So you think… You know Jesus?
So you are not Jewish, you are not Muslim or Hindu persuasions, you must be a Christian, right?
It is almost a choice by default, if I am not these then I must be that!
You may or may not have been in some form of “Christian Schooling!”
You are an ethical person with values!
You have been going to church some part your life!
You may have been baptized with water!
You believe in God!
You even pray to God!
You know the historical Jesus? But do you Know Him?
Do you know the person of Jesus?
Do you have a relationship with Him?
If so, has your life changed?
Are you a different person Now than you were before you knew Him?
Jesus may be in your mind but have you allowed Him to reach into your heart?
Most of us feel in our heart that “We are Christians or I am a good person.”
”I try to do the “right things”. I try to treat others like I wish to be treated. Most all of us have had this conversation with ourselves and we attempt to justify our own righteousness, our own acceptable level of fairness and goodness.
But how are we perceived by God?
A practical, common sense issue!
Those who manufacture goods or maintain a service to the consumer would never dream of doing so without printing a “How to” book that went along with the product! If they manufacture a toaster, you can be assured two items will be in the box other than the toaster. The first is a book explaining how to use and achieve the best results and what not to do like putting your new toaster in the dishwasher. Sounds ridiculous but to someone who has never had a toaster, how would he know?
The second is the warranty card that gives the new owner certain rights and responsibilities to consummate the warranty. If he violates the warranty in any way the warranty is void!
Then does it not make simple sense that “if” God did create man,
why would He not also publish an instruction book along with a warranty for the user?
It may sound old fashioned and religious and a few other labels that men have placed on God’s word but it does not change the facts!
The Bible is God’s instruction book and warranty to mankind.
We may elect to argue but it will not change what it says and it will not change the mind of God! Yes, the times are changing!
The world in which we live has undergone incredible shifts in culture. We think of ourselves as evolved yet the Bible says that there is nothing new under the sun. This verse is not explaining man’s creativity but rather his ability to have the same mindset of arrogance and rebellion towards the creator!
The Bible says, I am God and I change not!
Would it be fair for God to give one set of standards to men 2,000 years ago and give us a different standard?
For God to be Just, He must be the same yesterday, today and forever!
Men, regardless of how righteous they appear, have no righteousness within them according to the Bible. We think we do but we do not understand the Holiness of God, we cannot comprehend that God has no sin in Him.
There are numerous examples of righteous and godly men and women in the Bible but even they with all of “their righteousness” failed God countless times.
Many will say that they just try to live by the commandments (the Ten Commandments) or the Torah (the Law). There are 613 Laws or (commandments) in the Jewish Torah and like the Ten Commandments, “if you are guilty of just One, then you are guilty!”
The Law (the commandments) were created to allow man to see his own sin!
So how can a man who has sin, even one sin in his life be reconciled and stand before a Holy God?
Jesus Christ came not to destroy “the law” but to fulfill the law and that through Him we might have Life, and have it more abundantly, but what is more important, we will have “Eternal Life”, we will be in the midst of His kingdom.
For what more can a man do than to offer up His own life for the ones He loves? This is the type of LOVE that is impossible to understand.
An unconditional Love that passes all ability to comprehend. How God would commit His only Son to hardship, suffering, deceit and unbelief and finally a cruel death that He did not deserve but JESUS shared the same heart as the Father toward man and He, Jesus was obedient to giving His life even for those who rejected Him.
Please take a moment to say this prayer, it will change your life and your destiny!
The Bible says the following:
There are none righteous, no, not one. Rom 3:10
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Rom 3:23
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. Rom 5:12
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:8
That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the Scripture say, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Rom 10:9-13
If you have prayed this prayer:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.
Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 2nd Co 5:17 & 18
By God’s Grace through faith in Jesus Christ, you have been saved! Eph 2
Finally,
It is my prayer for you that the Spirit of the Lord will lead you to the right place of worship. To a place where you will grow and mature in the faith of Jesus Christ and that you may share your faith and enjoy the Lord and all He has for you.
Be encouraged for you have just crossed over a great divide, you are in God’s kingdom now! Stay close to Him and read His word daily, be obedient in all the little things and trust Him for He is your heavenly Father who loves you!
Steve Grable
https://jeremiah111.org/