- Who is Jesus?
- A better question might be: "Who is Jesus to you personally?" Jesus even asked His disciples this question, "Who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). This is the most important question of the ages. How you answer this question determines if you have a relationship with God or not. Peter answered the question correctly, Jesus is the Christ (or Messiah) the Son of God. This answer is equal to saying that Jesus is God! It is of utmost importance that a person understands that the Bible clearly reveals that Jesus Christ is Almighty God, the second person of the Holy Trinity. The Apostle John wrote his Gospel to demonstrate that Jesus was the Christ the Son of God and that believing in Him a person may have eternal life (''John 20:30-31"). 'John 1:1, 14 declares "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." God became a man in the person of Jesus Christ. In verse 18 of the same chapter John states: “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.” Jesus reveals God to us; He is the One who explains God. Many are attracted to Christ because of His admirable character, His noble martyrdom, or because He was a great moral reformer. While these are good virtues, they are but byproducts of the person who was and is the Prince of Peace, the Mighty God, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, and the Lord of Glory.
- How can I have a relationship with this Jesus?
- Well, you must first understand that you were created in the image of God. You were created by a divine act of Almighty God, who alone can create something out of nothing. Hebrews 11:2 states, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do not appear.” In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were created to obey God, but chose to disobey God and listen to voice of the devil instead. When they disobeyed God and partook of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, sin entered the human race. Humans were created to live forever physically and spiritually prior to this sin. Humans were to enjoy the great pleasures of a paradise earth and have intimate fellowship with God. However, after Adam and Eve sinned, their relationship to God was severed. They were now condemned to die not only physically, but spiritually. The consequence to that first sin was that every person born afterwards would inherit a sin nature and be born spiritually separated from God. Romans 5:18 says, “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation.” Every person is now born a sinner and completely depraved. But God in His abundant grace sent His One and only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins. Romans 5:8 states: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God sent Jesus to save you from your sins because He was the perfect sacrifice to satisfy the wrath of God. Jesus lived a perfect life! He never even sinned once! He came to this earth from heaven to voluntarily go to Calvary’s cross as the perfect substitute for you. Jesus literally died in your place! God punished Jesus for your sins! So how can you have a relationship with Jesus? Repent from your sins and believe the Gospel.
- What is the Gospel?
- 1 Corinthians 15:1-3 sums it up for us: “I declare to you the gospel…by which also you are saved…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”
- How do I apply the Gospel to me personally?
- 1 John 5:1 "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God." It begins by believing in the person of Jesus Christ as your only hope of salvation. Acknowledging the reality that He was and is fully and truly God and fully and truly man in one person. Trusting in His substitutionary death and blood atonement as the only payment for your sins. You must recognize that you are a sinner and have broken God's laws. The only basis upon which God can forgive you is the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. You then take these truths and make a conscious wholehearted decision to repent of your sin and by faith alone trust in Christ alone as your personal Savior and you will be saved. Acts 3:19, "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out." Acts 16:30-31, "What must I do to be saved?...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved." Religion, rituals, or good works will not grant you entrance into heaven. Salvation cannot be earned by doing good things. Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but by His mercy he saved us.” Romans 4:5 makes it very clear, “To him that who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” It is only by grace alone through faith alone that one can apply the Gospel.
- Is Jesus the only way?
- The question was asked by a Philippian jailor in Acts 16:31 “What must I do to be saved?” The Apostle Paul responded by saying “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” The only way a person can be redeemed from their sins is if they place their eternal destiny by faith in Jesus Christ alone. Jesus clearly said in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” In Matthew 11:27 Jesus declared: “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” Peter said in Acts 4:12: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” The Bible makes it unambiguously clear that Jesus is the only way a person can enter heaven. How could God the Father Almighty send His One and only Son to be tortured and crucified on a splintered cross, place all the weight of sin upon Him, and turn His back on His very own Son if there were another way? That is the real question!
- Will you respond?
- Will you repent and trust Christ as your personal Savior and Lord? Will you commit your heart to follow Jesus the rest of your days on this earth? God can redeem your life from sin and give you meaning and purpose today!
