My friend’s 8-year-old grandson once asked me, “Who is this Jesus I hear people talk about?” What did He do to be so famous? Why did He have to die?
Welcome, friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Welcome to my blog!
In this edition of my blog, I am reflecting on a song by Kari Jobe,
“Forever”
Click HERE for the lyrics video.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Vital questions arise from an 8-year-old boy. These should resonate with all of us. To many people today, Jesus Christ is seen as a myth, a well-crafted story, an allegory. Some refer to Him as an escape from reality, a crutch, and an excuse for weak-minded individuals. For others, Jesus Christ was merely a great moral teacher, a good man who seemed to have it all together, a role model.
For us, born-again Christians, Jesus is God in the flesh, Emmanuel. The truth is that Jesus Christ is not a myth; He is a historical figure, and many historians have written about Him. We idolize singers, sports stars, and actors who possess extraordinary abilities and strive to learn everything about them. We devote our precious time to “worshipping” them, dedicating time, effort, and devotion.
What about Jesus?
We should research before dismissing the King of Glory, our Creator, as merely a myth.
Jesus lived a perfect life without sin and then died on the cross for our sins, which is foolishness to those blinded by the god of this age, as the Apostle Paul wrote:
2 Corinthians 4:4
whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
However, for those whom God is calling, Jesus Christ’s dying on the cross represents God’s power.
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
That is excellent news. God Almighty loves us and has sent us a rescuer- someone who will pay our ransom and set us free from our bondage to sin, our redeemer.
This good news represents the Gospel of Christ. Below is the Gospel as explained by the Apostle Paul in the Bible:
1 Corinthians 15:1-7
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
Four key components of the Gospel:
- Christ died for our sins, as stated in the scriptures.
- Christ was buried for three days.
- According to the scriptures, Christ rose from death on the third day.
- Numerous eyewitness accounts reported seeing Christ alive and risen.
This blog addresses the third and fourth points. If you require an explanation or wish to discuss the first two points of the Gospel, please refer to my article on salvation, which is available on my blog.
Jesus dying in our place for our sins is good news, but if Jesus Christ had not risen from the dead, we would still be forgiven but would not have eternal life; as Paul wrote a few verses later:
1 Corinthians 15:14
And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.
The resurrection of Christ is a vital aspect of the Gospel.
Many religions have emerged on earth, seeking followers and fortunes to control and manipulate people; many also attempt to explain our existence and future. Other religions arise to create gray areas, keeping people from the truth found in the Holy Bible. These gray area religions, sometimes called cults, have founders or self-made prophets who are long dead or dying.
How can they save or guide you if eternal life is not within them?
Most cults fail to identify who Jesus Christ is in relation to God! The leaders of these religions are temporary, here for a brief period and then gone. All the remains of these religious leaders are still in the grave.
Regarding Jesus Christ, there is an empty tomb.
He is Risen and alive today, sitting at the Father’s right hand, interceding for us as the Apostle Paul wrote:
Romans 8:33-34
Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
When it comes to part 4 of the Gospel, many doubt that Jesus actually died and rose again, as there are numerous theories available on the internet. Some claim the disciples stole the body, while others suggest that He did not die but merely passed out, etc. These theories are promoted by workers of iniquity seeking to instill doubt in people’s minds and prevent them from trusting Christ for salvation.
More than 500 people saw Jesus after the resurrection, as documented in historical records and the Bible in 1 Corinthians 15:5-7.
When did Christ’s resurrection become real to me?
I know that Jesus rose from the grave because no one would die for a lie!
The story of Peter’s denial of Jesus is one of the proofs found in the Bible; at least, it is for me. Peter denied knowing Jesus when they arrested Him in the Garden of Gethsemane and began to torture Him. Peter and the other disciples started to fear for their lives, possibly thinking that Jesus might not be the Messiah. To the Jews, the Messiah was supposed to be invincible, a military leader, not realizing that He must first suffer for our sins and pay the penalty due to us, which is death!
However, after the resurrection and at Pentecost, once he received the Holy Spirit, Peter stood up and boldly defended and proclaimed Jesus to the crowd, no longer fearing death. Now, having seen Jesus alive again, Peter understood that Christ has power over death and will restore him if he is killed because of his testimony. As some historians have noted, Peter was eventually crucified upside down.
Many disciples were killed after Pentecost, but they did not die for a lie; rather, they sacrificed their lives for the King of kings and the Lord of Lords and are now in the presence of the Lord.
Jesus rose again, conquering the power of death.
For this, we can trust Him as the only one in whom we can place our faith for continued living. The resurrection of Christ is why Jesus claims He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through Him. He lives forever, and we will also live forever if we place our faith and complete trust in Him.
God grants us power over death by making a deposit, a guarantee, and sealing us with the Holy Spirit, as the Apostle Paul wrote:
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
Someday, Jesus will clothe us with our eternal bodies, either when we die physically (or fall asleep, as the New Testament calls it) or at the rapture (see my blog on The Rapture Part 1). At that time, we can shout the words of the Apostle Paul:
1 Corinthians 15:51-55
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
My friends, do not be like the foolish who die without hope. Trust in Jesus Christ today. He is alive and has risen! He promised this while He was with us:
John 11:25-26
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Do you believe this?
Would you like to know more?
Do not wait to change before coming to Jesus; come to Jesus today, and He will begin to change you from the inside out and make you a new creation fit for His service!
Like the 8-year-old, we should study the life of Jesus Christ, ask questions about Him, and dedicate time to Him. In Jeremiah 29:11-13, God states He has a plan for His children. He promised that we will find Him when we seek Him with all our hearts.
To God, be the glory!
Our Lord Jesus Christ created everything! By Him, For Him!
“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-25
Disclaimer
When God inspires me, I write blogs. Consider this writing as a Bible study. Like the Bereans In Acts 17:11, search the Scriptures to determine whether what I write is so. Always consult with your church ministers about biblical matters. I am also not a professional writer, so some grammar or spelling errors may be. I try my best to write as efficiently as possible. Your brother, In-Christ, Ricardo
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Check out my book “Battle Strategy: God’s Plan Amid Chaos.” It’s packed with helpful insights into Bible study and understanding. You can get a free digital version on my website. Fifty percent of the proceeds from this book go to helping children. The book covers the main biblical points and salvation, so you’ll find something valuable.
sional writer, so some grammar or spelling errors may be. I try my best to write as efficiently as possible. Your brother, In-Christ, Ricardo
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