The Bible teaches us that we all fall short of the glory of God. This means as humans, in our own strength and will, no matter how we would like to be sinless; it's impossible. Even Paul says he does what he don't want to do and don't do what he wants to do. He calls himself a wretched man. The Bible also teaches us that whoever shall keep the whole law, yet offend in one point is guilty of all.(James2:10-12). Meaning the law is a total package and to break one law we've broken them all. This is not to say that cussin is as bad as murder. Even John says there are sins not unto death. (1John 5:16-17). But for those who believe that keeping the law leads to salvation, understand it is impossible. Take a stained glass window for example. There are many frames of color in a stained glass window. If someone threw a rock and broke one or two of the frames, you wouldn't simply replace them because the window comes as a whole. So you'd have to replace the whole window. So just as with the stained glass window, to break one part of the law breaks the whole law. And since we all fall short of the glory of God, and because falling short breaks the whole law; Jesus died for all sins so that those who are chosen can come before God as a holy people. (2Corinthians 5:15) Without the blood of Jesus, the belief and covering of that blood even God's chosen people couldn't come before Him because ......we all fall short.

Filling in the Gap: Rebuttal to the DUHvincie Code

Have you ever wondered what Jesus did between the ages of 12 and 30? It's human nature to be curious, but some people's curiosity has led to blasphemous lies and imaginations. The most popular is that Jesus had a son with Mary Magdalene. It is a fact that people who teach or believe these things don't deny the Bible, else where do they get names, places and time frames for their delusional stories? For whatever hidden agenda they have for believing and teaching such blasphemies, one thing they seem to take pride in is they have cracked the codes of the Bible. What they don't understand is the Bible is a guide book for God's children and only His children will understand it because they have Holy Spirit, that Spirit of Truth; living inside of them. The Bible is not coded. It just seems that way to the spiritually dumb and blind.
For those of us who do have the honor of having Holy Spirit, let's see where His Truth leads us in filling the gap of Jesus ' life between the ages of 12 and 30.
First, we need to start with Jesus ' beloved disciple who Da Vinci code followers say is the son of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Who do you think the beloved disciple was? Some people think it was Peter, but the truth is that the beloved disciple was John, the brother of James, and Zebedee was their dad. Jesus called these brothers "sons of thunder". (Mark 3:17)
We know John was the beloved disciple two ways:
(1) John 21:20-24 says: Then Peter, turning about, seeing the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on His breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith to him, if I will that he tarry til I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, he shall not die: but, if I will that he tarry til I come, what is that to thee? This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things.....
(2) The beginning of the book of John says: The Gospel according to John. Since we know Peter was not the beloved disciple, and we know the beloved disciple wrote and witnessed the things in the book of John, and the book of John is the Gospel according to John, then John was the beloved disciple.
Now let's move to the foot of the cross. Those who believe the beloved disciple was the son of Jesus and Mary Magdalene claim proof is at the foot of the cross when Jesus told the two to behold one another. John 19:26 plainly says Jesus was talking to His own mother when He said: "Woman behold thy son". Yes, Jesus was telling her to behold the disciple who He loved. But since Mary was Jesus ' mother and Jesus called the beloved disciple her son, wouldn't that make the beloved disciple Jesus ' brother? But how is that even possible seeing Mary had no children named John? Matthew 14:56 and Mark 6:3 says Jesus had four brothers named James, Joseph (Joses), Simon and Judah. John 7:1-5 says Jesus ' brothers didn't believe in Him, so His brothers were certainly not His disciples. So how was John Jesus ' brother? Matthew 12:49-50 says that whosoever does the will of the Father, is Jesus ' mother, brother and sister. John was Jesus ' brother because he believed in him.
Now let's look at Mary Magdalene. Davince code followers believe that Mary was flirty and followed after Jesus in a slutty way. Afterall, she was an adultress, right? And according to them, he fell for her and thus produced a son. First of all, she was not the adulteress brought before Jesus as he wrote in the sand. The adulteress had no name mentioned. (John 8:3-4). Mark 16:9 and Luke 8:2 says Mary Magdalene followed Jesus because he had cast seven devils out of her. She followed Jesus out of mere gratitude for being set free. Keeping this in mind, Matthew 3:16-17, 4:1, Luke 3:22-23 and John 2:11 let's us know that Jesus didn't receive power or at least receive authority from the Father to use his power until he was baptized at around the age of 30 and turning water into wine was the beginning of his miracles. So Jesus was not at anytime before his baptism casting out demons, which means he didn't meet Magdalene until after his baptism. The book of John reveals that Jesus ' ministry only lasted approximately 3 years simply by the number of Passovers Jesus attended. ( John 2:11-13, 6:4 and John 11:55). So this means that Jesus could've only known Magdalene for at most 3 years.
Now, let's go back to the foot of the cross. John 19: 25-27 says Jesus was talking to His mother Mary and His beloved disciple who we know was John. But, verse 27 also says " from that hour that disciple took Mary unto his own house". So if, as some would like to believe, Jesus and Magdalene had a son, he would've only been at most a little over 2 years of age. Now ask yourself this question. With all the facts laid out, how is it possible for a child, who at most could've been 2 years old have a house of his own or be able to take care of his mother?
The bottom line is that the beloved disciple was John and Jesus turned his mother Mary over to his care as he hung on the cross. But what does all of this have to do with what Jesus did during the ages of 12 and 30? By proving who the beloved disciple was and who he was not, and knowing the truth about Mary Magdalene shows what Jesus didn't do during those years which was get married or have a secret affair and have a son. And knowing that Jesus turned his mother over to John's care at the cross shows that Joseph left the picture sometime after Jesus was 12 years old which tells us what Jesus did do during those years.
Luke 2:42-52 tells us about when Jesus was 12 years old , how he went with Mary and Joseph to Jerusalem. After Mary and Joseph left Jerusalem, they were a whole day's journey and realized Jesus was not with them. So, they had to go back and after 3 days found him in the temple. After this incident, Joseph is not mentioned anymore other than to associate him with Jesus when people were trying to figure out who he was or prove who he wasn't. (Mat13:55, John 6:42). Jesus ' mother and brothers followed him around ( John 2:12). When Mary needed something she and her other sons would go looking for Jesus (Matthew 12:46, Luke 8:20 and Mark 3:32). If Joseph was around would Mary not have been home with him instead of following Jesus around? We could assume that since Joseph was a carpenter he was out of town a good bit leaving Mary with the time to follow Jesus. But if that were the case she would have never went to John's house. Also, if Joseph was still living he would've spoke up for Jesus when he was arrested and he would've stood by Mary at the cross. Acts 1:14 speaks of Mary and Jesus ' brethren with the disciples in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, but no Joseph. If Joseph was around it would've been recorded somewhere. But it wasn't. So since Joseph was gone, Jesus, being the first born stepped up as man of the house. James 1:27 says pure religion and undefiled before God. .......is to visit the fatherless and widows in their afflictions. Who better to set an example of this than Jesus taking care of his mother the widow and his siblings, the fatherless?
Luke 2:52 says after the incident in Jerusalem when Mary and Joseph had to go back for Jesus in the temple that Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. Jesus wouldn't have increased in favor with God if he had married or had an affair with Mary Magdalene because God didn't send him here to marry and an affair would've made Jesus a sinner which would've kept him from being the spotless sacrifice he was sent here to be.
So there you have it. The gap has been filled with facts from God's word. No marriage, no scandalous affair and no secret son. Just God's son working as a carpenter and taking responsibility as man of the house while patiently waiting to fulfill the purpose that brought him here which was to die in our sins and suffer the wrath of the Father so we don't have to.

Creation:The Great Metaphor

Romans 1:20 says: For the invisible things of him (God) from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.
This is saying that even if we don't believe in God, we are still without excuse because we have personally witnessed Him through creation.
He is not creation, He is not in creation as being part of it; He is the creator of creation. However within His creation He has not only give us proof that He is, but He has given us glimpses of Himself.
The great and high mountains show His majesty and strength. A never ending galaxy represents His eternal existence. The air we breathe is a metaphor of His invisible yet very real presence.
The roar of a lion, the mighty winds of a tornado, the inescapable force of a tsunami, the quaking of the earth that shakes the foundations of and crumbles the strongest buildings , the explosion of lightning as it dances across the sky and even the uncontrollable flight of the dandelion shredded quickly to pieces by a gentle breeze gives us a tiny glimpse of God's awesome unmatched power. A power to be feared as well as respected. Yet, an un- erupting volcano, the boundaries of the crashing waves, the thunderstorm that falls apart; never reaching Its devastating potential, the giant hurricane that speeds fiercely toward land only to turn back to sea, leaving behind much needed rain are all swift glances into the mercies of God by showing us how He can and does hold back His justified wrath.
But when the volcano does erupt and the storm aggressively comes together and when the hurricane does make landfall leaving devastating floods behind; these are simple yet unforgettable reminders that we are not, as we have illusioned ; in control after all.
A meteor shower in the midst of all that simply hangs from nothing, seemingly still; yet forever in motion proves that the power of God, not gravity holds all things in place ( Colossians 1:17) , else how could a meteor fall from the same space where the entire galaxy has remained in place since the beginning of time?
The sun represents the glory of the Father while the moon in full glow represents His Son Jesus. The one who brings light into the darkness. Holy Spirit is represented by the continuous flow of waterfalls, creeks, streams and rivers; while legions of angels are represented by the countless number of stars in the heavens.
And then there is mankind. The image of God Himself. Mind, body and Soul.
Yes, we are definitely left without excuse if we don't believe in God and His Son Jesus because He has given of Himself the greatest metaphor of all. His creation.

Two Theives

We all know that noone knows the mind of God and why He does things, but we can't help but wonder sometimes. For example, what about the two thieves being crucified with Jesus? Have you ever wondered why God decided to open the eyes of one of the thieves just before death? We know it was God the Father who opened his eyes because Jesus said no one could come to him unless the Father draws him ( John 6:44 ). And Matthew 27:44 tells us that both thieves insulted Jesus with the rest of the people, so they didn't believe in Jesus up to the point of crucifixion. Jesus didn't ask them to repent, so it wasn't like they were given any sort of choice to make. So no one but God could've opened the eyes of one thief and not the other at such a time. But why? Wonder why God opened the eyes of one thief and not the other and why did He do it just hours before his death instead of during his lifetime? Again, no one knows the mind of God, but what if He did things that way to prove 2 different points?
#1) He will have mercy on who He will have mercy (Romans 9:15-16) and
#2) believing in Jesus, the Son of God, and not works is the ONLY WAY to salvation (Ephesians 2:8-10)
We already know the thief lived his life as a thief and we know he was insulting Jesus along with everyone else while on the cross and after he was crucified there was no chance for him to do good works; yet Jesus told him that he would be with Him in Paradise. (Luke 23: 39-43)
Only God knows what the reasons were for that set up. But, we, ourselves can be sure that it didn't happen like that by accident. Selah!