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Introduction Have you ever asked, Why am I here?" or "What is the purpose of this life?", or "Is there really a God?" At one point or another in our lives we have these thoughts. Or have you thought, "Is the Bible true and if so why are there so many different beliefs coming out of the same book?" These are great questions and most of them have simple answers, but sometimes we have to get past all of the misconceptions and information we have been taught or told to believe. First of all, God loves us with an unending love and wants us all in heaven with Him, so wouldn't He make the way simple enough for us to understand. He loves us so much He has given us free will to even reject the free gift He has for us. I am like you, someone who is not a scholar, but someone who wants to know God's simple truth. If you are like me, come along and let's go on an adventure to explore this amazing God and His simple truth. Always remember God loves us and He wants us to love Him and others, which will take a whole lifetime of practice. Thankfully He is very patient. 3
Table of Contents 1 There Is A God... 5 2. God's Purpose... 9 3 Our Purpose... 13 4 The Bible Is The Living Word Of God... 16 5 God's Has A Simple Plan For Us... 18 6 Struggles in Life Are Part Of His Plan... 26 7 Be Honest: Trusting Him & His Plan Takes Time.... 28 8 What Is Heaven Like?... 30 4
1 There Is A God Bold statement, but if we are talking about God's simple truth, this would be the first and before you say "no", hear me out. First, He is a timeless being and He is the Creator of everything. He didn't just make everything, like a carpenter or landscaper, He created everything from nothing. He not only created everything from His mind, but as we will see He did an amazing job. Some say the solar system, and everything else came about by an evolution process or some kind of "big bang". Really? As we explore the details of creation, it will be harder and harder to believe this, but easier and easier to see it was created by the mind of a powerful, very creative and intelligent being. So what do you want to look at first. Let start with the largest, ok? The Universe Yes, the universe is so large our minds cannot begin to grasp its size, like God Himself. It is so big most experts say we have only touched the very beginning of it. Why did God make 5
it so big, you might ask. Good question. Was He showing off His power? Maybe and it blows me away. To Him it is pretty easy and maybe He just planned it to be large. Maybe He want us to see that we could barely begin to explore this great universe He created. To Him it is just who He is and maybe He wanted us to be impressed. Well personally, I am very impressed. Our Solar System Our solar system revolves around a huge round furnace hotter than we can imagine, yet our planet is the only one where we won't burn up or freeze. Our planet is a hunk of rock, spinning in the air, tilted just right so we are not completely consumed by water or one big hunk of ice. Accidental? We spin at 10,000 miles a minutes and yet the gravity not only keeps us from flying off, but we can't even feel the spinning. Accidental? Plants, Fish, Birds and Animals When we look at the unique variety of plant life, the various water life in the sea and other bodies of water, the amazing flying creatures with all their unique colors and sounds, and then all the animal life. Accidental? And how the plants give off what we need and we give off what they need. 6
How each one of these creatures are built with the knowledge to care for their young, find the right food, and survive their unique situations. Accidental? That doesn't even cover the millions of insects and microscopic creatures inhabiting our earth. None of this is accidental, it was created by a very intelligent God. Human Body God saved the best for last, the human body. If you want to see something truly amazing, study the different systems of the body, from germ fighting, to the complex systems of the eyes and ears, to the vast nervous systems and blood networks to the creation of new life. Accidental? So complex we will probably never fully understand it or be able to reproduce it. There are probably many good books on the wonders of the body, but one I the one I found very informative was "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by Dr. Paul Brand and Phillip Yancey. It blows my mind at what a marvel our body is and how complex the working of the body we take for granted. Explore what God has created by discovering the details of His amazing creations and your image of God will grow immensely. 7
God's Simple Truth #1 There is an intelligent God, who created it all! 8
2. God's Purpose Many people have speculated on this, but again it is pretty simple. Would you believe His only purpose is to have a relationship with us and bring all His children home to heaven. It started with Adam and Eve in a perfect garden. With free will they introduced sin. His purpose is still the same, this time it will be in the beautiful place He prepared called heaven? Is it a little hard to believe, a God with all that power, who can be everywhere at once and is not constrained by time (it is just something He created for us). Yet His whole purpose is to get His children to heaven to spend eternity there with Him. That is how much He loves us! He even loves us so much He sent His Son to die as a sacrifice for us. Even more, He loves us so much He even gave us the free will, the choice to reject Him completely. He chooses to love us and He gives us the choice to love Him. Does that sounds like something an all powerful God would do? That's not really the gods we have read about and seen in movies. Can this really be true? Let's look into it and see if this can be possible. God created us and with the way we act most of the time, I have a hard time realizing why. He did because He 9
loves us and wanted us to love Him. God is love, so His love is perfect. When we think of love, we often expect someone to be deserving of love, to do something to earn it. If we think about it, real love isn't that way. Here is how God describes love: 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Now isn't that more like what real love is like? This is the kind of love God has for us, a perfect love. So how good do we have to be to get this kind of love? We can't do anything to get more of His love or do anything for Him to love us less. I know, you want to know where the catch is right? No catch. We are thinking of the imperfect love we have, but it is not the same. God created us, He know every thought and sees everything we do. Sometimes we can hide what we think and do from others, but He knows everything, and yet He still loves us, really loves us. Wow! I know it is hard to grasp, but of all God's Simple Truth, this is the more important one for us to know. Everything He is and everything He does hinges on this fact, God loves us with a perfect love. 10
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 Many of us have grown up with the concept of God as a cosmic policeman, waiting for us to make a mistake and then punish us. Knowing how many mistakes we have made and continue to make, it is hard to believe He would love us. The fact is He chooses to love us. We feel a little better if there was a check list we could follow to see how we are doing. That is why we get caught up in rule keeping and making more rules for us to follow. As we grow in His Word and understanding we see what pleases Him. We strive to please Him because He loves us and we Him, not because we have to. Knowing we continue to make mistakes is to keep us humble and not proud of ourselves for "keeping the rules". We can never do enough to deserve anything He gives, so just live for Him with an attitude of thankfulness. 11
God's Simple Truth #2 God's purpose is to bring His children home! 12
3 Our Purpose We know His purpose, so what is our purpose. Simply put, to help Him achieve His purpose. How? First we have to know He loves us, then learn to trust Him, and show His love to everyone else. We have to know He loves us and there are plenty of verses that tell us that. If we don't know He loves us, and I mean "crazy" loves us, then we won't do anything else. When we realize all the things He has done to show His love for us, then we will in turn love Him. Learning to trust Him comes from giving Him parts of our lives and see the results. I didn't always see it at the time, but looking back it is pretty plain. Loving each other comes by choosing to love others. We know we are sinners (and will always be) and God chooses to love us, so He asks us to do the same. When people want to see God in us, they don't look at how much Bible we know (although it is really important), how often we go to services or how much we talk about how much we love God. They look at the way we love. Who was attracted to the love Jesus had? Those people nobody else loved, or everyone. 13
He helped them, He listened to them, He treated them as children of God. 20 If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:20 ECV ; A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35 ECV To help God achieve His purpose first of all requires us to love others. It isn't easy, but most of what God asks us to do is not easy, but it is right and pleases Him. He asks us to give our best effort and let His Spirit help us grow more like Him. How else can we help Him achieve His purpose? Knowing His Word so we know how to please Him and share it with others. Then change our lives, growing through the Spirit to be more like Him so our lives are a reflection of Him, not us. Develop a honest prayer life with Him. He also likes worship, praise, singing whether with a group or by ourselves. All this helps Him achieve His purpose of bringing His children home. 14
God's Simple Truth #3 Our purpose is to help Him achieve His purpose. 15
4 The Bible Is The Living Word Of God Why did God tell so many different writers to put together the 66 books of the Bible. Just to show us He could do it without having any contradictions? It is a way to know it is not man made because we don't do anything perfect. He gave us His Word to tell us about Him and to show us how to help Him accomplish His purpose. It is the truth and He said the truth shall set us free. But is it really important, we can just get the main point from the pastor, preacher or teachers, can't we? Let's see what the Word says. 15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; 1 Peter 3:15 ECV How do we know if someone else is telling us the truth, we need to check it out. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Acts 17:11 ECV 16
The Bible is our instruction manual and if we don't study it or let someone else tell us what it says, will we have a true relationship with Him? God's Simple Truth #4 The Bible is the Word of God! 17
5 God's Has A Simple Plan For Us God's plan is simple, so let's take a look at the basics. Bible Basics Bible has an Old Testament and a New Testament, so what is the difference? The Old Testament is mainly the prophecies to show God's plan to send His Son to die for our sins. It also is a foundation for learning about God, a glimpse of some of the heroes of faith, and a look at the makeup of man. Books like Job tell us about dealing with pain and struggles, Proverbs are pearls of wisdom for life, and Psalms is the emotions man feels in dealing with an invisible God. The Old Testament was fulfilled when Jesus died on the cross. The Gospels of the New Testament tell of the life of Jesus, His death, and resurrection. From Acts on deals with the beginning of the church and a new open relationship with God. Saved By Faith Not Works 18
In other words, we cannot earn our way to heaven by what we do, or what He asks us to do, we do it by faith. We do it because He loves us, because we are growing to love Him and want to please Him and to help Him achieve His purpose. But What Is Faith Faith is more than just believing, it says demons believe and yet they are lost. Faith is trusting God and obeying what He asks. Abraham was known for his faith, but how? God ask him to go into a new land, which he had never been before, he trusted God and obeyed what He asked. After waiting 100 years for a son, God ask Abraham to sacrifice him. He trusted God and obeyed what He asked. Faith is trusting what God asks, knowing He loves us and in our growing love for Him to help Him achieve His purpose. He sees everything, knows how it all works out and asks us to help. We don't always see the results, but by faith we trust Him and obey what He asks. There is a big difference between doing good works to get to heaven and works that come from faith. 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do 19
well. Even the demons believe and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. James 2:17-26 Faith is trusting God, in what He says and obeying it because of our love for Him, not to work our way to heaven. Salvation Can't Be Earned, It Is A Free Gift Salvation is a free gift from God, something we cannot earn, just accept. Why do we need to be saved? Very good question we all need to know the answer to. In the beginning God put Adam and Eve in a garden that was perfect, just how God wanted our relationship with Him to be. He walked and talked in the garden with them, giving them everything they needed. He only ask them not to eat of the tree of good and evil, because He knew it would be bad by bringing sin into the world. Of course, they thought they knew better than God 20
(not much has changed), was lied to by Satan saying they would be like God and so they went against God's wishes. God created us, knows us and loves us, yet we continue to think we know more or even that we don't need Him. Like Adam and Eve, it gets us into a mess. They had to leave Paradise and things went downhill from there because of sin. Sin comes in many forms, but the simple truth, there are no big sins or little sins. Hating is as bad as murder, as well as lying, greed, and all those other "what we have been taught" are "little sins". Sin is something that will end up hurting ourselves or others. Sin is what separates us from God and it is now in our DNA. Only the blood or sacrifice of a perfect man can wash away our sins. That is why God had to send His Only Son, Jesus to this earth, so we could kill Him. Sounds crazy, but God's love for us is that way, crazy. There isn't anything He won't do to have us back in the garden, which this time will be heaven, if we will choose it. The only thing that will prevent our reunion with Him is our free will, which gives us a choice, a choice which God knows will let us end up not choosing Him. Sin is why we need to be saved, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 but the choice is ours and even though His love is unending for us, His love will honor our choice. 21
There is one Word of God, yet thousands of different religions from the same book. It seems we as humans need to make what God has given us better or simpler. Or maybe we just don't like what it says. It seems pretty egotistical of us to think we can improve on what our maker has given to us, doesn't it? God loves us so, you would think He would make His plan of salvation easy to understand. He did. Anyone can read it themselves and understand it. When Jesus ascended, He told the apostles to wait for the comforter, the Holy Spirit which He promised them in Act 1. 1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 To them he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. Acts 1:1-6 As seen in this passage, the baptism of the Holy Spirit was promised only to the apostles, they were completely immersed 22
in the Holy Spirit to help them remember everything Jesus had taught them and also to give them the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist also foretold of this. 11 I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Matthew 3:11 Fulfilled in Act 2:1-4 1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4 ECV The church began on the day of Pentecost when the apostles preached the first sermon. It is estimated there was up to 1 million people in the city of Jerusalem, speaking many different languages and every one of them heard the apostles speaking in their own language, through the power of the Holy Spirit. (God wanted to make sure everyone heard) Let's read it: 23
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brothers, what shall we do? 38 And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself. 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation. 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. They had just crucified the Son of God, which God had sent to be a perfect sacrifice for our sin. They believe, but asked Peter what they needed to do. Same thing He asks us to do today. It is Jesus' death, His blood which cleanses our sins and allows us to walk a new life. 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4 ECV 24
As you can see, salvation is simple, what He asks you to do and why, just like the first Christians did. God's Simple Truth #5 God Has A Simple Plan For Us 25
6 Struggles in Life Are Part Of His Plan God always wants what is good for us, but all the struggles and trials don't come from Him, but He is there to help us through them, so our faith can grow. Most of the trials come from humans like diseases, war, abuse, senseless killing and persecution. Even Jesus, a perfect man was treated like someone bad by even the "religious" elite. He suffered pain and torture and then hung on a cross to die. Pain isn't God punishing us for not being good or having enough faith. It happens to Christians and non-christians alike. It's like a highly trained athlete, it makes us stronger, increasing our faith in God and can be helpful in helping someone else who faces the same trial. Other times we can be treated badly or even killed in some countries because we believe in Jesus. Remember 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 We are not punished by God or He does not tempt us, but we are drawn away by our own desires and Satan trying to 26
confuse and distract us. That is why we are told to keep our eyes on Him. God's Simple Truth #6 Struggles in life are part of His plan! 27
7 Be Honest: Trusting Him & His Plan Takes Time. Remember, serving God is an uphill journey, a growing with the help of the Spirit, filled with struggles and failures. Often only looking back can we see the growth. Keeping our eyes on Him, being totally honest with Him (and ourselves) and studying His Word to know the path. Some days we will be excited, some will be filled with doubt. Some days we will feel like we are growing and some we will want to give up. God understands and it doesn't matter how many times we fall, it matters how many time we get back up, continuing to put our trust in Him. Some days God's love will lift us up on wings and some days we will be ashamed of not being more deserving of His love. We'll never deserve His love, but we always have it. Strive to grow because we are loved by the greatest force in the universe. 28
God's Simple Truth #7 Be Honest: Trusting Him and His plan takes time. 29
8 What Is Heaven Like? Judgment will fulfill God's purpose and all His faithful children will be with Him in Heaven. There are many different ideas taken mostly from Revelations, but really the most important part is if we are faithful, then we will be at home with Him. The Coming of the Lord 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 So what is heaven like? I believe it will be far greater than we can ever imagine. This is the Creator of everything, including us, He loves us and He knows us and what He has 30
planned will be worth far more than we will ever go through down here. Just remember - No tears, No pain and No time, oh did I mention we will be with Him forever? God's Simple Truth #8 Heaven will be far better than we can ever imagine! 31