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Knowing Jesus and His Word

Knowing Jesus and His Word

Is there a difference between knowing Jesus and His Word and knowing the Bible or the theology/doctrines of your church?

Jesus said to the church leaders of His day,

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me (John 5:39 NKJV).

Did these religious leaders struggle because they neglected studying the Bible, choosing instead to spend their time on novels, video games, or television?

Indeed, if they were not only faithful Bible students but also faithful church attenders and tithe payers, then what was their problem?

Is it possible today that there are people who faithfully read the Bible, diligently search the Scriptures, are faithful church attenders and tithe payers—but who fail to know Jesus and His Word?

Jesus said it would be this way:

Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:21–23 NIV84, emphasis mine).

How is this possible? How is it possible for people to be faithful students of the Bible, claim Jesus as their Savior, work actively and faithfully in ministry—and yet be evildoers?

Because their faith, their belief, their commitment, and their Bible reading are processed through lies; they have rejected the truth of who Jesus is and have preferred a false Christ in His place. They reject the truth of God as Creator and prefer a god who is like them in character, a god who makes up rules and uses power to punish rule-breakers. Thus, they worship a creature rather than the Creator, all the while using the words of Jesus but practicing the methods of Satan.

These evildoers, claiming to be followers of Jesus, don’t actually understand, embrace, and apply the methods of God, the Word of God, despite studying the Bible—why? They don’t understand what the Word of God is.

The Meaning of the Word

Is the “Word of God” words?

Is there power in the words?

Do we need to have the right words in order to experience the power of God or to know Him?

Do we need to pray with the right words, in the name of Jesus (or maybe even “Joshua” or “Yeshua”)?

If we think the power is in the words, do we enter into superstition, into witchcraft and sorcery, seeking the right verbal incantation rather than the right spirit?

Is the power of God in the words spoken—or in the meaning of the words?

The apostle Paul wrote,

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Romans 1:16 NIV84).

Was he referring to the word “gospel”—that there is power in the word itself or in the idea, the truth, the meaning of what that word “gospel” is intended to convey?

And what if we use the word “gospel” but understand it to mean something other than what Paul intended—does our gospel still contain the power of God?

When we consider the Bible, understanding that it is the inspired Word of God, is the power in the words it contains or is it in the truths, the meaning, that originate in and reconnect us to God, who is the source of all truth and power?

Satan knows that if we are reconciled to God, if we do open our hearts to God’s truth, his lies are displaced and we are won back to trust and experience the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Thus, Satan, the father of lies, the master of misinformation, the director of deceit, seeks to use the same words of God but change their meaning and, thereby, introduce lies into our minds that cut us off from God.

This is what sorcery is all about. Sorcerers are people who work to gain power over people’s minds through a variety of means, but the goal is the same: to sever hearts and minds from God and gain power over minds. In ancient times, sorcerers used various hallucinogens, the proverbial witch’s brew, to make people more susceptible to mind control. In our day, mind-altering chemicals can be used, but more often, mind control is pursued through propaganda, which includes changing the meaning of words to cause confusion and interfere with people being able to tell what is real from fantasy in order to prevent them from being able to discern truth from lies, good from evil. (For more see our blog The Attack on Your Mind by Modern-Day Sorcerers).

The Bible is our source of truth given by God to both lead us into truth and protect us from deception. Thus, it is important for us to know how to benefit from the Bible so that we won’t be like those Bible students whom Jesus called evildoers.

Are the words of the Bible inspired? Or were the prophets who wrote the Bible inspired with truth and then they chose the words to convey those truths? If it is the latter, then the power is not in the words but in the ideas, the meaning, the truths contained in the Bible.

Do we recognize that words are not reality? Instead, they are symbols of reality used to communicate and convey concepts—and the concepts that words convey may be true or false. Thus, again, the power is not in the words but in the truth being conveyed.

For instance, when you see the letters T, R, E, and E formed into the word “tree,” you are not seeing a plant, a tree; you are seeing a symbolic representation of a tree. You cannot get life-sustaining nutrition by reading the words apples, walnuts, and avocados. The words are not reality and do not provide any life-giving power. In order to gain the energy, nutrition, and life from the food, one must actually eat it, taking the food into their body.

Likewise, the words truth, love, righteousness, God, and Jesus do not contain any life-giving power; they are symbolic representations of reality—and in order to benefit, one must actually partake of the reality to which those words are representing.

Imagine the physical starvation, suffering, and death that you could cause if you got people to believe that health came from getting together to read about food and sing songs about food but the people don’t actually eat food. Or, if they believe they must eat something, you get them to replace real fruit with wax fruit.

This was the problem with the Jews in Christ’s day! They read the words of Scripture but did not understand the meaning. They replaced the true meaning with falsehoods and, thereby, internalized into their minds and hearts the words of Scripture but none of its power because they took in lies; the words had their meaning replaced with untruths.

This has happened in Christianity whenever Christians have replaced the truth of God’s law being design law with the lie that God’s law functions like human law. We read the words of Scripture but fail to understand the truth those words are intended to convey, and we end up with a form of godliness without power. We can experience the power of God only by returning to the truth, internalizing the true meaning of the words—the truth really does set us free (John 8:32).

Real Power and Truth

Understanding all of this, we realize that there is no power in syllables or words, but in the truth, in the meaning those words convey. This is why it is not only okay but necessary to replace Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew words with English, German, French, and other language words if we want to empower all people with the Word of God—just as long as one brings the most accurate meaning across in the translation. It is the truth that is inspired by God and which contains the power, not the words.

So, what is the Word of God? First and foremost, it is Jesus—Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:1, 14)—it is the truth that originates and emanates from God. And the Bible contains divine truth. These divinely inspired truths were revealed to the Bible writers, and the writers then chose the words and expressions to convey the truths. If we want to know the Word of God, we must go beyond the syllables to find the divine truths, the true meaning contained within the writings, within the stories and events recorded.

And to do that, we must incorporate and integrate all the truth God reveals to us, what Come and Reason calls the Integrative Evidence-based Approach, which seeks to harmonize all the evidentiary threads God has given us. God reveals truth in Scripture, so we must always include Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16).

But the Scripture also teaches that God reveals truth in two other threads, two other modes, means, or places—which are reality-based, and, thus, call our minds to understand the reality behind the words:

Science and nature are the second thread of evidence—as Paul wrote:

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse (Romans 1:20 NIV84).

God, the Creator, wrote His design laws that govern the operations of reality into the cosmos. This planet and all life are built upon these design laws of God. As the psalmist wrote, “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1 NIV84).

If we want to know reality-based truth, our understanding of Scripture must harmonize with the laws God built life to exist and operate upon.

And the third thread of evidence God has provided is our experience. God has invited us, “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8 NIV84).

We are not to merely hear the words of Scripture or comprehend the laws of nature; we are to experience truth, partake of it, and experience the blessings, the presence of God, the peace, health, and happiness that always result from harmony with God and His living law of love.

Our understanding of reality must harmonize truth, the truth of Scripture, with the truth of the laws built into the fabric of the cosmos and sustained by our Creator, and we must experience the truth of how reality actually works in our own life.

The problem for the “evildoers” is that they embrace the Scripture but do not embrace truth and, instead, divorce the Scripture from objective reality, from God’s design laws and how life works and, thus, the Bible is read in a fantastical light, through the light of Roman law, human law, imposed law, imperialism, and the many doctrines teach a false punishing god who is like Satan in character.

Our message is a call for people to leave the imperial/dictator god systems of belief and return to worshiping our Creator, the God who built and sustains reality, whose laws are the protocols reality operates upon, and to know that truth by experience, to know Jesus the living Word, the reality of who He is, His methods, designs, and living law. Our God is real, and His Word is reality itself!

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Testimony 10

I personally download and listen to each of Come And Reason Ministries Bible study class lessons and PDF study notes to use when teaching my class. Really appreciate the class especially when Dr. Jennings is teaching. Thank God there are persons like him doing His work and traveling to share His beliefs.

B. L.M., North Plains, OR, USA

 

Testimony 37

Hearing Dr. Jennings’ presentations in person came at a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey that began about nine months ago, when the fault lines inherent in my belief system began to crack under questions that most reasonable people end up asking about God and His nature. These were questions I couldn’t find answers to, and they shook my faith. I was unable let it go any longer and be satisfied. My Christian experience became distant. I was afraid; the fear in me rose like thorns, pushing me away from Jesus. And then someone heard my questions and introduced me to this ministry, and my life has totally changed.

I can tell you that this new, “present truth” message is far grander and life-changing than when I shifted from being an agnostic and then a nominal Christian. It has radically altered my worldview, because it reveals a God that makes sense. It is a revolution. I believe that Dr. Jennings’ message is the final message that must go to the world. If any message could be called “righteousness by faith,” as abused as that term is by the right and the left, this is that message, because Jennings’ biblical message identifies a God who is different, whose character isn’t an impossible contradiction.

I walk this path now without fear. I see people differently, and the Holy Spirit burns in my heart. Many call Dr. Jennings’ message false and compromising, but it isn’t false, because I’ve seen the fruits within my mind and body. It is not compromising, because in this message is the only road to holiness that makes any sense. No longer do I behold a pagan god who is always angry and suspicious. Instead, I behold a God who is freeing and loving, always working for our good, and giving me every reason to love my enemy even to my own death, just as Jesus pleads with us. God is good.

Anthony L., CA, USA

 

Testimony 13

I borrowed “Healing The Mind” DVDs from a friend and showed them at my home for a small gathering of women friends. Neither of my friends are Adventist, but they both enjoyed and embraced the messages you taught. In fact, one of the ladies prayed out loud in our group and that was the first time she had ever had public prayer.

J.B. ,Dalles, OR, USA

 

Testimony 46

Over the past couple of years God has been expanding my view of Himself and His character. Along my approximately 40-year journey, I have often had questions, but was hesitant to voice these and step outside the traditionally accepted thinking, for fear of admitting that I may in fact be eternally lost. In the recesses of my thinking has been the thought – if one blindly accepts (which is widely regarded as “real faith”) and does not question, is this really ‘truth?’ I often find it challenging to grapple with very theological ‘speak,’ but Dr. Jennings has a real gift of explaining spiritual concepts with clear practical examples. The weekly discussions are growing my Christian experience and slowly changing my view of how to live as a child of God in today’s complex world. Finally the whole Old Testament sanctuary teaching moved in my mind from fantasy to reality!

Beverly S., South Africa

 

Testimony 40

I was brought up in a different faith and have been petrified my whole life of God. I believed that I would burn in hell for eternity. When I was 12 I started pursuing the things of this world, but for the next 45 years the Spirit was always calling me, as I knew there was a God through nature. I could see the vast sea of stars in the universe and knew there was something bigger out there. Five years ago, through a Revelation seminar, I was blessed to learn about God’s character and government.

Then I found Come and Reason Ministries and have come under some extreme pressure when I speak about the ministry. One time a member sent me an internet article titled “Whats wrong with Tim Jennings?” I asked her what she thought of it and she said “I don’t know, I didn’t read it.”

I have always wanted to find out for myself the truth about God, so I stayed with the Design Law construct and have been liberated to understand the big picture. Once we consider Design Law, all other Bible stories and prophecies seem to fit perfectly. It is truly beautiful to see people grasping how God operates this Universe of Love and the liberation it has provided in their lives. It blows my mind to see how consistent Design law is with what our founders believed. I hear statements like “This makes so much sense.”

Tom W., Mt. Pleasant, MI, USA

 

Testimony 49

I came into the church at 21, but that is as far as it went. I was so confused about what love is. I couldn’t find it in the bible, because I am not a person that can read between the lines. I have no logic. I have read many, many books; trying to figure out the crux of the matter. They were helpful, but something was still missing. I have become very frustrated to the point of crying out to God, “Where can I go?”  I needed some basics.

I found two books, written by Timothy Jennings, MD, to be very helpful. God showed me that I had lived my whole life in fear. I didn’t even see it. Now, I do. God is so good.  I discovered the “The Remedy”  Dr. Jennings new book, “The God-Shaped Heart!” Oh, I was so excited, I purchased them right away.

I can get rid of most of my books, because “The Remedy” brings the Love of God out so clearly, even I can’t miss it. Now, I want to sit and read my Bible. Wow, what a revelation! It is just simply Awesome! I am so grateful to Jehovah Almighty for hearing my prayer for more understanding! I am so encouraged!

Jackie S.

 

Testimony 34

I was introduced to Come and Reason Ministries by accident, via a passing comment made in a bible study class we were visiting. I checked this website out and my life was changed. The understanding of the truth of God’s character, and how we apply it, is so right. The tricky part is consistently applying which “lens” to look through. As I began to understand, I started sharing the basics of this understanding with a discussion group I was leading and, suddenly, a lot of things started to make sense that never used to. At the same time, I enjoyed an amazing opportunity. I was able to conduct a full bible study at WORK! What an amazing experience! It is such a joy to share the truth about God and to share how it all fits in the war between God and Satan. So many people benefit when we have a correct understanding about how God works and who He really is! Thank you for this transformational understanding. Keep up the good work! God Bless you!

Tony P., CA, USA

 

Testimony 73

I have been truly blessed by your blogs and other resources. They have helped me to see things in a much brighter light and to reason things out better. Thank you so much for your ministry. Whenever I have the opportunity I pass along your material to my friends.

R. Noseworthy, Newfoundland, Canada

Testimony 67

I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

Dr. Roger D, Arlington, TX, USA

 

Testimony 23

I would just like to add my voice to the many people who, I believe, must have contacted you to express their appreciation for the “Healing the Mind” DVDs. I’ve been listening to your Bible study class discussions for many years and I’ve been personally blessed by your research and teaching about the character of God.

L. G., Oakland, MI, USA

 

Testimony 17

The blessings of clarity and understanding you and your class inspire me to take from the word of God have impressed upon me so greatly the true, loving character of our Creator. I have found amazing freedom and joy through building a stronger, more intentional relationship with Him. What is new is that this is now a relationship built on love, reverence and respect rather than fear and obligation, and as such my eyes have been slammed OPEN as I am continually impressed by the manifestations of God’s true character in His provisions for fallen man.

T.E.H., Salt Lake City, UT, USA

 

Testimony 74

Thank you so much for opening my eyes. I’ve been through a lot of ministries that just didn’t show the love of God that I felt he was. You have helped me to begin the process of true healing. I thought I was “too far gone,” now I know there’s hope in Jesus, because he loves us beyond what we can comprehend. Thank you again for all you do. I truly appreciate it and pray more people find you (physical at your studio and through this website).

Dalio M.

Testimony 48

I just want to tell you how blessed I have been reading “The Remedy!” It has become a daily part of my devotional relationship with God. In it I have found a God of love and a God that loves me! The bible has come alive for me! It is the first time that I can say that I have felt hope fill my heart as I have read God’s word. This is good news I can share! Thank you, Dr Jennings! Thank you for your heart for others. I can’t put into words how this has set me free! It has strengthened my trust and love for God.

Jason H.

 

Testimony 26

Your teachings about our heavenly Father have changed my life. Thank you sooooooo very very much! I know He’s doing some serious healing in my heart and life and I look forward to each new day to learn something new about Him and to just hear you speak about Him. Thank you, forever.

Nancy S.

 

Testimony 70

I have been watching you for many years and have learned to love God with all my heart. I was raised by a loving Christian mother that had been lied to about who God really was, so our religious upbringing was hell fire and damnation. As soon as I was old enough and moved out, I not only left the church, I ran as fast as I could to get away from it. Sad to say, it wasn’t until the past couple of years that I learned and understand who my Father really is and how much He loves me. I understand God’s Design Laws (which make sense) and when I’m teaching my church Bible study class, I’m able to really put to use the things I’ve been learning and Holy Spirit is leading. Thank you for introducing me to my Father of true, pure love. Everyday with Him is new and exciting. One thing that breaks my heart is that I didn’t know Him sooner. God Bless you and your ministry!

Judy Phelps, Reno, NV, USA