THE REAL JESUS CHRIST

From the 1950s to 1967 there was a game show on TV called, "What's My Line." The panel of celebrities would question a panel of three contestants to determine the occupation (the "line" or work) ultimately determining who the real person. Well sadly today it seems many people play this game when it comes to Jesus Christ. Most Christians do not know who Jesus Christ is yet they talk about Him as they recite Bible stories, pray in His name, and yes even use His name in vain. One of the biggest questions in the Bible is what Jesus asked His Disciples. In Matthew Jesus asked, "When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?" ( Matthew 6:13-15) And of course Peter was always first to speak showing his leadership qualities replied, "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 13-16) Well Peter answered the question right (a true revelation of the real Jesus Christ) this time, but later in the Scriptures we see Peter's answer did not reflect this present revelation of Jesus Christ. Now I am not beating up on Brother Peter I too count myself lacking in revelation at times, but the answer to this question is telling to our revelation of who Jesus Christ is and at the end of the day if we know Him or not. Peter knew Jesus from an earthly, natural perspective and as Peter allowed Jesus to work on His carnal character transporting him from darkness into the light, Peter's perspective slowly changed to the point he did not want to be crucified like Jesus, but rather upside down. Remember the way up is down and for some of the harder cases (like Peter and I) upside down. This wondrous truth of the LORD has been captured in the first few verses of the Book of Revelations, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.' (Revelations 1:1-2) The Book of Revelation is not about the end times and setting up of God's kingdom as much as it is about the revelation of Jesus Christ. The entire Bible from Geneisis1:1 to Revelation 22:20 is all about who Jesus Christ is TO US. It does not matter if your family has pew in the church you attend. It does not matter if your name has been added to the Church role (even baptized) of the church you attend for the last 20 years. It does not matter what you do by way of service in the church you attend. It does not matter if you know all of the parables or all of the Bible stories all of this really does not matter, but what really matters is do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Have you allowed God to deal and judge in your heart and life? If not then you are on your way to hell and the last stop will be the Lake of Fire with Satan and his angels forever. We all start like Peter knowing Jesus after the flesh, but that is not God's intention for us. God intends for us to come to know Jesus after the Spirit. To do this we must be willing to endure God's work in our lives. How can we know what is light if we are still in darkness? How is darkness dispelled in us? By allowing God to remove (we cannot remove the darkness) the darkness in us while replacing it (adding while subtracting) with the light of the revelation and truth of Jesus Christ (the real Jesus Christ), by His Spirit. You know there are a bunch of antichrists out there. Jesus warned the disciples (that would be us) "Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." (Matthew 24:4-5) Well we still need to "take heed" and not be deceived because the longer God tarries with His plan for mankind and eternity the more deceivers are in the world. "Take heed" my friend to yourself and your family and be not deceived by all of the phony people on TV begging for your time, talents, and money. God's children do not need to beg all they need to do is move with what God is doing in their lives and He will provide what is needed to do that which God has asked them to do. My big Brother John Stahl (a great Bible teacher) helped me here with some words. To be not of this world in heart is always a constant struggle, but thank God for His mercy and grace. Thank the LORD we have Christ in us and He has become unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. Did you get that? It is not the LORD is going to give us these things, but it is Christ in us who IS all of these things. Paul told the Church at Corinth, "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification ,and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:27-30). This can only happen in our lives as we allow the work of the cross of Christ to be applied to our heart and lives, allowing the life of Christ to become manifested in us and out from us, which is THE MESSAGE completely lacking in the Church today. Too many Christians think God gives us things like wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, but instead He gives us Christ who is our wisdom, sanctification, righteousness, and redemption. Again do you get that? Most Christians are seeking things that God supposedly gives us, but they miss Christ in us who is those things. It is like why should we eat the fruit from the tree when we can eat the tree that produces the fruit? Therefore they do everything out of carnal, fleshly desires (out from the life of Adam) and fail miserably. But if we come into an inward knowledge of who the real Jesus Christ is in us and we desire to allow Him through us to give the life of God to those in a dead world then the Church could once again become effective. But, I’m not sure this can happen unless there is a terrible shaking that will shake all that fleshly thinking and selfishness out of us. Quite honestly that really scares me. All you have to do is read the prophets in the Old Testament and see how God dealt with Israel and Judah. God have mercy on us!!! It seems history repeats itself because the mystery of iniquity is always working in the heart of every man, woman, boy and girl. Even in the hearts of Believers, but thank God for Christ in us. Will the real Jesus please stand up as they would say on "What's My line" at the end of the show. There are plenty of imposters, not Jesus Christ in the person, but antichrist or another Jesus Christ (in representation), another idol to worship (just look at the Catholic Church and other main stream religions of the world) that substitutes the real Jesus Christ and the message of grace and salvation, another god to bow down to in religious doctrine and practice, a motivation of the heart that lends itself to "self-seeking," that gives rise to idolatry (something God hates), and the production of good works. Not saved by grace through the shed blood of the real Jesus on the cross, but saved by indulgences, penances, and good works: lighting candles, praying a rosary, (like the Muslims do), while honoring the writings of men, fables, and rejecting the written Word who is the real Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church, steeped in tradition and doctrinal writing of men, speak of the real Jesus Christ and even of the Holy Spirit, but in reality denies the power and authority of God while relegating down its power and authority to Mary (the mother of the real Jesus Christ), the Pope (the Victor Christ on earth), Cardinals (another man), Bishops (yet another man) , and the mere mortals who God used yet they worship and pray to them calling them Saints. Will the real Jesus Christ please stand up. Some would say I see the LORD high and lifted up while others would say I see nothing. What we see all depends on what is in our heart. It is the real Jesus Christ in us "the hope of glory" or an antichrist hope of the world and religion. Written by David Stahl