About Jesus
God's Love
Relationships are the most import thing in our lives. Christianity is about the most important relationship of all: our relationship with the God who made us. God loves you and wants to have a relationship with you. How do we know this?
Jesus said, "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10b)
"...we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1)
Since God planned for us to have peace and abundant life right now, why are most people not having this experience?
Our Problem
God created us in His own image to have abundant (meaningful) life. He did not make us robots to automatically love and obey him, but he gave us a will and a freedom of choice.
We chose to disobey God and go our own willful way. We still make this choice today. This results in separation from God.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
"...your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2)
On our own, there's no way we can attain the perfection needed to bridge the gap to God. Through the ages, individuals have tried many ways...without success.
Good works won't do it...or religion...or money...or morality...or philosophy...
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Proverbs 14:12)
God's Solution
Jesus Christ is the only answer to this problem. He died on the cross and rose from the grave, paying the penalty for our sin and bridging the gap between God and people.
"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God..." (I Peter 3:18)
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ." (I Timothy 2:5)
"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
Our Response
Simply knowing and believing the above does not make us a Christian.
We have to accept Jesus into our lives as Lord and Saviour, accepting that we cannot save ourselves but submit ourselves to his grace.
Will you have a better life? No, not really! But God gives us ‘joy’ which is different from ‘happiness’ and continues through the bad times in life.
“I have no need of God” Is this you? We either accept what Jesus has done for us on the cross, or else one day we will have to pay the just penalty ourselves for the things we have done wrong.
There are two types of people. There are those who accept Jesus and let him rule their life and those who choose to live life their own way. The former leads to eternal life in heaven. The latter leads to eternal life in hell.
Believing means trust and commitment - acknowledging our sinfulness, trusting Christ's forgiveness and letting Him control our life. Eternal, abundant life is a gift for us to receive.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." (John 5:24)
Is there any reason why you shouldn't cross over to God's side and be certain of eternal life?
Here are some sites if you would like to read further.
Who is Jesus? - bethinking.org
CU members are always happy to talk over coffee with anyone interested in the message of Jesus. Please get in touch with any member of the committee who can arrange someone to contact you.