Simply Thomas

Bible Matters 557: Simply Thomas

The apostle Thomas is only mentioned several times in the bible.   He is referenced with the group of disciples. 

Luke 6:14-16 – Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,  Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,  And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

You all know of doubting Thomas.  Thomas didn’t believe Jesus’s disciples when they told him that Jesus arose from the grave.  One week later, on Jesus’s second visit, Jesus told Thomas to feel his scars.  Then a verse that should be easy to understand. 

John 20:29 – Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Many will say they believe, but will you repent and live God’s gospel of Love?  Thomas was a doubter, like you.  Did he testify to God’s gospel of Love in his gospel?  When I had a chance to read and understand “The Gospel of Thomas” published by Mark M. Mattison, my knees got weak with Thomas’s testimony leading to Bible Matter 526 – Thomas Gospel of Love.  The amazing part of this gospel is that Thomas’s gospel is compiled of only 114 Sayings or verses.  God’s six-point gospel of Love is contained within these verses. 

• Believe in one God – the spirit, who no one has ever seen. (Saying 15)

When Jesus spoke of repentance, it was absolutely clear the exact meaning of repentance. 

• Repent of your sins and surrender to God – Do not let sin rule your life. (Saying 28, Saying 2, Saying 3)

Saying 28: The World is Drunk – Jesus said, “I stood in the middle of the world and appeared to them in the flesh. I found them all drunk; I didn’t find any of them thirsty. My soul ached for the children of humanity, because they were blind in their hearts and couldn’t see. They came into the world empty and plan on leaving the world empty. Meanwhile, they’re drunk. When they shake off their wine, then they’ll change.”

When you turn from drunkenness and shake of the wine, then you’ll change.  As Peter and John refer to in Jesus word’s as being born again.  Repentance is the act of knowing your sin that displeases God and turning from it.  You absolutely don’t know the number of people I have talked to that are lost to alcohol, say that they are a good person and look forward to heaven.  My third witness God sent me, was iconic in this regard.  Randy was “saved” and baptized by man and was living his life as an alcoholic for the devil.  Randy’s wife of 38 years tried to kill him with a knife and just wanted him gone.  Randy wants his wife to be saved and baptized.  Randy never shook off his wine.    Pray for Randy to shake off his wine.

• Judge no one – Judge your pure walk against God’s word.  (Saying 26, Saying 114)

God’s third point in the Gospel of Love is for you to judge no one.  You’ve already heard of one of my last church witnesses, where the pastor stated that God did not want women serving in his ministry.  Prejudice against women was found in Thomas’s gospel.  Jesus reiterated to the disciples that men and women are equal.  God loves all his children as equal.  Thomas’s testimony of Jesus talking to Peter made this absolutely clear. 

Saying 114: Peter and Mary – Simon Peter said to them, “Mary should leave us, because women aren’t worthy of life.”  Jesus said, “Look, am I to make her a man? So that she may become a living spirit too, she’s equal to you men, because every woman who makes herself manly will enter the kingdom of heaven.”

  Do not be deceived.  God is looking for women and men, to serve equally in his kingdom.  God is looking for you to go live the gospel of Love.    

• Love God – Pray, do good and turn from sin.  Your walk will be your testimony. (Saying 24)

• Love your Neighbor – Your rewards by showing love of neighbor will earn you more than all your religious works.  (Saying 25, Saying 95)

• Doeth the will of God unto eternal life.  Jesus made it clear that those that know, understand and live God’s gospel of Love will never see death. (Saying 1)

When you get done reading the gospel of Thomas, you will recognize that there was no doubting Thomas.   Thomas never challenged Jesus during their walk on earth for three and a half years.   The proof that Thomas heard Jesus’s gospel of Love message is evident in Thomas’s testimony.

There is no doubt that Thomas knew the gospel of Love was hidden in his message.  He challenges the reader to continue in search of the truth!  Seek and you shall find.

Saying 1: True Meaning – And he said, “Whoever discovers the meaning of these sayings won’t taste death.”

Saying 2: Seek and Find – Jesus said, “Whoever seeks shouldn’t stop until they find. When they find, they’ll be disturbed. When they’re disturbed, they’ll be […] amazed, and reign over the All.”

The divine gift is something available, but is truly beyond belief.  Two witnesses in this ministry (Thomas and Rick) have testified to visiting heaven, heaven is beauty beyond belief and neither wanted to return to this earth.

Saying 17: Divine Gift – Jesus said, “I’ll give you what no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, no hand has ever touched, and no human mind has ever thought.”

With your body and soul joining forces, serving God and neighbor and living the gospel of Love, then you’re doing the will of God.

Saying 22: Making the Two into One – Jesus saw some little children nursing. He said to his disciples, “These nursing children can be compared to those who enter the kingdom.”

They said to him, “Then we’ll enter the kingdom as little children?”

Jesus said to them, “When you make the two into one, and make the inner like the outer and the outer like the inner, and the upper like the lower, and so make the male and the female a single one so that the male won’t be male nor the female female; when you make eyes in the place of an eye, a hand in the place of a hand, a foot in the place of a foot, and an image in the place of an image; then you’ll enter [the kingdom].”

You must make that decision, for the flesh to feed the soul.  The flesh and the soul, are to become one.

Saying 112: Flesh and Soul – Jesus said, “How awful for the flesh that depends on the soul. How awful for the soul that depends on the flesh.”

You have been chosen to stand for God. 

Saying 23: Those Who are Chosen – Jesus said, “I’ll choose you, one out of a thousand and two out of ten thousand, and they’ll stand as a single one.”

Do not hope for the kingdom to come in the future.  Live for today.  God’s kingdom is right here in front of you.  Will you step out and be willing to share God’s gospel of Love?

Saying 113: The Kingdom is Already Present – His disciples said to him, “When will the kingdom come?”

“It won’t come by looking for it. They won’t say, ‘Look over here!’ or ‘Look over there!’ Rather, the Father’s kingdom is already spread out over the earth, and people don’t see it.”

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.