GlocalNet

There are two core reasons that I follow Jesus.

1.  Because of what he says about himself. 
      He says that he is God and as such forgives sins.  There was no question about this from a Jewish perspective; this is the human reason that got him crucified.  John 1:1-4 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” The Word here is Jesus - there is no doubt about that or the claim to equality with God.  Within many of the records of the miracles of Jesus, he says that he is the Son of God.  The famous John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  John 5:18 “This is why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.”  John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life - no one comes to the Father except through me.”

2.  Because of what he provided in forgiveness by what he did on the cross.  All through out the New Testament Jesus is doing only what God can do - forgiving people.  All religious Scripture deals with the reality that God created man, man is separated from God by sin - and there is mercy and justice and forgiveness by God.  The question is, how is that mercy obtained?  There are basically two options.  One is through human effort.  At this point most all of the world religions are in agreement.  Here is the question, “Do I justify myself before God from my own works and goodness - or do I find justification outside myself from an act of God?”  I do not believe man can justify himself before God.  First of all, if man justifies himself - How much justification is needed?  If man justifies himself - he cannot know until he dies and stands before God.  That means there can be no spirituality - how can a man be spiritual who doesn’t know God?  That means there can be no path, direction, hope, security, or even meaning in life - everything is a gamble - a wish and a prayer that you’ve been good enough.  If that’s the case - any religion will do, because that is the core of what most religions teach.  However, in Christianity Jesus not only offers mercy and forgiveness - he provides the way for it completely outside of us and totally with him.  He not only tells us we were made for eternity and that there is heaven and hell - but he tells us how to avoid hell and find life in the family of God and spend eternity with him. 

So, not only does Christianity acknowledge man has sinned and separated from God and needs God - it also has provided the way, through what Jesus did on the cross.  At the core here, is an understanding of the nature of the person and work of the life of Jesus - why could he do this?  That’s tomorrow .  .  .  .