The Jesus the World Loves

[The December 2008 article featured “The ‘Jesus' the World Loves.”]

Let's start with how one comes to a true knowledge of, and relationship with, Jesus Christ. It begins with a simple understanding of the gospel1 that Jesus is God,2 who became a Man3 in order to save mankind from everlasting separation from God4 that resulted from man's sin.5 Jesus satisfied the perfect justice of God6 by His once-and-for-all payment for the sins of humanity7 through His death on the Cross.8 His resurrection from the dead9 assures the salvation of all those who acknowledge before God their sin10 and their hopelessness in saving themselves,11 and who by grace through faith12 accept Christ's sacrifice on their behalf13 and His free gift of eternal life.14 This is how one is reconciled to God15 and born again spiritually.16 This is how one's relationship with the biblical Jesus Christ17 begins.

Although that relationship is supernatural in that every true believer in Christ is indwelt by God,18 it nevertheless progresses, as any good relationship does, by getting to know the person with whom one has a relationship.

The primary way a relationship with Jesus develops is by reading the revelation of Himself given in His Word. This is the only way to obtain specific information about Him that is objective and absolutely true. In addition, not only is the content of Scripture inspired by the Holy Spirit,19 but that same Spirit of Truth is given to believers to understand that content.20 How then could those who profess to follow God's Word come up with erroneous ideas about Jesus? Regrettably, many are getting their information about Jesus from sources outside the Bible or second hand from those who claim to be teaching what the Bible says about our Lord.

1. Romans:1:16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
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 2. John:10:30-33 [30] I and my Father are one. [31] Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. [32] Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? [33] The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
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 3. 1 Timothy:2:5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
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 4. John:14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
See All..., John:3:16-17 [16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
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 5. Isaiah:59:2But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
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 6. 1 John:2:2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
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 7. Hebrews:10:10-12 [10] By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. [11] And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: [12] But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
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 8. Hebrews:12:2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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 9. Romans:1:3-4 [3] Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; [4] And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
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10. 2 Corinthians:7:10For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
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11. Romans:5:6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
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12. Ephesians:2:8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
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13. John:3:15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
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14. Romans:5:18Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
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15. John:3:3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
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16. Galatians:2:20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
See All...; 1 Peter:1:23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
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17. Colossians:1:27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
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http://www.thebereancall.org/node/7266