Salvation

Do you know Jesus?

A vast majority of those of us living in this country have likely encountered this question at some point in our lives... What does this really mean? Soon we'll address that question, and we'll consider it from another perspective by considering an equally appropriate question: Does Jesus know you?

Do you know Jesus? Who is Jesus? Sure--even historians and anthropologists acknowledge that there was a man named Jesus who walked the earth approximately 2000 years ago. But Jesus is so much more than that! It is probably safe to say that Jesus had the most intimate relationship with God. Why? Jesus was born of God--begotten of God--God's only begotten Son (John 3:16). God was Jesus' Father before He was ours (Luke 1:26-35, Luke 2:21-52), and it is because of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection (Luke 22-24) that we have the blood-bought right to call ourselves sons of God, to call Him our Father. (Romans 8:14) Although Christ Himself is God's mystery (Colossians 2:2, Revelation 19:11-13), many scriptures reveal to us the exact nature of His relationship with the Father and the fact that Jesus is also Deity (Colossians 2:9, Isaiah 9:6, 1 Timothy 3:16, and John 1:1-14, Revelation 1:12-18, 19:11-16). Jesus is the only begotten Son of GOD (the Father)--YHWH (interpreted "Jehovah"), Elohim--in His identity and personhood. And the scriptures tell us that He is also God--in His position, or office (Matthew 28:18, John 17:2)--a collaborative governance in conjunction with God's Holy Spirit (Numbers 11:16-25, John 14:15-26, Matthew 12:30-32, Acts 16:7), of all creation, all life, all power and authority, and the carrying out of the prophesy of the end times (Genesis 1:26-27,1 John 5:6-8, Revelations 14:13, 22:17).

So you ask, What does Jesus have to do with salvation? And exactly what is salvation? Jesus is our Savior (Luke 2:11, 2 Timothy 1:9-11)--savior from eternal death, the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23). God hated sin so much that in Old Testament days He required sin offerings--specific sacrifices with specific instructions to pay the price for it. But the world was in need of a Redeemer--one who would purchase those from the world those who believe by way of a perfect and final sacrifice. It is for this reason that God sent His own Son--deity into lowly flesh--into the world as man in order to die for the sins of the world (John 3:16-17). Jesus' death meant life for us so that we might dwell with Him in eternity (Luke 23:43, I Thessalonians 4:13-17, Revelations 7, 20). Jesus brought salvation as we know it to the world. What a love!

What's the alternative? Read Luke 16:19-31, Revelation 13, and Revelation 20:10-15. The alternative is eternal separation from Christ. Some may be deceived presently and think that life without Christ is more free, more fun, and more desirable. But 2 Corinthians 3:17 says that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Where the Spirit of the Lord is not and will not be, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:31-42). This is what Jesus' death and resurrection save us from. Jesus rose from the dead once but He will return to the earth again (Matthew 24, Mark 13) to judge it (2 Corinthians 5:10, Matthew 12:36, John 5:22-23, I Corinthians 4:5, Ecclesiastes 12:14). It is at this point that Christ will separate the wheat from the chaff. The chaff will be thrown into the lake of fire (Matthew 3:11-12, 13:24-50, 25:31-46). Jesus loved us so much that He paid the cost of sin for us. All we have to do is accept the gift--the FREE gift--eternal life.

Why should we accept? And how do we accept? We should accept because of who Jesus is, what He did for us, and because we love God and want to serve Him (I Corinthians 8:6). What's the alternative? Remaining in the world and OF the world. Christians are on the side of the Most High God. The devil is God's adversary, or enemy. Those who reject God are on the devil's side. Do you think that if you're not "ready" to live for God that you are not necessarily serving the adversary? James 4:4 corrects that thinking. With God there is no middle ground. God wants us to be either hot or cold (Revelation 3:15-16). Shades of gray are no shades at all. If you do not accept the gospel of Jesus Christ and profess Him as Savior and Lord and make Him Lord of your life, you have chosen to reject Him. You have shown preference for the world. You have affiliated yourself with the enemy. You have made yourself the enemy. Sounds bad? It is.

Why would you want to be an enemy of God? James 2:23 says that Abraham was the friend of God. He recognized the awesome power and dominion of the Holy One and was immensely blessed because of his relationship with God and obedience to God's will. God is the Maker of heaven and earth and all that is between! Seen and unseen. He is the Giver of life. He is, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations." (Exodus 34:6-7) God may be a jealous God (Deuteronomy 4:24), but He is also a merciful God! (Psalm 136) The Almighty loved us enough to have Jesus give His life for us...and then still gave us a CHOICE about whether or not to serve Him! He is all-powerful and all-seeing--He is God all by Himself; He could MAKE us serve Him. But He wants us to do it out of our love and respect for Him. God loved us so much that He revealed Himself to us through the scriptures and with the coming of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus (John 1:18). The Bible says that, "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:6-8) He has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us in our walk with Him--if we would only choose Him. In Deuteronomy 5:29, God says, "Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!" God wants us to choose the path of righteousness and promises that it will be well with us! Salvation and everlasting life with Him will be well with us! And we can bank on God's promises because He does not change and He does not lie (I Samuel 15:29, Malachi 3:6). You can count on the promises of the Most High God. 2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." The Bible says that, "now is 'THE DAY OF SALVATION'". (2 Corinthians 6:2) Won't you choose God today?

Romans 10:9 says, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved." Not "if you go to church" or "if you were once baptized", you shall be saved. As Pastor Darryl says, being in church doesn't make you a Christian any more than being in a garage makes you a car. This is about public confession of the Christ (Matthew 16:13-17) and about a heart transaction through which you imitate Him by submitting your will to God's (Matthew 26:39). We are to REPENT (Acts 17:30, Luke 5:31-32)--ask forgiveness for our sins (1 John 1:9) and turn from our wicked ways and serve God (Romans 1:18-21). ["Wicked" does not exclusively mean "floridly evil and satanic"; wickedness is all unrighteousness; it is sin...it is evil in God's eyes.] Won't you confess the Lord Jesus today?

If you think, "I'm young. I have the rest of my life to accept the Lord," consider again--do you? God's word says otherwise. The Bible says, "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." James 4:14 You do not know the end of your days, and no one knows the appointed time for the return of the Messiah (Mark 13:31-37). If you think, "I'm grown and I've done so much wrong...I don't see how the Lord could ever forgive me," the Bible says that He is faithful to do so--if you only confess your sins to Him (1 John 1:9). Is the Lord limited? No, He is not. He's extended His hand... Won't you take it now while you yet have a chance? Hebrews 9:27-28 says, "And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him." With accepting Christ you place the judgment for your sins at the cross where He died. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin! (1 John 1:7) By God's grace, your ransom is already taken care of! He will appear again for salvation without reference to your sins! (Romans 8:1) No one except Jesus lived without sin (Hebrews 4:14-15). And no price you could have paid would have been enough to exempt you from death. If you think that you want to wait until you "get yourself together" before you come to the Lord--if you could be blameless all by yourself, for what reason would you need a Savior? You can't do it by your own power and might--only by God's Spirit can you get yourself together (Zechariah 4:5-6). So God sent His only begotten Son for us, that we might have that chance--if only we accept it. God loved us and wanted us to be saved from the wages of sin! How awesome a love that must be! Don't wait, for tomorrow is not promised. Won't you love Him today? Your tomorrow very well might be too late. Won't you choose Him today?

This is the word of truth, the gospel--the good news! The news that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living GOD! LIVING God (I Kings 18:25-40). The news that He came to earth in the flesh, died and was resurrected that we might be saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) and have eternal life through Him! Through Jesus, God is our Father also, and Jesus is One with Him (Isaiah 7:14, John 10, John 17:21). Jesus is our only way to the Father (John 14:6, 1 Timothy 2:3-6). The Bible says that whoever believes in Jesus will not perish but have everlasting life. The Bible is God's LIVING word (2 Timothy 3:16-17)--this is how we know that these things are true. Romans 12:3 says that no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 says, "for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction." The divine instruction of God's word is what enables us to learn the truth about Jesus and to come to know Him (1 John 2:3-6). The power of the Holy Spirit that causes us to confess Him and to live for Him and carry out God's word is what allows Jesus to say that He knows us (Mark 8:38, Matthew 7:21-23, Luke 12"8-9, 13:22-30).

Do you know Jesus? If you did not know Jesus at all before you came to page, and if Jesus didn't know you, and you have asked Him to come into your life and be Lord of it and your personal Savior, you have accepted salvation. You are "saved". This is your new birth; this is what it means to be "born again". This is the beginning of your Christian life and your eternal life in the presence of the Lord...forever!

If reading this good news has impacted you, and you have decided to follow Jesus, Church of the Harvest encourages you to get a Bible, if you don't already have one, and read it and pray that God will help you to understand the scriptures (Luke 24:45) and their meaning for your life. If you feel that you don't know where to begin, the scriptures laced in this text are a excellent place to begin! We also encourage you to connect with a local church in order that you might grow and become equipped with the tools to hold fast to your new or renewed faith (Hebrews 10:23-25). With faith and trust in the Lord comes obedience to His word (1 Samuel 15:22-23), and the Bible instructs us to assemble ourselves with one another, for the body of Christ is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). Attending church will aid you in becoming familiar with what the word of God says, and developing relationships with other belivers will help you in your walk with Christ (I Corinthians 15:58). Salvation may be a one-time event, but sanctification is a daily and enduring process (I Peter 3:15, Psalm 119:11). If you can say that you know Jesus, but you are not sure that Jesus could say He knows you (Luke 12:22-30)--for example, if you have been out of fellowship with Christ or have gone back into the world or are living a life that opposes the commandments of the Lord--and this message inspires you to come back into the flock, won't you pray right now, wherever you are, and confess your sins to God? Ask for His forgiveness and His guidance, ask Him to clean up your heart and your life so that you might be available for Him to use you for His kingdom (Psalm 51, John 14:23). If you would like to let us know that you have made this critical decision to accept Jesus as your Savior or to restore Him to the throne of your life as Lord, please feel free to contact us in order that we might pray for you and your spiritual growth. Getting under godly leadership, staying in fellowship with God's children, studying His word, and spending time in prayer daily will open you up to receive what God has for you next! (Proverbs 3:5-6)