Matthew 16:16 - "He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the Living God
The Word
John 1:1-3 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
'In the beginning', when God created everything, he didn't wave a magic wand, and He didn't think things into existence - "And God said, Let there be light", "And God said, Let the waters under the heaven ..."
He spoke, He said words
All things wee made by the Word. Without the Word nothing would have been made.
John 1:14 - "And the Word was made 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."
The Word was made flesh. Born into this world. Rejected, crucified, buried, resurrected, and will be returning at the 7th trumpet - so, shortly.
1 John 1:1 - "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;"
1 John 5:7 - "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
Revelation 19:13 - "And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God."
The Way, The Truth, The Life
John 14:6 - "Jesus saith unto him {Thomas}, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
The Way
Do you know that there are 2 'way's?
Matthew 7:13-14 - "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
The broad way leads to destruction - it is wide and it is crooked. It follows an easy path, no steep grades, bridges across valleys and rivers, an easy walk, and there are a lot of people on it wending their way to destruction, hell, Satan. The people on the broad way think of themselves as Christians. They carry their Bibles, they attend church, they say prayers over food, they are deacons, wardens, and sunday-school teachers. They feel that they are on their way to God. They are not. They are following false teachers, false preachers, false prophets, purveyors of a false doctrine.
Matthew 7:15-20 - "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them".
By their fruits ye shall know them. You need to know the people that are giving you advice. Would you take financial advice from a beggar on the street? Would you take life altering medical advice from a store clerk? Would you follow the teachings of a drug addict?
And yet, in your spiritual life, where you desire to live in eternity with the King of kings and Lord of lords, you will take advice from charlatans who want you to "give me money, plant a seed", "drink my spring water", "you need to be rich and healthy", "buy my books and DVDs", "I need a new jet, bigger houses".
Their words are going to sound good - close to the truth. Their life, lifestyle, actions, goals, little errors, blunders, and mistakes give them away.
The false ones need to look good, sound good, and smell good. You are not a good counterfeit if you can't fool everybody. A purple USD $20 bill fools no one.
Matthew 7:21-23 - "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. 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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Luke 13:23-27 - "Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity."
The narrow way leads to life - and few there be that find it. The path is straight. It climbs and dips. It is not easy. It is hard to find and harder still to stay on and the destination is quite different. AND, it's your choice, God does not make you follow one or the other. He simply tells you what is at the end of each.
John 14:6 - "Jesus saith unto him {Thomas}, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
The Truth
The exact opposite of 'the false'.
John 14:6 - "And the Word was made 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."
If your leader/advisor is false he will lead you down the broad way. If your leader/advisor is true he will lead you through the narrow way. Two completely different destinations. AND, again, completely your choice.
John 1:14 - "Jesus saith unto him {Thomas}, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
The Life
Adam , then Eve, were formed by God out of the dust of the earth and made immortal by his breath (Genesis 2:7). Eternal life was taken away from them when they sinned and were removed from the Garden of Eden. Up to that point they were allowed to eat from every tree of the garden (Genesis 2:16-17), including the Tree of Life. God put a flaming sword around the Tree of Life to keep them from eating of it ever again (Genesis 3:24).
Jesus (the second Adam, the Word, the Lamb of God) was sacrificed for that sin. He paid the price with his blood thereby removing the flaming sword from the Tree of Life (1 Corinthians 15:22), allowing those who believe ON the Lord Jesus Christ, to regain eternal life through Him.
1 Corinthians 15:22 - "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."
That's about it and I should probably leave it right there - but, this is me and I just can't. All of this did not happen yesterday. Jesus being the way the truth and the life, his sacrifice, burial, resurrection, even our very existance (Ephesians 1:4), was set up before the foundations of the earth. God put it all in His Plan and published it for all the world to read, study, and follow (or not).
Jesus, The Christ
John 10:30 - "I and my Father are one."
John 14:8-11 - "Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake."
1 John 2:22 - "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son."
1 Corinthians 12:3 - "Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost."
Revelation 19:10 - "And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
The Stone of Israel
Genesis 49:24 - "But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)"
Psalms 118:22 - "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes."
Isaiah 8:13-15 - "Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken."
Isaiah 28:16 - "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste."
Romans 9:33 - "As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."
1 Peter 2:7-8 - "Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed."
Matthew 21:42 - "Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become he head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?"
Mark 12:10-11 - "And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?"
Luke 20:17 - "And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."
Acts 4:10-12 - "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
1 Peter 2:4 - "To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,"
1 Corinthians 3:11 - "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 2:20 - "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:"
The Second Adam
Romans 5:12-14 - "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, is the figure {type or example of something future} of him that was to come."
1 Corinthians 15:45-47 - "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven."
Adam was formed with a human body and the Breath of Life was breathed into him by God. This made him a type (example, figure) of the coming Christ (The Messiah) who also had a spiritual body covered in human flesh (on the cross, the part of him that was immortal had to leave him before he could die - My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me?). The "Breath" made Adam immortal. How long he lived before his female attributes were taken from him and put into the Eve body, could be a minute or thousands of years. Adam and Eve were allowed to "eat" from the Tree of Life. When they lost their immortality, through sin, the "flaming sword" kept them away from that tree.
Hebrews 2:9 - "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."