Christian Foundations

Is Jesus Christ Relevant Today?

Probably one of the most well known Bible verses is John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

But is it relevant to you today – that is my question to you today – Is Jesus Christ Relevant?

The scripture speaks of God’s love for His creation, a love so great that – He gave. He gave something of great value –He broke into our time and space and became Jesus Christ of Nazareth – that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

With so much cliché religion around, people have become disillusioned and confused. When presented with John 3:16 many would simply say – so what, what’s that got to do with anything, it’s irrelevant.

Unless we understand the true purpose of something then its real value will be obscured, misunderstood and unappreciated making it seem irrelevant. You could say that If we don’t understand the disease then we’ll never appreciate the cure.

Let me illustrate.

Two Airplane Passengers

Here is a story of two airplane passengers who are both told to wear a parachute, but for different reasons.

First Passenger:

The first passenger is told to put the parachute because it would improve his flight. He is sceptical at first, because he can’t see how wearing a parachute in a plane could possibly improve his flight, but decides to give it a try and puts on the parachute. Immediately he feels its weight on his shoulders and finds he has difficulty in sitting upright.

The other passengers begin to look at him and laugh, mocking him. At this he pulls off the parachute and throws it to the ground in disgust. His heart is filled with bitterness towards those who gave him the parachute.  As far as he is concerned, he was told an outright lie. …..and it will be a long time before anyone gets one of those things on his back again.

Second Passenger:

The second passenger was told to put the parachute on because at any moment throughout the flight he would have to jump out of the plane at 25,000 ft. He gladly puts the parachute on, not noticing its weight upon his shoulders nor the other passengers mocking him.

His mind is consumed with the thought of what would happen to him if he were to jump without the parachute.

An Incorrect Motive Makes the Gift Irrelevant.

The so-called “good news” of the parachute is lost on the first passenger because his motive for putting on the parachute is incorrect. So the parachute – a gift of great value not only becomes irrelevant to the first passenger, it becomes offensive.

However the “good news” of the parachute was indeed good, relevant and appreciated by the second passenger because he put it on for the correct motive. He put the parachute on solely to escape the jump to come. ….and because of his knowledge of what would happen to him if he jumped without it, he has a deep-rooted joy and peace in his heart knowing that he was saved from a sure death.

This knowledge gives him the ability to withstand the mockery of the other passengers. His attitude toward those who gave him the parachute is one of heartfelt gratitude.

Escape the Jump to Come.

Like the second passenger we need to escape the jump to come. But unless we understand that there is a jump to come then the good news of Jesus Christ will seem irrelevant.

Hebrews 9:27 says that “It is appointed for man to die once, and after this the judgment.”

There is wrath to come — Acts 17:31 “because He (God) has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness….”

God the creator of heaven and earth will call each of us to give an account of our lives on this earth when He judges us according to His divine law.

God Judges us According to His Standard Not Ours

After all, all of us can say that we’re not bad people. We can all point the finger to the evening news broadcast, and say now that person is bad, they deserve God’s judgement not me.

That’s because we judge one another by our own standard.

Gods Standard is Holy.

It Acts as a Mirror to Reveal our Sin.

It Leaves Us Guilty Before Him.

The 10 Commandments of Gods Law are Found in Exodus 20

As we look at them ask yourself this question – will I be guilty or innocent when I stand before God on judgement day, remembering that James 2:10 says “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.”

It doesn’t matter which law you break, if you break even one you’re a law-breaker.

“You shall not lie”

Lying makes you a liar, a law-breaker. Guilty.

“You shall not steal”

The value is irrelevant, paper from work, time from your employer – stealing is stealing.

“You shall not commit adultery”

Matthew 5:28 Jesus said “Whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

If you’ve answered yes to the am I guilty question, then you’re a lying, thieving adulterer who has to face God on judgement day and we’ve only covered three of the commandments.

I say it with a smile but this is serious business.

“You shall not kill”

Matthew 5:22 Jesus says “That whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment… “

1John 3:15 “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”

The bible brings Gods laws down to our heart attitudes.

“You shall not covet”

“You shall not take the Name of the Lord your God in vain”

The words Jesus Christ were used in place of a four-letter word in my house when I was growing up. The name that is above every name was brought down to a four-letter filth word.

“Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy”

Opps, sorry God no time for you, I’m doing my own thing.  I keep forgetting to rest in Your promises rather than striving to do my own thing.

“Honour your Father and your Mother”

Who can honestly say that they have always honoured their father and mother? That usually goes out the door during our teenage years if not sooner.

 “You shall have no other gods before Me”

Is God the most important thing in your life? Is He and His will your greatest priority?

“You shall not make yourself any carved image”

Don’t make a false image of God. Multitudes of people create their own image of God when they say “my God is a God of love; He would never create Hell.”

The irony of it is that they are right. Their god would never create hell, because he doesn’t exist. He is a figment of their imagination, shaped to conform to their sins.

The Question is – Are You Guilty or Innocent Before God?

If you believe you’re innocent, then you’ve created a god to suit your sins, because the Bible says in Romans 3:23 “…….. all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 6:23 “………the wages of sin is death.”

If were honest we will confess our guilt.

The Question Then Becomes – Will You go to Heaven or Hell?

Some will still say heaven, because they think that God is “good,” and that He will overlook sin in their case.

If a judge in a criminal case has a guilty murderer standing before him, the judge, if he is a good man, can’t just let him go. He must ensure that the guilty man is punished.

Likewise if God is good, He must (by nature) punish murders, rapist, thieves, liars, adulterers, fornicators and those who’ve lived in rebellion to Him, because that is the right thing to do.

The Law Brings the Knowledge of Sin (Romans 7:7)

Galatians 3:24 The law is our school master, to bring us to Christ that we may be justified by faith.

You answer the question.

You understand the disease. When you stand guilty before God on Judgement day, Jesus is the only thing that will save you from judgement and an eternity in hell.

Jesus said in John 14:6 “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.” 

Romans 6:23 says “……. the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Titus 3:5 says that it’s “…..not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Jesus came and lived a sinless life – He perfectly kept Gods law. He came to suffer and die in our place. He took our judgement upon Himself.   It’s as simple as this – We broke God’s Law, Jesus Paid our Fine – He Died in our Place

If you will repent (which means to turn from you sins) and put your trust in Jesus, God will forgive your sins and dismiss your case.

My question today is this – Is Jesus Christ Relevant to you. I believe He is, and if you agree with me then you can receive God’s free gift to you right now.

Romans 10:9 says “…….if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.”

You can make that your prayer. You can ask God to forgive your sins ……..(name them), confess your need of Jesus Christ and ask Him to be the leader of your life from now on and God will wipe the slate clean.

I believe that Jesus Christ was relevant yesterday, that He is relevant today and that He will be relevant tomorrow. What do you believe?

Susanne Fengler, Blog Author

www.christianfoundations.jesus-treeoflife.info/blog

 

Tags: Is Jesus Relevant
Filed under: Challenges to the Christian Faith