Bible Life Questions

Who Is God?

Dr. Mike Bible Life Questions , , ,
 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”  And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man. Mark 8:28-33 ESV.

mark 8

Our concept of God most likely is incorrect. Peter’s was when he rebuked Jesus for portraying a Messiah that was not in agreement with his beliefs.

As the above Scripture indicates, Jesus asked the “Who Am I” identity question to his disciples. Peter correctly answered. However his concept of Messiah (Hebrew translation) or Christ (Greek translation) was distorted. He was taught and read only the Scriptures that identified the Messiah as a conquering hero. A person who was coming to re-establish Israel as the mighty empire it once was like during Solomon’s reign. So when Jesus revealed that he was going to suffer, die, and be resurrected, Peter confronted and tried to incorrectly correct Jesus.

Jesus’ reply must have caused whiplash to Peter’s mind. For Jesus sharply pointed out that his concept of who the Messiah is was incorrect. That Peter’s concept was the image of man’s interpretation based on humanity’s desires instead of the reality of God.

How many of us have the same, academic, partial portrait of God? We may read what others say about God. We may hear what others say about God. And we may even have our personal, third dimension perspective of Him. Yet, how many of us have a real, face-to-face, personal relationship with Him? How many of us know Him as we know our most intimate buddy? Not what people say about her, but what you have discovered yourself while sharing life together. Isn’t that what Jesus referred too when he corrected Peter?

Yes, Jesus is going to suffer, die, and be resurrected Peter. He is not going to play along with your distorted view of reality. Instead He wants you to hang out with him and experience a deep, abiding relationship with each other. Only when you live with a person will you learn what they are truly like.

Jesus the man was the perfect reflection of who God is. That is because Jesus the divine was God in the flesh. Peter’s perspective was a distorted view of who he perceived the Christ to be. How about you and I? Do we truly know who God is?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Does a Friend Need Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!

What Is Your Story?

Dr. Mike Bible Life Questions, Journey in Christ , ,
(John)who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Revelations 1:2 ESV.

story 1

We all have a story to tell. You and I, our parents and their parents, our friends and neighbors, all have a story worth sharing with others.

The apostle John also had his story to share with others. His story was a living witness to the word of God and about the life of Jesus Christ. It was his testimony of Jesus Christ that finally resulted in his exile to the remote island of Patmos. The legend is the authorities tried to execute him several different ways but failed. Therefore, they simply expelled him to an isolated island where he spent the remaining portion of his life.

John, like many others who have encountered Jesus Christ, couldn’t shut up but had the driving force within them to share the message with others. So do you and I.

The fact is when one encounters Jesus, one’s life is never the same. Whether we disregard Him or ignore Him, He will not allow Himself to be treated indifferently. One must choose.

Either he is Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Savior of Saviors, or he is not. You may consider him a liar, a lunatic, or a loser, but you cannot come face-to-face with him and avoid an answer.

Whenever we tell something about our lives to others, doesn’t it include what Jesus has done for us? Isn’t He the reason we now live and breathe and have our hope? Isn’t He the central core of our life? How can we not share our story with others and not include Him?

In fact, isn’t that what evangelism is all about? One beggar sharing his story with another? So the next time someone wants to know something about you, how about including a portion of HIS story with YOUR story. Or in other words, how has Jesus Christ impacted your life?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Does a Friend Need Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!

What New Creation?

Dr. Mike Bible Life Questions, Life in Christ

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV.

new creation 1

Do we understand what the new creation is all about? When we look at ourselves in the mirror of Jesus, do we recognize a new creation? How does the new creation come about?

Most of us don’t get into the details of life in Christ. We simply accept what we read or hear. However some of us want to know more. We desire to know the heart of God. We thirst to understand its purpose. We hunger for the wisdom to express God’s character wherever we go.

When Jesus Christ died, resurrected, and ascended into heaven, he became the first born of a new creation: the first man to morph into a heavenly being. His physical flesh changed into a spiritual entity. A person with the ability to eat physical food and also walk through physical doors. He was the first of many who are yet waiting for their resurrection.

Today we only capture a glimpse of that reality through marriage. The ordained marriage institute of man and woman pictures the relationship of a new creation. As Jesus mentioned in Scripture (Mt. 19:5), a man shall leave his parents and cling to his wife – where the two become one flesh. A healthy marriage is when both the man and woman live life sacrificing the self and giving 100% for the other with the purpose of creating a new entity: two people operating as one a new entity.

As we are included in Christ because of His new work for us, we join him in his new venture. For now, he has done and is doing his part. We are now simply learning to give 100% to him in response to his love for us. As we deny ourselves and allow him to bathe us with his Spirit, we participate in His new creation. The two of us are becoming one.

So now we can enjoy his life and participate with him as he shares his new life with us. Yes you are a new creation. You are no longer dead, but alive in Him: a new creation, tasting His fruit while waiting to be finally and fully revealed at your resurrection.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Does a Friend Need Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!