Who is Jesus?

Today, there is much talk about Jesus. Some despise Him and some love Him... some curse Him and some praise Him — as a good man, a profound prophet or even a great teacher. But, who is He really? Is He really God as some claim? Is He really our only hope to make it to heaven?

Click on the Grace To You link and join us for a quick look at "Who is Jesus?".

3 Questions Everyone Asks


    Intro To Jesus

3 Questions Everyone Is Asking

1. How did we get here?

Big Bang Theory

Some like to think that we all got here by random chance…. that we are part of an evolutionary process. Some theorize that this process began with a “Big Bang” — believing that order came from disorder. Matter, animals and man then grew as cells randomly linked together and changed through time, needing billions of years to complete the process. The theory has one common theme—design without a Designer, existence without purpose. It makes man (and the world) a mere accident—leaving us with no meaning or purpose.

Something within cries out that there must be more... There is more! The Bible, God’s Word, tells us a different story. Adam and Eve were created by God and had a relationship with Him in the Garden.

"And God created man in His own image... male and female He created them." — Genesis 1:27

Garden of Eden

The Bible goes on to tell us that you and I also were created by God and planned before time began.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you..." — Jeremiah 1:5

"I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…My frame was not hidden from Thee, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them." — Psalm 139:15-16

If you believe what the Bible has to say then there is meaning and purpose in life. You are not an accident, but one created by design. That means there is value and worth because of Who made you.

In addition, this life is not all there is. There is an eternity far greater than this life.

2. What went wrong?

Read the Newspapers

How you answer this affects everything else.

You might initially think, "What do you mean what went wrong?"

Just take a look around you... read the newspaper... watch the evening news. Horrific murders have become common. Newborn children are being abandoned in trash cans and dumpsters. Political and corporate circles have become plagued with corruption. Children are killing children. Integrity and honesty have become a thing of the past in our schools and universities. Families are falling apart everywhere.

Honesty reveals that there IS a problem.

Money

What is the problem? Some say it comes from poverty or lack of education. Some say it comes from the environment that people are placed in or the upbringing that they have. All of these may make the problem worse, but they are not the ultimate cause. If these were the real problems, in time they could be fixed. Look at how much has been spent and done in the last thirty years. Has it fixed the problem? Are things better? If not, one must look for a deeper problem.

The Bible says that the real problem is SIN — our own desires and actions that are contrary to God’s.

"When lust is conceived, it gives birth to sin..." — James 1:15

The Bible defines sin as "rebellion" or "missing the mark" of being like God. It’s an outward behavior AND a heart attitude.

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. — Matthew 15:19

We see this in the very beginning, with Adam and Eve. They were the first to be created…and the first to sin before God. In Genesis 3, they disobeyed God. Satan had enticed them by lying about what God had said and appealing to Adam and Eve’s own desires.

Child Hiding

That first sin brought spiritual death—the end of a relationship. The relationship that had begun in the garden would forever change.

"God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die.'" — Genesis 3:3

"And he (Adam) said, 'I heard the sound of Thee in the garden, and I was afraid... so I hid myself.'" — Genesis 3:10

(like a child hiding himself in shame and guilt when he knows he is wrong)

"So He (God) drove man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim, and the flaming sword..." — Genesis 3:24

Adam and Eve aren't the only ones with a "sin problem." The Bible makes it clear that we are all in the same position. It is more evident in some than others, but we are all part of the problem.

All Have Sinned

"All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." — Romans 3:23

Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins. — Ecclesiastes 7:20

Just as Adam and Eve’s first sin brought death, so our sin brings death.

"For the wages of sin is death..." — Romans 6:23

"When lust is conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, brings forth death." — James 1:15

That spiritual death is a separation from God, in the present and throughout eternity (in a place called Hell). That separation brings judgment.

"...it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment..." — Heb 9:27-28

3. How do you fix it?

Pollution

It depends on what you think is wrong.

If you think that ignorance is the problem, you try to educate people. If you think poverty is the problem, you try to provide people with money and material possessions. If you think an imperfect environment is the problem, you try to create a perfect one (like communism and Marxism did). If you think emotional illness is the problem, you try to provide therapy and emotional help.

However, if you believe that the real problem is something much greater, much deeper... then you do something radically different!

If you believe that the real problem is sin, one must be free from that sin and find forgiveness. Rather than a teacher, a banker, a therapist or a political leader... YOU NEED A SAVIOR.

And, Jesus is that Savior.

"The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'" — John 1:29-30

And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins." — Matt 1:20-21

Only a Savior can forgive you... only a Savior can free you.

"Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him (Jesus) forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him (Jesus) everyone who believes is freed from all things..." — Acts 13:38-39

HOW then can one be saved from this death and set free?

The Bible says that others have asked this same question.

"'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' And they said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.'" — Acts 16:30-31

"...that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved;" — Romans 10:9

Those in the Bible had come to a point where they realized their sinfulness and their need for someone greater than themselves to bring forgiveness. Jesus was their only hope. The same is true today!

"Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.'" — John 14:6

How could this be, that Jesus is the only way? Because of what He, and He alone, did. The Bible says,

"He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." — 2 Corinthians 5:21

Empty Cross

The Bible says that Christ (who had never sinned) took on our sin at His death on the cross ("became sin") so that you and I could be right with God (“righteous”). He alone is sinless. He alone could bear man’s sin.

But, there is more. Not only did Christ die for man, but He also rose from that death. His resurrection proved His claim to be God and proved His power over sin and death.

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures..." — 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

His death and resurrection brings the possibility of forgiveness and a new life. The Bible says,

"Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." — 2 Corinthians 5:17

It is not just an outward change, but an inward change. The heart and desires are made new. True life begins! The relationship with God is restored and eternal life in heaven is secured because of Christ.

This forgiveness and new life is a gift that one cannot earn and does not deserve. It is a gift of mercy and grace.

"...BUT the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." — Romans 6:23

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." — Ephesians 2:8

Empty Tomb

HOW does one receive this free gift? Look at the two verses we looked at earlier:

"'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.'" — Acts 16:30-31

"...that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved;" — Romans 10:9

Both of these verses convey two truths that we must accept:

If God has been working in your heart and you know that He has brought you to this point, would you, in a simple prayer of your own...

There are no magical words. As you cry out, it is your heart that God is most interested in. God makes it clear that those who seek Him with all their heart will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).

God makes this promise,

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." — John 1:12-13

"And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life." — 1 John 5:10-13

If you have become a child of God, I encourage you to: