Saturday 11 August 2018

The Reason

The Reason
The apostle John speaking of Jesus tells us,
“But you know that he appeared 
so that he might take away our sins. 
And in him is no sin.” 
                             1John 3:5 
I was once asked the question “why did Jesus come into the world?” The following is simple answers. The apostle Paul writes,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8.
To the Corinthians Paul writes,
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,..” 1 Corinthians 15:3.
To Timothy Paul writes,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” 1Timothy 1:15,16.
The writer of Hebrews tells us.
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:3.
In short God loved us so much he send Jesus to die for our sins so that we could have eternal life with Him.
The twentieth century author, C. S. Lewis said,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” C.S. Lewis.
Lewis noted something else about those who believe in Christ. He wrote,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”  C.S. Lewis.
The apostle John who knew Jesus personally, tells us,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1John 1:9-10.
Luke’s Gospel illustrates the choice every individual who knows about Jesus must make when he tells of what happened on the day Jesus was crucified. Luke records,
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” 
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43.
There is no middle ground with Jesus, either he is the Son of God who died for the sins of all who would believe in Him or He is not.
The choice is yours and it may be the most important choice of your life. To quote C. S. Lewis again,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C. S. Lewis.
Please think about it.

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