In the last blog post we looked at how important it is to really know the Christ of the Holy Scriptures.To some this might sound like a silly question, but it truly isn’t. Jesus is not a “relative thought,” or some figure based on any religious or personal philosophy. He is who He is and God’s Word, the Bible, reveals to us exactly who He is.
In Jesus’ day, many were confused about who Jesus Christ was. Jesus asked his disciples, "Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am?" And they said, Some say that Thou art John the Baptist: some Elias [Elijah]; and others, Jeremias [Jeremiah], or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, but whom say ye that I am? (Matthew 16:13-15)
Who do you say that Jesus is? Do your thoughts, upbringing, religious background, or personal beliefs about Jesus line up with God’s Christ of the HOLY SCRIPTURES? You might ask, “Well, does it make a difference? My friend, again I say unto you, it surely does!
You see, even in Jesus’ day, there were many who were confused and troubled about who was God’s Messiah to the world. When Jesus entered into Jerusalem on the Sunday before the Great Passover feast (Palm Sunday), multitudes upon multitudes welcomed Him (Matt. 21:9), but after three days the same multitudes cried, “Let him be crucified!” (Matt 27:11-26, Luke 23:18-24). How could this be? It was because the multitudes had their own perception and personal view of who Jesus was, one that was not rooted in reality or truth. When His True Person and work was made known to them, they had absolutely no use for Him. They rejected the reality of His claims (John 3:16-21) and cried out for his death. Their response was quite an extreme action - one would think - but that is how offended in Him they were. Their offense - because of their offence - went from an extreme emotion of hate to the violent act of murder (Acts 2:22-23). These multitudes wanted a savior for their own narcissistic lives, not a Savior for their sinful condition. They had totally misunderstood and rejected Almighty God’s Savior who was (and is) The King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
The Lord Jesus made this tearful, heart-wrenching statement: “And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes, For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.” (Luke 19:41-44)
You see, these multitudes had a multitude of opinions and views of Jesus, but when they were confronted with the reality of Jesus’ Person - The Christ of the Holy Scriptures - they outright rejected Him, crucified and murdered Him. They had settled for their own depraved solutions and their own saviors for their sinful and lost condition.
In the end, their solutions could never deliver or bring any solution at all. They were doomed by their own decree. (Matthew 21:1-11; 27:15-26)
Many dear, professing “Christians” today, who are surely sincere in their Christian traditions and seemingly secure in their own beliefs, have another (different) Christ and thus reject the Christ of the Holy Scriptures for their “own” Jesus (Matt 15:8).
TAKE THE JESUS CHALLENGE
The Bible is the final AUTHORITY on who Jesus Christ is. It is God’s absolute instruction manual and blueprint for life. If you reject the authority of the Word of God, my friend, you are doomed. There is no hope for your lost, sinful condition. The Bible teaches that “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). All! You need to know the True Savior, not a make-believe one. It’s that serious. Don’t let your deceitful heart and pride ruin you and keep you from God’s redemption found in Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify [speak] of me" (John 5:39).
The purpose of this Bible study is to bring a person through God’s simple plan of salvation using only the Gospel of John. When a Gospel of John is handed out to a person, it is a good idea to give the person this study along with it. The study was written in such a way (question/ answer format) that the person can see for themselves what the Bible really says about who Jesus Christ is, what He has done for us, and the necessity of putting our faith in Him.
For the person doing this study, please answer the following questions by looking up the Bible verses which are given, all of which can be found in the Gospel of John.
Link – Take the Jesus Challenge and to the Gospel of St. John Bible study.
If you have participated in this challenge, what was your conclusion about who Jesus Christ is?
Have you ever studied and read The Holy Scriptures in this light before? Have you ever read of the Person of Jesus Christ and God's true plan of SALVATION set out in God’s Holy Scripture in this manner? Was the way in which you had always perceived, understood and pictured Jesus different from the way the Holy Scriptures reveal Him?
If you have come to this conclusion, then it is our sincerest desire that you humbly bow and receive God's True Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ into your heart. Remember God ONLY goes by His Word and has provided fallen man His own Savior and Christ for our eternal salvation. Remember, God does not go by our own views and good intentions of who we think Christ is, but by His own, which is in reality and truth.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!
DJP I.F.
The Gospel of John Challenge