DO YOU LOVE JESUS?

VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL

A little while ago I asked myself if I truly love Jesus, and I thought about many different ways I could answer this question (teaching the gospel, preaching, etc.). But I decided to pray and ask God to show me exactly what it was to love Jesus. AND HE SHOWED ME! I want to share this with you. I hope that it can be as great a blessing for you as it has been for me.

To begin, let's read John 14 (King James Version)

In verse 15 we find that Jesus says: "If ye love me, keep my commandments". And so I ask myself: ok, what are Jesus' commandments? Are they not the same as the 10 in the Old Testament?

And I discovered that they're not the same ... let's look:

Parenthesis: 

Before looking at what Jesus' commandments are, let's analyze and see what it means to "keep". In the dictionary I found these definitions:

1. to guard; protect

2. to conform to; follow; fulfill

3. to observe; pay obedient regard to (a law, rule, promise, etc.)

4. to maintain (some action), esp. in accordance with specific requirements, a promise, etc.

5. to retain in one's possession; hold as one's own

In our case the definitions that work for us are 1, 3 and 5. 

And now ... What should we keep?

In Matthew 22:34-40 (NIV), we find the two biggest commandments which were given by Jesus, and they are:

1. Love God with EVERYTHING

This means that God should be our first place in absolutely EVERYTHING and that should make us please him in absolutely everything. So, with our words, actions, thoughts, etc. And everything that doesn't please God is sin.

2. Love your neighbor as yourself. 

WOW! Don't forget that your neighbors aren't the members of your church or your immediate family, but everybody that is near you. You might ask, In other words, the homeless man that begs at the street corner, and that unfriendly coworker are my neighbors? And the answer is YES! And we must love them like we love ourselves.

What does this mean?

This means that we must also fill their needs like we fill our own. In other words: food, clothing, attention, care, health, etc.

THIS IS PRETTY BIG, EH?

But it doesn't all end there. If we take a look at verse 12 of chapter 15 of John, we find that Jesus says that the new commandment is LOVE EACH OTHER AS HE LOVED US.

WOW!! THAT IS REALLY BIG!

So do we have to die for them? I believe that verse is  clear enough, and it would be too much to begin talking about what Jesus did for us. so I am simply going to leave you with this question: How did Jesus love you?

Jesus didn't say these things so you could admire them, or even so you could twist them and give them your own soft meaning, but rather so that you would fulfill them.

Now I ask you DO YOU THINK YOU LOVE JESUS?

So that you don't get discouraged, I will give you some EXTRA benefits that I found that we can automatically acquire when we keep Jesus' commandments (when we love him).

1. In John 14:21 we find that the first benefit is that we will also be loved by the FATHER, and furthermore JESUS will manifest himself in us. How? With what I am sure you have all been waiting to see since you met God: miracles, prodigies, signs, real experiences, etc. If you want all of that, now you know what you need to do.

2. In John 14:23 we find that Jesus and the Father will dwell in us. Does it grab your attention when you hear someone say you can live in the same condition as God, and have those privileges?! Now you know what to do!!

I know that this is not very deep, but I also know that it is very clear and you cannot add anything to this. When God revealed all of this to me it was very hard and big to see myself in this reality. But I know that everything God shows me is to become better and enjoy those things that he has for me. I hope that you are also able to not only try to love Jesus, but that you can love him truly.

God bless you.

If you have any questions at all, or any enquiries ... leave a comment or write me at vargasfoucher@gmail.com 

Check out my other teachings as well and share them!

By Andrés Vargas Translated by Jessica Foucher

LEARNING TO PLAN: A QUICK REFLEXION

VERSION EN ESPAÑOL

Every day brings worries, each day brings problems, and sadly the majority of them are very difficult to solve on our own.

And so sometimes we go to bed worried, thinking about what we have to pay or something we have to do the next day, or trying to remember things that we forgot to do and that were important.

And so normally almost all of us have to plan things and work for money to cover and prevent problems. But what does God want?

God is not against us planning, but what he wants is not for us to rush around and worry about things left right and centre. The most important is TO PLAN CONFORMING TO WHAT GOD WANTS.

Why?

Because God is all-knowing, God doesn't improvise, God already knows what will happen if we keep doing what we're doing; and one of the best things is that if we are in trouble he already knows the solution. And moreover, FOR GOD NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. You might ask, so why doesn't he do something and help us?, well, remember that that is personal and he doesn't involve himself if you don't call him.

Now, how can we plan in God's way? It's simple. By praying. How much time should we plan in God's way? ... How ever much you feel is necessary and conforms to your needs. I would consider always.

God wants you to have full confidence in him. Remember that God's answers NEVER arrive late. Maybe you think you need answers right now, but God knows how and when you need them. Also, do not forget that God always fulfills what he promises and he knows which moments are the right ones.

Don't stress out. If you are going to plan it his way, YOU HAVE TO TRUST IN HIM.

You can be big and do great things, and if you are with God you can acheive everything easily, but remember that you will never be more than what you don't want or don't let God do with you.

Trust in God and you will see that he will surprise you and at times whether you understand the situations or not, you'll see that he has everything calculated meticulously.

If you have any questions, please write me (vargasfoucher@gmail.com).

Also check out the other teachings in the archive.

God bless you!

By Andrés Vargas

Translated by Jessica Foucher 

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE MUST HEAR

VERSION EN ESPAÑOL

We know that the most important thing is to re-establish the communion with God that Adam lost and we cannot be born again while we are sinners. That process of re-establishing cannot happen without before having a previous knowledge of some very important things.

Last week we were saying that one of the most important things we need to know to be able to re-establish the communion with God or to have eternal life is named JESUS. We were talking a little bit about some of the most important event in his life.

This week we will base ourselves in a story of a man that was very good and was a great example and today he could be compared to any great pastor or man that helps people and is extremely generous. But in this story we find that in spite of how good this man was or how good of a Christian he was, he still needed to be saved from the condemnation of hell because he was not a son of God. So God sent one of Jesus' disciples, Peter, to tell this man a series of things that are necessary for anyone to be born again or saved.

We have to understand that the Bible shows this as a general summary of what Peter said to this man, but looking down deeper and having in mind that Peter had to explain each one of these things, we find the teaching could have actually taken several hours. I will share with you each one of these themes that I found and a short explanation of each one of the themes in this teaching. But still, don't forget that if I explain each of these themes how they should be explained and beyond (like Peter did) each one would be a sermon of about 30 minutes!

So I hope that it is clear and I recommend that you have your Bibles in hand so that you can see where the verse is found and that you can go further and investigate more about each step.

Again, this is something basic ... it is simply more organized, but it is necessary to go further, which you can do on your own, or I can help you just let me know vargasfoucher@gmail.com

Okay, this story is found in Acts 10:34-46. And here are the main points:

1. Verse 34: God doesn't pick favorites

2. Verse 35: God accepts (is pleased with) all who fear him and do what is right

3. Verse 36: God sent Jesus Christ to announce the Gospel of peace and now he is Lord over all

4. Verse 37-38 

       a) God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit to do miracles

       b) Jesus was doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil

       c) God was with Jesus

5. Verse 39: The Jews killed Jesus by hanging him on a cross

6. Verse 40-41: God raised Jesus from the dead and cause him to be seen

7. Verse 42: He (Jesus) is who God has places as Judge of the living and dead

8. Verse 43:

        a) All the prophets testify about him

        b) All who believe in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name

Explication

1. When Peter says that God doesn't show favoritism, it is necessary that he explains that God loves Jews and Gentiles in the same way and that he wants all to be saved (all races, ages, cultures).

2. Saying that God accepts those who fear him and do what is right means that Peter was explaining that God is a Holy God that accepts all people who do good and "seek" him. He also means that God is a good God and merciful and he accepts those people that do what is right and help others (even though that does not make someone a child of God). Furthermore, he helps us to understand that it is necessary for people to leave sin in order to please God and do what is right.

3. Naming Jesus Christ meant also naming the Word, and Jesus as man, which means that it had to speak of Christ and Jesus as man. Furthermore, he spoke of his ministry and what the Gospel of peace was all about. Naming the Gospel of peace helps us understand that between man and God there was a separation and division because of sin and that it was necessary to be reconciled with him. The Gospel of good news that talk about there being a saviour that one can reach NOW (being saved), and that God wants peace and was looking for peace and reconciliation and for that reason he sent Jesus. It also speaks of Jesus. Peter was talking about how Jesus died and God raised him from the dead and because of that he is now Lord and God

4. Saying that Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit means that Jesus didn't have any supernatural powers and everything that he did was because of the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was a man and could sin, but he decided not to and he lived in holiness for the whole 33 years of his life and was always doing his Father's will and pleasing him. When Peter talks about Jesus being holy and how he always did good and that people and God were with him, he is referring to Jesus being a son of God like Adam. And actually he was conceive by the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary without the intervention of any man. When it says that he came to heal those under the power of the devil, it's referring to how Jesus was the Saviour, and he came to bring freedom. Because of this Peter also had to talk about the redemption and Jesus as the Redeemer. By mentioning John and saying that Jesus announced the Gospel of peace, it became necessary to talk about a true repentance and a true conversion.

5. When it says that the Jews hung him on a cross, it means that he was innocent and the prophesy was completed that the Saviour would be hung on a cross and it also refers to the analogy of the serpent in the desert. When he talks about Jesus' death, he's referring that is was to pay for our sins, and logically for a better comprehension he also had to talk about the three deaths and that someone innocent (Jesus) paid for the guilty ones (us).

6. When it says that God raised Jesus from the dead, it is referring to how Jesus went to Hades and because he was a man he could not leave, but God (because he is just) took him out of hades and let him be shown to the disciples for the fulfillment of what he said just before he died.

7. Now Jesus is God and Judge, because it was him who paid and carried the sin, and it is he who can judge. When it talks about judgement it's talking about hell and that the wages of sin are death (it was necessary that he spoke about the book of works to the men) because God is a just God and he gives to each one what they deserve.

8. It talks about the prophesies from the old testament and how all were fulfilled through Jesus, and by talking about the prophecies he had to mention Isaiah and Psalms where it shows how Jesus paid in the flesh for our sins and what he gained with that. Furthermore, it was also professing that there would be death and he would be thrown into Hades.

Finally it says that is necessary that we believe in Jesus as man and that he saved us from the deaths (spiritual, physical and eternal), and that he lived in holiness and was condemned without being guilty and paid everything and now he is Lord and Christ. Speaking of forgiveness of sin, he had to also talk about being born of the water.

Okay, I hope that we have been able to get something out of this story and that we have learnt something. Remember that it is necessary to go further than these things and always search for truth. If you have any questions or doubts or comments, please let me know.

God bless you
By Andrés Vargas
Translation by Jessica Foucher


 

Visit the other teachings if you haven't already:
God's Dream and the History of Man
Sight
Free of Charge
What's Hell Like?
Do You Want To Live Forever?
The Most Important Thing That We Must Hear

DO YOU WANT TO LIVE FOR EVER?

VERSION EN ESPAÑOL

We know that Adam (The first man created) was a child of God and had many privileges until he sinned and lost the relationship that he had with God along with all the privileges he had. One of those privileges was "eternal life", which means that he never got sick, never got old, and he didn't even have to die.

Today many people with different beliefs call "salvation" (or this point of freedom everyone wants) ETERNAL LIFE. And rightfully so, eternal life seems like it is one of the desires and privileges that all humans desire the most. In some way, we see that in our everyday life. For example, in the movies we see superheroes, beauty products, medicine, cloning, etc.

The Bible also gives eternal life a big and important meaning but even better, it explains clearly what eternal life is and how we can get it. And without a doubt, it is the original "receipt" to achieve eternal life.

There is only one way to do it or to get it, and we see that in the book of John 17:3

IT'S SIMPLE, RIGHT?

GET TO KNOW THE ONLY TRUE GOD, and JESUS CHRIST

Now comes my question. Do you know them? Many people believe they know God and Jesus because they simply say: "I believe that God exists and he created everything, and Jesus was his son and he died for me on a cross and he went to hell and then was resurrected." But I would ask myself is that what it will mean to know God and Jesus? And let me say this to you ... it has nothing to do with knowing things about Jesus or God. It has to do with knowing perfectly like you know your husband or wife (if you're married) or your mom.

And maybe you will ask yourself: Ok, so how do I get to know them?

So here I will leave you with a path so you can know Jesus. Read JOHN 5:39. In this verse the same Jesus says that the best place to find who he is, who he was, what he did and why he did it is in the Bible. But just like I said before, it has nothing to do with knowing the basics that the whole world already knows. If you read that verse again you will find the words "study diligently", which means to look as far into something as you can, and then go even farther. It's much more than what you see at a first glance.

For example, Do you know why Jesus died at night? Do you know why he was born in a manger (and it wasn't just because there was no other place or because they didn't have any money)? do you know why Jesus died Easter Day? You can find each of these answers explained clearly in the Bible, but you cannot see it at a first glance because it needs to be studied diligently.

Studying the Bible diligently to get to know God and Jesus better takes time and dedication, and it is not going to work unless you truly want to know them. Unfortunately, I cannot write everything about God or Jesus but for sure (if you are interested) I know that if you ask God for the time and the motivation, he will help you. Now I am going to tell you a small shocker! Something very strange happened with Jesus and quite possibly you have never seen anything like this before, but to understand it you have to do as I tell you. Just as an exercise. I know this will help you to understand and learn what I am going to tell you.

I want you to think and start to imagine the following. Try to create a movie or images in your head about the this:

Jesus is with some of the disciples walking at dawn, when one of his own comes up to him with many soldiers and armed men and he says hi to Jesus with a kiss on the cheek.

Now imagine each one of these following 16 events and create the scenes yourself that connect one with another:

1. He is arrested violently and is brought to the judge (Isaiah 53:8, Matthew 26:50)

2. He is accused with lies of things that he didn't say or do (Matthew 26:59-60)

3. In spite of the accusations he always stayed silent (Isaiah 53:7, Matthew 27:13-14)

4. He is despised and rejected by the people (including those he healed and fed). Isaiah 53:3, Luke 23:18, Luke 23:11

-- Despise: To underestimate, to belittle

-- To reject: Exclude, under-appreciated, underestimate, make of little importance or appreciation.

-- Undervalue: Treat someone as something less than what they deserve.

5. He is condemned to death (the worst death that existed in this time = crucifixion) (Mark 14:64)

6. He is abandoned by God and his friends (Matthew 26:56, Matthew 27:46)

7. He is hurt and assaulted (Isaiah 53:5, Mark 15:15)

8. He is slapped, punched, and spit on (Isaiah 50:6, Mark 15:19, Matthew 26:67)

9. He is hated without reason (Psalms 35:19, Matthew 27:18)

10. He is crowned with a crown of thorns (Mark 15:1-18)

11. He is disfigured and left without looking human (Isaiah 52:14, Mark 15:19-20)

12. His hands, feet and side were pierced (Zechariah 12:10, John 20:25)

13. He is crucified with criminals (Isaiah 53:12, Mark 15:27, Galatians 3:13)

14. his body is buried (Isaiah 53:9, Matthew 12:40)

15. His soul was sad until death (Isaiah 53:7, Mark 14:33-34, Luke 22:44)

16. His soul went to Hades (Isaiah 53:11, Acts 2:31-32)

Okay, this is something basic. Simply some things that happened to Jesus, maybe you already knew all of it ... now we enter into the application.

Did he deserve it? Why did he do it?

The answer to these questions:

John 3:16-17

John 17:4

YES, EXACTLY!!

God SENT him!!! And Yes! He went to pay something that YOU owed. What did you owe? Click here ... Here everything makes more sense, right??

Well, this is a short example, and I am sure that in one way or another you already know a little bit more about Jesus. I know that you may have questions, or maybe you want to know more and what happened after (because it doesn't end here!). But we don't want this to run on forever, so I will leave my email so that you can write me and I will gladly share the rest. vargasfoucher@gmail.com 

If this is the first time that you have visited this blog, I invite you to subscribe to receive notifications of the weekly posted teachings, and if you are already subscribed, you may comment on any of the teaching. If you have any notice or notification or recommendation or question ... write me!

Thankyou for reading and blessings!
By Andrés Vargas
Translation by Jessica Foucher

WHAT´S HELL LIKE?

VERSION EN ESPAÑOL

Approximately 5 years ago the following question came to my mind:

What is hell like?

We know that in many translations of the bible, the names referring to Hell or Hades have changed throughout the years.
Some people from other cultures call this place Sheol (Sheol). But without a doubt we know that this place is real, and it is not on earth.

We know it's a real place because Jesus said so, and furthermore the Bible also says so (God's word). There are specific descriptions of these places in different books.

Now, for a quick introduction we need to know that Hades and Hell are different places. Biblically, Hell is the place that God prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41, Revelation 20:10), but because man is a sinner as well he has made himself a dweller in this place (Revelation 21:8). Hades on the other hand, is a place of torment for the soul and all the people that die without being children of God first (Luke 16:15). Hades it is a waiting place until the day of Judgement before the white throne so that those who weren´t born again will be judged and later thrown into Hell (Revelation 20:15).

The studies about Hell and Hades are very extensive, so if there is any doubt please let me know (vargasfoucher@gmail.com) and I would be happy to respond. For now, I am going to show you a shortened study that I did about these two places, and what the Bible says about them.

Note:

• The word “Seol” can be taken like “Hades” or like “tomb” in the Bible, depending on the context.
• The general link for all these Bible references is http://www.biblegateway.com/ 

HADES

Luke 16:19-31

-- Place of torment (Anguish or physical pain)
-- Place of flames
-- Place where people have full use of their five senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste)
-- Place where people feel physical pain
-- Place where people cannot leave on their own will
-- Place where people have full abilities to remember

Psalms 88:11-12 (Abaddon – Land of the Forgotten)

-- Place where one cannot tell or have in mind the good things they have done on earth

Psalms 18:5 (Sheol)
  -- Place of cords and coils (To receive a punishment or a reprimand)
Deuteronomy 32:22

-- Place where fire burns

Job 17:13

-- Place of darkness

Psalms 9:17

-- Place where badness is and all people forget about God

Psalms 116:3

-- Place of anguish (Oppressive fear without a precise cause. A rushed predicament. Suffocating, sensation of an oppression or tightening in the chest and abdominal region.)

Proverbs 7:27

-- Place where the dead dwell.

Proverbs 30:16

-- Place where the flames are never extinguished

Isaiah 38:18

-- Place where there is no hope

HELL

Matthew 5:22

-- Place for the people that treat their brother like a fool or idiot.

Matthew 5:29 and 18:9

-- Place for people that look at what they shouldn’t look at
-- Place for people that desire what is not good
-- Place for people that do what they shouldn’t do

Matthew 10:28

-- Place where the soul and body will be destroyed

2 Peter 2:4

-- Place where there are prisons and darkness

Revelation 21:8

-- Place where there is fire and sulfur
-- Place for those who don't believe
-- Place for murderers, fornicators, those who practice witchcraft, idolators, and liars

Isaiah 66:24

-- Place where there are worms that never die and flames that never go out

Daniel 12:2

-- Place of shame and perpetual confusion

2 Thessalonians 1:9

-- Place where one will be separated from God eternally

Matthew 8:12

-- Place of darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth

Matthew 25:46

-- Place of eternal punishment

Revelation 20:15

-- Lake of fire

Other Bible References

Job 17:14

-- Place where the corruption and the worms will be family to those who are there

Job 18:5-21

-- Place where the flame does not shine

Job 18:6

-- Place where there is darkness

Job 18:8

-- Place where the floor is a mesh net

Job 18:9

-- Place where the feet of the people will be seized

Job 18:10

-- A place of traps and snares

Job 18:11

-- Place where there will be fear in every corner

Job 18:12

-- Place of hunger

Job 18:13

-- Place of sickness and where death´s firstborn with devour skin and limbs

Job 18:14

-- Place where people will be brought before the King of terrors

Job 18:15

-- Place where burning sulphur will be scattered through the tents

Job 18:21

-- Place for those who did not know God

I hope that these verses have given you more clarity about what we can expect if we do not make the correct decisions now.

God bless you and do not forget to write if you have any questions or doubts.

By Andrés Vargas
Translation by Jessica Foucher

Check the blog archives!
Here are quick links to all previous posts:

• God's Dream and the History of Man
• Sight
• Free of Charge