JESUS
AN INTRODUCTION
WHO IS JESUS?
Most likely you’re on this page because you’re in search of answers about who Jesus is and maybe even considering if you should follow him. If you’re looking for a quick list of all of the requirements of what it means to be a Christian, you won’t find it here, because following Jesus isn’t a list of rules, it’s about having a relationship with God.
When talking about Who Jesus is, we could talk about so much, but in this brief introduction, we’ll highlight His role as Savior, His label of friend, and His position as Lord. This is more than information about Jesus; this is a personal introduction to Jesus.
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
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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
SAVIOR
Jesus is the savior of the world. Maybe you’ve heard that before and wondered what He’s saving us from? That’s really where this all begins. When God created humanity, he didn’t create us as robots to be controlled; He gave us a free will with the choice to be in relationship with Him or choose to reject him. Adam and Eve were the first humans to walk with God and enjoy all of the goodness that God had intended us to live in. But the devil, who is our enemy, came and tempted Adam and Eve to sin by disobeying God.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The Bible says that sin separates us from God and creates a debt that must be paid. But in our sinful humanity we have no chance to ever repay this debt; not even if you’re a really good person. But because God loves us, he wouldn’t settle for that distance, so He sent Jesus to Earth. Only a perfect sacrifice would be able to pay the debt, which is why Jesus paid our debt with his own life when they crucified him on the cross.
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
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For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
— JOHN 3:17
FRIEND
Many have heard at least something about Jesus dying on the cross and being called a savior, but most haven’t heard Jesus called a friend. Because we often feel shame, regret, or guilt for our sin, we assume that God is mad at us, and is out to get us, but in reality it is the heart of God to be close to us, to extend mercy towards us.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
One of the things Jesus was known for while He walked on Earth was that He was a friend of sinners. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they instinctively tried to hide from God because they felt shame; we often do the same thing today, but Jesus extends friendship towards us and calls us to close to Him again.
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Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
— Revelation 3:20
LORD
He is our loving Savior, our close Friend, and finally, Jesus is Lord! Not everyone agrees with that or chooses to follow His leading, but all of us must make a choice whether we will follow Him or not, and the ripple effect of that choice will affect our eternity. It’s not enough to just believe that Jesus died on the cross; we must receive that gift for ourselves personally and choose to turn and follow Him. Look at the way one of the first Christians describe the magnitude of who Jesus is.
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Now, in the world we live in, we often think of a Lord as an oppressive dictator type figure, but following Jesus actually brings more freedom to our lives. So many people are desperately searching for meaning and purpose. We look for it in having more, getting more friends, being successful, or we even try to mask the void by excessive use of drugs, alcohol, sex, etc.
But, the only way your life will ever make sense is when you surrender your life to follow Jesus and receive His grace for your life. You’ll only find joy when you release control and make Jesus your leader and Lord.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
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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.
— ROMANS 10:9
ARE YOU READY TO FOLLOW JESUS?
Maybe you were familiar with religion, but now you’ve come face to face with something far greater than the bondage of religious rules; you’ve been introduced to Jesus. He’s paid the debt of your sin; He’s shown himself as a friend to you, but closeness with God and forgiveness from your sins comes when you choose to believe He’s your Savior and you make Him your leader and Lord.
If you’re ready to follow Jesus, take the first step found in Romans 10:9 which says, “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.” If you’re ready to go all in and follow Jesus, begin with this passionate prayer.
“Father, thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross for my sins, and raising him from the dead to give me life. I repent of my sin and turn to you. Jesus, I choose to follow you with all of my heart, for the rest of my life. I believe in you and declare that you are the leader and Lord of my life! Thank you for forgiving me and walking with me from this moment forward! Amen.”
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WHAT’S NEXT?
THE BIBLE APP
Read, listen, and connect with God’s word like never before. We recommend the Life Journal reading plan in The Bible App.
FIND A CHURCH
Get connected to a church in your area, join us at Awaken Church if you live in San Diego, or join us for church online until you do.
FOLLOW JESUS
As you begin to follow Jesus here is a quick, easy to understand guide to the 7 essentials to following Jesus by Samuel Deuth.
