Are you saved? In Noah's day, it was easy to know if you were saved. All you had to do was to get on that boat with Noah and all the animals. If you were on the boat, you were saved. You were safe from the destruction of the flood. But what about today? Jesus is coming to judge all people and to save only the righteous people. How do you know if you are saved?

The question: Are you saved; is an extremely important question. Being a Christian is a blessing above everything else. However, some choose to downplay the eternal part of the blessings and say that our present happiness is what matters.

This view, looses the importance of eternal reality. We are all getting older and our time on this world is not going to last that long at all. It is the eternal blessings that interest me. I'm sure that it interests you as well. How can we be happy if everything we know will soon come to an end, including us! Where then is my happiness? Where then is my hope and Joy for the future? Is there anything better than the cold hard tomb that we are all going to face sooner or later?

I long for something better and Jesus has offered us exactly what we need.

16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18. "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16

Praise God! God offers us eternal life through His Son!

Imagine being included with God's people and being taken home through various galaxies and intergalactic wonders to the place where God Himself lives so that we can live with Him forever! If the wonders of the Universe is beyond our imagination, what do you think it will be like to live with the Creator of the whole Universe?

2. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:2-3

9. But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

We can not miss this chance to be really happy, to be one of God's followers and receive all the blessings! And to think that Jesus has made it all a future reality for us. It is the only way to fill that emptiness and to have that happy feeling inside that God gives His people, it's the peace that passes understanding! Nothing else really matters.

6. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7. and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Because of what God has to offer us, being that there is nothing in this world that can compare with His offer and His love for us; We can then know that we can follow His advice with confidence. We can then know that there is no alternative solution that can make us happy, safe, and secure for the future. Nothing at all! Jesus is our only answer!

So, when Jesus tells us to be anxious for nothing in this world, we can realize that indeed, there really is nothing to be anxious about. That is, if we ask for the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, to be in us. He will guard our hearts and minds through Jesus!

You see, God Himself through Jesus Christ, gives us the ability to actually be anxious for nothing! The advice to take everything to God, to make our requests to God, is His excuse to start working in us. So when we take everything in prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving; God then gives us the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. Yes, He will guard our hearts and minds. He will protect us.

These thoughts are so wonderful to ponder that I just have to start thinking about the one who offers us these unbelievable wonders. I really want to see Jesus. To come up to Him and see His nail-scarred hands and feet. To think what He suffered in order to save us from hopeless and sure destruction and death. We deserve to die for our sins, but Jesus took our place so that we might live with Him and experience the eternal wonders of all that God has made. Jesus has suffered for us, and He has wept for us.

I'm not sure if we really understand the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. I think that it might take an eternity to find out what He did for us. It may be that the sacrifice is eternal, in that Jesus is now in human form.

So, what must we do to be saved? What we need to do is to start doing what Jesus did when He was on earth. He spent time every day talking to His Father and reading from Scripture.

17. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:16-17

We can gain faith and belief in God through the Scriptures and God will help us. So we can do the same thing that Jesus did and we can get blessings from God. If you start spending time with God every day, reading the Bible and talking to Him, you will quickly realize that you are getting happier than you have ever been before. I have experienced this same happiness myself when I started reading the Bible and talking to God. You will actually love to talk to God through Jesus because you will feel this very same closeness to God! God fills us with His happiness when we come to Him. Read what Jesus did and try to copy His character.

When Jesus was 12 years old, He came to the temple and talked with the priests. Jesus knew the prophecies and He knew what they meant. The priests were amazed, wondering how one so young could know so much. Actually, He knew much more than they did.

And yet, we know that when Jesus came to this earth that He limited Himself to that of a human. So we know that it was with human abilities coupled with the Holy Spirit that enabled Him to know the prophecies.

5. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6. who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
7. but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
8. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5-8

When Jesus was baptized we find that He is indeed the Son of God! But we know that Jesus did not cling to His high position because He chose to humble Himself in order to become one of us. He now is found in appearance as a man! God is now manifested in the flesh.

16. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. 1 Timothy 3:16

To be manifested in the flesh means we can now see God in human flesh! This truly is a great mystery of godliness that God can now be with us.

23. "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." Matthew 1:23

Yes, God came in the flesh to be with us. Indeed, the Father was especially pleased and so He announced His pleasure when Jesus was baptized. He declared Jesus to be His beloved Son:

16. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:16-17

So, we know that Jesus had a special relationship with His Father in Heaven. He was His Father's beloved Son! However, we find in Scriptures that we also are sons and daughters of God:

14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Romans 8:14-15.

As an adopted son or daughter, we can now call God as Father just like Jesus did!

1. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 1 John 3:1

We have been adopted into the family of God. I can not even imagine the thought that I am a son of God! We are all children of God! And our Father loves us more than any earthly parent.

3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Ephesians 1:3

God has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings that we need. All we need to do is to ask for it!

9. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12. Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke 11:9-13.

Do not miss the thought that Jesus reminds us that God is actually our heavenly Father! So, since we are sons and daughters of God, we have access to the storehouse of God. All we need to do is ask for it!

What greater promise could we have than this? Every good thing that we ask our heavenly Father for, He will provide for us! I have experienced this over and over again in my own life. He provides for our needs when ever we call on Him. Jesus called on His Father for help all the time. We need to follow the example of our "Big Brother". We must find the same joy for ourselves that Jesus had when He talked to His Father.

God's blessing can be yours when you seek Him out and choose to follow Jesus as your example. In my own walk with God I have experienced this same joy. (At the end of this web page, I will have this same link.)

Jesus is giving us even more blessings that will last for eternity!

5. and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,
6. and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7. Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. Revelation 1:5-7.

Jesus has washed our sins away and has made us kings, queens, and priests before His Father. So since we are the sons and daughters of God, we are actually royalty! And Jesus will be coming for us. Despite the fact that the world will mourn because of Him, Even so, Jesus come soon.

9. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9

We are God's own special people who were called out of the darkness of this hopeless world into His marvelous light!

So please spend time with God every day, talking to Him and reading the Bible. Jesus has promised that if we try to find Him that we will indeed find Him!

7. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10. Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matthew 7:7-11

You must find God yourself. No one else can do that for you. If you try to use others as your connection with God, such as your pastor or religious friend, and never become acquainted with God yourself; Then, when the time comes, when you expect to get into heaven, Jesus will say to you, I never knew you!

21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23.

We must be known by God. We must be the apple of His eye.

5. Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings. Psalms 17:5

8. For thus says the LORD of host: He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. Zechariah 2:8

In other words, We must be so close to God that He actually keeps His eyes on us! Read this promise:

9. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. 2 Chronicles 16:9(first part).

I want that kind of attention from God, and I know you do too.

There is no chance that God will miss us by mistake, because He is constantly searching our hearts for any sign that we might follow Him. I am reminded of Jesus when He was crying over Jerusalem:

37. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Matthew 23: 37 NIV

Jesus is literally crying over Jerusalem, longing to help them, but they were not willing to accept His help.

Jesus is not looking for any excuse to destroy us at all. He is crying over us, that we may follow Him and be saved! He waits for us since He is not willing that any of us should be lost and perish.

9. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

There is a love here that we need to try to understand. The one thing that God longs for in us, the one thing that the Lord really takes pleasure in, is when we choose to live forever and to follow God.

11. The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy. Psalms 147:11

Can you imagine God taking pleasure in you, that when He thinks of you, there is pleasure in His eyes. Can you imagine that God has this pleasure because you are asking Him for help; Or because you are asking for His mercy?

He loves it when people start asking Him for the help that Jesus gave us when He died on the cross. This is the joy we can have, that God will keep his eyes on us with pleasure when we ask Him for help or guidance.

3. But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him. Psalms 4:3

When we fear (respect or honor) Him, when we follow Him, He will have so much pleasure when He thinks of us that He will set us apart for Himself. No wonder we will be sons and daughters of God, even kings and queens in His kingdom. He wants us for Himself and He will set us apart for Himself right now. Look at these Scripture, to see what God will do for His people.

12. For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield. Psalms 5:12

7. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. Psalms 34:7

He puts a shield around His people, His angels will surround God's people when there is danger, to deliver them. Look at the promises He gives to those in trouble:

15. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me. Psalms 50:15

19. They will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you. Jeremiah 1:19

When things go bad, some people go to pieces, the one who worships God, has someone who will always listen! He always has someone by his side to protect and comfort him. Now look at this promise:

5. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

These promises are just a few of the hundreds or perhaps thousands of promises that God has for us. Also, as we study God's word, the love He has for us will become deeper and richer in promise and love. With promises like this who would not want to strive to be under the care of God!

It is time to look at our situation. God is righteous and we are wicked. Once we cover this topic and the failure of the Law to save us; We will then look at how God will save us. We will learn how to be saved!

Since we are wicked, we need to bcome righteous. As we will discover, nothing else will really matter in life.

33. "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
34. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:33-34.

Jesus says that if we put Him first and seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness first that He will give us all those other things that we need. We don't need to worry:

Jesus became wisdom for us. Wisdom from God.

24. but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

30. It is because of him [God] that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
31. Therefore, as it is written: ÒLet him who boasts boast in the Lord.Ó 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30-31 NIV

So Jesus is the source of our righteousness, holiness (or sanctification), and redemption. He is our source of wisdom. So, lets concentrate on righteousness because we need it.

172. My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness. Psalm 119:172

God's commandments are righteousness. Not only are His commands righteous but if we look deeper we will find that His commandments are actually the righteousness of God.

That almost doesn't make sense but look at this:

6. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, And look on the earth beneath. For the heavens will vanish away like smoke, The earth will grow old like a garment, And those who dwell in it will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not be abolished.
7. "Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, You people in whose heart is My law: Do not fear the reproach of men, Nor be afraid of their insults. Isaiah 51:6-7

Because sin has changed things around us, we will find that the heavens (our atmosphere) will eventually vanish away like smoke, and the earth will grow old. Also, all the wicked people living on the earth will die. However the salvation of God to save us will last forever and His righteousness will never end.

Now he specifically says that the people who know the righteousness of God are those who have His law in their heart. This shows us that the law of God is really the righteousness of God!

So, if we have the law of God in our heart, we have the righteousness of God and His salvation to save us will last forever.

We can see the very same thing from other texts:

17. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. 1 John 5:17

To sin is the opposite of righteousness. Sin is unrighteousness.

Let's look at the next verse in three different versions:

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4 KJV

Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 1 John 3:4 NKJV

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 1 John 3:4 NIV

Before we saw that sin is unrighteousness. Now we can see that sin is also lawlessness. To say it another way, sin is breaking the law, and the old King James Version says that sin is the transgression of the law. So, can easily see that unrighteousness is also lawlessness or breaking the law.

But the opposite would also be true: Righteousness would be in obedience to the law.

So, we can make the same statement as was made before and it fits with these new verses: If we have the law of God in our heart, we have the righteousness of God.

Now which law are we talking about?

7. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." Romans 7:7

Yes, Paul is talking about the 10 Commandments as being the law. So, since the law is the righteousness of God, we can see that to fear God and keep his commandments is the whole duty of man:

13. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13

There is a reason why we can say that righteousness is obedience to the law and that it is the whole duty of man to not only fear God but also keep His commandments. It is because the law is actually of a spiritual nature:

14. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. Romans 7:14

Not only is the Law spiritual but it is exceedingly broad:

96. I have seen the consummation of all perfection, But Your commandment is exceedingly broad.
97. MEM. Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Psalm 119:96-97

The law is not only deep and broad but at the same time, it is deeply spiritual. The righteous love the law.

14. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14

But it is only the righteous that can appreciate the law. The world sees the law as foolishness.

On the sermon on the mount, Jesus started to explain the law to the people. He showed just how deep the commandments are:

21. "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.'
22. "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.

27. "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.'
28. "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28

What Jesus tells us is that even a wrong look or a wrong thought is a violation of the law. For example, You shall not murder really means we must not even cherish anger in the heart!

It should be obvious to us that we will be judged even in every secret thing that we think. So, the law of God forbids evil whether we think it or do it.

13. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
14. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

If to even think of doing a sin is against the law, how can we keep it?

It is no wonder that Paul says that the law brings death to him because he can not obey it fully. Neither can we. There is no way we can bring every thought into line with the law.

10. And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. Romans 7:10

We are all guity because not one of us is righteous. No, not one!

9. What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
10. As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;
11. There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
12. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one." Romans 3:9-12

While it is true that "the doers of the law shall be justified," (Romans 2:13) we can also see that none of us will ever make it as doers of the law. Yes, all the world is guilty before God under the law because we have all fallen short of the glory of God!

19. Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

23. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:19,23

So, trying to follow the law cannot help us be justified in God's sight.

20. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20

All that the law does for us is to give us the knowledge that we have sined.

The reality of our situation is this: we need more help than what the law of God can do for us. Out of the heart of all people comes all kinds of wickedness, so all the law can do for us is to condemn us.

21. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22. "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
23. "All these evil things come from within and defile a man." Mark 7:21-23

Our very nature is against God.

7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
8. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:7-8

We cannot please God as long as our flesh is against God.

17. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. Galatians 5:17

Even if we try to do good, our own flesh is against us so that we do things we don't really want to do and

6. But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. Isaiah 64:6

We just do not have the ability to do good:

18. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.
19. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Romans 7:18-19

Paul thows us his hands and says:

24. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Romans 7:24

Follwing God's righteous law offers us no hope. We just cannot do it!

Jesus is the one who tells us how we can be saved when we are full of wickedness. We will start by looking at a short story Jesus told to people who thought they were righteous by following the law. These people thought they could do it themselves:

9. Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10. "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11. "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
12. 'I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'
13. "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'
14. "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:9-14

The pharisee is trying to show that he is righteous. He thinks he is righteous because of his own good deeds but we have already seen that all our righteousness is like filthy rags. There is no one who is good in this world. Thus the pharisee in this parable will never be justified by God nor will anyone who tries the same method.

When it says God justifies a person, what it means is that God says that the person is righteous! So here Jesus is saying that God will never say that this pharisee is righteous! God will not call anybody righteous who tries this method. This unsuccessful method is called "righteousness by works".

These people think of themselves as being righteous and saved. But they like to tell others how good they are. They even come to God and tell Him of the good things they do. They tell God their good deeds because they think God will answer their prayer because of their good deeds.

When they sin more than usual, they really feel condemned. They feel so condemned that they do not pray to God for a while. What happens is that they wait until their vivid sense of their sin has left them. Or they wait until they can make it up to God because of some special good behaviour.

It is only when they think they have something to offer to God in goodness or good deeds that they think they can approach God again.

What they really want to do is to be able to say to God: "See how good I have been for the last few days. I am sure you will accept me now!"

So, what happens? This man and all people who approach God thinking they have something good to offer to God, they are trusting in their own righteousness; They are NOT accepted by God because their best righteousness is just filthy rags!

Now, on the other hand, the tax collector came to God with absolutely nothing to offer God. Instead, he cried out: "God, be merciful to me a sinner!" Jesus said that this man was justified (which means to be made righteous) because "he who humbles himself will be exalted".

If we look into what the tax collector did, we will see that he did more than to express his heart-felt regret for his sin. What he did was to cry for mercy!

He deserved to die just like we do, but he cried for mercy, asking that he be treated better than he deserved.

10. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
11. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13. As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
14. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. Psalms 103:10-14

How does God treat us better than we deserve? He forgives us of our sins when we do not deserve to be forgiven. When we come to God and humble ourselves like the tax collector did, God then removes our sin from us as far as the east is from the west and He throws them in the sea!

18. Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.
19. He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:18-19

God pardons iniquity when we confess our sins.

8. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:8-10

So, when we plead for mercy and confess our sins, God will forgive us of our sins and He will also cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

24. being justified [made righteous] freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25. whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
26. to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:24-26

We are made righteous freely because He justifies the one who has faith in Jesus! There is no other way we can become righteous since there is no effort on our part that can produce righteousness.

17. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive GodÕs abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 NIV

What God does is He puts His own righteousness on the sinner who believes in Jesus. Jesus is our substitute for our sins.

At this point we need to understand what the name of the Lord means. To Moses, God showed Himself in a very unique way. He proclaimed the name of the Lord. He told him what His name means and thus He told Moses what His character is like.

5. Now the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
6. And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,
7. "keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation." Exodus 34:5-7

We might wonder how God can forgive iniquity and forgive sin while at the same time He says that He will never clear the guilty. How can He do that? We are all guilty of sin!

When God forgives us of our sins He actually removes our guilt. We are then justified or made righteous and we are counted as though we have never sinned.

25. "I, even , am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. Isaiah 43:25

12. "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Hebrews 8:12

It is only those who have not cried for mercy who will be found with their guilt in the day of judgement.

God's grace and His gift of righteousness is a free gift. As we saw before and as it is expressed in the next verse, it is given to those who have faith in Jesus. Now because righteousness is a gift, that means eternal life, which is the reward of the righteous, it is also a gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18. "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16

Yes, God loves us and He sent us His Son so that we can be saved. It is all a gift because He is rich in mercy.

4. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, Ephesians 2:4

Again we are reminded that under our own effort no one will be made righteous. It is only through the righteousness of God apart from the law that we are made righteous.

20. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22. even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; Romans 3:20-22

So, the righteousness of God is given only to those who believe in Jesus, only on those who have faith in Jesus Christ. God puts His righteousness, the righteousness of God, on the one who has faith and believes. He covers the sinner with it, so that his sin no longer appears.

This is something to be happy and shout about:

10. I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10

God covers us with His robe of righteousness! It is the garments of salvation that He has placed on us! This is indeed something to shout about!

This is a little confusing. At first we saw that the law was the righteousness of God. How can God work outside His righteousness of the law and give us righteousness? Isn't this a bad conflict because it looks like the law and God's mercy go in the opposite directions.

Actually, there is no problem at all. Both mercy and the law come from God. The righteousness stated in the law is the very same righteousness that Jesus gives us by faith in His mercy.

Jesus vindicates the integrity of His grace by submitting to the penalty which was due to the sinner under the law of God. Since Jesus died for our sins, He has paid the penalty for our sins under the law. So, since Jesus possesses all the fullness of the Godhead (meaning that He is fully divine) and is equal with the Father in every way; He has the ability to fully redeem us through His Grace. His ability to buy back each of us, who is lost, is infinite!

From the verses that we have seen thus far, we can easily see that it is Jesus who is trying to convince us to be saved. He is full of grace and mercy and He has His arms stretched out toward us asking us to come to Him. He is offering us eternal life.

It is no wonder that Paul considered every other thought as rubbish compared to the greatness of knowing that Jesus, as his Lord, has made it possible for us to have righteousness through faith. Paul wanted that righteousness that comes from God!

8. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9. and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. Philippians 3:8-9 NIV

Many of us have been trying to gain a righteousness that comes from our own efforts according to the law. But now we can have the righteousness that the law requires and it is the genuine article, because we can obtain it from the source of all righteousness.

So what is God doing? Is He just covering up sin with a robe of righteousness so that we can be called righteous? No, this is not hypocrisy where we would have a form of righteousness without the power.

The righteousness which Jesus covers us is righteousness that meets the approval of God. Since God approves of it then we just need to understand more of what God is doing. We will see more of this issue as we keep studying this subject.

For now lets look at what the Angel of the Lord did for Joshua:

1. Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.
2. And the LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?"
3. Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.
4. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, " Take away the filthy garments from him." And to him He said, "See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes."
5. And I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the LORD stood by. Zechariah 3:1-5

If you will notice, that the taking away of the filthy garments is the same as causing the iniquity to pass from the sinner. This means that the covering of righteousness, or in this case, with rich robes, is not a cloak to cover sin. The sin is taken away first. The filthy garments of sin is taken away first, then and only then are the rich robes of righteousness put on.

The forgiveness of sins is real and it makes a change in the person. It actually clears him from guilt and he is justified and made righteous. Thus he has undergone a radical change! He is now another person and he became that way by putting on Christ.

17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

We are not talking about a cloaking operation. We are looking at the creation of a new person. It is the new birth of the follower of Christ.

The new heart is one that loves righteousness and hates sin. It is willing to take new paths of righteousness that God wants them to take.

29. 'Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever! Deuteronomy 5:29

It is the Holy Spirit that allows a man to sincerely want to be forgiven of their sins. It is the hatred of these sins and his desire for righteousness which is also a gift from the Holy Spirit.

13. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:13-14

It is because of our faith that we are justified which gives us the peace of God.

1. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 5:1

To all who believe and have faith, they receive the righteousness from God.

1. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
2. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, Romans 3:21-22

We are children of God because of our faith!

26. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26

We are also made heirs because we have been justified by His grace.

4. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
5. not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
6. whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7. that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7

Again, it is through the action of the Holy Spirit that is abundantly poured out through Jesus Christ our Savior; that God saves us. It is according to His mercy. It is not because of any goodness in us that He loves us. It is because of our great need. We will be destroyed with the grace of God.

24. being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25. whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, Romans 3:24-25

We can only begin to understand and appreciate the wonderful gift that God has given us! The very fact that God comes to us when we are fully sinful and so degraded that there is absolutely no hope. But with God, all things are possible and it is because of His love for us that we can be called the children of God!

1. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 1 John 3:1

We are now made alive together with Christ because it is by the grace of Jesus that we are saved.

4. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5. even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6. and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7. that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9. not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:4-10

Here are the steps that have been covered so far:

1. Humble ourselves before God
2. heart-felt regret for our sins
3. confess our sins
4. Plead for mercy
5. Having faith in Jesus, believing in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
6. God removes our sins from us (our iniquity represented by the filthy garments) and places them in the deepest sea.
7. God covers us with His (rich robes), the robe of righteousness
8. Thus God will give us His Savation, His righteousness
9. So God gives us the New Birth experience. Now we love righteousness and we hate sin.
10. We are made children of God and heirs with Christ.

When we do our part, as the tax collector did, God will do His part. He will honor our cry to Him because He is always ready and anxious to save and deliver us while we are alive on this earth.

This is a question that many people wonder about. Will God accept me if I come to Him? Some have been a Christian, and going to church every week and they still doubt that they have been accepted by God. This is the kind of person who this study is especially written to help. However, if you are coming to God for the first time: This study is for you as well, because it will allow you to develop a connection with God that others either just dream about or it takes them years and years.

The reason why this study is so powerful is that it will bring to you the simple assurances of God's word. We will not just look at a few verses but instead you will find that the assurance of God to save us is found in many verses. We are not looking at a few strange verses but we are looking at the heart of the message of good news that God has for us!

So, will the Lord receive you or me? Actually, the real question is this: Will God receive you when He has already bought you with His own life and blood? Yes, that is the question!

If we go to the store and put down some money for what we want to buy, are we just going to pay the money and then go home without taking what we just bought? It doesn't make sense. The same is true with God.

28. "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. Acts 20:28

God didn't just pay a few dollars for us; He paid with His own blood so that He can have us! And you think He won't accept you? Think again!

19. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
20. For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

We are not our own because we were bought at a steep price. So we are God's property.

18. knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
19. but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1:18-19

Jesus is divine. It is through Him that all things were created. So His blood is very precious because He is without spot or blemish. He lived on earth without sinning once. He paid a very steep price for us!

14. who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Titus 2:14

Yet Jesus gave Himself for us that we may live with Him!

14. Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,
15. who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, Galatians 1:3-4

God did not just buy a few people or a select group, He paid the price for the whole world to be saved if they accept His offer. God so loved the World:

16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18. "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16

Jesus gave His life so that the world through Him might be saved.

51. "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." John 6:51

Jesus gave His blood and His flesh, He gave His life so that the world could live.

6. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.
8. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8

Actually the price that Jesus paid for us was infinite. Jesus was equal with God but He decided to make of Himself of no reputation. He became a servant and became a man. That is an infinitly larger price then we would experience, if we could decide to become an almost non-thinking worm. Jesus became obedient even to the death of the cross!

5. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6. who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
7. but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
8. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5-8

Yes, the price Jesus paid was infinite. Yet, there is a special joy that is before Him.

2. looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Jesus will see the labor of His soul. He will see those who will be saved from this world and He will be satisfied. This is the joy that was set before Him.

10. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
11. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:10-11

If saving us gives Jesus a deep sense of joy and satisfaction, how can we even consider the possibility that He will not accept us!

Some people turn right around and say "but I am not worthy."

What you are suggesting is that you are not worth the price that Jesus paid for you.

Do you think that God would be surprised to find out what you are really like and that you are worthless?

Listen, God already knows that you are not worthy to be saved. Should that surprise you?

Look at this:

25. Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.
26. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men,
27. and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. John 2:23-25

Jesus came to Jerusalem and showed them signs, yet He did not show them everything because He knew what they are like. He knows what sin is in people:

21. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22. "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.
23. "All these evil things come from within and defile a man." Mark 7:21-23

There is nothing good in man. So God forgives us of our sins not because of our goodness but because of His own purpose that He wants to pursue.

25. "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. Isaiah 43:25

God is not forgiving us because of any good we have because there is nothing. God is saving us for His own reasons. He apparently knows what He can make of us in the future.

21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

So, we will have the righteousness of God in us. This is what God will make within us.

9. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
10. and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. Colossians 2:9-10

And we will be complete because God will be in us. Thus we will have the righteousness of God in us.

In Ephesians we see more fully what being complete in Jesus actually means:

1. And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
2. in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
3. among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
4. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5. even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6. and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7. that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9. not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10

We see all the same aspects of grace as we have seen so far, that it is a gift of God, not of works. Anything from us is as filthy rags so there is nothing to boast about. Our righteousness has to come from God!

We are also reminded that Jesus came to save the ungodly. "God prepared beforehand that we should walk in" God. So "even when we were dead in traspasses", God made us alive together with Jesus. Yes, as we saw in Romans 5:6 Christ died for the ungodly!

However, the aspect of being made complete in Jesus is explained more: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works". So, we were created to be righteous, to do good works.

If we were worth the price before Jesus gave us grace then the next verse would not be true at all:

6. to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:6

We are only a praise of His glorious grace when we are given His gift of grace. Before He gives us grace, we are worthless and "good for nothing".

However, when Jesus presents us faultless before the throne, it will always be to His everlasting glory. Not one of us will ever be able to say we were worthy. I am sure that all throughout eternity, the saved in Christ will unite in praising Christ:

9. And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10. And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
11. Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,
12. saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" Revelation 5:9-12

The angels, and the living creatures with the elders all respond to the new song by saying: Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. . .

All doubt should be gone! You should not have any doubt that Jesus has accepted you. But I know that this is probably still not the case. We all have evil hearts of unbelief and we still have doubts.

Many people say: "I believe this but . . " What they really mean is: "I believe, but I don't believe."

This is what many say to explain their unbelief: "The Bible says that if we are children of God we will have the witness of the Spirit and will have the witness in ourselves. I don't feel any such witness. So I can't believe that I am Christ's.

Let's settle the question.

Actually, the real question should be this: Have you actually delivered yourself to Him? If you have delivered yourself to Him, then He has accepted you! However, if you are not His, it is only because you are refusing to deliver yourself to Him. You are refusing to deliver to Him what He has already bought. You are defrauding Him. In Romans we find that Jesus says:

21. "All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people." Romans 10:21 Part

Jesus stretches out His hands to us, who are a disobedient and contrary people. As long as we refuse to give ourselves to Him and even charge Him that He is not even willing to accept us; we will be lost!

However, if we yield ourself honestly from the heart, asking that we can be His child, then we should know from all His promises that He has received us. We are accepted by Him!

Listen to this and take heart. Hang on the promises of God. It is all we have, yet it is more than enough!

10. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
11. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
14. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:10-15

So, to believe in the Son of God, we must believe what He has said to us and what the Bible says about Him. Now, John says: "He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself!"

So, if we believe, or as soon as we start believing, we have the witness or testimony of Jesus in our hearts. We believe His testimony.

8. . . . "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
9. that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." Romans 10:8-11

Lets look at this thing called faith which allows us to believe:

1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Our faith is the actual evidence that we both hear and believe and it is our faith that makes us children of God.

26. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26

We know that God cannot lie.

26. in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, Titus 1:2

So it is indeed true that our faith in Jesus saves us and we all become sons of God.

God's witness will become evident to us because God is not dead, He will actually interact with us if we seek Him with all our hearts:

7. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
9. "Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
10. "Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11. "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:7-11

If we seek God He will answer us. It is as simple as that! It is a promise that everyone who asks, he or she will receive!

So, our faith and belief, our trust in God will be given to us as we ask for it. It will come to us when we spend time with God in the word. So we will have that witness in us:

26. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

Now, we have seen that He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself. It is actually the Holy Spirit that witnesses to us:

16. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
17. and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8:16-17

Jesus told us that He was going to ask the Father so that we can have the Holy Spirit to live with us forever. That means we will always have the witness in us:

16. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- John 14:16

At Pentecost, the promise actually came and Peter told the curious people that Jesus, who was now sitting at the right hand of God, had just received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit:

33. "Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. Acts 2:33

If we continue with what Jesus said about the helper, we will find out who this helper is:

16. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--
17. "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
18. "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
19. "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. John 14:16-19

Notice in verse 17 that Jesus said to His disciples that the world cannot receive the spirit of truth, but you can because you know Him. Infact, He already dwells with you.

Notice that it is spoken as present tense. The reason why they already knew Him was because He had already been living with them. He ate with them and traveled with them. He had been teaching them and they had been working together. It was not someone they didn't know, it was Jesus Himself!

Jesus was telling them that this helper is actually Him. In verse 18 He comes right out and tells them that He will not leave them orphans, but that He will come to them.

The world will not see Him but His disciples will see Him. Thus Jesus becomes a life-giving spirit to His disciples.

45. And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam [Christ] became a life-giving spirit. 1 Corinthians 15:45

Jesus is the Spirit of truth and He is a life-giving spirit.

17. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17

God the Father has sent the Spirit of Christ into the world, into our hearts:

6. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ÒAbba, Father!" Galatians 4:6

Jesus lives in us by the Spirit that He gave us:

24. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us. 1 John 3:24 NRSV

This explains how Jesus can say that He will be with us always even till the end of the world:

20. . . . "and lo, I [Jesus] am with you always, even to the end of the world." Amen. Matthew 28:20 part

If we open the door, Jesus will be in each one of us:

20. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
21. "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'" Revelation 3:20-22

When Jesus lives in us, we can then live by faith:

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. Galatians 2:20

We are to even test ourselves to see if Jesus is in us:

5. 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. 1 Corinthians 13:5

Jesus died and then rose that He might fill all things:

10. He who descended [into the grave] is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. Ephesians 4:10

To have Jesus in us and us in Him speaks of a closeness that can only exist if Jesus is in us through the Holy Spirit because it is the Spirit of Christ in us.

20. "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
21. "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
22. "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
23. "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. John 17:20-23

So now, when we say we have the witness in us, it is literally true because it is Jesus Himself who is in us! He is the one who witnesses to us in our heart and mind.

10. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
11. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
12. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
14. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:10-15

We have a confidence in Jesus to believe in the name of the Son of God because anything we ask according to His will, He will hear us and answer our request.

We know that the witness is in ourselves. It is not just a simple impression or an emotion. But Jesus is actually in us! God does not ask us to trust something as unreliable as our feelings. The Scripture says that he who trusts his own heart is a fool. There is nothing in ourselves that we can really depend on, but it is the witness that Jesus Himself gives us, that is what we can trust. He shows us the unchangeable word of God through the Spirit, in our own hearts.

Jesus was sent to bless us so that we can turn away from our iniquities and our wicked ways.

26. "To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities." Acts 3:26

So, we are blessed, allowing us to be partakers of the divine nature so that we can turn from our iniquities.

4. by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:4

And thus, we are given the right to become children of God because we believe in His Name.

12. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: John 1:12

16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
17. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, "The one who is righteous will live by faith." Romans 1:16-17 NRSV

Lets look at what King Jehoshaphat was able to do when he chose to get help from God:

1. It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat.
2. Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar" (which is En Gedi). 2 Chronicles 20:1-2

The news of the army coming against them caused everyone to be frightened. But Jehoshaphat chose to ask help from the Lord. All of the cities of Judah came to seek God:

3. And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. 2 Chronicles 20:3-4

Jehoshaphat then prayed as the leader of the congregation:

5. Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,
6. and said: "O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? 2 Chronicles 20:5-6

We need to look at his prayer. To have victory through faith, it will take an ability to pray to God with effectiveness. His prayer was a prayer of faith and it also contains the beginning of victory:

What is so good about his prayer is that it starts with a recognition of God in heaven! This is exactly what Jesus did when He taught His disciples, and now us, the Lords prayer:

9. Our Father, who is in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Matthew 6:9-10 part NKJV

The Lord's prayer begins by signifying that God, our Father in heaven, is Creator; that God has power over all the kingdoms of the world and over Satan and his evil angels.

There is power and might in the hand of the Creator and there is none that is able to withstand Him. So, when we are in distress and in need, if we start our prayer with a recognition of God's power, we will already have victory on our side.

But Jehoshaphat went one step further. He not only declared his faith in God's wondrous power, but he now claimed God's strength as his own by saying: "Are You not our God?".

We must always remember the promise God gave us concerning His reward:

6. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 MKJV

7. Are You not our God? Did You not drive out the people of this land before Israel, and give it to the seed of Your friend Abraham forever?
8. And they lived in it. And they have built You a temple in it for Your name, saying,
9. If evil comes on us, whether the sword, judgment, or plague, or famine, and we stand before this house and in Your presence (for Your name is in this house) and cry to You in our affliction, then You will hear and help.
10. And now, behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them,
11. behold, they reward us by coming to cast us out of Your possession, which You have given us to inherit. 2 Chronicles 20:7-11