If there is only one true God,...

 .....how can we be sure that the God of the Bible is truly God?

Is there a god? Nature and revelation testify there is a God. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 19:1-3, NKJV. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.”

How many gods are there? There is only one. It’s in the Bible, Isaiah 46:9, NKJV. “Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.”

How do we know this god is the true God? No other God can tell the future like He can. It's in the Bible, Isaiah 46:10, NKJV. “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.  I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’”

Where did this God come from? He has always been since the beginning. It's in the Bible, 1 Timothy 1:17, NKJV. “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” It’s in the Bible, Isaiah 41:4, NKJV. “Who has performed and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? ‘I, the LORD, am the first; and with the last I am He.’”

God created the world and all that is in it. It’s in the Bible, Genesis 1:1, NKJV. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

God created human beings. It’s in the Bible, Genesis 1:26-27, Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” It’s in the Bible, Genesis 2:7, NKJV. “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”

What is this God like? It’s in the Bible, Exodus 34:6-7, NKJV. “And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth 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.’”

God is love. It’s in the Bible, 1 John 4:16, NKJV. “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.”

God is holy. It's in the Bible, Revelation 15:4, NKJV. “Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.”

God thinks of you constantly. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 139:17-18, NKJV. “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.”

God came down to our world in the person of Jesus, so we may know what He is like. It’s in the Bible, John 1:14, NKJV. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Why did Jesus come down to earth? It’s in the Bible, John 3:16, NKJV. “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.”

It’s in the Bible, 1 John 4:9-10, CEV. “God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life. Real love isn't our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven.”

Does God like other people more than me? God does not show favoritism. It’s in the Bible, Acts 10:34-35, NIV. “Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.’”

God does not only love good people; He loves the wicked as well. It’s in the Bible, Matthew 5:45, 46, TLB. “For [God] gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust too. If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even scoundrels do that much.”

God loves us like a doting father. It’s in the Bible, 1 John 3:1, NKJV. “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.”

We are to follow God’s example of love. It’s in the Bible, 1 John 4:11, NKJV. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

We are to be holy like God is. It's in the Bible, 1 Peter 1:14-16, CEB. “Don’t be conformed to your former desires, those that shaped you when you were ignorant. But, as obedient children, you must be holy in every aspect of your lives, just as the one who called you is holy. It is written, ‘You will be holy, because I am holy.’”

God’s love means that He must sometimes discipline us. It’s in the Bible, Proverbs 3:11-12, NKJV. “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction; for whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.”

God never gives up on us. It’s in the Bible, Jeremiah 31:3, NKJV. “The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.’”

Nothing can separate us from God’s love. It’s in the Bible, Romans 8:38-39, NIV. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

(source: bibletopics.com)

Revelation 14:4

4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

Revelation 14:4 describes the 144,000 as spiritually pure, devoted followers of the Lamb, redeemed as firstfruits for God and the Lamb.

Meaning of the Verse

Revelation 14:4 portrays a select group of individuals, the 144,000, who are described as “virgins” or spiritually pure, symbolizing their complete devotion and moral fidelity to God rather than literal celibacy biblerepository.com+1. The phrase “follow the Lamb wherever He goes” emphasizes their unwavering obedience and loyalty to Jesus Christ, reflecting a life fully consecrated to His will biblerepository.com+1. Their purity and dedication are not limited to physical attributes but represent a spiritual and moral commitment to God’s purposes biblerepository.com+1.

The 144,000 as Firstfruits

The 144,000 are called firstfruits, a term drawn from agricultural imagery, indicating that they are the initial, specially chosen group among God’s people, set apart for His service GotQuestions.org. This concept parallels Christ being the firstfruits of the resurrection, with many more to follow in redemption GotQuestions.org. In the context of Revelation, these individuals are often interpreted as faithful Jews during the tribulation who are sealed and protected by God to carry out a divine mission BibleRef.com+1.

Spiritual and Symbolic Significance

• Purity: Their virginity symbolizes spiritual integrity and separation from idolatry or worldly corruption BibleRef.com+1.
• Obedience: Following the Lamb wherever He goes reflects complete submission and readiness to endure trials for Christ Bible Hub.
• Separation: Being redeemed from among men as firstfruits signifies their special consecration and distinction from the general population godsbless.ing.
• Truthfulness: They are blameless and without deceit, representing the ideal of faithful service to God GotQuestions.org.

Context in Revelation

This verse occurs in a vision of the heavenly realm on Mount Zion, where the 144,000 stand with the Lamb, symbolizing victory, faithfulness, and divine protection during the tribulation godsbless.ing. They are depicted as a model of spiritual devotion, serving as a standard of faithfulness and purity for all believers biblerepository.com+1. Their role as firstfruits also points to the larger harvest of redeemed people who will follow in God’s plan GotQuestions.org.

Summary

Revelation 14:4 emphasizes spiritual purity, unwavering devotion, and consecration to God. The 144,000 are a symbolic representation of those who are fully committed to Christ, obedient, and set apart as firstfruits, serving as an example of faithfulness and moral integrity in the midst of trials and tribulation biblerepository.com+2.

Thanks for stopping by today, Friends. Have a blessed day!

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If Jesus Knew...

 ...that He was going to be baptized, should new believers have to be baptized?

Why should I get baptized?

“Why should I get baptized?” is an important question for Christians to answer. From the earliest days of the Christian church, baptism has been a foundational step of faith following salvation (Acts 2:38, 41; 8:12, 38)

The act of baptism by immersion in water outwardly expresses the inward experience of change that happens in the life of every believer at salvation. It demonstrates that the old way of life has ended, and a new life of faith in Jesus Christ has begun (2 Corinthians 5:17). Baptism is important because it provides a visual testimony—a public declaration to the world—that symbolically identifies the new believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Bible supplies several reasons why baptism is an important step in the Christian life:

Baptism is an expression of saving faith. Like a stamp of validation, baptism represents our salvation experience and the magnificent work of Jesus Christ in dying for our sins and rising for our justification: “For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead” (Colossians 2:12, NLT).

Baptism is God-ordained and commanded by Jesus. As part of His Great Commission to the church, Jesus gave these instructions: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20). Baptism is an integral part of Christian discipleship and is meant to be an ongoing practice of the church.

Baptism is an act of obedience to our Savior, expressing our desire to please God. The word Christian means “Christ-follower.” Since Christ called us to baptism and set the example by being baptized Himself (Matthew 3:16), neglecting to be baptized is disobedience to the command of Christ.

Baptism unites us with Christ by identifying us with His death, burial, and resurrection: “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:3–4). When we repent of our sins and come to faith in Jesus Christ, baptism testifies of our union with Him.

Likewise, baptism represents our death to the old life of sin and our new birth into resurrection life and freedom from bondage to sin: “Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin” (Romans 6:5–7, NLT).

Baptism also identifies us with the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12–13). It is an emblem that says we now belong to Jesus Christ and His people: “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes” (Galatians 3:26–27, NLT).

Baptism gives public testimony of the Holy Spirit’s inward work of washing away our sins: “And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21, NLT; see also Acts 22:16; 1 Corinthians 6:11).

A correct understanding of baptism means comprehending that it is more than religious ritual or church tradition. The significance of baptism originates in the death of Jesus Christ, God’s own Son, who died in our place to pay for our sins, and who triumphed over death through His resurrection, securing for us new life in the Spirit and eternal life forever with God. (Source: gotquestions.com)

Revelation 14:1-3

14 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

Revelation 14:1-3 depicts the Lamb standing on Mount Zion with 144,000 redeemed followers, who sing a unique new song that only they can learn.

Text Overview

In these verses, John sees the Lamb (Jesus Christ) standing on Mount Zion accompanied by 144,000 individuals who have the name of the Lamb and His Father written on their foreheads (Revelation 14:1) BibleGateway.com+1. This signifies their complete devotion and identification with God. John hears a heavenly sound like rushing waters and thunder, resembling harpists playing their harps (Revelation 14:2) BibleGateway.com+1. The 144,000 sing a new song before God’s throne, the four living creatures, and the elders, a song that no one else can learn because it is reserved for those redeemed from the earth (Revelation 14:3) BibleGateway.com+1.

Symbolic Meaning

• The Lamb represents Christ, victorious and reigning over the faithful.
• Mount Zion symbolizes the spiritual center of God’s kingdom, often associated with Jerusalem and the heavenly Zion (Psalm 48; Hebrews 12:22) Enduring Word.
• The 144,000 were first introduced in Revelation 7 as a sealed group of faithful believers, representing the fullness of God’s people (12 tribes × 12,000) and their purity, devotion, and redemption (Revelation 14:4-5) Bible Hub+1.
• The new song signifies worship and praise unique to those redeemed, reflecting their intimate relationship with God and their triumph over trials, particularly the tribulation described in Revelation 13 Enduring Word.

Theological Significance

These verses emphasize victory, redemption, and exclusive worship. The 144,000 are portrayed as faithful followers who remain unblemished and devoted, standing with Christ in triumph. Their song represents a spiritual reward and recognition for their steadfastness, highlighting the contrast between those who follow the Lamb and those who follow the beast (Revelation 13) Enduring Word. The imagery reassures believers of God’s ultimate protection and the final triumph of His faithful.
In summary, Revelation 14:1-3 presents a vision of Christ’s victory, the faithful 144,000, and their unique worship, symbolizing redemption, purity, and the intimate relationship between God and His chosen followers.

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. I pray that you are having a good summer. It seems to me like a crazy year because it's like it is going by so fast. Too fast, actually.  As if it were January of this year, thinking that the holidays are far off again.  And now it seems they are not.

At any rate, have a wonderful day. God bless you and those that you love!