Simple, Yet Profound

 

In the Bible, John 1:1-18 makes some interesting claims about Jesus and Him being God. 

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 came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.  In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.  The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 

There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.  He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.  He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.  

There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.  He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.  

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.  john testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'"  For of His fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace.  For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.  No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten of God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.  

John 1:1-18 is the Gospel at a high level.  I've added a little more detail from Romans.    

• Jesus, being God, became man to dwell amongst us.  
• Jesus is the only perfect being to have ever walked the face of the earth (the only being to fulfill the law of Moses) -- all others have sinned against God and fall short of the glory of God.  (Romans 3:23)  We need God's forgiveness for our sins.  Our sins drive a wedge between us and God that prevents us from having the relationship with Him that He intended.    
• The consequence of sin is spiritual death (separation from God) and physical death.  (Romans 6:23)
• Through Jesus' death and resurrection, those who acknowledge He is God and His lordship over their lives, like John, and seek forgiveness of their sins, receive grace upon grace in the forgiveness of their sins and in restoration with God, being born again into spiritual life and given the right to become children of God.  
• John 3:16-18 stakes this further: the person who believes these things is saved from the wrath to come and shall have eternal life; the one who does not is judged to perdition for their sins because God designed for salvation to come through Christ.  

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.  For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.  He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

It is that simple . . . and that profound.  God became man to demonstrate His heart toward us and who He is.  In believing in who Jesus is and accepting what Jesus did for us for the forgiveness of sins and in making Him Lord of our lives, God gives us the promise of eternal life.  To paraphrase 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, we need reconciliation with God because of our sins and that reconciliation comes in what Jesus did for us.  We deserve spiritual death as punishment for our sins and that sin separates us from God.  If you accept Jesus’ sacrifice in your place you receive His righteousness in exchange for your sin.  And when you do this, because God raised Jesus from the dead, He makes you alive together with Him.  2 Corinthians 5:20-21 states.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  

Romans 5:1-11 explains this further in terms of reconciliation and our need for it. 

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.  And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.  But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have no received the reconciliation.  

Romans 3:21-28 explains this further in terms of the role Jesus plays as Savior and Redeemer by being both the Just (never sinned) and the Justifier (bore Justice for us).  It also explains why salvation has to come through Jesus Christ: being good enough (works-based salvation) is not good enough – it takes faith in Jesus Christ and what He did in our place (who He is, what He did – a faith-based salvation).  Romans 3:21-28 states,

But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe, for there is no distinction; 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.  

Where then is boasting?  It is excluded.  By what kind of law?  Of works?  No, but by a law of faith.  For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.  

The Bible also explains there is only one path to salvation.  Acts 4:12: “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”  Or as Jesus, Himself claimed, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” 

In the end, as has always been intended, it is a choice: everyone has a free-will choice what they will do with this.  God in His holiness combined with His mercy and His love for us provided a Just solution for our sins – one that only He could fulfill by becoming a person and dying in on the cross in our place.  Rising physically from the dead, He defeated the physical consequences of sin (Death).  These things allowed Jesus to become the Justifier for those who believe in Him as Savior and Redeemer and to promise us eternal life.  In the process, we become reconciled to God . . . and this new found relationship then continues throughout eternity.    

It is that simple; yet it is that profound.  Will you believe?  Will you accept what He did for you on the cross believing that He is God and that He rose from the dead, and receive Him as Lord of your life?  If you do, your sins will be passed over because of the judgment Jesus took in your place, you will be reconciled with God, and you will not perish but have eternal life. 

Frankly, what do you have to lose?  

He offers this salvation freely.  It's a matter of accepting it.  

God wants relationship with us.  That only comes through Jesus.  Will you receive Him?  Will you choose to reconcile with Him and make Him Lord of your life? 

"For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  and not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation."