Who Jesus Is & Why You Should Believe

Scripture / Parables | Jesus' Teachings | Fulfilled Prophecies

Who Jesus Is & Why You Should Believe

Jesus Is...

• The Second Person of the Blessed Trinity

• The Son of God and Son of Man

• The Savior of Mankind

• The Creator of All

• The Messiah

• The Lord

• The Eternal King

• The High Priest

• Emmanuel

• The Word of God

• True God and True Man

• The Bread of Life

• Our Judge

His coming was foretold from of old (click here). His teachings have been proved by countless miracles (click here). God testified from heaven on His behalf (see Mt. 17:5, Mk. 1:11, Lk. 3:21-22, Jn. 12:27-28). He sealed His message by his voluntary death, which was foretold from old (click here). And, He rose from the dead by His own power.

"No one takes my [life] from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father." (Jn. 10:18)

Christ the Lord - also called Emmanuel and the Word - took on human flesh, being born of the Virgin Mary. He is the Messiah promised since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden (cf. Gen. 3:15). In order to atone for the sins of man, He was crucified, willingly died, and was buried. On the third day, He rose from the dead. He ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. Before His death, He performed numerous miracles, taught heavenly doctrine, and commissioned certain men to act in His place (men whom He equipped with the necessary power). He also founded His Church - the Catholic Church - (called his "body") on St. Peter in order to bring men to salvation, and He continues to act as its invisible head. He remains physically present in Catholic churches throughout the world in the Holy Eucharist under the appearance of bread and wine. 

Biblical Proof of Christ's Divinity Includes...

• Scripture says that Jesus is "Emmanuel", meaning "God is with us" (see Mt. 1:23)

• Scripture says that the Word (that is, Jesus) was God (see Jn. 1:1)

• Jesus said that if you knew Him, you would know His Father (that is, God) also (see Jn. 8:19)

• Jesus said "I AM" (Jn. 8:24, Jn. 8:58, Jn. 18:5, Jn. 18:8), a clear reference to God (see Ex. 3:14)

• Jesus said that "The Father and I are one" (Jn. 10:30)

• Jesus said that "The Father is in me and I am in the Father" (Jn. 10:38)

• Jesus says that "whoever sees me sees the one who sent me" (Jn. 12:45)

• Jesus says that whoever has seen Him has seen the Father (Jn. 14:8-12)

• The Apostle St. Thomas proclaims: "My Lord and my God!" and is not rebuked by Jesus (Jn. 20:28). Instead Jesus responds, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." (Jn. 20:29)

• Scripture says that in Jesus "dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily" (Col. 2:9)

• Christ instructs the Apostles to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19). This would not make sense unless the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are God.

"O Lord our God, we believe in You, Father and Son and Holy Spirit. For the Truth would not say: 'Go, baptize all nations in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,' unless You were a Trinity. Nor would You command us, O Lord God, to be baptized in the name of anyone who is not the Lord God." (St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church, c. 407 A.D.)

Those who do not accept His divinity because of Scripture passages such as "the Father is greater than I" (Jn. 14:28), or the fact that He refers to His will independently of His Father's will, or that He said He did not know the day or the hour (see Mk. 13:32), should note that:

• Since Jesus took on our human nature while remaining God, He is rightly said to have two natures - one divine and one human. Speaking from the perspective of His divine nature, Christ was able to say that "The Father and I are one" (Jn. 10:30). Speaking from the perspective of His human nature, Christ said that "the Father is greater than I" (Jn. 14:28). Even though the statements appear contradictory, each is equally true. Christ clearly referred to his divine nature on various occasions in the Bible (see above), and Scripture also clearly shows his human nature. "Jesus has two kinds of knowledge - divine and human - some things he answered with one, some things in another."

• When Christ said that he didn't know the day or the hour (see Mk. 13:32), it should be noted that He is not saying that He doesn't know absolutely, but only in His human nature. In His human nature, it is unknown to Him, but in His divine nature, He knows the day that He is to return. It is clear from Scripture that Christ knows all things about that day and the time which will proceed it, therefore he must know when this will occur. And, clearly, a diversity of knowledge in the undivided Trinity makes no sense. It has also been explained that Christ's manner of speech may be taken to mean not that He is ignorant, but that it is "not expedient" to tell us this since we would not then be watchful, which is the entire point of the passage (see Mk. 13:32-37). One may also have to allow for a particular manner of speaking. For example, do you suppose that the omnipotent God really didn't know where Adam was after the fall because He inquired where Adam was (see Gen. 3:9)? Some additional relevant quotations appear below:

"How indeed could he know so accurately those things which are to proceed that hour and which are to take place at the end, but be ignorant of the hour itself? This thing would be like a riddle, as if one were to say that he knows accurately everything that is in front of a wall, but does not know the wall itself; or that he knows well the end of the day but knows not the beginning of the night, whereas knowledge of the one necessarily brings with it knowledge of the other. If, then, we may proceed from the example of what is seen to what is known, is it not perfectly plain to everyone that He does know as God, but says that, as man, he knows not?" (St. Gregory of Nazianz, Doctor of the Church, c. 380 A.D.)

"For how could anyone who confesses that the Wisdom Itself of God is incarnate say that there is anything of which the Wisdom of God is ignorant? Is it written? 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was, in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him.' If all things, then without a doubt even the day and hour of judgement. Who, then, is so foolish as to presume to say that the Word of the Father made that of which He was ignorant? It is also written, 'Jesus, knowing that the Father had given Him all things into His hands.' If all things, certainly the day of judgment and the hour. Who, then, is so stupid as to say that the Son received into His hands what He did not know?" (Pope St. Gregory I the Great, Doctor of the Church, c. 600 A.D.)

"Certainly, then, it is plain that as the Word He knows also the hour and the end of all things, although as man He is ignorant of it; for ignorance is proper to man, and especially in these matters. This, moreover, pertains to the Savior's love of man; for, inasmuch as He was made man, He is not ashamed, because of the ignorant flesh, to say, 'I do not know,' - so that He may demonstrate that, although as God He knows, according to the flesh He is ignorant. This, then, is why He did not say, 'nor does the Son of God know': lest the Godhead appear to be ignorant; but simply, 'nor the Son': so that the ignorance may be of the Son as born of man." (St. Athanasius, Doctor of the Church, 4th century A.D.)

"(But) concerning that which has been written: That neither the Son, nor the angels know the day and the hour [cf. Mark 13:32], indeed, your holiness has perceived rightly, that since it most certainly should be referred not to the same son according to that which is the head, but according to his body which we are... He [Augustine] also says...that this can be understood of the same son, because omnipotent God sometimes speaks in a human way, as he said to Abraham: Now I know that thou fearest God [Gen. 22:12], not because God then knew that He was feared, but because at that time He caused Abraham to know that he feared God. For, just as we say a day is happy not because the day itself is happy, but because it makes us happy, so the omnipotent Son says He does not know the day which He causes not to be known, not because He himself is ignorant of it, but because He does not permit it to be known at all. Thus also the Father alone is said to know, because the Son (being) consubstantial with Him, on account of His nature, by which He is above the angels, has knowledge of that, of which the angels are unaware. Thus, also, this can be the more precisely understood because the Only-begotten having been incarnate, and made perfect man for us, in His human nature indeed did know the day and the hour of judgment, but nevertheless He did not know this from His human nature." (Pope St. Gregory the Great, Doctor of the Church, 600 A.D.)

• The fact that Scripture indicates that Christ is fully human does not mean that Christ is not also fully divine. In fact, Scripture even says that "in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily" (Col. 2:9). Therefore, it is to be expected that Scripture sometimes refers to His divinity, and sometimes to his humanity. For example, we see that Christ performed great miracles, including raising people from the dead, yet he shed tears over the death of his friend. We see that Christ was troubled by his upcoming trials, yet we know he could have escaped them if He wished to do so. Since Christ is both God and Man, He can simultaneously be troubled as a Man, but not troubled in His divinity. 

"In writing of the human attributes of the Word, one must know also what concerns His divinity... When, therefore, he speaks of His weeping, he knows that the Lord, having become man, exhibited His humanity by His weeping, while as God He raised Lazarus and he knows that the Lord hungered and thirsted physically, while divinely He fed five thousand with five loaves" (St. Athanasius, Doctor of the Church, c. 350 A.D.)

• The fact that Christ referred to His will independently of His Father's will (e.g. Lk. 22:42, Jn. 5:30) does not prove that Christ is not God. Rather, in such passages, Christ is speaking of His human will. Certainly, the divine will is always one and the same, with no division whatsoever. Some additional relevant quotations appear below:

"If then there is but one will of the Father and Son, how is it that He says, 'Only not as I will, but as You will'? Were this saying to be attributed to the Divinity it would result in a certain contradiction and it would give birth to numerous absurdities. But if it is attributed to the flesh the words will have such consistency that no complaint will be possible." (St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church, c. 387 A.D.)

"The Lord says, 'The Father and I are one;' and again, it is written of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 'And the three are one.' Does anyone believe that in the Church this unity which proceeds from the divine stability and which is welded together after the heavenly patterns, can be divided, and can be separated by parting asunder of opposing wills? Whoever holds not fast to this unity holds not to the law of God; neither does he keep faith with the Father and the Son, nor does he have life and salvation. This sacrament of unity, this bond of an inseparably cohering harmony, is indicated in the Gospel when the tunic of the Lord Jesus Christ is in no way divided nor cut apart." (St. Cyprian of Carthage, c. 251 A.D.)

"And when [our Lord Christ] says, 'Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from Me; yet, not My will be done, but Yours;' and 'the spirit is ready, but the flesh is weak,' He gives evidence therein of two wills, the one human, which is of the flesh, and the other divine, which is of God. That which is human, because of the weakness of the flesh, shrinks from suffering. That, however, which is divine is ready. Then too, Peter, hearing about the passion says, 'Cheer up, Lord;' but the Lord, chiding him, says 'Get behind Me, Satan; you are a scandal to Me, because you are mindful not of the things of God but of the things of men.' This, too, then is to be understood in the same way: for, having been made in the likeness of men, as a man He shrinks from suffering; but being God and, in according with the divine substance, really not being subject to suffering, He readily accepts suffering and death." (St. Athanasius, Doctor of the Church, 4th century A.D.) 

Additional Support For Christ's Divinity...

• Christ's death was sought for the very reason that He "made Himself equal to God" (cf. Jn. 5:18, Mt. 26:63-66, Jn. 19:7).

• He forgave sins, healed people, restored sight to the blind, raised the dead, expelled evil spirits, walked on water, commanded the wind and the sea, multiplied food, changed water into wine, and performed numerous other miracles by His own power (including raising Himself from the dead), which is only possible for God to do.

"It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything." (Jn. 9:32-33)

"Then [Jesus, raised from the dead] said to them, 'Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.' And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet." (Lk. 24:38-40)

"The miracles which Christ worked were a sufficient proof of His Godhead in three respects. First, as to the very nature of the works, which surpassed the entire capability of created power, and therefore could not be done save by Divine power. For this reason the blind man, after his sight had been restored, said (John 9:32,33): 'From the beginning of the world it has not been heard, that any man hath opened the eyes of one born blind. Unless this man were of God, he could not do anything.' Secondly, as to the way in which He worked miracles - namely, because He worked miracles as though of His own power, and not by praying, as others do. Wherefore it is written (Luke 6:19) that 'virtue went out from Him and healed all.' Whereby it is proved, as Cyril says (Commentarium in Lucam) that 'He did not receive power from another, but, being God by nature, He showed His own power over the sick. And this is how He worked countless miracles.' Hence on Matthew 8:16: 'He cast out spirits with His word, and all that were sick He healed,' Chrysostom says: 'Mark how great a multitude of persons healed, the Evangelists pass quickly over, not mentioning one by one... but in one word traversing an unspeakable sea of miracles.' And thus it was shown that His power was co-equal with that of God the Father, according to John 5:19: 'What things soever' the Father 'doth, these the Son doth also in like manner'; and, again (John 5:21): 'As the Father raiseth up the dead and giveth life, so the Son also giveth life to whom He will.' Thirdly, from the very fact that He taught that He was God; for unless this were true it would not be confirmed by miracles worked by Divine power. Hence it was said (Mark 1:27): 'What is this new doctrine? For with power He commandeth the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.'" (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the Church")

• Christ could not be our Savior if He was not God.

"Neither could a portion of creation, while itself in need of salvation, become creation's salvation... A man would not have been deified if joined to a creature, nor if the Son were not true God; neither would a man have been brought into the Father's presence if He had not been the Father's natural and true Word who had put on a body. Since we could have had nothing in common with what is foreign, we would not have been delivered from sin and from the curse if that which the Word put on had not been natural human flesh; so also, the man would not have been deified if the Word which became flesh and not been by nature from the Father and true and proper to Him." (St. Athanasius, Doctor of the Church, 4th century A.D.)

• Various actions of Christ are proper only to God [e.g. having the power to forgive sins (by his own power and not by power given to him), being lord of the Sabbath, issuing commands, promising a repentant sinner heaven, etc.]

"Then [Jesus] said to them, 'The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.'" (Lk. 6:5)

"Then [the repentant sinner] said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' [Jesus] replied to him, 'Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.'" (Lk. 23:42-43)

"I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another." (Jn. 13:34)

"When he saw their faith, he said, 'As for you, your sins are forgiven.' Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves, 'Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?' Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply, 'What are you thinking in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins' - he said to the man who was paralyzed, 'I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.' He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, 'We have seen incredible things today.'" (Lk. 5:20-26)

• Angels testified to Christ

"To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end." (Lk. 1:27-33)

"And there were in the same country shepherds watching and keeping the night watches over their flock. And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them and the brightness of God shone round about them: and they feared with a great fear. And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all the people: For, this day is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David." (Lk. 2:8-11)

• God the Father in Heaven testified that Christ is His Son. For example, consider the events of the Transfiguration where God said "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him" (Mt. 17:5). The Father also testified to His Son after his baptism (see Mt. 3:16-17, Mk. 1:11, LK 3:21-22) and prior to the Passion (see Jn. 12:27-28)

• Despite an ordinary human appearance, Christ's divine identity was miraculously recognized by numerous persons [e.g. Elizabeth (even before He was born!), the Magi, Simeon, John the Baptist, St. Peter, the centurion, and numerous others]

• Even former enemies testified to him - many to the point of shedding their blood. Such unflinching testimony has continued for two thousand years, even despite brutal, unspeakable tortures. Even the great St. Paul was himself a former enemy of Christ.

"There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, 'Ananias.' He answered, 'Here I am, Lord.' The Lord said to him, 'Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying, and (in a vision) he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay (his) hands on him, that he may regain his sight.' But Ananias replied, 'Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.' But the Lord said to him, 'Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.' So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, 'Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. All who heard him were astounded and said, 'Is not this the man who in Jerusalem ravaged those who call upon this name, and came here expressly to take them back in chains to the chief priests?' But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded (the) Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that this is the Messiah." (Acts 9:10-22)

• The lives of so many of His followers who have given (and give) up family, friends, fortune, position, conveniences, etc. testify to Him.

• Even evil spirits were forced to give witness to Christ

"And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, 'You are the Son of God.'" (Mk. 3:11)

"And demons also came out from many, shouting, "You are the Son of God." But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Messiah." (Lk. 4:41)

"They came to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gerasenes. When he got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him... Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, crying out in a loud voice, 'What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!' (He had been saying to him, 'Unclean spirit, come out of the man!')" (Mk. 5:1-2, 6-8)

• Even the very earth itself testified to Christ

"But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit. And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many. The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, 'Truly, this was the Son of God!'" (Mt. 27:50-54)

"Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God!'" (Mk. 15:37-39)

• We also know that the Jewish historian at the time - certainly not a follower of Christ - referred to Him as a performer of 'astonishing feats.'

• The fact that 2,000 years have passed with countless martyrs suffering for their belief in Christ, and the fact that persons from all walks of life continue to believe in Christ all testify to the truth of the Resurrection. As St. Augustine has said, "it is unbelievable that the world should have believed so unbelievable a thing [as Christ's Resurrection and Ascension]. It is unbelievable that a very few men of the lowest class, ignoble and ignorant as they were, should have been able actually to persuade the world and even its learned men of so unbelievable a thing." And, this has occurred despite numerous enemies, horrific persecution, lies and calumny. Those alive at the time even tried to dispute the Resurrection by saying His disciples carried away His body while the guards slept. The folly of such arguments is also addressed by St. Augustine: "'Say that while you were sleeping His disciples came and took Him away'? You bring forward sleeping witnesses! Truly, you have yourself fallen asleep, who fail so greatly upon examination! If they were asleep, what could they see? And if they saw nothing, how are they witnesses?" While it is easy to dismiss their arguments, it is not easy to dismiss the testimony of two thousand years worth of testimony of countless men, women, and children who have given up everything for Christ. 

We Must Believe in Him and Obey Him

• He is the Bread of Life and the Way and the Truth and the Life. Those who believe in Him and obey Him will receive eternal life

"Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.'" (Jn. 6:35)

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." (Jn. 6:51)

"Jesus said to them, 'Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.'" (Jn. 6:53-58) Note: For more on the Holy Eucharist, click here.

"Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" (Jn. 8:12)

"Jesus told her, 'I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.'" (Jn. 11:25-26)

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (Jn. 14:6)

"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life." (Jn. 5:24)

"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life." (Jn. 6:47)

"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see [eternal] death." (Jn. 8:51)

"So Jesus said again, 'Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came (before me) are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.'" (Jn. 10:7-9)

"On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and exclaimed, 'Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as scripture says: 'Rivers of living water will flow from within him.'" (Jn 7:37-38)

• We must accept and obey Him to be saved. If we do not possess Christ, we cannot possess eternal life

"But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name" (Jn. 1:12)

"If we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is surely greater. Now the testimony of God is this, that he has testified on behalf of his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you so that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God. We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us discernment to know the one who is true. And we are in the one who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." (1 Jn. 5:9-10)

• Through Christ we receive forgiveness of sins, become children of God, and heirs to the kingdom

"In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us." (Eph. 1:7-8)

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption. As proof that you are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!' So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God." (Gal. 4:4-7)

• If we honor Him, the Father will honor us

"Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me." (Jn. 12:26)

• Whoever is not with Him is against Him and whoever is not with Him scatters

"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." (Mt. 12:30)

"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." (Lk. 11:23)

• Whoever does not believe will be condemned

"He said to them, 'Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.'" (Mk. 16:15-16)

"Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." (Jn. 3:18)

"Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me." (Jn. 12:48-50)

• One cannot go to the Father except through Christ

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (Jn. 14:6)

• Whoever receives Him receives the Father

"[W]hoever receives me, receives not me but the one who sent me." (Mk. 9:37)

"[W]hoever receives me receives the one who sent me." (Jn. 13:20)

• Whoever does not honor Him does not honor the Father

"Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him." (Jn. 5:23)

• Whoever rejects Him rejects the Father

"[W]hoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." (Lk. 10:16)

• There is no salvation through anyone else

"There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved." (Acts 4:12)

• We cannot please God without faith

"But without faith it is impossible to please him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (Heb. 11:6)

• If we deny Him, He will deny us

"Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father." (Mt. 10:32-33)

"I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God." (Lk. 12:8-9)

"This saying is trustworthy: If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us." (2 Tm. 2:11-12)

• If we are ashamed of Him and His words, He will be ashamed of us

"Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." (Mk. 8:38)

"Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." (Lk. 9:26)

• We must remain in Christ

"Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned." (Jn. 15:4-6)

• We must keep his commands. If we disobey Him, the wrath of God will come upon us and we will be subject to eternal punishment

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?' Then I will declare to them solemnly, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.'" (Mt. 7:21-23)

"Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined." (Mt. 7:24-27)

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but not do what I command? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. That one is like a person building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed." (Lk. 6:46-49)

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him." (Jn. 3:36)

"Jesus answered and said to him, 'Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.'" (Jn. 14:23-24)

"If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love." (Jn. 15:10, emphasis added)

"If we sin deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins but a fearful prospect of judgment and a flaming fire that is going to consume the adversaries. Anyone who rejects the law of Moses is put to death without pity on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Do you not think that a much worse punishment is due the one who has contempt for the Son of God, considers unclean the covenant-blood by which he was consecrated, and insults the spirit of grace? We know the one who said: 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay,' and again: 'The Lord will judge his people.' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Heb. 10:26-30)

"Whoever says, 'I know him,' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 Jn. 2:4)

Clearly, the consequences for not accepting, following and obeying Him are grave. 

• The world hates Jesus. As His followers, we must expect persecution and suffering

"The world...hates me, because I testify to it that its works are evil." (Jn. 7:7)

"Then they will hand you over to persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. And then many will be led into sin; they will betray and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and deceive many; and because of the increase of evildoing, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved." (Mt. 24:9-13)

"The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him." (Rom. 8:16-17)

"In fact, all who want to live religiously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2 Tm. 3:12)

• We must take up our cross

"If any man will follow me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul: For he that shall be ashamed of me and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation: the Son of man also will be ashamed of him, when he shall come in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." (Mk. 8:34-38)

"Then he said to all, 'If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.'" (Lk. 9:23-27)

"Great crowds were traveling with him, and he turned and addressed them, 'If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, 'This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.' Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.'" (Lk. 14:25-33)

• We must enter through the narrow gate

"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few." (Mt. 7:13-14)

• We must work out our salvation in fear and trembling

"So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling." (Phil. 2:12)

Christ Has Received All Power & He Will Return to Judge

• Christ Has received all power, including the power to judge

"Then Jesus approached and said to them, 'All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'" (Mt. 28:18)

"All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him." (Lk. 10:21)

"The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him." (Jn. 3:35)

"Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to his Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father" (Jn. 5:22-23)

"For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to his Son the possession of life in himself. And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man." (Jn. 5:26-27)

"[Christ was] fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God" (Jn. 13:3)

• Christ is seated at the right hand of God

"So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God." (Mk. 16:19)

"But from this time on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." (Lk. 22:69)

• Christ will never change

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teaching." (Heb. 13:8-9)

• Christ will return as our judge

"His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." (Mt. 3:12)

"Just as weeds are collected and burned (up) with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear." (Mt. 13:40-43)

"For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct." (Mt. 16:27)

"So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come." (Mt. 24:44)

"And then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds' with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather (his) elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky." (Mk. 13:26-27)

"Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come" (Mk. 13:33)

"You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come." (Lk. 12:40)

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Cor. 5:10)

"This is evidence of the just judgment of God, so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God for which you are suffering. For it is surely just on God's part to repay with afflictions those who are afflicting you, and to grant rest along with us to you who are undergoing afflictions, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his mighty angels, in blazing fire, inflicting punishment on those who do not acknowledge God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal ruin, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power, when he comes to be glorified among his holy ones and to be marveled at on that day among all who have believed, for our testimony to you was believed." (2 Thes. 1:5-10)

"For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night. When people are saying, 'Peace and security,' then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." (1 Thes. 5:2-3)

"Behold, he is coming amid the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him. Yes. Amen." (Rv. 1:7)

"Next I saw a large white throne and the one who was sitting on it. The earth and the sky fled from his presence and there was no place for them. I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. Then another scroll was opened, the book of life. The dead were judged according to their deeds, by what was written in the scrolls. The sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades gave up their dead. All the dead were judged according to their deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the pool of fire. (This pool of fire is the second death.) Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the pool of fire." (Rv. 20:11-15)

In the Meantime, Christ Has Vested His Authority in His Church Which Acts In His Name

• The Catholic Church alone was founded by Christ upon St. Peter. All other so called 'churches' are inventions of men.

"And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it." (Mt. 16:18)

• The Catholic Church alone has the keys to the kingdom of heaven

"Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Mt. 16:17-19)

• The Catholic Church alone will withstand the gates of Hell

"And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it." (Mt. 16:18)

• The Catholic Church alone has been given the lawful authority to forgive sins

"(Jesus) said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.' And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.'" (Jn. 20:21-23)

"Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters [priests] of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint (him) with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven." (Jms. 5:14-15)

• The Catholic Church alone lawfully confects the Holy Eucharist, which is necessary to our salvation

"Jesus said to them, 'Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.'" (Jn. 6:53)

• The Catholic Church alone has a mission from Christ

"(Jesus) said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.' And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.'" (Jn. 20:21-23)

"Then Jesus approached and said to them, 'All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.'" (Mt. 28:18-20)

• Scripture calls the Church Christ's body

"He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent." (Col. 1:18)

"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church" (Col. 1:24)

"May the eyes of (your) hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way." (Eph. 1:18-23)

• Christ acquired the Church by His blood

"Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the church of God that he acquired with his own blood." (Acts 20:28)

• The Church is the pillar and foundation of truth

"But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth." (1 Tm. 3:15)

• Christ loves His Church

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. So (also) husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. 'For this reason a man shall leave (his) father and (his) mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church." (Eph. 5:25-32)

• Those who persecute the Church, persecute Jesus

"Now Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' He said, 'Who are you, sir?' The reply came, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.'" (Acts 9:1-5)

• Those who receive those whom Christ sends receive Christ

"Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me." (Mt. 10:40)

"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me." (Jn. 13:20)

• Those who reject the Church reject Christ

"Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." (Lk. 10:16)

• We must be subordinate to authority

"Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves." (Rom. 13:2)

• Those who do not listen to the Church or who distort her teachings are to be rejected

"Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, 'The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.' Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town." (Lk. 10:10-12)

"After a first and second warning, break off contact with a heretic, realizing that such a person is perverted and sinful and stands self-condemned." (Ti. 3:10-11)

"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him; for whoever greets him shares in his evil works." (2 Jn. 1:10-11)

"If your brother sins (against you), go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that 'every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Mt. 18:15-18)

• Those outside Christ's Church are not saved

"Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved." (Acts 2:46-47) Note: Clearly if one is not "added to the number of those being saved", one is not saved.

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