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Jesus came to offer God's grace to us
John's gospel begins with one word, and the word is Jesus. But it is not enough just to say his name, even in a word. We must know what the word means. Nothing is more important. For to know the word is to know Jesus Christ, and to know Jesus Christ is to be truly Christian. Here is what Jesus Christ means, and here is what it means to be a Christian: Read John 1:1-18. Jesus is God The first words of John's gospel harken back to the first words of the Bible, Genesis 1:1. In the beginning there was God and only God. Then, God created. Who is the divine creator of all things, according to the Genesis record? It is God, who literally spoke the universe into existence. Who is the divine creator of all things, according to John? Who spoke all things into being? The "word." Reread these three verses substituting the word "word" and all pronouns with "Jesus." The distinctive thing about Christianity is the deity of Jesus Christ. He was, is, and always will be God. Jesus is life Before God made man he made light. Without light, man could not live. This is true physically and spiritually. A man can live physically, at least for a while, without Jesus Christ. But a man cannot live spiritually and eternally without Jesus. People do not generally comprehend this, because without Jesus we are dead men walking. The distinctive thing about Christianity is its offer of life and rescue from death. Jesus is the dividing line between the two. Jesus is truth Truth be told, none of what John has told is of any value if it is not true. But if it is true, we must be witnesses for the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Before there was John the apostle there was John the Baptist. God chose him to be the first teller of truth, in the Christian sense. Witnesses are called and chosen to tell the truth, and no one did it any better than John the Baptist. The distinctive thing about Christianity is its absolute truth. When we share the good news of Jesus Christ, we are not sharing an opinion that may be right or wrong, or an option of one valid choice among many, or a myth made up to explain the unexplainable. When we talk about the Jesus of the Bible, we are telling the historical, biblical, absolute truth. Jesus is judgment The light of Jesus Christ is the measure by which every human being will be ultimately judged. This is true for every man in every period of time in every corner of the earth. Because there is light, because there is Jesus, there will be judgment. Every cognizant human creature is aware of creation. There is enough light in creation to make man curious about God. Curiosity about God leads to the conviction that there is a God, and I need to know him. God can only be known through the person and work of Jesus Christ. The distinctive thing about Christianity is its comprehensive judgment. All who do not receive Jesus will receive judgment instead. There will be no other ways, no second chances, only severe condemnation for those "who did not receive him." Jesus is salvation Not all reject Jesus, however. Many receive him. To them, and only them, belong salvation. Salvation is not a human right to be claimed because you are Jewish, or American, or any other nationality. Salvation is not a work or decision wrought by man's will. Salvation is God's right to give to whom he wills. And God wills to give salvation to everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ. The distinctive thing about Christianity is its exclusive offer of eternal life. It is, and he is, "... the way, the truth and the life." Jesus is the one and only, and the only one who receives him is the one who believes in him. Jesus is incarnation John the Baptist and John the apostle actually touched the gospel, for the gospel is the person and work of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist knew Jesus, though six months younger than him, was the eternal God. He knew the son came uniquely from the father, since the father and son are one. John the apostle touched Jesus and talked with Jesus and therefore begs us to join him in believing in Jesus. The distinctive thing about Christianity is the humanity of Christ. I do not think we would believe or could believe if God had not come down from heaven and told us to believe. There would be nothing to believe if Christ has not come, lived, died, and rose again. And, he did. Jesus is grace Did Christ come because we are good people to be joined, or because we are sinners to be rescued? Did Christ come because we deserve the gospel, or because God desired to reveal the gospel? The answer to these questions, and every other question about Jesus and the gospel, is the revelation of God's grace. The distinctive thing about Christianity is the grace of God. We have all broken the law, but God offers grace. We have all deserved punishment, but God offers grace. Jesus Christ, among all that he is and all he has done, is a revelation to us of the grace of God.
Grace is why God came to us. Grace is why we have the opportunity for life by knowing the truth. Grace is how we can escape judgment and receive salvation instead. Grace is why God became a man, died on a cross, and rose again. Grace is the gospel, the gospel is Jesus, and Jesus offers grace to you today. That's one word you ought to grab onto for now and forever.
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