why jesus?

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
- Jesus Christ

So what's up with this Jesus guy? Who was He? What was he? A great moral teacher, a revolutionary, a prophet, a myth ... Countless people have tackled this question over the years. In fact, it's been 2000 years since the man Jesus of Nazareth walked the earth, and people are still trying to "come to terms" with the one called Christ. He is the greatest individual figure (and perhaps most controversial) of human history, even though men and women throughout the ages have tried to discount, disparage, and dispute his existence and importance.

Jesus asked his followers, "Who do men say that I am?" The question still stands. Who do you say Jesus is?

Christians know Jesus as Lord and Savior. They recognize him as the unique son of God, who did something very special during his time on earth. What did he do? Well, that's part of what Christians call the "Gospel" or "Good News" ... and here it is.

God exists. There's proof, just look around. All of creation (the universe) testifies to this fact. How can a "creation" not have a creator? Our world is one of complex design and order - the creation of an intelligent being, God. In addition to the testimony of creation itself, proof of God exists in your heart. Where does morality come from? How does one know right from wrong? God has written that on your heart.

God has revealed Himself. God speaks to mankind through the Bible, which is divinely-inspired, without error, and fully authoritative. The Bible is the story of God and His relationship with His creation, specifically mankind. But most importantly, God has revealed Himself through the person of Jesus Christ, who proved His claim to deity through the resurrection. This showed that Jesus Christ was indeed who He claimed to be, the living God, because only God has power over life and death.

God loves you. God has done something wonderful for you. But in order to understand what He did and why it's so wonderful, let's first take a look at the "human condition."

Ask yourself these simple questions:

1. Have I ever told a lie? (even a little, white one)
   
2. Have I ever said "Jesus Christ" or "God" in a derogatory, disrespectful way? (this is called blasphemy)
   
3. Have I ever taken anything that didn't belong to me?
   
4. Have I ever worshiped anything other than God? (e.g. money, success, a person, or a man-made idol)
   
5. Have I ever looked at another person lustfully? (God equates this with adultery)

If you are honest with yourself, you're guilty of at least one of these acts. In reality, most people are guilty of all five, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. So, what would you do if you were brought before a court and put on trial for these acts? The case seems fairly airtight. You've already acknowledged the knowledgeable and willful participation is such behavior. Thus, by your own admission, you are a liar, a blasphemer, a thief, an idolater, and an adulterer. From this standpoint, things look pretty grim. But wait, there's more.

By answering yes to just one of the previous questions, you admit doing wrong - this is called sinning. In our legal system, even if you break only one law, you are still guilty and therefore worthy of punishment. Why would it be any different with a perfectly just God, the Creator and Ruler of the universe.

And what is God's punishment for sin? It might sound harsh, but the consequence of sin is death (eternal punishment in Hell).

"For sin pays its wage---death; but God's free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, Good News Bible)

ATTENTION - The "world" doesn't want you thinking about this! But don't believe the lies, the deception, the misinformation and redirection. The world tells you this guilt doesn't exist, that you can escape from your conscious, that you can ignore it or medicate it with drugs, alcohol, sex, materials possessions, wealth and fame.

Pop culture and so-called "modern thinkers" would have you believe many things: there is no God, the universe and life originated by mere chance, mankind is to be worshipped, nature is god, human beings are good and moral by nature, the human race will eventually evolve to a higher level of consciousness creating peace and harmony on earth, there is no right or wrong, truth is relative, nothing is absolute, and man can save himself through good deeds.

The lists goes on and on. WAKE UP! The value system of this world is upside down. Material possessions, people, power, money and fame cannot solve the problem of sin. The world says live a full, exciting (and selfish) life and worry about the consequences later. But the truth is this: actions have consequences. And if you search deep enough within your heart, it will tell you that right and wrong does exist. God has written that morality on your heart.

This is what God did to make things right between Himself and us:

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son (Jesus Christ), so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior. Those who believe in the Son are not judged; but those who do not believe have already been judged, because they have not believed in God's only Son." (John 3:16-19, Good News Bible)

"But now God's way of putting people right with himself has been revealed. It has nothing to do with law, even though the Law of Moses and the prophets gave their witness to it. God puts people right through their faith in Jesus Christ. God does this to all who believe in Christ, because there is no difference at all: Everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence. But by the free gift of God's grace all are put right with him through Christ Jesus, who sets them free. God offered him, so that by his blood he should become the means by which people's sins are forgiven through their faith in him. God did this in order to demonstrate that he is righteous. In the past he was patient and overlooked people's sins; but in the present time he deals with their sins, in order to demonstrate his righteousness. In this way God shows that he himself is righteous and that he puts right everyone who believes in Jesus." (Romans 3:21-25, Good News Bible)

Pray to God. Admit your sin and tell Him you're truly sorry. Tell him that you cannot save yourself and acknowledge that Jesus Christ, His Son, can. Acknowledge that Jesus Christ came to earth, died on the Cross, and then rose from the dead, in order that you might have eternal life. Ask for forgiveness. Ask Him to come into your heart. Proclaim that Jesus Christ is now Lord (master and director) of your life. Ask Him to help you turn your life around (repent).

That's it - you can rest assured that Jesus has entered into your life and saved you from your sins.

"If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9, Good News Bible)

Now, commit to living that new life. Start reading the Bible and praying daily. Get connected to a fellowship of believers (church) that can help you grow as a Christian. A good church is one in which the whole Bible is taught and preached and the members are passionate about living for Jesus Christ.

Finally, share your story (testimony) and the Good News with others, both believers and nonbelievers. We'd love to hear from you!