Jesus the Messiah

Jesus the Savior of the Entire Human Race

The writings of the New Testament reveal Jesus as the Savior of the world. The gospels are our main sources about the life and ministry of Jesus. The gospel authors sought to write accurate accounts about Jesus. Eyewitnesses were still alive and would have refuted inaccurate accounts. The women who went to Jesus’ tomb are named and were known in early Christian fellowship. They could verify or refute stories about the empty tomb and the resurrection appearances.

The Bible declares that all people everywhere, Jew and gentile alike, have sinned and need a savior.

There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:22b-24)

The Bible declares that God sent His divine Son Jesus into the world to save us all from our sins. All are invited to come to Christ. This is the most inclusive invitation ever offered to the human race.

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)

Our eternal destiny depends on how we responds to the message of Christ. The Bible declares Jesus is Son of God and God incarnate who died, rose from the dead, and lives and reigns today. All people everywhere are to turn to Christ for salvation. To the Jews, the apostle Peter said

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:36-39)

To the gentiles, the apostle Paul said

“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:29-31)

Salvation is a free gift. It is not earned by works. It is obtained by faith in the person of Christ and His redemptive work of the cross.

Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:28-29)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Jesus promised us adoption into the family of God. This is a promise of personal relationship with God, an exceptionally unique thing among the religions of the world.

Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” (Galatians 4:6)

The Bible gives assurance of salvation to all who turn to Christ and believe the gospel.

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:1-5)

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

The Bible promises a magnificent eternal state of existence to believers in Christ.

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)

The coming of Christ is the final and ultimate revelation from God.

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. (Hebrews 1:1-5)

Jesus declared He is the only way to God.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

The apostle Peter declared

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

The truth of the Christian message is confirmed by miracles. During His earthly ministry, Jesus performed miracles to show He was sent by God.

“Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father. (John 10:37-38)

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31)

The greatest miracle of all is that Jesus Christ rose from the dread. The risen Jesus was seen and heard by many eyewitnesses who knew He had died and was buried. To the women who discovered His empty tomb, an angel said

“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” (Matthew 28:6-7)

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” (Mark 16:6-7)

In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” (Luke 24:5-7)

I encourage you to watch an enlightening video prepared by the Reasonable Faith organization, a Christian philosophy and apologetics ministry. The video is available at the link below.

Who Did Jesus Think He Was?

As a sovereign, reigning, and merciful King, God graciously offers a pardon to all who turn away from sin and believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior. God is actively seeking the lost to draw them to Himself in Christ. Our sins alienated us from God, but Jesus paid the penalty for our sins so that we can be made right with God. But If people reject the pardon offered by God in Christ as their final decision before death, they must pay the penalty for their sins. One day, they will stand before God at the Judgement, unable to pay their sin debt to God. They will be doomed to eternal separation from God in hell.

Know that God loves you. It does not matter who you are, where you are, or what you have done. He came for all, regardless of nationality, race, ethnicity, color, or creed. Jesus died to save all, which means He died to save you. He rose from the dead and reigns from Heaven today. He invites you to dwell in His house forever if you would but turn away from sin and believe in Him. The apostle Paul declared how anyone can receive the free gift of salvation in Jesus Christ.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)

If you have not already received Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, I invite you to receive Him now, as you are, where you are.

For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Be wise and turn to Him soon, for you do not know the number of days God has ordained for you on this earth. You can receive Jesus this very moment by praying like this:

Lord Jesus Christ, I am a sinner. I know I am lost. But I believe you are the divine Son of God. I believe you died at the cross for my sins. I believe God raised you from the dead. I now turn away from sin, and I believe in you as my Lord and Savior. And from this moment, I will live for you and I will serve you, for the rest of my life. Lord Jesus, I thank you for dying for me. I thank you for forgiving my sins. I thank you for saving my soul. I thank you for hearing my prayer. Amen.

If you truly believed when you prayed to Jesus, you have become a Christian. You are totally forgiven and accepted by God. You are now a child of God, and you have a new family. God is your heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is your heavenly brother. All Christians are your brothers and sisters in Christ. Begin to grow as a child of God. Join a church that loves, worships, and proclaims Jesus Christ as the divine Son of God, crucified, resurrected, glorified, Savior, Redeemer, and risen Lord. And be sure it is a church that reveres the Holy Bible as the authoritative word of God. Be baptized in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Commit yourself to living a holy life. Talk to God every day in reverent prayer. Read the Bible every day and let God teach you His ways through His inspired word. Tell your family and friends that Jesus loves them and wants to save their souls. And remember, you are special to God, not because you earned His favor, but because of what Jesus did for you. May God our Father shed his grace on you and may you grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)

The Fate of Those Who Never Heard of Jesus

People often ask, “What is the fate of those who never heard of Jesus? Does God unfairly condemn sinners who never had a chance to turn to Jesus?” Some insightful scriptures may help us answer these questions. We know God makes Himself known to all people everywhere through creation and through conscience.

In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” (Acts 14:16-17)

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (Romans 1:18-20)

We know God providentially ordered the world.

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. (Acts 17:24-27)

We already saw that God is willing that all be saved (1 Timothy 2:1-5 and 2 Peter 3:9, quoted above). Careful reflection on the meaning and implications of these scriptures may lead to a reasonable answer to the questions. Christian apologist, philosopher, and theologian Dr. William Lane Craig suggested people who respond to general revelation may find salvation even if they do not have conscious knowledge of Christ. In Hard Questions, Real Answers, he wrote

Rather, God judges them on the basis of the information that they do have, as God has revealed it to all mankind in nature and conscience. Theologians call this God’s general revelation, and it is by response to its light that people without the gospel will be judged. According to Paul, all mankind can know through nature that a Creator God exists, and they can know through their own conscience God’s moral law and their failure to live up to it. Simply on the basis of nature and conscience, then, all people everywhere should recognize their guilt before God and repent, seeking His mercy and forgiveness.

Keep in mind the Old Testament saints did not have conscious knowledge of Christ. Christ had not yet been revealed to them.

Another suggestion is that people who respond to general revelation and conscience will subsequently receive special revelation, which includes the gospel of Christ. When they also respond to the gospel, then they are saved. That answer implies God, who knows people’s hearts, will deliver special revelation to those who have a heart for Him, regardless of who or where they are. In some providential way, He will get the truth of Christ to them. Perhaps the most obvious way is by sending missionaries to unreached peoples, which God has been doing for 2,000 years. Perhaps He providentially places sincere seekers in the path of the advancing gospel to ensure they get a chance to hear of Jesus. Perhaps He also reaches people supernaturally, such as through visions and dreams. Peter did say people will have dreams.

“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. (Acts 2:17)

It is noteworthy that in Acts 10, God sends a vision to Cornelius, a Roman centurion who sought after God.

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. (Acts 10:1-5)

Peter is taken to Cornelius’ house, where he addresses a large gathering.

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. (Acts 10:34-35)

In the modern world there are reports of people in closed countries having dreams about Jesus, even with no one present to tell them of Jesus. There are many such reports coming from countries ruled by Islamic regimes.

While we do not have a definitive answer to the problem of those who never heard of Jesus, we can be sure God loves the unreached, He cares for them, and He has a plan to reach them and offer eternal life to those who would believe. Do not be surprised if He reaches them in ways above and beyond our human understanding.

I encourage you to watch some enlightening videos prepared by the Reasonable Faith organization, a Christian philosophy and apologetics ministry. The videos are available at the links below.

How Can Jesus Be the Only Way?

The Problem of Those Who Have Never Heard of Christ

Is It Possible to Know God?