you died for my sin and only through faith in Your death and resurrection can I be forgiven.
I want to turn from my sin and ask you now to come into my life as my Lord and Savior. From this day on, I will follow You by living a life that pleases You. Thank You, Lord Jesus for saving me and giving me Eternal Life. AMEN�
If you asked Jesus Christ into your life, I'd love to point you to a short email series to help you grow in your new relationship. It's called "The Spiritual Adventure Pack." You can find it on my website on the far right in a box called "Get the Spiritual Adventure Pack".
It's a series of just 7 emails and it's Totally Free. You can also unsubscribe any time. A friend of mine wrote it along with "Try the Gospel of John" which you can also subscribe to on the far right of my website.
Bless you for taking this big step into to a new life in Christ Jesus. ;-)
After you have subscribed to "The Spiritual Starter Kit" and or the "Gospel of John Series" by clicking on the boxes please also consider exploring my top menu bar. You will find a lot of answers to your questions about "Gods Existence" and "Knowing God".
I would also love to hear from you after you have had the time to explore my website to answer any questions you might have about coming to know Jesus as your personal savior.
You can email me at: [email protected]
Last but not lease please watch "The Jesus Film" by copying and then pasting the link below into your browser. This will help you come to know Jesus as your personal savior. In HIM....Jim
http://jesusfilmmedia.org/video/1_529-jf-0-0
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