Who's Jesus?

 Who's Jesus?

The apostle John writes,

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.  

The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.  

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.  

We write this to make our joy complete. " 1John 1:1-4.

The apostle John here gives his reason for writing about Jesus. He makes it clear that not just him but the other disciples also seen what he had.

John states Jesus said,

“Jesus answered him, if anyone loves me, he will keep my word and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14:23.

Note Jesus calls God His Father.

John tells of this conversation between Jesus and Martha. Martha saying,

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

"Yes Lord" she told Him, "I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world," John 11:25,26,27.

Note Jesus claims to be “the resurrection and the life”

and Martha states “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God”

John writes that Jesus said,

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.

Note Jesus claims to be the way to God the Father.

John also quotes Jesus speaking of himself and saying,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.". John 3:16,17.

Note Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. T

That all who believed in Him would have eternal life.

That the reason Jesus came into the world was to save the world.

Lastly John records Jesus as giving a warning to all who hear about him. Jesus warning that.

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son". John 3:18.

If these claims are untrue then no one has to worry. But if they are true there at the very least is a lot to be concerned about.

Who do you think Jesus is?

Please think about it.

Do you truly have faith in God?

 Do you truly have faith in God?

 The Psalmist writes,

 “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 

 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23.

  Is the Lord truly the shepherd of your life or, do you only give intellectual consent to his existence?

  Many people say they believe in God but they do not truly trust in Him? Do they truly have faith in Him?

  I had one pastor that came from the so called bible belt states, in the United States, that note that it was hard in some areas to tell if people truly had faith in God. Whether a person had truly given their life to Christ.

  It was hard because going to church was part of the culture. People simply went to church on a Sunday and said they were Christian because it was the thing to do. These people knew what he called “church speak”. They knew what to say, how to say it, when to say it and how they were expected to act.

  I see it with politicians in the United States in particular. They say “God bless America” they even go to church while in office. Presidents and politicians attend Prayer breakfasts and other religious things yet are they truly saved?

  I have a feeling there are many people who go to church, perhaps even the majority in some areas of the world, that say they believe in God. That say they believe in Jesus, that are not going to heaven because  they have not truly made Jesus the Lord of their life.

  Following God is truly an act of faith, and while many may think they have faith in God. What they really have is the intellectually belief that God exists. Which is far different from faith. 

Thus the question becomes do you truly have faith in God and do you truly believe that Jesus is the Son of God Saviour of all put their trust in Him.

Please think about it.

The gates of hell will not prevail

 The gates of hell will not prevail

The Psalmist writes,

"The fool says in his heart, 

"There is no God." 

                                     Psalm 14:1

C.S. Lewis said of Christianity,

“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.

For me I believe there has to be something to Christianity. We are a people who preach peace, love and living in harmony with our fellow man. We present to those who will listen to us the way we believe you get to heaven. Then leave it up to the individual to decide for themselves if we are right or wrong. 

A true Christian will never force their faith on anyone.

That being said if Christianity is untrue. If God does not exist why are governments such as North Korea putting Christians in forced labour camps?

Why wont Saudi Arabia allow people to convert to Christianity? 

Why are atheist in the United States trying to get Christian symbols out of schools and other public places?

It seems to me if there is nothing behind the Christian faith then the symbols and practices of Christianity are meaningless.

Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate, (361-363 A.D.)  an ancient adversary of Christianity. Said in his work against Christianity:

“Jesus…has now been celebrated about three hundred years having done nothing in his lifetime worthy of fame, unless anyone thinks it is a very great work to heal lame and blind people and exorcise demoniacs in the villages of Bethsaida and Bethany.”

At the end of his life Julian was forced to say: “Thou has conquered, O Galilean!”

Over the centuries many men and governments have come against Christianity yet none have prevailed. 

Christianity is stronger today than it has ever been and it is still growing even in countries that try to suppress it.

It continues to grow because it is of God, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

Think about it.