Who Is Jesus, Really?

Do you know who Jesus is?

In our western culture almost everyone has heard his name. We have all learned about him through Christmas, Easter and perhaps other Christians. But, do you really know who Jesus is?

Jesus lived 2,000 years ago. This has been historically established as fact. He was given another name, Immanuel. Which means God with us. In the New Testament the first four books are witness accounts of the ministry of Jesus and his life. They are called the gospels. The Gospel means the good news.

What is the Gospel?

Jesus of Nazareth, the Immanuel, lived a perfect life. This means without sin. We know about sin through the law of the ten commandments. This is where societies’ morality was born out of. Three of the ten commandments are: “You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness.“ Jesus living a perfect life without sin fulfilled the law and fulfilling all the former prophecies of the Prophets as well. Everything in the Bible, (The Holy Scriptures), points to him in past, present and future tenses.

This Jesus of Nazareth having fulfilled all of the law, sinless and pure, became the atonement for all. You see, all of us, ( the whole human race) are sinners. We couldn’t keep the law, not even in our actions let alone our thoughts. We needed to be redeemed to God. We could never be cleansed from our sin by anything we could do. God sent Jesus, his begotten, to be our sacrifice in order for us to even consider reconciliation.

This Reconciliation happens through the faith in Jesus Christ dying on the cross, taking our sins and God’s just wrath for us. He (Jesus) who knew no sin, became sin for us. Having died on the Cross, which fulfilled prophecy, he then was buried. Jesus lay in the tomb for 3 days, then God the Father resurrected His Son. Only by the power of God the father is this possible. God, having raised Jesus back to life, justified us. The sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross had finished the atonement and God accepted it.

Now, because of the empty tomb, and Jesus being glorified; through faith in what He has accomplished as the Christ, we can be free of God's wrathful eternal judgment. This is accomplished in believing that Jesus of Nazareth bore your sin and died for you so that you could be with God after you die.

Repentance is now required to change your direction of life. Without believing in Jesus and what He accomplished, you are under judgment and condemnation. God is holy and therefore must judge all sin, and all sinners will perish and be gone forever. “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

“Behold today is the day of salvation.” Jesus is the only way to God the Father. Jesus is the only one that God resurrected and did not die again. Only His tomb is empty. The final proof of our redemption, no other religion comes close to this love demonstrated on the cross. The only true information about God is in the Bible. Our lives are but on the edge of a knife, in a heartbeat your life can vanish. Decide this day on the way you will live, but be certain that God will act as any good judge will. If you want to know more look below to join us for a live Gospel message or watch the Dvd that was received with this tract.

Why the Bible?

True, professing Christians believe that the Bible is the only authoritative description of the knowledge of God. The Bible is the only book that defines: who God is, what God has done, what God is doing and what God is going to do.

The Bible is actually 66 books compiled in what is known as canonical. The Bible is historically accurate, scientifically accurate, prophetically accurate and Spiritually accurate.

There is only one thing in the 3400 year history of the Bible that may be considered illogical. It is the fact that God would give inadequate humans His perfect gift of immeasurable grace!

Written by J. MacDonald
Edited by N. Schmidt

This is the first video on the Dvd that will be handed out in tandem with the, "Who is Jesus, Really?" tract. The video features Paul Washer from HeartCry Missionary Society.

Below is Jonathan Sims' "No Greater Love." Which will be featured in the Dvd that The Empty Tomb Ministry is presenting. Unfortunately we were unable to extract just his message, but graciously Anchored In Truth Ministries let us use the evening service video. Jonathan Sims message starts at the 24:50 mark.

Watch live streaming video from anchoredintruth at livestream.com

This is the third and final video message that will be featured on the Dvd. This is, "The Resurrection Confronts, " by Joshua Harris from Covenant life Church.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

The Character of God

The Holiness of God

Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You cannot look on wickedness with favor. Habakkuk 1:13
But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. Isaiah 59:2

The Justice of God

For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face. Psalm 11:7
But the LORD of hosts will be exalted in judgment, and the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness. Isaiah 5:16
God is a righteous judge, and a God who has indignation every day. If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready. Psalm 7:11-12

The Depravity & Condemnation of Man

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment Isaiah 64:6
For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ACCURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM. Galatians 3:10

The Great Dilemma

He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. Proverbs 17:15
Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly? Genesis 18:25

God's Action

While maintaining His holiness and justice, the Bible also affirms that God is love, and that in love He has responded to the plight of man.

Motivated by Love

God is love. By this the love of God is manifested in us, that God sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:8-10

The Cross of Christ

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:23-26

The Resurrection

He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. Romans 4:25

Man's Response

Repentance begins with a recognition and confession that what God says
about us is true that we have sinned.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so
that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge. Psalm 51:3-4

A genuine recognition of our sinfulness and guilt will also lead to genuine sorrow, shame and even hatred for what we have done.

For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. Romans 7:15
Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from this body of death? Romans 7:24

Apparent sincerity of confession alone is never definite evidence of genuine repentance. It must be accompanied by a turning away from sin.

Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil. Isaiah 1:16
therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Matthew 3:10

Faith Defined

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Romans 4:21

Faith Based on The Promises of God

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16
Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved Acts 16:31

Example of a Believer

worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh Philippians 3:3

The Basis of Genuine Assurance

True conversion: A true Christian is a new creation and will live a life that reflects God's radical work of re-creation in his/her life. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? Matthew 7:16
Assurance is based upon self-examination in the light of Scripture. Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you unless indeed you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13

Test of Biblical Assurance

1 John 1:5-7 (Walking in the Light), 1 John 1:8-10 (Confession of Sin), 1 John 2:3-4 (Obedience), 1 John 2:9-11 (Love for the Brethren), 1 John 2:15-17 (Hatred for the World), 1 John 2:24-25 (Perseverance in Doctrine), 1 John 3:10 (Righteousness), 1 John 4:13 (Spirit's Testimony), Hebrews 12:5-8 (Discipline)

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Links:

Who Do You Think I Am? - by John Macarthur
Don't Waste Your Life Tract - by John Piper
Quest For Joy - by John Piper

Visit their website: http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/