The most wonderful message of all

I’ve noticed that during this time of the year there are some who will bring up the fact that Jesus was born, but they don’t like to focus on how this same Jesus didn’t stay a baby; He grew up.  The reality is Jesus lived the greatest life that anyone has ever lived.  According to the Bible, He lived the perfect and sinless life that you and I could never live (John 8:46; 1 Peter 2:21-22).  He preached the most remarkable sermons (Matthew 5-7 is devoted exclusively to one of them); He performed amazing miracles; He loved people even if they were social outcasts, and on and on we could go.  Ultimately Jesus died a bloody, painful death by crucifixion, and three days later, He literally and bodily rose from the grave; victorious over death itself!

Near the end of the book of John, the writer makes this statement, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31).  When John says “believe” here, he doesn’t mean to give some kind of intellectual, cognitive assent or agreement.  It’s not like if someone were to ask you, “Do you believe the sky is blue?”  The word “believe” in the Bible means to trust or to rely upon.  It is used other places in the Bible.  For example, in Acts 16 someone asks the Apostle Paul, “What must I do to be saved?”  His answer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” (verse 31).  He means “trust and rely on Jesus and you’ll be saved from your sins.”

That’s why I mentioned Jesus’ death and resurrection earlier.  You see, we are all sinners in need of a Savior.  Not one of us can claim to be without sin (1 John 1:8).  This sin separates us from God and excludes us from entrance into Heaven.  We need someone to atone for our sins.  Jesus Christ, God incarnate – God in human flesh – was the only one qualified to pay the price for our sins.  On the cross, He actually cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:30).  The Greek word Jesus used here conveys the idea that Jesus was saying, “The price of sin has fully and finally been paid.”  

After all this, Jesus confirmed that this death on the cross wasn’t just like any other death by rising from the dead!  He had predicted numerous times that He was going die, but that this wasn’t going to be the end, He was going to be resurrected (see Matthew 16:21 for just one example).  He showed that He was no liar, because it all happened just as He said it would.  

To be clear, everyone does not have an automatic pass to Heaven simply because of Jesus’ work on the cross; we have to make the decision to put our faith and trust in Christ. I invite you to read these words as if for the first time: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes (notice that word "believe") in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).  

It's interesting that John 3:16 is frequently cited, but the powerful subsequent verses are not quoted nearly as often.  Look at verses 17 and 18 of John 3: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  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.”
  
Christmas Day is a great time to ask this question: have you ever believed on the Lord Jesus Christ?  Have you ever put your faith and trust in Him to save you from your sins?  If not, don’t delay; please do it now.  So today, Christmas Day 2011, it is a great time to ask this question: have you ever believed on the Lord Jesus Christ?  Have you ever put your faith and trust in Him to save you?  If not, don’t delay; please do it now.  You may think I’m exaggerating, but the honest truth is it would be the privilege of my life if just one person saw their need for Jesus, and through simple words in a blog, someone chose to put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.  That’s my earnest hope and my sincere prayer. 

Kevin