Jesus Christ Savior, Lord and Friend: It's all about Him!

By Beverly Nickles

Short teachings by or about Jesus Christ.

Beverly Nickles is an American who has lived and served in Moscow, Russia, since 1992. She holds a bachelor in journalism degree from Ohio State University; and a master of divinity from Columbia Se

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookTrail Publishing
• Release date: Dec 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781637676011

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Copyright © 2021 Beverly Nickles

Paperback: 978-1-63767-600-4

eBook: 978-1-63767-601-1

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021923123

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

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Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Jesus offers eternal salvation

Jesus said, …I Never Knew You

Jesus Warned about Hell

In the Lord’s presence, Isaiah changed forever

The Risen Life seeks the heavenly and eternal

Jesus asked, What will you give in exchange for your soul?

Jesus said, You must be born again!

Jesus said, Repent!

Night comes, work while it’s day

The Savior came, and each must decide

Christ’s birth was foretold in detail 700 years before

Always giving thanks

Faith pleases God

Jesus said, don’t worry!

Job repented; God raised him higher

Job Met Profound Suffering With Worship

I’m not ashamed of the Gospel…

I can do all things...

Jesus Said, Die to Self to be Fruitful

Jesus Said, Don’t Be Deceived

Fear God—And Nothing Else

Truly This Is the Son of God

Jesus Said, What Do You Have? Bring It to Me.

Jesus Said, All Things Are Possible

The Lord Commissioned Joshua Saying: Be Strong and Courageous

Joshua Said, We Will Serve the Lord

Mary Said, I Am the Servant of the Lord

Forgive! Why Would You Not?

Trusting Jesus with Tomorrow

Trusting Jesus in the darkness

To Truly Live

Final Moments: Love and Pray

Be Strong and Courageous!

Prayer Without Limits

Jesus Called Us Salt and Light

…whatever you ask… believe

Found: Source of Inexhaustible Joy

God’s Joy Yields God’s Strength

All Things Are Possible…

Immeasurably More Power

Positioned to Make a Difference

Jesus Said, I Am Living Water

Jesus said, I am abundant life

Last Gathering

(1) Jesus stoops to wash other’s dirty feet (John 13)

(2) Jesus lavishes love and promises (John 13-17)

(3) Jesus—the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14)

(4) Jesus: sending another like me (John 14)

(5) Jesus said, I am the vine…abide in me (John 15)

(6) Jesus said, they will hate you, too (John 15)

(7) Jesus: preparing a place for you (John 14)

The Beatitudes

THE BEATITUDES (1)

THE BEATITUDES (2)

THE BEATITUDES (3)

THE BEATITUDES (4)

THE BEATITUDES (5)

THE BEATITUDES (6)

THE BEATITUDES (7)

THE BEATITUDES (8)

Jesus said, I Am…

Jesus said, I AM the True Vine, you are the branches.

Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life

Jesus said, I am the Good Shepherd

Jesus said, I am the door

Jesus said, I am the bread of life

Jesus said, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life

Jesus offers eternal salvation

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned. But he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18)

Jesus came to offer salvation from sin and eternal life with him in heaven. One Bible verse that many people know, even by heart, that states this clearly is John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

It’s a clear statement of salvation through Christ. Therefore, whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

This statement by Jesus was made to a man named Nicodemus. He had heard Jesus’ public teaching, witnessed miracles performed by him, and came to talk with him at night.

Nicodemus acknowledged Jesus as a teacher sent from God, for no man could do the miracles Jesus did unless God was with him. Jesus responded straightforwardly to Nicodemus’ warm greeting.

He told him, Unless a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.

Nicodemus questioned this. How could a man already old be born again? Could he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born twice?

Jesus said he must be born of water and the spirit. Already born of the flesh, he must now be born from above. Or be born again from above, having a spiritual birth, entering into a new covenant with God in a new life.

Nicodemus was the highest and noblest religious teacher in Israel, but he had a spiritual void in his heart. He knew something was missing, that he wasn’t reconciled to God, that he had no assurance of heaven, but he didn’t know what to do. There was no other religious leader he could ask, for no one knew more than about his religion than Nicodemus.

Then he witnessed Jesus, who spoke with authority and could do miracles. Indeed, he would know. So, he approached Jesus privately at night.

Jesus answered, giving him the basic message of Christianity: all are sinners headed to an eternal hell to be punished for their sin. But eternal life in heaven is available, where there is joy, peace, and fulfilment forever.

How does one escape hell and get into heaven? That is the central message of Christianity. Jesus unfolds it.

One enters the eternal heaven by faith, not by works or religion. God’s way is by believing. By grace, you are saved by faith. Come to Him in faith believing, and he cleanses you of sin and gives you righteousness.

The Bible says in Genesis 15:6 that father Abraham believed in the Lord, and he counted it to him for righteousness. Nicodemus knew the Old Testament stories and would have been familiar with this statement about Abraham.

God gives life and forgiveness to sinners who come to him. He is a pardoning God.

Further, Nicodemus would have known from reading the prophet Isaiah that God forgives, cleanses, and saves.

Nicodemus was steeped in a legalistic religious system. Jesus makes it clear that there was absolutely nothing Nicodemus could do to make himself good enough. Nothing he can do to earn salvation. Something must happen from above that he could not contribute to. He needed for heaven to come down. He needed for God’s Holy Spirit to do a work in Him.

God would give Nicodemus a new heart by His Spirit, but Nicodemus needed to ask for it. It’s a divine miracle. God cleanses the sin committed and takes away the sinful nature. By His Spirit, one is born again from Heaven and made a new creation with a new nature.

He receives eternal life—the life of God—which is everlasting, radiant, and supernatural.

Who can receive this? Jesus said, whosoever.