Who Is Jesus? (p.3)

of godliness, they at the same despise the things of God, on His terms. The denominations of our day are modern versions of the
seven Him who is the true Light of the world (Jn. 1:9), the Lamb of God (Jn. 1:29), who is also the Lion of Judah (Rev. 5:5). While they
manifest a form of godliness, they at the same despise the things of God, on His terms. The denominations of our day are modern
versions of the seven churches of our Lords Revelation.
churches of our Lords Revelation.

Hence, Mr. Watchwa, the “reality” you seek is such that different ideas, beliefs, takes or spins on Jesus—the Man and His message—is
a phenomenon that has been around since the very beginning, is going strong now, and is not likely to get any better before His
physical return. Thus we see, moreover, that these “denominations” of thought are a reality for which God has sought earnestly to
prepare us, as opposed to the common “mis-notion” which suggests that the Christian’s walk would or should be free from encounters
with such spiritual encumbrances. Quite the contrary, as these are the reality with which every Christian, at some point, in one way or
the other will be faced.

How does one find his way amidst the clamor of so many divergent “denominations”, the “road” being so broad, with gates leading
thereonto so invitingly wide?

First, may I suggest, Suleyman, that the wisdom statements of God make for an excellent launch pad from which to begin. May I
suggest furthermore that these are not idle, pretty words of poetry without meaning or merit, having little or only marginal connectivity
to reality. It might be said therefore, that God’s level of concern runs somewhere in the extreme, as (Solomon tells us) He is very much
desirous that all His servants be always fully apprised that “there are roads, highways, things and such, that will look good and right to
any man, yet the outcome, the objective accomplished is, or leads only to death (or eternal separation from Him)” (Proverbs 14:12).
Moreover, may I insist also that, the point here is the central, overriding theme of all that has been said in all the “attitudes” and
“denominations of thought” highlighted and showcased by our Lord both during His earthly walk and during the Revelation “visitation”
with John, regarding the seven churches. The Lord Jesus corroborates this assertion with His Matt. 7:13-14 declaration such that, “the
road or highway leading to ‘life’ (through a right relationship with God based upon faith, trust and confidence in the death, burial and
resurrection of Jesus Christ) is one (“narrow” is a KJV misnomer, that should be rendered more literally) marked by the suffering of
affliction and trouble (due to the pressure of circumstances—as we naturally want things or participation in that to which we have to say
“no”, because of our status as Christians—or simply antagonism from people of anti-Christ sentiment; Grk., “thlibo”=thlee’-bo)”.
Furthermore, the Lord continues, the gate opening up onto the road or highway (that guides and carries us to life) is strait (Grk.
“stenos”=sten-os’; narrow, as in due to the close proximity of the obstacles we must face along the way). While many are called and
invited to enter the narrow gate in order to follow this road of self-deprivation to life eternal, few will in the end be chosen, by virtue of
the fact that few will ever heed the call in the first place (Acts 14:16; 17:30; Matt. 20:1-16; 22:1-14; Luke 13:23-30; Matt. 7:14) On the
other hand, by contrast, wide (Grk., “plat-us’”, spread out “flat”) is the gate and broad (Grk, “eu-ru’-cho-ros”=wide, empty, spacious) is
the road, or highway leading to death and destruction (an eternity away from the presence of God). The expectation and the
anticipation of the Father is such that multitudes (of the many called, who enter the wrong gate, as well as those who don’t heed the
call), the majority of all people will choose and take this gate, following that spacious pathway with little resistance, straight to an
eternity in hell.

Again, harkening back to the Proverbs, King Solomon would have us know that while any man’s choices in terms of directions or
highways are always good and acceptable in his own eyes, we all (churches, the denominations, evangelicals, fundamentalists, etc.)
would do well to never, ever forget that God’s perspective as to the true value of his endeavor may be altogether different, in which
case—you can count on it—He will balance or measure out his spirit (so as to reveal his motives, etc.) (Prov. 16:2; Mark 4:49; I Cor. 3:
8-15). Is this not perhaps the quintessential sub-theme of the foregoing considerations of our Lord? No matter what the church or
denomination of churches—whether the ideology adhered to be evangelical or fundamentalist or, some amalgamation of both—the
measuring rod, the balance and scale, the “dip-stick” used in the valuation of God’s assessment of any Christian endeavor will always
be His own Holy Word, the Bible. Let me restate, and that most emphatically, the standard by which God will judge all our efforts (Acts
17:31), supposedly done to His glory (as runners in the race of life under the Christian banner; as soldiers of the Cross), will not be the
Christian world view, the evangelical or any other view point, as rather everything we do, every “play” we affect—for the cause of and in
the Name of the Christ—will be rated directly according to His Play Book. “In striving for the mastery” (whether as a warrior or as an
athlete), Paul admonishes his young protégé Timothy, “one need not expect a crown, if he has not striven lawfully” (II Tim. 2:3-5). So
likewise, Suleyman, in perhaps yet another fine sub-theme, the Lord Jesus would have us understand that good intentions (proffered
by whatever church, denomination, evangelical, fundamentalist) will not suffice if not played out in strict accordance with His Book of
Rules.

Clearly, is it not imperative then—to the utmost—that every Christian begin his own valuation by which to examine himself, so as to
ascertain whether he is in fact in the faith (I Cor. 13:5)—knowing and realizing as we do that the reality is, all these different points of
view purporting to be “Christ” centered cannot possibly be right? In fact, most if not all, are patently wrong in some key areas of dogma
and doctrine. The chief reason for this? Most teachers, preachers, and other leaders within these various camps of ideas have
invested heavily in the study of the work of others (who for the most part did the same thing!) on the various aspects of the Bible, but
have spent precious little time perusing the Book of their profession for themselves! Hence, what we have here ultimately—within a
“Christian” environment, mind you—is a perfect illustration of the “blind, who lead the blind” (Matt. 15:14; Both the incarnate Christ and
the resurrected, ascended and glorified Christ have painstakingly “mapped and marked” the ditch, nevertheless, He would have none
understand, as but that “yet”, most of “Christendom” are doomed to fall, therein). They have virtually no meaningful “walk” with God, in
which case they actually do not “know” Him. “Go or get away form Me, you whose life work has been iniquity”, is the refrain of a theme
the Lord Jesus has prepared (not for the non-Christian, who never responded to God’s call to repentance, but) for those who did
respond, only to choose to play by their own rules (based squarely upon their personal or denominational “beliefs” about the Bible, as
opposed to having waxed diligent to see what the Word of God actually said), while at the same time claiming to be doing God service
(Matt. 7:21-29). By now, my friend, the solution to the “denomination dilemma”, should be as plain as it is basic.

One must inevitably begin with a simple realization: “all scripture is God breathed, and is profitable to men and women (boys and girls)
of God in a variety of ways” (II Tim. 3:16). The solution, to reaping the benefits and finding the “Way, the Truth, and the Life” (Jn. 14:6)
and all things relative thereto, as God has prepared and planted them in His Word, is to “study” (II Tim. 2:15) the Word for oneself and
“walk” with Him, daily (A more apt rendering of Paul’s encouragement to Timothy is, “Be prompt, be earnest; exert yourself, giving
diligence, yourself acceptable to present to God; a laborer—one who toils—unashamed, irreprehensible, cutting straight or dissecting
correctly the Word of the Truth.). There is simply no other way, nor is there a better way. By this one will show that he is a man or
woman approved of and accepted by God. While obviously—for the most part—they do not, all the protestant denominations should
be exercising this type of heart attitude. Evangelical or fundamentalist, every one and all their ministers should be diligently
demonstrating that they know well how to “cut straight” the Word of God, teaching men to do likewise, as they point all in that direction,
as opposed to drawing attention to themselves. Their focus, the emphasis should always be the Word, “thus says the Lord”, not their
own personal positions. I pray, Suleyman, this will ever be your position, as you grow in your knowledge of and walk with the Lord.

I sincerely hope and pray that this treatise has been sufficient to answer your concerns, Mr. Watchwa and that He will bless your study
and stay there in South Africa. God bless!