WHO IS JESUS?
"We are secure, not because we hold tightly to Jesus, but because he holds tightly to us."
- R.C. Sproul
Jesus is the most important person that has ever lived. He was both fully God and fully man.
He lived about 2,000 years ago in modern-day Turkey and came to share an important message with the world.
While other religions throughout history have offered ‘good advice to be followed’, Jesus instead came to offer “good news”, which the Bible calls the gospel.
KNOW THE GOSPEL THAT JESUS PREACHED.
The good news is that God has seen the brokenness of our world, our lives and our relationship with Him and through Jesus, He will heal it. God has seen that despite our best efforts, the presence of pain, sickness, broken relationships, heartache and death are realities for us all.
The story of every single one of us is that we are so lost and broken that we cannot find God, fix ourselves or the world. So God sent Jesus to find and save us.
Jesus of Nazareth, who lived an ordinary human life, distinguished only by the startling fact that he was perfect and enjoyed a perfect relationship with God. Having lived a perfect life, he transferred all the credit for that obedience to those who love and trust him.
Jesus went further and willingly took the punishment that was due to us for our imperfect, rebellious lives. Dying on the cross, he forgave those who were killing him. When he rose from the dead, Jesus demonstrated that death had no hold on him, nor on any who entrust their lives and souls to him.
Speaking of himself, he said:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
The Gospel (Good News) of John, Chapter 3 v 16-17
EXPERIENCE THE GRACE THAT JESUS FREELY OFFERS.
The Gospel of Jesus therefore, doesn’t depend on our own efforts, or the strength and sincerity of our faith. It is not the quality of our faith that saves us, but the quality of the One in whom we put our faith: Jesus. The Bible calls this grace.
Jesus says this grace not only saves those who trust in Him, but transforms them. Since we are no longer trying to earn God’s approval (making God the biggest and worst of all the taskmasters we’ve ever faced), we are free to love him out of gratitude and joy. Our obedience and “good deeds” become truly good for the first time, as they are motivated by thankfulness, rather than done to accrue “good behavior credit” with God.
Traditional religion says: “Obey the rules, then God will accept me”. The gospel says: “God accepts me through the work of Jesus Christ, so I want to obey God”
WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?
Possessing a mere fascination about Jesus isn’t enough to fulfill, nor will it enact his life-altering work. Curiosity is good, but it should drive fervent searching. This can be done by reading the Bible, and getting plugged into a Christian community with people personally invested in your growth.
We would love to meet you and support your journey of discovery. Get in touch here.