The Reason

Isaiah 64:6 (NIV) – We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. –  I think that all to often today we hear of the need for Jesus Christ and though it does come up, it seems to me we don’t hear why we need him enough. And I think the why is crucial for churches trying to reach the non-Christian. I think it’s only natural for non-Christians to say “what do I need Christ for?” Without knowing why we need a Savior, the Gospel sounds ridiculous and unnecessary (1 Corinthians 1:18 – For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God). Adam and Eve fell into sin in the Garden of Eden and since then all people ever born are sinful and had/have a sinful nature that wants to control us and causes us to want to go our own way instead of God’s way. Easton’s Bible dictionary describes sin as ‘any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God’. God’s first promise of a Savior was made when he was talking to Satan in Genesis 3:15 – (And I will put enmity (a very deep unfriendly feeling) between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel”). Enmity is exactly what’s happening between Christ and Satan. And each of them are calling to us and despite his claims Satan can only offer us death and destruction, while as our Savior Christ can offer us salvation and eternal life.         What About Jesus?

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The Die-hards

Matthew 10:22 (NIV) – You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved – This scripture verse is short, but I think it packs a big message. While the first part of it tells us what we can expect from the world for following Christ, the second part seems to imply that some who follow him will fall away. I wonder if that will be the rebellion told about in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 (Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.) The man of lawlessness (a.k.a. the anti-Christ) will convince many that Christ is not who he says he is. He’ll probably say some of the things we’ve already been hearing  like “the Bible makes no sense and is outdated”, or “if God was coming he’d have been here by now” or something similar. Recognizing him will be easy by comparing what he says to what is written in the Bible. Christ wants us to resist the man of lawlessness and be ‘die-hards’. I’m not talking about the famous movies or car batteries here, but the people who will not change their beliefs no matter what. The word ‘die-hard’ is defined as someone very determined or loyal; especially : very loyal to a set of beliefs and not willing to change those beliefs.Since Christ is our only Savior who can justify us to God, lets stand strong to the end for him.                    What About Jesus?  

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