Which Jesus?

 (by Lorie Codispoti)

If we claim to be Christians wouldn’t it seem reasonable to assume that we have a basic understanding of Christianity’s central figure, Jesus Christ?

Author, Randy Alcorn said, “If you get it wrong about Jesus, in the end it won’t matter much what you got right.”

SURVEY

I found the results of Ligonier Ministry’s 2020 TheStateOfTheology.com survey sobering. While there are some encouraging trends among the American evangelicals surveyed, when you factor in that these numbers are from those claiming to know and follow Christ, there is cause for concern.

Consider these responses:

~ 30% believe that Jesus was a great teacher, but not God.

~ 63% believe that “Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God.”

~ 46% believe that most people are good by nature.

~ 42% believe that “God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.”

~ 60% believe that “God counts a person as righteous not because of one’s works but only because of one’s faith in Jesus Christ.”

~ 59% believe that “The Bible is 100% accurate in all that it teaches.”

~ 55% believe that “The Bible has the authority to tell us what we must do.”

~ 56% believe that “It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.”

~ 72% believe that “Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.”

~68% believe that “Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.”

~ 78% “Jesus Christ is the only person who never sinned.” (2018)

What does that say about the people sitting in the pews of our churches? What does it say about those leading and teaching these people? What does it say about some of our “churches”? If the majority believe Jesus was a created being, with some denying His deity and placing Him among sinners, then is it any wonder why they don’t believe the Bible is the inerrant authority in a believer’s life? If we don’t believe and teach the basic tenants of the Christian faith, then we shouldn’t be surprised to read of those among us who embrace heresies.

MISREPRESENTATION

The God of the Bible has not only made Himself known (in a general sense through creation), but He has done something no other god has ever done - He invites us to know Him on an intimate level. God wants to make our relationship with Him personal. Why? Because God IS love (1Jn.4:8). No other god can identify with or embody this attribute.

What’s worse than getting God wrong? Thinking that you’ve got Him right and then misrepresenting Him to others.

“Acquaint yourself with Him.” That’s what Eliphaz encouraged Job to do during his intense time of suffering and loss (J.22:21a).

On the surface, this might appear to be wise counsel, but remember, Eliphaz was one of Job’s three friends who got it wrong. As we near the end of Job’s story, God rebukes his friends, and speaks this to Eliphaz, "My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has." (J.42:7)

Misrepresentations of the one, true God are nothing new. They started with the serpent in the garden and will continue until everything is renewed by Christ.

Interestingly, if you study the major world religions (Muslim, Judism, Hindu, Buddhist), and some of the well known cults (Jehovah’s Witness, Mormon), you’ll find that each one honors Jesus. They don’t question the fact that He existed. The problem isn’t whether they honor and believe in His existence; the problem is that they misrepresent Him. Like Eliphaz, they are acquainted with Jesus, but the don’t really know Him.

Every good lie is interwoven with truth, otherwise you’d never believe it. Do you know enough about the Jesus of Scripture to differentiate Him from false representations?

GET IT RIGHT

In one Barna study that I read, two out of every three adults (random selection of Americans) claim to have an active and influential personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Wow! At first glance that sounds awesome. But then comes the question: which Jesus?

After Jesus warns His disciples of the false doctrine being preached by the religious leaders of His day, He asks them two questions: 1) “Who do men say that I am?” And 2) “Who do you say that I am?” (Mtt.16:13-16)

I find it interesting that the general populous identified Christ in much the same way as many of the false religions of our day, but when Jesus asks His inner circle who they think He is, we read that it’s Peter who responds with the correct answer: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (A survey in that moment might of said one out of twelve knew who He was. Thankfully, those numbers flipped, with only one out of twelve denying.)

There are many anti-biblical versions of Jesus. Some have reconstructed Him to fit an image of who they want him to be. Some serve an alternative Jesus, offered by those who have redefined Him. And some want to lump Him in with other gods (religious pluralism), thinking that He’s one of many ways to heaven.

What Jesus’ disciples got right went beyond their perceptions, and we can trust their eyewitness accounts.

John’s historical account records Jesus identifying Himself in His seven “I Am” statements (Jn.6:35, 8:12, 10:9&11, 11:25-26, 14:6, 15:5). They confirm what we read throughout Scripture: that Jesus is part of the triune, one and only God - that He predates time and created all things - that His word is authoritative and true - that He, being sinless, became sin on the cross - that He rose from the dead by His own power to rescue us from eternal damnation - that He is the only way - and that out of His great love desires to have a relationship with us.

He is all this and more! In 1John 3 we read that when Christ is fully revealed to us “we will see Him as He is.” (There’s more to discover.)

John could write all of this, not only because He was an eyewitness, but because he had a relationship with Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

Unlike, Eliphaz, John got it right. Will you? In the end nothing else will matter.

Lightless Vs. Light Filled

(by Lorie Codispoti)

I was a fair-skinned child with lots of FRECKLES. I spent my childhood wishing those spots away, but all they did was multiply in the mirror. My mother tried to encourage me by telling me that they were angel kisses, and that one day my freckles would fade, like hers did. That helped a little, but for the most part I remained inconsolable.

Mom was right though! Over time, many of the freckles on my face faded away.

BLACK LIGHT TRAUMA

I’ll never forget the day we took our kids to a science museum and walked into a room with mirrors. All was fine, until the room went dark and they turned on the black light. I literally couldn’t believe what I was seeing with my 40 year old eyes. There they were - every single freckle that I thought had disappeared decades ago. It was like going back in time and staring at my childhood face in the mirror. I was shocked and horrified.

Black lights make what is invisible to the human eye visible. The science relates to ultra-violet light (what we cannot see) and phosphors (a substance that glows under an ultraviolet light).

What I learned from that traumatic event is that my freckles never completely vanished; they simply went into hiding.

LIGHTLESS

Lucifer’s name meant “light-bearer,” before he fell and was stripped of everything from his light to his name. Paul said that Satan (which means “adversary”) has the ability to transform himself into an “angel of light”(2Cor.11:14). Does that mean he can put on the same light that he lost? NO! It means he puts on a disguise and masquerades as light. He has the ability to pretend to be what he once was. In this passage, Paul is warning Christians not to be deceived by the appearance of a counterfeit.

LIGHT FILLED

The Bible tells us that God is Light (1John 1:5), He dwells in light (1Tim.6:16), and that He created light (Gen.1:3). The revelation of His word also gives light and shows us the way (Psa.119:130a, 105).

We know that Jesus said He is the Light of the world (Jn.8:12). He illuminated the world at creation, and was the Light that appeared at His incarnation (Jn.1:1-5). He is the Light that wakens the dead and calls us out of darkness (Jn.12:46). His Light serves as our armor (Rms.13:12), as well as being the Source that enables us to have fellowship with each other (1Jn.1:7). Jesus is the Light that both indwells us and radiates through us(Acts13:47). And in the New Jerusalem there will be no need for a sun because the Light of the Son will shine, as it did before God created our planet’s source of light (sun). (Rev.21:23)

The Holy Spirit is our Helper, sent to teach us and bring to remembrance all we learn as we walk in the Light (Jn.14:26, Psa.56:13). He is God’s light Who guides us into all truth (Jn.16:13). His light clarifies the word and directs our steps (Psa.119:11). The book of Revelation (4:5) describes the sevenfold Spirit of God as “seven lamps of fire burning.” When Daniel was presented to King Belshazzar, the king remarked, “I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.” (Dan.5:14)

OUR LIGHT

Not only were we created by the Light to be drawn to the Light, but as a result of being redeemed and renewed by the Light of Christ, we have been commissioned to walk as “children of the light” because His light shines in us (Eph.3:13-14). We are to be filled with God's visable Light.

Satan is a type of black light. He wants us to gaze into his mirror so that he can attempt to convince us that nothing has changed - that we look the same as we did before coming to Christ. But remember, Satan is the liar who lost his light when he fell. Don’t allow him to exploit God’s resident Light in you. The light of Christ is what covers and clothes you now. You may carry the marks of your sinful past, but they are nothing but dead scars that can neither receive nor remit light.

The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones. (Prov.15:30)

Did you know that our bodies are bioluminescent? That’s right - we glow in the dark! In fact, researchers have discovered that our glow shines the brightest when we’re burning the most energy. The significance is huge when you think about the spiritual war we are engaged in every day. We need Light in the dark places and God has given it to us.

It’s Light verses darkness and Christ is illuminated in the heat of the battle (not on the sidelines), where I'll burn the most energy and shine the brightest for my King.

I have no reason to fear the black light of the Dark Knight; for the Creator of Light Himself promises to empower me, fight for me, and give me victory. (Isa. (Ex.14:14, 2Chron.20:17, Deut.20:4, Deut.3:22, Rms.8:37) He says that no weapon formed against me will prosper. (Isa.54:17)

If that isn't enough, I simply remind myself that I’ve been kissed by angels!

GloryUsGate.blogspot.com

Inspiration

 (by Lorie Codispoti)

I’ve never bought into the idea that only a small percentage of people are creative. I think every human being has been endowed with a measure of creativity. Some may be more visibly creative than others, but creativity has never been limited to a small set of talents.

Pablo Picasso said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”

So the question isn’t whether or not you are creative. The question is about discovering, or rediscovering, what’s always been there.

THE BACK STORY

At the front of every creative endeavor is a back story:

~ Did you know that the woman who invented roll on deodorant was inspired by the way the ink flowed from a ballpoint pen?

~ After a dinner party, Josephine Cochrane noticed that some of her heirloom dishes were chipped. Her desire to find an alternative way to clean dishes, coupled with her desire to relieve tired housewives, is what inspired her to invent the automatic dishwasher.

~ My daughter and her husband built their new home with hospitality in mind. Her interior design reflects an atmosphere of welcome. I asked my daughter what inspired her creativity and she replied, “When I see a cold void I want to soften it.” That not only fits their home, but the way they love everyone God sends their way.

MOVE FORWARD BY GOING BACK

If we want to fully understand the nuances of inspiration, the best place to start is by going back - to the beginning.

The word “inspiration” is derived from a word that means “God breathed.” Think of that in light of the creation of man. God created us “from the dust of the ground” (Gen.1:27, 2:7). The interesting part of this passage is that until God “breathed into his nostrils” there was nothing but the clay model of a human. It was God’s inspiration that started man’s heart. It was His breath that gave birth to humanity.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God….” (2Tim.3:16) Take time to ponder that statement for a minute. God breathed life into us at creation, and out of His great love, He gave us His word to inspire the way we live. And, as if that weren’t enough, when Jesus commissioned His disciples (and us) He infused them with inspiration when “He breathed” new life into them and said, ‘Be filled with the Holy Spirit.’” (John 20:22)

Inspiration originated with God. Without Him everything would revert back to the dark void that came before His breath of life.

The book of Job tells us that “If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath, all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust.” (Job34:14-15)

THE CATALYST

Many ordinary things have served as catalysts for some of our favorite works:

~ J.R.R Tolkien’s Middle Earth is said to be based on a 14 acre mystical woodland he frequented.

~ After being caught in a violent, midday storm, and then experiencing the beauty of birds singing in the bright sunshine afterwards, Swedish preacher, Carl Boberg fell to his knees “in humble adoration” giving birth to the nine-stanza hymn, How Great Thou Art.

~ The inspiration for the hit series The Chosen, emerged after a devastating career disappointment for its creator, Dallas Jenkins.

~ Thomas Kinkade’s paintings were filled with light, partly inspired by his impoverished childhood, but he also credits the supernatural light was inspired by his encounter with Christ.

STIR IT UP

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.” (Heb.10:24)

The writer of Hebrews is telling us to motivate each other. This word figuratively speaks of both sharpening the mind and stimulating each other to love and good works. Well, you can’t stimulate something that isn’t innately there, right?

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph.2:10)

Your inspiration may never produce a world famous work of art, best seller, or a famous hymn. You may never invent a travel machine that takes you across the country to Grandma’s house (My six-year-old grandson’s goal.), but you were born with an ability to create. When God breathed life into our bodies He inspired us to copy His creative nature and reflect His beauty. No other creature shares this unique expression.

So, what are you waiting for? Get busy creating and showcasing your astounding ability. And don’t forget to stir up inspiration in those around you. We could use some more of God’s beauty on display in our world right now.

GloryUsGate.blogspot.com