Jesus Christ is my God!
Issued 26.04.1998
Jesus Christ and His Church
"Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb. And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God." "Now the dwelling of God is with men!" Re.21:9-10,3
Heavenly City
This heavenly city can only be entered by them whose names are in the book of the Lamb of God. "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life." Re.21:27
Be happy, if your name is in the Lamb's book of life! That book is not a copy of the membership book of any church on earth. No pastor can maintain a copy of the membership register of the Church of the Lamb.
If your name is missing from the book, it is only because Jesus has not accepted you as His own. If your name is in the book, it is not because you joined some church, but because Jesus wrote your name in the book, when you joined Him. If your name is taken away from the book, it is because Jesus has decided not to accept you anymore. The Lamb's book of life is the real population register of God's nation. It is the membership book of the Church of Jesus.
This heavenly city can only be entered by them whose names are in the book of the Lamb of God. "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life." Re.21:27
Be happy, if your name is in the Lamb's book of life! That book is not a copy of the membership book of any church on earth. No pastor can maintain a copy of the membership register of the Church of the Lamb.
If your name is missing from the book, it is only because Jesus has not accepted you as His own. If your name is in the book, it is not because you joined some church, but because Jesus wrote your name in the book, when you joined Him. If your name is taken away from the book, it is because Jesus has decided not to accept you anymore. The Lamb's book of life is the real population register of God's nation. It is the membership book of the Church of Jesus.
Treasures in Heaven
God Himself is the architect and builder of this city. On its wall are written the names of the twelve apostles of Jesus. On its gates are written the names of the twelve sons of Israel. It is written about those who belong to Jesus: "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow-citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." Eph.2:19-22
So the heavenly Jerusalem is not yet ready, but the building still goes on when those who belong to Jesus are making good progress in their earthly life. For instance the name of Peter is written on the wall of the city, because his testimony of Jesus created a wall between the Church of God and the world. Your name can be written on some house in the city. That house will describe your life as a follower of Jesus. It can also be so that you have not a house there, because your life didn't produce the building materials God could accept.
The heavenly Jerusalem has been built of the living stones of God's Church, cut on earth. "For no-one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work." 1Co.3:11-13
The deeds you did in the faith of Jesus are gold in heaven, although the world regards them as narrow-mindedness. In the hope of Jesus you endured long waits that are silver in heaven, although the world regards them as wasted time and lost possibilities. The deeds you did out of love for Jesus will once shine in heaven as jewels, although the world regards them as foolishness or as offence.
Religions and observing the law are wood, though they would have golden surfaces. All that is done in the power of the dreams of the flesh is hay, although they would for a moment charm you with their flowers. The deeds you did out of love for idols are like a straw hut. Although it would be very beautiful, it is godlessness. All worshippers of idols will burn as straws when the Lord will come in His glory. It is building Christianity of straws, if you worship not only Jesus but also other lords. It was not in vain when Jesus said that "store up for yourselves treasures in heaven." Mt.6:20
"If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames." 1Co.3:14-15
I hope that you are able to build using gold, silver and jewels and not wood, hay and straws! If your deeds burn, but you have the right foundation, you will be saved "as one escaping through the flames", but if even your foundation is false, also you yourself will burn. "If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." Re.20:15
God Himself is the architect and builder of this city. On its wall are written the names of the twelve apostles of Jesus. On its gates are written the names of the twelve sons of Israel. It is written about those who belong to Jesus: "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow-citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." Eph.2:19-22
So the heavenly Jerusalem is not yet ready, but the building still goes on when those who belong to Jesus are making good progress in their earthly life. For instance the name of Peter is written on the wall of the city, because his testimony of Jesus created a wall between the Church of God and the world. Your name can be written on some house in the city. That house will describe your life as a follower of Jesus. It can also be so that you have not a house there, because your life didn't produce the building materials God could accept.
The heavenly Jerusalem has been built of the living stones of God's Church, cut on earth. "For no-one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work." 1Co.3:11-13
The deeds you did in the faith of Jesus are gold in heaven, although the world regards them as narrow-mindedness. In the hope of Jesus you endured long waits that are silver in heaven, although the world regards them as wasted time and lost possibilities. The deeds you did out of love for Jesus will once shine in heaven as jewels, although the world regards them as foolishness or as offence.
Religions and observing the law are wood, though they would have golden surfaces. All that is done in the power of the dreams of the flesh is hay, although they would for a moment charm you with their flowers. The deeds you did out of love for idols are like a straw hut. Although it would be very beautiful, it is godlessness. All worshippers of idols will burn as straws when the Lord will come in His glory. It is building Christianity of straws, if you worship not only Jesus but also other lords. It was not in vain when Jesus said that "store up for yourselves treasures in heaven." Mt.6:20
"If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames." 1Co.3:14-15
I hope that you are able to build using gold, silver and jewels and not wood, hay and straws! If your deeds burn, but you have the right foundation, you will be saved "as one escaping through the flames", but if even your foundation is false, also you yourself will burn. "If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." Re.20:15
God's people on three levels
1. The congregation assembled in Heaven
In Eph.5:30 the Church is called the body of Christ that means a bride or a wife. "We are members of His body." In the Bible passage of the Revelation the congregation of God assembled in heaven is called the wife of the Lamb. All earthly followers of Jesus are on the way to this meeting in heaven.
2. Local congregations
The congregation is also called a temple or a lampstand (1Co.3:16, Rev.1:20) which describe the local churches on earth. For instance the seven churches mentioned in the Revelation that are in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. These churches include only Jesus' believers. Whatever the local believers do in their life is a part of the activities of the local church. They all have unity in the Spirit of God even if their fellowship with believers is put into practice in different places. Don't put your light under a bowl. Instead put it on its stand, which means that you don't hesitate to show that you belong to Jesus.
3. The congregation gathered together in Christian associations
Believers have established many kinds of communities which are called churches, although in the eyes of God they are not churches, but servants of the real church in the same way as Hagar was a maid servant of Sarah, the wife of Abraham. These churches take new members through some solemn ceremonies. However nobody can join the real Church of Jesus, but its membership can only be reached through the spiritual birth.
"For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow-citizens with God's people and members of God's household." Eph.2:18-19 "For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." 1Co.12:13
Those who have drunk from the same spring of the salvation can also come together in the same Spirit. In many congregations and meeting rooms people are not gathered together in the name of Jesus, but the shared religious tradition is the motive for the meetings. When the membership of a Christian association is regarded as the membership of the Church of God, then it is claimed that it could be possible to join the Church of God. Only drinking from the spring of the salvation makes you a member of the Church. Only the fellowship of the Holy Spirit opens the access to God's household.
These associations are needed for the sake of human order, but if they are considered churches, they give birth to slaves in the same way as Hagar. The Christians who are not born from the Spirit of God, but are Christians only through the actions of their church, are born after flesh. These persecute those who are born by the power of the Spirit. So it was before and so it is also nowadays.
"Get rid of the slave woman and her son" Ga.4:30 , is the advice urging those who are born of the Spirit to drive out the members of the association who are not true believers, but are only religious. The associations are tools of the pastors. They try to keep them as pure as it is possible.
However one must not regard even the most pure Christian association as the Church of God. In a Christian association there can always be some false believer. Or do you think you are a better overseer of the church than Jesus? Also in His association there remained Judas, though the seventy left it.
1. The congregation assembled in Heaven
In Eph.5:30 the Church is called the body of Christ that means a bride or a wife. "We are members of His body." In the Bible passage of the Revelation the congregation of God assembled in heaven is called the wife of the Lamb. All earthly followers of Jesus are on the way to this meeting in heaven.
2. Local congregations
The congregation is also called a temple or a lampstand (1Co.3:16, Rev.1:20) which describe the local churches on earth. For instance the seven churches mentioned in the Revelation that are in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. These churches include only Jesus' believers. Whatever the local believers do in their life is a part of the activities of the local church. They all have unity in the Spirit of God even if their fellowship with believers is put into practice in different places. Don't put your light under a bowl. Instead put it on its stand, which means that you don't hesitate to show that you belong to Jesus.
3. The congregation gathered together in Christian associations
Believers have established many kinds of communities which are called churches, although in the eyes of God they are not churches, but servants of the real church in the same way as Hagar was a maid servant of Sarah, the wife of Abraham. These churches take new members through some solemn ceremonies. However nobody can join the real Church of Jesus, but its membership can only be reached through the spiritual birth.
"For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow-citizens with God's people and members of God's household." Eph.2:18-19 "For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." 1Co.12:13
Those who have drunk from the same spring of the salvation can also come together in the same Spirit. In many congregations and meeting rooms people are not gathered together in the name of Jesus, but the shared religious tradition is the motive for the meetings. When the membership of a Christian association is regarded as the membership of the Church of God, then it is claimed that it could be possible to join the Church of God. Only drinking from the spring of the salvation makes you a member of the Church. Only the fellowship of the Holy Spirit opens the access to God's household.
These associations are needed for the sake of human order, but if they are considered churches, they give birth to slaves in the same way as Hagar. The Christians who are not born from the Spirit of God, but are Christians only through the actions of their church, are born after flesh. These persecute those who are born by the power of the Spirit. So it was before and so it is also nowadays.
"Get rid of the slave woman and her son" Ga.4:30 , is the advice urging those who are born of the Spirit to drive out the members of the association who are not true believers, but are only religious. The associations are tools of the pastors. They try to keep them as pure as it is possible.
However one must not regard even the most pure Christian association as the Church of God. In a Christian association there can always be some false believer. Or do you think you are a better overseer of the church than Jesus? Also in His association there remained Judas, though the seventy left it.
Israel and Jesus' Church
The history of Israel is an example of the history of the Church of Jesus. "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfilment of the ages has come." 1Co.10:11
The whole old covenant is like a shadow of Jesus which appeared on the earth, before He Himself arrived. "The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming - not the realities themselves." Heb.10:1
All these things, when Israel left Egypt, when they arrived in the Promised Land, conquered it and settled down there are examples of what would happen in Jesus and in His congregation.
Israel had twelve sons, because Jesus was to have twelve apostles. Moses brought the twelve tribes away from Egypt after arranging the Easter feast and Jesus brought the eleven apostles away from the kingdom of the devil through His death and resurrection. Moses led the nation through the Red Sea to Mount Horeb. Also Jesus guided His eleven apostles through His agony. Only Judas was drowned when he pursued Jesus in the same way as Pharaoh pursued Moses.
On the day of Pentecost Israel arrived at Horeb. Moses climbed up the mountain aiming to bring the law of God to the nation. Like Moses rose up to Horeb, Jesus rose up to heaven. When Moses came down from the mount the people didn't wait for him anymore, but was dancing around the golden calf. Instead on the day of Pentecost the twelve apostles (Judas was replaced with another person) were waiting for Jesus to come down in the form of the Holy Spirit. When they received the baptism in the Spirit, God wrote His law into their heart and gave them strength to live according to God's will.
Israel wandered in desert for forty years, but Jesus took His own, about one hundred and twenty persons immediately to the Promised Land, which land is life in Jesus Christ. It was said to Israel: "You must keep my decrees and my laws..., and if you defile the land, it will vomit you out." Le.18:26 In the same way Jesus says to the church of Laodicea: "Because you are lukewarm..., I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Re.3:16
Jesus is the exceedingly good land! In Him we have the eternal inheritance.
The history of Israel is an example of the history of the Church of Jesus. "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfilment of the ages has come." 1Co.10:11
The whole old covenant is like a shadow of Jesus which appeared on the earth, before He Himself arrived. "The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming - not the realities themselves." Heb.10:1
All these things, when Israel left Egypt, when they arrived in the Promised Land, conquered it and settled down there are examples of what would happen in Jesus and in His congregation.
Israel had twelve sons, because Jesus was to have twelve apostles. Moses brought the twelve tribes away from Egypt after arranging the Easter feast and Jesus brought the eleven apostles away from the kingdom of the devil through His death and resurrection. Moses led the nation through the Red Sea to Mount Horeb. Also Jesus guided His eleven apostles through His agony. Only Judas was drowned when he pursued Jesus in the same way as Pharaoh pursued Moses.
On the day of Pentecost Israel arrived at Horeb. Moses climbed up the mountain aiming to bring the law of God to the nation. Like Moses rose up to Horeb, Jesus rose up to heaven. When Moses came down from the mount the people didn't wait for him anymore, but was dancing around the golden calf. Instead on the day of Pentecost the twelve apostles (Judas was replaced with another person) were waiting for Jesus to come down in the form of the Holy Spirit. When they received the baptism in the Spirit, God wrote His law into their heart and gave them strength to live according to God's will.
Israel wandered in desert for forty years, but Jesus took His own, about one hundred and twenty persons immediately to the Promised Land, which land is life in Jesus Christ. It was said to Israel: "You must keep my decrees and my laws..., and if you defile the land, it will vomit you out." Le.18:26 In the same way Jesus says to the church of Laodicea: "Because you are lukewarm..., I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Re.3:16
Jesus is the exceedingly good land! In Him we have the eternal inheritance.
Jesus is the Promised Land
Joshua brought Israel into the land God has promised. Jesus took His shape especially in Peter and Paul, who conquered hearts for Jesus. Out of their mouth came the sword of God's word by which they demolished strongholds that were set against the knowledge of God. In the same way as Israel conquered the Promised Land the Church of Jesus brought the gospel all over the world. People from all nations received their place in Jesus Christ.
Israel was faithful to God only for a short period after it had arrived to the Promised Land and in the same way the time of the apostolic congregation lasted for a short period, too. In the same way as the kingship of God was displaced by the king of Israel, likewise the kingship of Jesus was displaced by vicars.
First Judges, in other words shepherds, ruled in Israel, but soon the Israeli wanted to have a king because other nations had one. In the same way first elders and overseers were first leading churches, but soon also Christian believers wanted to have a prince of the church.
The overseers of the apostolic church had no sign of a cult priest and at that time there was neither altar nor a temple service. During the latter half of the first century examples of the monarchic episcopates started to show. One man among the church leaders was raised above the others.
As this sin finally led Israel to the captivity of Babel so was the church put under the religious dictatorship of the pope. The articles of God's house were put in captivity to Babel. In the same way the Bible was captivated in Latin to the Vatican.
God told Elijah that seven thousand Israeli belonged to His Church, when Elijah thought he was the only one left. Through the ages God's Church has existed as well among Israel as among Christianity. "Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel - all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him." 1Ki.19:18 "So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace." Ro.11:5
In the middle of great difficulties Israel started to return to their country. In the same way God's congregations started to get rid of the power of the pope and brought the Bible away from its captivity by translating it to each nation's own language.
John Wycliffe (in the 13th century) was like Ezra or Nehemiah. He was a professor of the Oxford University who greatly worked for the authority of the Bible. He demanded that in matters of faith everything must be based on the Bible. He produced the Bible translation in English that was a turning point in the life of the Church of England. The writings of Wycliffe influenced Jan Hus and many other reformators.
Although the remnant of Israel came back to the Promised Land, it brought with it the religion of Babel, and it didn't recover from its impenitence. In the same way the reformations were incomplete. The movements that brought freedom from Rome were often only producing new religious tyranny.
When Jesus was born onto earth Israel lived in a great impenitence, though outwardly they served God in the proper order. In the same way when Jesus will come back on clouds and steps down on earth, will He find faith? The Bible predicts that it will be the time of apostasy and great impenitence and pretence. "For that day will not come, until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed." 2Th.2:3
However also then there will be the Church of Jesus, though it cannot be said that it is here or there. This ia a profound mystery, how Christ loves His Church and protects and cares for it as a bridegroom for his bride.
Joshua brought Israel into the land God has promised. Jesus took His shape especially in Peter and Paul, who conquered hearts for Jesus. Out of their mouth came the sword of God's word by which they demolished strongholds that were set against the knowledge of God. In the same way as Israel conquered the Promised Land the Church of Jesus brought the gospel all over the world. People from all nations received their place in Jesus Christ.
Israel was faithful to God only for a short period after it had arrived to the Promised Land and in the same way the time of the apostolic congregation lasted for a short period, too. In the same way as the kingship of God was displaced by the king of Israel, likewise the kingship of Jesus was displaced by vicars.
First Judges, in other words shepherds, ruled in Israel, but soon the Israeli wanted to have a king because other nations had one. In the same way first elders and overseers were first leading churches, but soon also Christian believers wanted to have a prince of the church.
The overseers of the apostolic church had no sign of a cult priest and at that time there was neither altar nor a temple service. During the latter half of the first century examples of the monarchic episcopates started to show. One man among the church leaders was raised above the others.
As this sin finally led Israel to the captivity of Babel so was the church put under the religious dictatorship of the pope. The articles of God's house were put in captivity to Babel. In the same way the Bible was captivated in Latin to the Vatican.
God told Elijah that seven thousand Israeli belonged to His Church, when Elijah thought he was the only one left. Through the ages God's Church has existed as well among Israel as among Christianity. "Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel - all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him." 1Ki.19:18 "So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace." Ro.11:5
In the middle of great difficulties Israel started to return to their country. In the same way God's congregations started to get rid of the power of the pope and brought the Bible away from its captivity by translating it to each nation's own language.
John Wycliffe (in the 13th century) was like Ezra or Nehemiah. He was a professor of the Oxford University who greatly worked for the authority of the Bible. He demanded that in matters of faith everything must be based on the Bible. He produced the Bible translation in English that was a turning point in the life of the Church of England. The writings of Wycliffe influenced Jan Hus and many other reformators.
Although the remnant of Israel came back to the Promised Land, it brought with it the religion of Babel, and it didn't recover from its impenitence. In the same way the reformations were incomplete. The movements that brought freedom from Rome were often only producing new religious tyranny.
When Jesus was born onto earth Israel lived in a great impenitence, though outwardly they served God in the proper order. In the same way when Jesus will come back on clouds and steps down on earth, will He find faith? The Bible predicts that it will be the time of apostasy and great impenitence and pretence. "For that day will not come, until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed." 2Th.2:3
However also then there will be the Church of Jesus, though it cannot be said that it is here or there. This ia a profound mystery, how Christ loves His Church and protects and cares for it as a bridegroom for his bride.
The real Church of Jesus
That Church of Jesus which has not been destroyed in any period of time is a community totally arranged by the Holy Spirit. "In Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit." Eph.2:22
The true divinity of Jesus is the rock on which God Himself has built His Church. When Peter had confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, Jesus said to him: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." Mt.16:18
When Jesus said He builds His Church on this rock, He didn't mean Peter but His confession that is the rock. Where the true man, Jesus Christ, is being confessed the true God there is the rock and on this rock Jesus Himself builds His Church. In other words where two or three have come together in the name of Jesus, there is God's Church (Mt.18:20), because He is there.
The Church belongs to the invisible kingdom of God. "The unity of the Spirit" and "the bond of peace" join together all those who belong to Jesus. They are one living Church body, although the members of the body don't even always know each other. Today this Church is invisible to the world, because Jesus said about the kingdom of God in the following way: "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." Lu.17:20
If Jesus had used the word church in the same meaning as we normally understand, then He would have lied when He said that "the gates of Hades will not overcome it". It is obvious that Hades has overcome every church visibly organized on the earth. Often the death of a congregation has come already during the second or third generation after the beginning of the revival. People can hold up facades even centuries, but only the Holy Spirit holds up the living congregation.
About the Church that lives on the earth it cannot be said: "Here it is." Everyone, who marks off the Church to be visible, invites the Antichristian spirit. For this reason one revival movement after another has been born and died. Everything that tries to bring the visible kingdom of God onto earth before Jesus will bring it with His coming is Antichristianity.
If the Holy Spirit leaves a Christian movement, the spirit of this world takes His place. Thus the Church of Jesus is as visible as the Holy Spirit. The world can see it in the deeds which the Holy Spirit does in and through those who belong to Jesus.
That Church of Jesus which has not been destroyed in any period of time is a community totally arranged by the Holy Spirit. "In Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit." Eph.2:22
The true divinity of Jesus is the rock on which God Himself has built His Church. When Peter had confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, Jesus said to him: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." Mt.16:18
When Jesus said He builds His Church on this rock, He didn't mean Peter but His confession that is the rock. Where the true man, Jesus Christ, is being confessed the true God there is the rock and on this rock Jesus Himself builds His Church. In other words where two or three have come together in the name of Jesus, there is God's Church (Mt.18:20), because He is there.
The Church belongs to the invisible kingdom of God. "The unity of the Spirit" and "the bond of peace" join together all those who belong to Jesus. They are one living Church body, although the members of the body don't even always know each other. Today this Church is invisible to the world, because Jesus said about the kingdom of God in the following way: "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." Lu.17:20
If Jesus had used the word church in the same meaning as we normally understand, then He would have lied when He said that "the gates of Hades will not overcome it". It is obvious that Hades has overcome every church visibly organized on the earth. Often the death of a congregation has come already during the second or third generation after the beginning of the revival. People can hold up facades even centuries, but only the Holy Spirit holds up the living congregation.
About the Church that lives on the earth it cannot be said: "Here it is." Everyone, who marks off the Church to be visible, invites the Antichristian spirit. For this reason one revival movement after another has been born and died. Everything that tries to bring the visible kingdom of God onto earth before Jesus will bring it with His coming is Antichristianity.
If the Holy Spirit leaves a Christian movement, the spirit of this world takes His place. Thus the Church of Jesus is as visible as the Holy Spirit. The world can see it in the deeds which the Holy Spirit does in and through those who belong to Jesus.
The Bible version used in references is NIV