Jesus Christ: The True Messiah

Many religions claim that they are worshiping God but none of them can claim that their “Messiah” was resurrected from the dead. Only Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was resurrected from the dead. Five hundred people saw Jesus Christ, the true living God, after he was resurrected. These eye-witness accounts along with Jesus’ disciples’ encounters with Jesus after his resurrection support this biblical truth. 

Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples who was not there when Jesus first appeared to his disciples after his resurrection no longer doubted after Jesus appeared and spoke to him: “Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe. Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (John 20:27-28, NIV). Over a period of forty days after his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive and spoke to them about the kingdom of God.

If Jesus Christ had not been resurrected from the dead, we would not have the gift of salvation. Faith would be futile as there would be nothing to believe in. But because of our Heavenly Father’s great love for us, Jesus died and was resurrected from the dead in order to make the gift of salvation possible. Whoever believes in His Son will have eternal life and not perish. It is with this belief that all disciples in Christ are to share the gospel and the gift of salvation with those around them. Jesus did all the redemptive work at the cross through his suffering, bloodshed and death for all of our sins. When we believe in Jesus, we identify with him in his death where we are dead to our old sinful natures; and we identify with him in his resurrection where we are reborn into the family of God and made clean by Jesus’ shed blood on the cross.

Even after we have received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and have been forgiven of all our sins, we are not immune to temptation. We can overcome all temptation when we have a strong prayer life and walk closely with the Lord by living out the Word of God. There are many Christians who pray only when things are going wrong in their lives but in order to live an abundant Christian life, we need to speak with God daily through heart-felt prayers and to study and meditate on His Word. 

If your idea of prayer is to pray a quick prayer in the morning and in the evening before you go to bed, then you are missing out on having a personal relationship with God. God wants you to rely on Him for everything. When you pass the reins over to Him, He will never steer you wrong. He knows what is best for you even when you yourself don’t know. Pray to your Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus about what is on your mind no matter what it is and expect to hear from Him.

What Is Faith and Who Has It?

You may know of people who do not believe in anything that they cannot see, or need for it to be proved scientifically before they can believe. This is NOT faith. For faith is “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1, NIV) Without faith, you cannot possibly have a relationship with God.

While there are people who question the validity of the bible and that it comes from God, there is evidence that the accounts given in the bible are all true and are God inspired. Based on a number of artifacts and manuscripts found in the period before and after Christ, the places and events documented in the bible do exist and did in fact happen. With forty different authors including the apostles in the bible giving their accounts of miracles, events and the time they spent with Jesus, there is a common thread that ties them all together i.e. our salvation in Christ. More specifically it is our belief that Jesus walked on this earth in human form, died on the cross for all of our sins and was resurrected from the dead to give us an opportunity to have eternal life through him. 

Our Heavenly Father loved us so much that He sacrificed His one and only Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins and gave us free will to love Him back freely. Love given freely is the largest selfless act we can do. Yet for some people, their relationships do not work out or are often difficult because they are forcing their will on other people. Forced relationships based on our own selfish desires just don’t work. By following the teachings of Jesus in the bible, we can have the solid foundation necessary to cultivate kind, loving and caring relationships with the people around us. Whether it’s with a family member, a friend or a colleague, we can build loving and supportive relationships with them.

The bible tells us that God is love. Love means to serve selflessly, the same way Jesus served others when he was on earth. When Jesus washed the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper, he was showing his love and setting an example for them. We cannot serve others unless we humble ourselves just like Jesus did. Serving others is an act of love and in order to experience God’s love, we need to show our love by serving others. When Christians serve with cheerful hearts while attending to the sick, the poor or the oppressed, we are giving glory to God for continuing the Lord's good works on earth. 

Christianity: Not a Religion

While there are many religions practiced around the world, Christianity is different. Christianity is actually NOT a religion but our relationship with God and our relationships with other people. When God the Father sent Jesus Christ his only Son to die on the cross for us, it was because he wanted us to have a personal relationship with Him. Jesus Christ is not only our Lord and Savior but our bridge to having a relationship with our Heavenly Father. For Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NIV)

God wants you to rely on Him because He knows what is best for you. He wants you to involve Him in all aspects of your life so that He can guide you and help you. He wants you to always be authentic when you pray and speak to Him. No matter how you are feeling, you can speak to God about anything. If you are upset because things are not going well in your life, the Lord understands your anger and frustration. He knows exactly what you need even when you don’t. We may not always sense His presence but He is always there for you. For God said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) Just as God is faithful to us, he expects us to be faithful to Him. The one thing He does ask of us is to believe in his Son Jesus Christ – for he is the way. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12, NIV) 

People often don’t realize that Jesus is the head of the Christian church. He wanted to build a church based on a community of believers who supported one another and held each other accountable for their actions. No church body can claim to have such a foundation except Christianity. Believers know that the Bible is God’s Word and the truth. By following the teachings in the Bible and being a part of a Christian community, people can live the abundant life that Christ wanted us to live. No matter what problems you may be facing in your life right now, the answers are in God’s Word and faithful Christians are there to help you to succeed.