Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2000 12:43:20 HST
From: Rick Ramirez <hawaii00rick@hotmail.com>
To: chester@sgroi.com
Cc: hawaii00rick@hotmail.com
Subject: Reply to Mr. Dietz

     Mr. Dietz is right that we need to accept Jesus Christ into our lives.
But that is only the first step in truly living a christian life. As Jesus
said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through Me." John 14:6
Jesus sums up beautifully how we become children of God. But what does Jesus
mean by the way, the truth, and the life? Let's take a look at what
scripture tells us.

THE WAY(Baptism)
"Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being
born of water and the Spirit."           John 3:3

"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not
believe will be condemned."                            Mark 16:16

"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."
                                                       Matt 28:19

"For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or
Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink one Spirit."
                                               1 Cor 12:13

THE TRUTH(Church)
"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."
                                                        1Tim 3:15

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

"When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of
truth that proceeds from the Father, He will testify to Me."
                                                        John 15:26

Jesus said to the disciples,"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."       John 20:21-22

THE LIFE(Eucharist)
"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will
raise him on the last day."                        John 6:54

"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of blood of
Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of
Christ?  For we, though many, are one bread one body; for we all partake of
that one bread."                      1Cor 10:16-17

     It is true that Jesus is the sole mediator between God and us(1Tim2:5).
But Christ has the power(Mark10:27) to decide how his mediation would be
given to us. Each of these: the way, the truth, and the life; Jesus gave
them to us for our salvation in the form of Baptism, the Catholic Church,
and the Eucharist. This is only a basic over view of what Christ gave to us
to do. But always remember just because we do them doesn't mean it is
complete in God's eyes. We must do them with the right intention of our
hearts and out of our love for God.

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
and with all your mind."                          Matt 22:37

"For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner, eats and drinks judgement
to himself, not discerning the Lord's body."  1Cor 11:29

"This people honors one with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."
                                               Matt 15:8

Not everyone who says to me "Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven,
but he who does the will of my Father in heaven."Matt 7:21

"While he was in Jerusalem for the feast, many began to believe in His name
when they saw the signs he was doing. But Jesus would not trust himself to
them because he knew them all."         John 2:23

   Remember Jesus Christ knows you completely inside: heart, mind, and soul.
And outside: talk and actions. Cherish what Jesus has given us and thank our
Lord for sending his only Son for our redemption. Hopefully this helps
someone out there.

Thanks and God Bless!
Rick Ramirez
hawaii00rick@hotmail.com

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