Who Is Jesus to You?
"But what about you? (Jesus) asked. "Who do you say I am?" Luke 9:20
Jesus asked this question to Peter, but this question still holds for you and me today. Who do you say Jesus is? Who is He to you? It isn't enough for us to know about Jesus. Friend, it is more than just head knowledge. God sent Jesus for you and me to die a horrible death on the cross for our sin. Why did God do this? Why would He send His one and only Son to die? In a word, the answer is love! God sent Jesus because He loves you and me so very much and He wants us to have a relationship with Him. Jesus is the bridge between us and God. There was no amount of sacrifice or offering we could bring to God that would take away our sin. God is holy. In Him there is no sin and because of this, there had to be a perfect, spotless, blameless sacrifice. That sacrifice is Jesus. He is the only one who could take away the sin of the world. "The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance-now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." (Hebrews 9:13-15) Jesus is the only one who could satisfy our debt.
Jesus died for us so that we can be set free from our guilt and shame. He died so that we could have life. That life is in Him! He didn't die just for us to know about Him and what He did. No, He died so that we might have an intimate relationship with our Father through Christ.
So who do you say Jesus is? He is more than a good man. he is more than a prophet. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords! he is the risen Savior of the world and this magnificent King wants to have a relationship with you! He is Lord of all and He wants to be Lord of your life. I fear there are many that think they are saved, but in reality they are not. These same people sit in church pews Sunday after Sunday or they made a profession of faith in Christ when they were young, however, there has been no change in them. Friend, I am speaking from experience. For years, I thought I was saved because I believed (with my mind) that Jesus died on the cross and rose again three days later. I put on a good front. By that I mean I went to church and sang all the songs. I participated in the Lord's supper when it was offered. I was even baptized early in my life. Because of all of that, I actually deceived myself into thinking I was truly saved. There was one big problem though-I still lived for myself. I did everything the rest of the world was doing. I was no different from someone who did not go to church. I basically just gave lip service to Jesus. Although I went to church on Sunday morning, my life did not show that I was a follower of Christ the rest of the week. In fact, as soon as church was over, it was all about me and my selfish desires. I really did not give much thought about God until the next Sunday. God tells us in His word that, "by their fruit you will recognize them." (Matthew 7:16) Our "fruit" is how we live out our life. We will either produce good fruit which honors and brings glory to God or we will produce bad fruit which is of the flesh and satan. I was dead on the inside.
But God...He had plans for me. I thank Him for being so patient. The day he reached down and grabbed hold of my heart is a day I will never forget! He placed His Spirit in me and I have never been the same. He opened my eyes so that I could see. Before we come to God, there is a veil over our eyes. "But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away." (2 Corinthians 3:16) This was nothing that I did. It was all God's marvelous grace. He began changing me, transforming me and taking away the selfish desires I once had. He gave me a craving for Him and His word. He is amazing. What a beautiful gift! When He places His Spirit in you my friend, there will be true and lasting change! His Spirit will testify with our spirit that we belong to Him. (Romans 8:16) God is loving toward all He has made (Psalm 145:17) and wants each of us to come to Him and call Him Father!
He is no respecter of persons. He loves you with an unfailing love. (Lamentations 3:32) I am praying that if you do not already know Him, that you call on Him today and in turn, call Him your Lord and Savior.
Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks. He does no force His way in. He waits for you to invite Him in. (Revelation 3:20) If you feel a tugging at your heart, that is His Holy Spirit drawing you to Him. Let Him come in my friend. Jesus will satisfy the deep longing in your heart and make you a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Jesus asked this question to Peter, but this question still holds for you and me today. Who do you say Jesus is? Who is He to you? It isn't enough for us to know about Jesus. Friend, it is more than just head knowledge. God sent Jesus for you and me to die a horrible death on the cross for our sin. Why did God do this? Why would He send His one and only Son to die? In a word, the answer is love! God sent Jesus because He loves you and me so very much and He wants us to have a relationship with Him. Jesus is the bridge between us and God. There was no amount of sacrifice or offering we could bring to God that would take away our sin. God is holy. In Him there is no sin and because of this, there had to be a perfect, spotless, blameless sacrifice. That sacrifice is Jesus. He is the only one who could take away the sin of the world. "The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance-now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." (Hebrews 9:13-15) Jesus is the only one who could satisfy our debt.
Jesus died for us so that we can be set free from our guilt and shame. He died so that we could have life. That life is in Him! He didn't die just for us to know about Him and what He did. No, He died so that we might have an intimate relationship with our Father through Christ.
So who do you say Jesus is? He is more than a good man. he is more than a prophet. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords! he is the risen Savior of the world and this magnificent King wants to have a relationship with you! He is Lord of all and He wants to be Lord of your life. I fear there are many that think they are saved, but in reality they are not. These same people sit in church pews Sunday after Sunday or they made a profession of faith in Christ when they were young, however, there has been no change in them. Friend, I am speaking from experience. For years, I thought I was saved because I believed (with my mind) that Jesus died on the cross and rose again three days later. I put on a good front. By that I mean I went to church and sang all the songs. I participated in the Lord's supper when it was offered. I was even baptized early in my life. Because of all of that, I actually deceived myself into thinking I was truly saved. There was one big problem though-I still lived for myself. I did everything the rest of the world was doing. I was no different from someone who did not go to church. I basically just gave lip service to Jesus. Although I went to church on Sunday morning, my life did not show that I was a follower of Christ the rest of the week. In fact, as soon as church was over, it was all about me and my selfish desires. I really did not give much thought about God until the next Sunday. God tells us in His word that, "by their fruit you will recognize them." (Matthew 7:16) Our "fruit" is how we live out our life. We will either produce good fruit which honors and brings glory to God or we will produce bad fruit which is of the flesh and satan. I was dead on the inside.
But God...He had plans for me. I thank Him for being so patient. The day he reached down and grabbed hold of my heart is a day I will never forget! He placed His Spirit in me and I have never been the same. He opened my eyes so that I could see. Before we come to God, there is a veil over our eyes. "But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away." (2 Corinthians 3:16) This was nothing that I did. It was all God's marvelous grace. He began changing me, transforming me and taking away the selfish desires I once had. He gave me a craving for Him and His word. He is amazing. What a beautiful gift! When He places His Spirit in you my friend, there will be true and lasting change! His Spirit will testify with our spirit that we belong to Him. (Romans 8:16) God is loving toward all He has made (Psalm 145:17) and wants each of us to come to Him and call Him Father!
He is no respecter of persons. He loves you with an unfailing love. (Lamentations 3:32) I am praying that if you do not already know Him, that you call on Him today and in turn, call Him your Lord and Savior.
Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks. He does no force His way in. He waits for you to invite Him in. (Revelation 3:20) If you feel a tugging at your heart, that is His Holy Spirit drawing you to Him. Let Him come in my friend. Jesus will satisfy the deep longing in your heart and make you a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
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