I hope 2 things: 1) You’ll read this article with an open mind and heart, trusting the scriptures and 2) Come to understand the difference between “Jesus” and “jesus”. In this article we’ll cover just three things: (1) People are asking “jesus” and not Jesus into their lives. (2) The Bible clearly teaches that we are to get into Jesus not the other way around. (3) How can you live for someone whom you do not know?
(1) People are asking “jesus” and not Jesus into their lives: But, it is not the word “jesus” that saves, it’s Jesus the Word! Listen to Him: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). John wrote by inspiration, “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….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” (John 1:1, 14). A little examination of the word “WORD” in these two passages will shed light on the meaning of “jesus” verses Jesus. In John 1:1, 14: “In the beginning was the Word… the Word was…14 Word became flesh…”: Vines defines “Word” (λόγος) as (I) the expression of thought – not the mere name of an object. Now in John 6:63, “the words I speak to you”, Vines defines “words” (ῥῆμα) as that which is spoken, what is uttered in speech or writing ‘in the singular, a word. E.g. (Matthew 12:36) “…for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.” Therefore, calling on Jesus means accepting the entire “expression of thought”, “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4), all of the “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 2:16, ISV) words of the Bible. Calling on “jesus” is calling on a mere object, without power to save. The point? Everything Jesus did and spoke in the way of commands define Him. Any “word” must have context. Example: “John”, men’s room or a person? If we assume it is a name, whose? Add context, like, “President” and you might think “Kennedy, Adams or Tyler”? Add in the 60’s and you know it’s “John F. Kennedy”. Jesus asked, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46, ESV) Many have asked “jesus” into their hearts having no clue who “Jesus” is and what He taught. Test yourself. Write down 10 things Jesus commanded, then write down what Jesus alone said one must do to be saved. Paul commanded, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Most know what Jesus did, but not what He said. When tempted of hunger by the devil, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread” (Matthew 4:3), Jesus answered “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4) EVERY WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God is what saves and keeps us. There is NO POWER in a name if nothing is behind the name and that includes the name “jesus”. Don’t fail the test because you didn’t know (Hosea 4:6)!
(2) The Bible clearly teaches that we are to get into Jesus not the other way around: Paul wrote by inspiration, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death” (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27)? This text from God’s word teaches us that we are put into Christ through the act of baptism. If you’ve been told you need to ask Jesus into you, you know “jesus” not Jesus. Remember “All scripture is written by inspiration of God…” (2Timothy 3:16) including what the apostles wrote (1 Corinthians 14:37). The source of all that is written, whether by a prophet, apostle or Jesus, all is from God. After hearing His word, the question Jesus has for all is, “…Do you also want to go away” (John 6:67)? Peter’s answer was, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:69). What will your answer be? I hope that you can see what we all must do is get God’s words into us as Paul wrote, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17), then obey it (Matthew 7:24-25) for if we don’t obey we will be lost (Matthew 7:26-27). We cannot “get Jesus into our hearts” without understanding His “word”.
(3) How can you live for someone whom you do not know? The question is asked, “And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard” (Romans 10:14b)? The answer is they cannot. Another question is asked: How can you obey without hearing the command? The answer is the same, you cannot. Jesus asked, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say” (Luke 6:46)? Loving, caring and sincere men and women are taught they can just call on the name “jesus”, live their lives for Him, and they are saved, yet they do not know what He taught, commanded and what He requires of us. Most people today are living a “christian” life because they have believed the false teachers who “…exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator…” (Romans 1:25). Teaching only parts of the word that are compatible with their personal ways they lead souls from God not to Him. Yes God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:5), the definitive word being “truth” which is the Word of the Lord (John 17:17). When men teach a different gospel only a curse will result (Galatians 1:8-9). Example: Men say: He who believes, and you don’t have to be baptized to be saved. Jesus said: “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved…” (Mark 16:16) Who’s right? “Let God be true and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). Men say: Your sins are washed away when you ask Jesus in your heart. The Word of God says: “Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins…” Who’s right? “Let God be true and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). Men say: Baptism does not save you.” God says: “…in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism” (1Peter 3:20-21). Let me be clear, only the blood of Jesus (Ephesians 1:7; Acts 20:28; Revelation 1:5) can save us and wash our sins away, but that blood was shed in death which meteorically we come in contact with when we obey Him and are baptized “into His death”, then raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4).
Who’s right? “Let God be true and every man a liar.” (Romans 3:4)
How can you live for someone you do not know?
You cannot!
“We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (1 John 4:6)
Salvation is in the power of the gospel, which is God’s Word. (Romans 1:16) Will you call on the name of the LORD, JESUS and obey Him?
His word says this is what we must do to be saved.
- We must hear the gospel words (Romans 10:17, Acts 11:14)
- We must believe the gospel words (John 3:16, Hebrews 11:6)
- We must repent according to the gospel words (Luke 13:5, Acts 3:19)
- We must confess Christ as in the gospel words (Matthew 16:16, Romans 10:9&10)
- We must be baptized as in the gospel words (Mark 16:16, Acts 22:16, Acts 2:38)
- We must remain faithful as in the gospel words (Rev 2:10)
I hope this helps you to see that merely calling on a name, without substance, cannot save you.
If you would like to study please just call me 440-232-2231, day or night.
God Bless you
In Love
David Scarpino