In the first verse of the Bible, Genesis 1:1, we're introduced to Elohim [God, Mighty Creator]. God is the one who created this world and you and me. This name is in the plural form--it's the first reference to the Trinity. There is one God, but he exists in 3 persons. Thousands of years later, Jesus made this clear as he was giving his final instructions to his disciples, telling them to "...go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." Notice Jesus said, "all nations." Jesus is not just for the Jews or for western civilization--He loves everyone!
Later, in the book of Genesis, we find more names of God, which help us to better understand his divine nature.
El Elyon [God Most High]
El Shaddai [God Almighty]
El Olam [The Everlasting God]
In Exodus 3, God appeared to Moses in a burning bush and told Moses, "So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." Moses asked God's name, and God answered, "Jehovah" [The Lord, I am].
Almost 1400 years later, we read in John 8 that Jesus said, "...before Abraham was born, I am!" The religious leaders of that time understood that by this, Jesus was claiming to be the God of the Old Testament so they picked up rocks to stone him to death for what they thought was blasphemy, but Jesus slipped away.
So how did the same God of the Old Testament come to be with us? The answer is in John 3:16-17: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." Jesus is “the Savior of the World” John 4:42.
700 years before Jesus was born, Isaiah prophesied that he would be called Immanuel [God with us] Isaiah 7:14.
500 years before the virgin birth of Jesus, Daniel prophesied about the "Son of Man." This is the name that Jesus most often used when referring to himself. By this, Jesus made it clear that not only was he a man, descended from Adam, but he was also the promised Messiah. And that's how he is introduced in the first verse of the New Testament, Matthew 1:1, as "Jesus the Messiah."When Jesus asked Peter, "Who do you say I am," Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God." Jesus was both fully man and fully God.
Peter preached this in Acts 2, "Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs." And this is what Jesus said about his ministry: "The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor." Matthew 11:5-7. He proved himself to be the God of the Old Testament, Jehovah Rapha [The Lord Who Heals].
Because he was God in the flesh, Jesus was the first and only person to ever fully obey all of God's commandments. All the rest of us "have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."Romans 3:23. So Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He was "a lamb without blemish or defect." 1 Peter 1:19, "...the lamb, who was slain" Revelation 5:12, and "The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29. Jesus paid the price for our sins so that we can have forgiveness and be reconciled with God, who is "Holy, holy, holy" Isaiah 6:3.
This is how the prophet Isaiah put it, 700 years before Jesus was born:
He was wounded and crushed
because of our sins;
by taking our punishment,
he made us completely well.
All of us were like sheep
that had wandered off.
We had each gone our own way,
but the Lord gave him
the punishment we deserved. Isaiah 53:5-6
But Jesus did not stay dead. On the third day after his crucifixion, two of his disciples went to his tomb and found the giant stone at the entrance rolled away. An angel appeared to them and said, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen..." Matthew 28:5-6. During the next forty days (Acts 1:3), Jesus appeared to many people, including over 500 of his followers at the same time (1 Corinthians 15:6). On the last day, he gave his final instructions to his disciples, and they watched as he ascended into the sky and disappeared in the clouds (Acts 1:9) on his way to heaven to sit at the right hand of God, the Father (Mark 16:19).
What you have just heard is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's "the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes..." Romans 1:16. So what should our response be? Jesus said, "Repent and believe the good news!" Mark 1:15. Repent means to turn from your sinful ways to follow Jesus. Make him the Lord of your life!!! Don't be confused, Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6.
Once you've made this commitment... you will begin to enjoy the greatest possible blessing: a loving relationship with "the living and true God" 1 Thessalonians 1:9.
As you spend time with him in prayer, reading the Bible, worshiping him and fellowshipping with your bothers and sisters in Christ and serving alongside them... you will understand, more and more, who he is to us. He is...
Jehovah M’Kaddesh [The Lord Who Sanctifies Us, Makes Us Holy]
The Lord is my shepherd; Jehovah Raah [The Lord, Our Shepherd] Psalm 23:1
Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:11
Psalm 23:1-4
I shall not want. Jehovah Jireh [The Lord, Our Provider]. He is all I need! Psalm 16
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul; Jehovah Shalom [The Lord, Our Peace]
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake. Jehovah Tsidkenu [The Lord, Our Righteousness]
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me; Jehovah Shammah [The Lord is There]
And again... He is Jehovah Rapha [The Lord, Our Healer], a perfect healer because one day, He will give us a glorified body, which will never hurt or grow old or die. 1 Corinthians 15:42-57
These are not things God might do for you once, if you're lucky. They are His character--who He is!
As a child of God, you will have so much to look forward to, including this from Revelation 7:9-12:
...I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:
“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”
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