The key to Understanding Jesus Christ
The key to Understanding Jesus Christ |
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| How did Jesus come into existence ? | |
| Jesus was born about 2000
years ago in Bethlehem to a Jewish woman called Mary, who was a virgin.
Jesus' father was God who by miraculous intervention made Mary conceive
Jesus whilst still a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel or God with us.) (Matthew 1:18 Now the
birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was
espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of
the Holy Spirit.) |
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| Jesus and his mission. | |
| Jesus Christ is the long
awaited saviour not only the Jews but all men and women who wish to
believe in him. He was made for this purpose and given this mission by God
who is his father. (Luke 2:11 for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.) (John 4:42 and they said... Now we believe, ... for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world.) |
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| Jesus as a child. | |
| Jesus, for most of his
childhood grew up in Nazareth, a small town in the region of the sea of
Galilee. Jesus was raised by Mary and Joseph, and he was given an
education in carpentry and the things of God.
(Matthew 2:23 And he
came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which
was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.) The bible tells us Jesus gathered knowledge as he grew up. By the age of twelve he was already very knowledgeable, to the point that he amazed the wise men of his day. (Luke 2:40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. (Luke 2:46 And it came
to pass, that after three days they (Mary and Joseph) found him (the 12
year old Jesus) in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both
hearing them, and asking them questions. |
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| Jesus and his ministry. | |
| Jesus only began his ministry
at the age of 30 years. It first began with his baptism in the River
Jordan by John the Baptist.
(Luke3:21
... Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, |
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| What did Jesus achieve ? | |
| John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus, although a human with the ability to sin did not sin. He was crucified despite never doing anything worthy of this punishment. He showed that human nature or flesh not matter how good should die (Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death...) This act showed a simple principle. Only God is righteous and flesh is unrighteous. It is only on this basis that God will save us (Romans 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him ). Jesus, because he did not sin could not suffer the fate of all sinners and remain dead so it was that three days after his death he was resurrected by his father. It was this act that provided a way that all people can escape the ultimate punishment for being human. Jesus became the role model or firstfruits for any person who believes in him and identifies with his death, whereby they can also share in the same reward that Jesus does now and that is life forever (Acts 26:23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles). (I Cor 15:17-19
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished ... we are
of all men most miserable). |
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| How do we show our faith in Jesus ? | |
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Through baptism, which is figurative of
the death, burial and then resurrection of Jesus. When the person being
baptised is raised from the water they have in both the eyes of Jesus and
God died for their sins and are forgiven for all of them. They now can
live without the burden of these sins, and also stand to inherit the
kingdom of God with all the other men and women who have shown this type
of faith. (Romans 6:23 ...
the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord). |
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| Baptism is a once only act. What happens after ? | |
| Unfortunately after baptism
any human will sin again. Even after baptism we are still accountable for
these sins if we do not show repentance and seek God's forgiveness.
Forgiveness is only achieved through Jesus again. This is achieved by
identifying with the death and resurrection of Jesus, which are symbolised
in bread and wine, that we are able to take of any time we meet together (John
6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed).
This commonly is on a Sunday, but there is no stipulation on the day. This
simple act enables the partaker to identify with Jesus, have our sins
forgiven because we are showing that only God is righteous and we are not.
It is only then that God can forgive us. |
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| When will we be made immortal ? | |
| When Jesus returns to this
earth to establish the kingdom of his father, then he will then decide who
will be made immortal, but we can be reassured that his judgments will be
totally right (Acts 17:31 Because he hath
appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by
that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all
men, in that he hath raised him from the dead).
Jesus when he returns will gather all
those who have believed in him and been baptised whether they are alive or
not. This obviously means that he will resurrect many many people who have
died over the centuries. (2
Timothy 4:1 ... the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the
dead at his appearing and his kingdom). |
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