Category: Questions

How to Build Faith?

What is Faith?

Before we dig into how to build your Faith, I would like to take a few minutes to first explain what is Faith. Most of us understand what the word Faith means by definition, but truly we don’t grasp what it means to have total and complete faith in God. Faith is complete trust and confidence in God without any doubt. Having total faith in God is knowing, that situations will work out. Knowing without doubt that what we believe or pray will happen. Hebrews 11:1 teaches us that faith is the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. It is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). For if we do not have faith in God, how can he answer our prayers? How can he work in our lives?

The Word of God

Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). Each time we pick up our Bible to read, we are building our faith in God. Hearing the inspired words of God through a minister or prophet is also means of building our faith. When we hear the word of God it provides us with direction and comfort that is needed in our lives. Only then can our faith start to grow into knowing God further. For me, my faith is also built on the spiritual experiences in my life. The moments I saw people healed, the times I felt the anointing of God consume my body or watched someone else be touched by God. These are tangible building blocks that I can hold on to, when I may feel my faith is starting to slip. Some of you may not have had the opportunity to experience spiritual events yet but if you continue to seek God and his presence you will eventually start to experience the works of his spirit. This can further lead to building your faith. As a starting point, the best way to build your faith is to spend as much time as you can engulfing yourself in the Bible and also listening to anointed people of God speak messages that God has laid on their hearts. I encourage you to also view the video messages posted on the site, they can help to build your faith by hearing words from God.

What did Jesus look like?

The Bible doesn’t provide any detail of the physical human appearance of Jesus. However, there are clues in other scriptures that can lead us to have somewhat of an idea of how he may have looked in the human form.

Please keep in mind the details provided in this answer are all speculation based on what we can gather from scripture, Jewish ethnicity and customs.

Skin

Jesus was born in Bethlehem which is in the country of Palestine today. His ministry covered the surrounding areas which included the country of Israel as it’s known today. Jesus was born of Jewish descent. Knowing this information, we can guess that Jesus had olive colored skin. Given the location of where he lived, this also confirms further to the tone of what his skin may have looked like.

Eye Color

Continuing to consider his Jewish descent and also based on the historic data we have today about Jewish people, we can say that Jesus’ eyes were brown or dark in color.

Hair

Sticking with the characteristics of the Jewish ethnicity, we can also assume that Jesus had dark hair. I would imagine that his hair color would be a dark brown and even shades of black in some situations.

Today, most people recognize or think of Jesus’ hair as being shoulder length long. However, this is once again a guess as scripture does not indicate any physical appearance of Jesus. There is one key scripture though that leads us to believe that Jesus did not have long hair, but in fact short hair.

“Does not even nature [custom] itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?” 1 Corinthians 11:14 NKJV

Paul is referring to Jewish customs in this scripture. Since Jesus lived a perfect sinless life, we know he abided by all Jewish customs and laws. All through his ministry, the Jewish religious leaders looked for a way to kill him, but he never gave them a reason to proceed with murder. Through the new covenant we no longer abide by these rules or customs, but this was not followed until after his death. Because of this scripture we can be lead to believe that Jesus did not have long hair, in fact quite the opposite with short hair.

Any Facial Hair?

According to Jewish laws provided by God, the men were forbidden to trim their beards (Leviticus 19:27). With this information we can assume Jesus did have facial hair. The length is unknown but we can assume it was long.

What is The Rapture?

End of Time

The word “Rapture” is no where to be found in the bible but is translated from the Latin word Rapere, which means grab, snatch or carry away. In present time English, the word Rapture means a feeling of intense pleasure or joy. For the purposes of this question, we will explore the Biblical meaning as believers, what we can expect during this event.

During the end times, which refers to the coming back of Jesus, where he will judge the world for their sins, there is a timeline of events that will take place. One of these being what we call today, the Rapture. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 it reads: For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.

The time when Jesus descends from Heaven on clouds for all the world to see, will be during the end times of the Earth and will start the timeline for judgment. The believers who are still living during this time will be raised into Heaven leaving behind our earthly bodies. This is what we refer to as the Rapture.

When Will the Rapture Happen?

No one knows the day or the hour. No angel in Heaven or even the Son knows when it will happen, only the Father knows (Matthew 24:36). Since we do not know the time, we must ensure that we are ready at all times for his return. This means making sure your salvation in Jesus is secure. It’s not enough just to believe in God’s son, but we must make sure we are living a life without sin.

Who is Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the Son of God in human form. He was born of this Earth for a purpose: to die for our sins and provide a promise of eternal life in Heaven. Jesus was sinless and knew his purpose was to bring hope and provide a new way of life. If we follow his commandments and believe in him, we will not perish but have eternal life in Heaven.

Jesus was mocked throughout his years on Earth. Those who lacked faith or belief in him tried everything in their power to erase his legacy. This lead to his eventual crucifixion on a cross, where he was nailed by his hands and feet, and a crown of thorns forced onto his head. To ensure his death, a sword was pierced through his side. Jesus knew his destiny, but this did not stop him from continuing to spread his message. Some may ask “why?”; because he loves you. Christ is not a last name, it comes from the greek word Christos which means Anointed One. This is the The Hebrew equivalent word is Mashiach, which means Messiah.

Son of God

The Son of God always existed with the Father. Before Jesus walked the Earth God’s people did not know of the Father having a Son. It wasn’t until the birth of Jesus that we learned that the Son existed with the Father and is eternal like the Father.

We find in John 1, in the beginning the Word existed with God and the Word was God. The Earth and Heavens were created through Him (John 1:1-3). Then the Word became human flesh, which is referring to the birth of Jesus, which is the Father’s son (John 1:14). Genesis 1:26 The Father speaks saying “Let us make human beings in our image..” Us is referring to himself and the Son. Before Jesus was put on trial to be crucified, he spoke a prayer to the Father saying, “Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.” (John 17:5) This provides further confirmation that The Son existed with the Father since the beginning.

The Mother of Jesus

Mary is the mother of Jesus. She was a virgin who became pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. Before becoming pregnant, Gabriel, an angel of God, appeared to her forth-telling the events to come. At first Mary was confused, as she knew she was a virgin. Gabriel told her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of God would overshadow her (Luke 1:35). At the time Mary was engaged to marry a man named Joseph. Because of their religious faith, sexual intercourse could not occur until after marriage. Once Joseph learned of her being pregnant, he didn’t want to disgrace her publicly so he considered breaking off their engagement. That night an angel of God appeared to him in a dream and said “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.” Joseph did exactly what the angel instructed and took Mary as his wife. (Matthew 1:18-25)

Several prophets predicted the coming of Jesus hundreds of years before he was born. (Isaiah 7:14; Zechariah 9:9; Isaiah 9:6-7). The Father had planned to provide a new covenant for his people. A way for them to be forgiven of their sins without having to follow complicated laws (Jeremiah 31:31-34). This new covenant would also provide a promise of eternal life with him in Heaven for those who believe in his Son [Jesus]. The new covenant is his son Jesus.

During the reign of Roman emperor, Augustus, declared a census be taken throughout the Roman Empire. Everyone had to return to their ancestral towns to register for this census (Luke 2:1-3). This meant that Joseph had to return to Bethlehem in Judea, King David’s ancient home as he was a descendant of King David. He took Mary with him as the birth of their son was very soon.

The Birth of Jesus

When they arrived in Bethlehem, they attempted to get a room at a local Inn. Unfortunately, the Inn was booked with no rooms available for them. The Bible doesn’t tell us exactly where Joseph and Mary were when Jesus was born. Historic religious teachings claim he was born in a stable with animals around. The scriptures do not support this. In Luke 2:7, we read, “She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.” I can see where some might assume since she laid Jesus in a manager, that they must be in a stable. However, the Bible does not indicate where they were at time of the birth.

From the moment Jesus was born people wanted to kill him. After the birth of Jesus, wise men arrived in Jerusalem asking “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2) During this age of time, only Kings and emperors were worshipped. For King Herod to hear that they wanted to worship a baby, it made him want to kill Jesus. Then the King said to the wise men, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!” (Matthew 2:8) The wise men knew this was a lie, as God already warned them to take a different route back home after seeing Jesus and not to return back to Herod. (Matthew 2:12) This caused Herod to become furious and ordered the death of all boys in and around Bethlehem, 2 years or younger. (Matthew 2:16) God was one step ahead of Herod. The night after the wisemen left from visiting Jesus, an angel of God appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother, Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” (Matthew 2:13) After the death of Herod, the angel of God appeared to Joseph again and told him to return to the land of Israel. (Matthew 2:19-20)

Growing Up

Little is known about the life of Jesus as a child and growing up. Luke 2:40 tells us that Jesus grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom and God’s favor was on him. We also find in Luke 2:41-52 a story about Jesus at the age of 12. His parents always visited Jerusalem for the passover festival. The festival was a gathering of religious believers who would come together to celebrate the goodness of God with offerings of the first fruit. In today’s Jewish faith it is the remembrance of God freeing their ancestors from Egypt. After the festival was over, Jesus stayed behind in the Temple. Mary and Joseph became worried once Jesus didn’t come home that night. They went back to Jerusalem, where they discovered him in the Temple. Jesus was talking with the religious leaders listening to them and asking questions. They were amazed at his understanding and answers.

At the age of 30 is when Jesus began his public ministry. (Luke 3:23)

Baptized with the Holy Spirit

Before Jesus started his public ministry, there was a man named John, referred to as John the Baptist who proclaimed the goodness of Jesus. They called him John the Baptist because he baptized people in the Jordan river for God to forgive them of their sins. John also predicted the coming of Jesus to the people telling them, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Luke 3:16-17).

One day Jesus went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. At first John refused as he thought Jesus should be baptizing him. Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” (Matthew 3:15) So John agreed to baptize him. Once Jesus came out of the water, the Holy Spirit ascended on him. The Bible says it ascended on him like a dove. (Matthew 3:16) At that moment, the Father spoke from Heaven saying “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” (Luke 3:22) This ensured to John that Jesus was the Chosen One of God.

Disciples

Jesus had 12 disciples [followers]. They followed him learning of his teachings and witnessing the signs and wonders that he did.

Peter
James
John
Andrew
Bartholomew [Nathanael]
James
Judas
Jude [Thaddeus]
Matthew [Levi]
Philip
Simon
Thomas

Miracles of Jesus

In the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, there are at least 37 recorded events where Jesus performed a miracle. The purpose of these miracles were to heal the sick but to also show the people that he is the Son of God. Jesus used the Holy Spirit to perform these miracles. Since the Holy Spirit lives inside of the believer, we are given the same power to perform miracles in his name. The complete list is below.

Miracle	Bible Verse(s)
Turns water into wine	John 2:1-11
Jesus heals Official’s son	John 4:43-54
Cast out evil spirit	Mark 1:21-27; Luke 4:31-36
Heals Peter’s Mother-in-law	Matthew 8:14-15; Mark 1:29-31; Luke 4:38-39
Heals many sick and demon-possessed in the evening	Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 1:32-34; Luke 4:40-41
Simon catching fish	Luke 5:1-11
Heals man with leprosy	Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-14
Heals servant of Roman Officer	Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10
Heals a paralyzed man	Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26
Heals man with deformed hand	Matthew 12:9-14; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11
Raises widow’s son to life	Luke 7:11-17
Calms the storm	Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25
Heals two demon-possessed men	Matthew 8:28-33; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39
Heals bleeding woman	Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:42-48
Heals synagogue leader Jairus’ daughter	Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:35-43; Luke 8:40-56
Heals two blind men	Matthew 9:27-31
Heals demon-possessed man who can’t speak	Matthew 9:32-34
Heals crippled man	John 5:1-15
Feeds over 5,000 people	Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-15
Walks on water	Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:16-21
Heals many sick in Gennesaret	Matthew 14:34-36; Mark 6:53-56
Heals non Israelite’s daughter	Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30
Heals a deaf man	Mark 7:31-37
Feeds over 4,000 people	Matthew 15:32-39; Mark 8:1-13
Heals a blind man	Mark 8:22-26
Heals man born blind	John 9:1-12
Heals a demon-possessed boy	Matthew 17:14-20; Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-43
Coin inside fish mouth to pay Temple tax	Matthew 17:24-27
Heals deaf and mute man	Matthew 12:22-23; Luke 11:14-23
Heals crippled woman	Luke 13:10-17
Heals man with swollen arms and legs	Luke 14:1-6
Heals 10 men of leprosy	Luke 17:11-19
Brings Lazarus back to life	John 11:1-45
Heals blind man Bartimaeus	Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43
Curses a fig tree	Matthew 21:18:22; Mark 11:12-14
Heals high priests slave’s ear	Luke 22:47-51
Helps disciples catch fish	John 21:4-11

Teachings

Jesus’ purpose was not just to die for our sins, but to teach his followers a new way of life. He did not come to Earth to abolish the laws of Moses, but rather to accomplish their purpose. (Matthew 5:17) This means through his death and sacrifice, the law of Moses has been fulfilled. Jesus was sent by the Father to create a new way of life. (Romans 6:4) We find in Jesus’ teachings, that they mirror the original 10 commandments that God created for Moses and the Israelites. Jesus told us to hold on to the 10 commandments (Matthew 5:19) and gave us a new commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:39) Since Jesus is the new covenant that God promised, we are no longer bound by the old law. (Romans 7:6) Instead we are are to be right with God through our belief in Jesus. (Romans 3:22) Through his years of teaching and healings, one of Jesus’ main focus was faith. For it was because of faith that Jesus was able to perform healings and miracles. Because of the faith of the believer they were healed. (Mark 5:34) It is through faith that we receive the goodness of what Jesus taught. It is impossible to please God without faith. (Hebrews 11:6)

Jesus is Arrested

From the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, the Jewish religious leaders hated him. They tried to find every opportunity to trap Jesus in a lie or find him guilty of a crime. Even though they had several prophets before their time who had written in the scriptures they lived by, that the messiah would come. They still did not believe that Jesus was the messiah.

Several high persists saw the miracles and healings that Jesus did, right in front of their own eyes. Still, they did not believe he was the messiah. They even went as far to say that he was doing the work of Satan by casting out demons. (Matthew 12:22) Because of their anger towards Jesus, this lead them to plot against Jesus and have him killed.

Jesus was betrayed by one of his own disciples, Judas, for money. (Luke 22:3-6) Once he was arrested, he was taken to the Council of the High Persists.

It’s best instead of explaining what happened, we read the scripture according to Matthew:

“Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and the elders had gathered.Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and came to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and sat with the guards and waited to see how it would all end.

Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death. But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, they could not use anyone’s testimony. Finally, two men came forwardwho declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?” But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?”

“Guilty!” they shouted. “He deserves to die!”

Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat him with their fists. And some slapped him, jeering, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?”

Matthew 26:57-68

Trial with Roman Governor

Once the religious leaders found their ammo to kill Jesus, they took him to the Roman governor, Pilate. Once again it is best if we allow the scripture to display what happened. This is according to John:

“Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then he was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor. His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate the Passover. So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this man?”

“We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal!” they retorted.

“Then take him away and judge him by your own law,” Pilate told them.

“Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone,” the Jewish leaders replied. (This fulfilled Jesus’ prediction about the way he would die.)

Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him.

Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?”

“Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?”

Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”

Pilate said, “So you are a king?”

Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”

“What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?”

But they shouted back, “No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.)”

John 18:28-40

Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip.The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face.

Pilate went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.” Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, “Look, here is the man!”

When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

“Take him yourselves and crucify him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.”

The Jewish leaders replied, “By our law he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.”

When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer. “Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?”

Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of Caesar.’ Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.”

When they said this, Pilate brought Jesus out to them again. Then Pilate sat down on the judgment seat on the platform that is called the Stone Pavement (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). It was now about noon on the day of preparation for the Passover. And Pilate said to the people, “Look, here is your king!”

“Away with him,” they yelled. “Away with him! Crucify him!”

“What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked.

“We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back.

Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified.

John 19:1-16

The Crucifixion

It was custom in these days to kill criminals by means of crucifixion. This meant making the shape of a cross with two pieces of wood. They would nail the accused by each of their hands and drive one nail through both of their feet. Bending the nails on the opposite side to ensure they did not fall off the cross once it was raised into position. This was a way to publicly display those who committed a crime for all to see.

The mocking of Jesus continued by the religious leaders saying “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!” (Matthew 27:40)

The Death of Jesus

It was planned before Jesus was born that his purpose on Earth was to die for our sins. Jesus knew of his death before being born. He spoke several times to his disciples predicting his death and resurrection. (Matthew 20:17-19)

At noon, as Jesus hung on the cross, darkness covered the Earth for 3 hours. Around 3pm, Jesus called out with a loud voice “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46)

In John’s account, Jesus knew his mission was finished. To fulfill scripture that was written about him, he said “I am thirsty”. One of the Roman soliders lifted a branch to Jesus with a sponge filled sour wine. Once it touched his lips, he said “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)

“At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.” (Matthew 27:51-53)

Resurrection

Just like Jesus predicted his coming death, he also predicted that he would raise from the dead in 3 days. (Mark 8:31) After his death his body was released to a rich man named Joseph (not his Earthly father). He took his body and placed it inside of a tomb carved out of rock. (Luke 23:50-54) The high priests were once again worried about what Jesus said. For they heard him say that on the 3rd day he would be raised from the dead. They believed that one of the disciples would steal his body to claim he had been resurrected. With this information, Pilate instructed his guards to seal the tomb and stand guard. (Matthew 27:62-66)

Early Sunday morning, three woman who witnessed the death of Jesus went to the tomb to cover his body with burial spices. To their surprise when they arrived they found the stone was pushed away and his body was gone. (Mark 16:1-4) Then an angel of God appeared before them and said “Don’t be afraid!” I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying” (Matthew 28:5-6).

Conclusion

Even though while Jesus walked the Earth he only had 12 disciples, as believers, we are all his disciples. It is our responsibility to keep his teachings close and spread to others the good news and message that he gave to us. After his ascension into Heaven, he gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to all of his believers. With this gift we are able to perform the same healings and miracles that Jesus did. All we need is faith.

If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and savior, I invite you to do so now. It is very easy to do. You don’t have to attend church every Sunday. You can have a personal relationship with him and live out your life as you normally would.

Pray this prayer with me to accept Jesus now.

“Heavenly Father, thank you for your son, Jesus. Thank you for dying for me, and thank you for shedding your blood for me. Please forgive me of my sins. Today, I confess that Jesus is my Lord and savior. From this day forward, I turn my back on the world and will follow in your path, Lord Jesus. Amen”

What is the Trinity of God?

The Trinity

The word “Trinity” is no where to be found in the Bible, but is commonly used today to refer to the existence of God. The Trinity of God consists of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. All are equal to each other and makeup one God (John 10:30). God is eternal, the beginning and the end (Revelation 22:13). Some Bible translations refer to the Holy Spirit as the Holy Ghost. They are one and the same.

The Father

In the book of Genesis we learn that God is the creator of all things. Through the remainder of the Old Testament it is the Father who speaks and shows his signs and wonders to his people. The Father is also who created the laws for Moses and the Hebrews (Exodus 31:18).

The Son

We find in John 1, that in the beginning the Word existed with God and the Word was God. The Earth and Heavens were created through the Word (John 1:1-3). Then the Word became human flesh, which is referring to the birth of Jesus, which is the Father’s son (John 1:14). Genesis 1:26 The Father speaks saying “Let us make human beings in our image..” Us is referring to himself and the Son. Before Jesus was put on trial to be crucified, he spoke a prayer to the Father. In John 17:5, Jesus says “Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.” This provides further confirmation that The Son existed with the Father since the beginning.

Several prophets predicted the coming of a messiah several hundreds of years before he was born. (Isaiah 7:14; Zechariah 9:9; Isaiah 9:6-7) Through the teachings of the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), we learn that the Father sent his Son to be born of our world and become human flesh to save us of our sins. This is the birth of Jesus. It leaves us to wonder what else was the Son responsible for before his time on Earth.

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. We find in Genesis 1:2, that the Spirit was present during creation. Since God is eternal that means his Spirit is also eternal. When Jesus walked the Earth he healed and performed signs and wonders because of the Holy Spirit. As believers of Jesus, we are given the Holy Spirit, which lives on the inside of us (Romans 8:11). Because the Holy Spirit lives inside of each believer, we are granted the same power that Jesus used while on Earth. To read more about the Holy Spirit click here.

What will Heaven be like?

Heaven

No man but only God knows the true answer to “What will Heaven be like?”

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

The Bible does however, provide some good detail on what we can expect. Before we jump into what will heaven be like, we would like to first start with how you get to Heaven. This is important to note as many are confused in thinking that their good deeds will buy their way into Heaven. The Bible tells us that it is by believing in Jesus Christ and keeping his commandments that we are granted eternal life. (Titus 3:5-7; John 14:6)

Jesus spoke about eternal life several times while teaching on Earth. In one particular scripture he mentions preparing a place for us in his Father’s house [Heaven]. He mentions there are many rooms (John 14:2). Some translations use “mansions” instead of rooms. In the days of Jesus they referred to mansions as dwelling places or rooms. They didn’t refer to mansions how we do today. There are a lot of unanswered questions with this scripture. Hebrews 11:16 provides more detail “…for he has prepared a city”. By looking further at other scriptures we can start to shed some light on what God may have meant by city. The book of Revelation which was revealed to John, is a vision provided by God. These visions are a look ahead at what is to come during the end times. Jesus said to John in Revelation 22:14 “…they will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city”. What we can gather from this scripture is that city is referring to Heaven. When God says he has prepared a city for us, he is referring to the after life in Heaven.

The New Jerusalem

Jerusalem has long been the Holy City of Israel. Dating back to the early days of the human race where God dwelled and his people lived. In the city of Jerusalem is where Jesus was put on trial and sentenced to be crucified. Just outside the walls of the city in Golgotha, or Calvary, is where he was nailed to the cross.

Revelation 21:1 states that there will be a new Heaven and a new Earth; the old will pass away. Once God has judged the world and defeated Satan, this is when the new Heaven and new Earth will take place. Those who believed in Jesus and obeyed his commands will inherit this new city.

“…And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven”. Revelation 21:2

“So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal. The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels.” Revelation 21:10-12

“I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Revelation 21:22-27

What we can learn from these scriptures is that Heaven is going to be right here on Earth. Since we will have a new Heaven and a new Earth, we can only wonder what this truly means. God will make a new Jerusalem [city] that only his believers whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will live.

Further reading into chapter 22 we learn more about this Heavenly city which we will spend eternity in.

“Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.” Revelation 22:1-5

New Heavenly Body

2 Corinthians 5:1-5 provides details of a new Heavenly body that we will put on like new clothing. We will not be spirits in Heaven without a body. Once we take on our new body, which will be after the end times, we will be with the Lord. Our current bodies are of this world and cannot enter into Heaven; they are bound by sin. Will we look the same? We believe that we will, but just in a more glorified way. The reason we think this is due to a few scriptures. In Matthew 26:29 Jesus says to his disciples “Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” This gives notion that we will recognize each other in Heaven and remember Earthly events. We also find in Matthew 17:3 that Moses and Elijah appear before Jesus and talk with him. This is another clue that we will recognize each other with our new Heavenly bodies.

Conclusion

No one truly knows the full details of what is to come of the promised city in Heaven. We know that Jesus referred to the after life as being in paradise (Luke 23:43). The city will shine with God’s glory. The walls made of jasper and the city made of pure Gold as clear as glass (Revelation 21:18). The foundation of the city will be built on stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: jasper, sapphire, agate, emerald, onyx, carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, amethyst. (Revelation 21:19). The city will also have 12 gates that are made of a pearls. Each is made of a single pearl. (Revelation 21:21). Even with these small clues we know our eternal life is going to be glorious and beautiful. But one thing still remains, to be able to enter into this city, Jesus must be Lord and savior of your life. Visit our Salvation page to accept him today and learn about your new journey in Christ.

What Is The Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and is part of the “Trinity” of God. The Holy Spirit can be found dating back to the book of Genesis (Genesis 1:2). In the Bible He is also referred to as The Spirit or Spirit of God/Lord (Job 33:4, 1 Corinthians 2:10). When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, he was baptized with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16). It is because of the Holy Spirit that Jesus was able to heal and perform signs and miracles. Of course his faith was needed for the the Holy Spirit to work, but they were completed through the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38). Because of the Holy Spirit Jesus was raised from the dead.

Today as believers, we are given the same power through the Holy Spirit, that Jesus used while on Earth. Without the Holy Spirit, and faith we are unable to fellowship with God.

Where is the Holy Spirit?

He lives inside each believer (Romans 8:11). The Holy Spirit also helps us from sinning. Sure, you can still commit a sin against God while the Holy Spirit lives in you, but you will grieve him (Ephesians 4:30). You will have this feeling of guilt and the Spirit will lead you to repent. If we allow for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives each day, we will not gratify the desires of the world and sinful nature (Galatians 5:16).

Does Jesus love me no matter what I’ve done?

Yes! There is nothing we can do to make Jesus not love us. In fact, even those who live a life of sin and do not believe in him, he still loves them. (Romans 8:39)

When we sin it is our responsibility to immediately repent to God. If we wait, we end up forgetting about it or we may not mean it in our heart. As believers we are given the Holy Spirit to make us aware of these mistakes and he urges us to repent as soon as we commit a sin. There is only one sin that is unforgivable; speaking against the Holy Spirit. You can make fun of God the Father, Jesus the Son, even go as far as cursing them out. But if you make fun, or curse against the Holy Spirit, your sin will not be forgiven. (Matthew 12:31-32)

Where do we go when we die?

Heaven or Hell

The Bible tells us that we have two options for eternal life.

Hell is a place where Satan lives with his demons. It is a fiery place with no hope of ever stopping the burn that in the lake of fire (Romans 8:39).

Jesus was sent to earth to die for our sins that who should believe in him, shall have the chance to not end up in the lake of fire but have eternal life with him in Heaven.

The part that is often debated is do we go straight to Heaven or Hell when we did?

At the time of death it is common to hear people say things like “they are with the Lord now” or “they are in a better place in Heaven now.” What we have to understand and trust is the word of God [The Bible]. What the Bible tells us is during the end times (when the world will come to an end and God will judge all humans) the dead will be resurrected (Revelation 20:4-6). During the time when Jesus walked the Earth there are several scriptures that speak about Jesus healing. In these particular scriptures the parents, masters or friends of the ones in need are stated to Jesus as being “dead”. Each time Jesus corrects the believer and says they are only asleep. What this tells us is that when we die our bodies will sleep [die] but our spirit will live in eternity (Matthew 12:31-32).

So, then where do we go when we die?

This is a mystery as there are no scriptures that say where our spirit goes once our body is dead to this world. the Bible also tells us that we will stand before Jesus to be judged at the end but the Bible also tells us that judgment will not take place until the resurrection. So to say we go right to Heaven when we die is not supported by the Bible.