Introducing Jesus
I would like to introduce you to someone who has been with me through good times and bad. He has literally saved my physical life on more than one occasion. More importantly, he has saved me from eternal damnation. He always knows what to say, and I trust him with my life. His word is bond. He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
He has close to 200 names/titles, all of which accurately describe his nature. For this introduction, I will introduce him as Jesus Christ, which in Hebrew means “The Lord is Salvation” or “The Anointed One” or “The Chosen One.”
Let me give you some background on who Jesus is, the problem he solved, and how you can develop a relationship with him.
Jesus is God.
Christ is the invisible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth (Col. 1:16 NLT). Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day (Gen. 1:31 NLT). “The Father and I are one.” (John 10:30 NLT).
“In the beginning the World already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it.” (John 1:1–5 NLT).
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7 KJV).
The Problem
People went astray and disobeyed God.
After God created the earth, he created man and gave him instruction. “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden — except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die”. (Gen 2:15–17 NLT).
“You won’t die! The serpent replied to the woman. God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” (Gen 3:4–5). The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. (Gen. 3:6–7 NLT)
When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (Rom. 5:12 NLT).
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23 NIV).
The Solution
Even in their punishment of a death sentence, God provided a solution through Jesus Christ.
“And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Gen. 3:15 NLT).
For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16–17 NLT).
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:22–23 ESV).
“Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.” (Romans 5:17 NLT).
“Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6–8).
But that’s not all. There’s more — he resurrected!
“When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.” (Mark 16:5–6 NLT).
“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve.” (1 Corinthians 15:3–5 NLT).
Jesus became our mediator to reconcile God and humanity
“For there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity-the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.” (1 Timothy 2:5–6 NLT).
Jesus Has the Authority to Forgive Your Sins
“So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” (Matthew 9:6–7 NLT). “The Father and I are one.” (John 10:30 NLT).
Jesus is the Only Way to Salvation
“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NLT).
Jesus will forgive your sins
“He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.” (Ephesians 1:7 NLT).
How You Can Have A Relationship With Jesus
Just Believe, Confess, and Repent
“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” (1 John 1:9 NLT).
“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced. (Romans 10:9–11 NLT).
“Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.” (Acts 3:19 NLT).
And your belief comes in faith from hearing about Jesus Christ”
“So faith comes from hearing, that is hearing the Good News about Christ.” (Romans 10:17 NLT).
Salvation is A Gift From God
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this: it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:8–9).
And Your Background Does Not Matter
“But now you are have been united with Jesus Christ. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.” (Ephesians 2:13–18 NLT).
“Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:12–13 NLT).
Jesus wants a relationship with you.
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11: 28–30 NLT).
Now that you know who Jesus is, what he’s done for you and how to have a relationship with him, let us pray:
Dear Father,
Thank you for the person reading this article. Thank you for you for selflessly becoming our mediator to reconcile God and humanity through your death, burial and resurrection. Dear Lord, you said in your word that if we confess with our mouth that you, Jesus, is Lord, and believe in our heart that God raised you from the dead, we will be saved.
Right now we confess that we are sinners and have sinned against you Lord. Because of sin, we deserve the ultimate punishment of death. We repent of these sins. Jesus, we confess that you are Lord. We believe that God loved the world so much that he gave you, Jesus, to die for us. We believe you died for us, was buried and resurrected. Thank you for your salvation, which was freely given to us. We receive your salvation and we believe we are now saved. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
My brother, my sister.
Based on the words of your testimony that you believe that Jesus is Lord and that he died, was buried, and rose again, you are now saved! You now have a relationship with Christ.
Welcome to the Family!
“So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.” (Ephesians 2:19 NLT).
Here are some next steps.
References:
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, King James Version. Cambridge Edition: 1769; King James Bible Online, 2024. www.kingjamesbibleonline.org.
