We hear opinions and beliefs in our post modern culture, of patched-together ideas of Jesus, personal truths as it relates to each individual, such as, “The Jesus I believe in is love. He would never condemn anyone to hell.”
And we, Christians, understand that Jesus doesn’t condemn anyone to hell, our unrepentant sin does that. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”
Christians understand that Jesus is Savior of the world.
We hear open arguments such as,
“The oppression throughout history has been caused by Christianity.”
The idea of Christian’s believe there is only one way to heaven and they are prejudice against any other belief system is hate and toxic.“
As Christians, we hear these thoughts of great misunderstandings with broken hearts, because we desire to be witness to the Gospel message: Mankind is plagued with dark hearts due to sin. The Father gave His Son, Jesus to make a complete and sufficient payment on the cross for our sins, and He overcame death and sin and with the miraculous wonder of being resurrected from the dead.
He lives forevermore, and offers life eternal to whosoever will believe. This is the Gospel. Jesus is the solution to all of the world.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16.
We all have many questions. The Bible is a Book worthy of study and a place to bring our misunderstandings, that we might cry out our questions to God. He will answer.
“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? John 6: 4-9.
Christians don’t live by a set of rules and make rules for the world. We don’t read simply black and white letters on a page.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart Hebrews 4:12.
Christians receive the Holy Spirit when we believe on Jesus. His Word speaks and the Holy Spirit moves and gives us understanding in His Word. God is Holy and able to draw all men to Himself to all who believe.
“And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment” John 16:8.
We’re tempted to be shaken by people’s opinions and thoughts about “their” Jesus. But what did Jesus Himself tell us who believe?
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
All these are the beginning of sorrows.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.
And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” Matthew 24:3-14.
God’s Word strengthens us. Our faith is restored by God’s Word. Jesus speaks to us today:
“Do you now believe? Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone.
And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” John 16:32,33.
In the Bible, Jesus was brought to Pilate’s court the Praetorium.
“Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?“
Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”
Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of the world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?“
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all” John 18:33-38.
What is truth? Let all the Christians say, “The person of Jesus.”
Jesus prayed for us in the Garden of Gethsemane in John 17,
” I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.
They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth.
Your word is truth.
As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth” John 17:14-19.
Who is my Jesus? “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” Hebrews 13:8.
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,” 1 Timothy 2:5.
Are there Christians strengthened in God today by His glorious Word? Let all the people say, “Amen.”