Jesus Christ - World Saviour
‘And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Saviour of the world.’ 1 John 4:14. There is no other…
‘I, even I, am the Lord, and beside Me there is no saviour’ ‘And there is no other God beside Me’ Isaiah 43:11, 45:21.
‘And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour’ Luke 1:47.
‘For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ’ Philippians 3:20. Are you ready…?
Truth
‘Who the heck is this Jesus?’ the voice screamed out loud.
My immediate thought was, ‘after 2000 years of religion… they still don’t know?’
How many thousands are there, asking the same questions? The ‘pandemic tsunami cat,’ and all that it has dragged in with it, has certainly arrived and disrupted our life on earth. Now is the time, when the whole world must know, see, and experience, the truth about Jesus Christ and who He truly is. His story, and His ‘gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.’ Matthew 24:14. Oh wow! There’s an end as well? Yes! The end of the ages, will herald the second coming of Jesus Christ to earth. ‘Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him,’ Revelation 1:7. He is… the return of The Truth.
We now live in a post pandemic world, seething in a melting pot of lies, false information, and emerging tyranny. However, in the midst of it all there is a great awakening. It is surely a global spiritual awakening toward God, but also real boots are now stomping on the hardened ground, where good people are standing up world-wide for what is true; demanding that human freedoms, embedded in society, laws, and constitutions, will have its day and prevail.
When we speak of truth, it can mean many different things to people. But the reality is - Truth is a person; His name is Jesus Christ. He said,“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6. You can’t get more absolute than that! He is the only pathway to all truth and a powerful life. Therefore, to find God, and intimately know Him, is discovered only through the truth of Jesus; there is no other legitimate way, except Him. ‘For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,’ 1 Timothy 2:5. The offerings of all other gods, religions, cults, and paths, are false; they may be laced with some truths, but they are not The Truth. In flipping a famous saying on its head; all roads do not lead to Rome. The only doorway to ‘Universe Creator God the Father,’ is through Jesus the Saviour. He said. ‘I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved,’ John 10:9. Are you ready to walk through Him - The Door?
2021… the world needs THE TRUTH more than ever in history. The madness and global shaking we have witnessed in the past 2 years, are raising many questions in every nation.‘What is real? What and who can we trust? Things in the world are terribly wrong! Please show me the answers!’ No matter what we do, mankind clearly cannot save himself. We need God’s salvation; the saving of all humanity only He can provide! Answers are found in ‘the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.’ 2 Timothy 3:15. It’s time to read… hear, learn, and understand the Truth.
Here is who you call… ‘For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”’ Romans 10:13. The name is Jesus Christ - The Truth. ‘He who endures to the end shall be saved.’ Mark 13:13. ‘How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation,’ Hebrews 2:3. We need the strength of character to endure wisely in these post pandemic days. Jesus, by His Spirit, will help you navigate this tumultuous time well, with peace and vision.
The truth is, every human needs saving, that is why 2000 years ago on the cross, ‘God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ Romans 5:8. God Himself came to earth in the flesh - Jesus Christ, and made the way back to Him by dying on the cross. ‘They shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1:23. God came directly to us, to be our Saviour; that is how much He loves and cares for every person on earth.
The truth is, Jesus is still alive, resurrected from the dead! Now, by faith in Him, He can live in you too, by His Holy Spirit. You become the saved, who when He returns at the end of the world, will all be gathered together to be with Him forever; living His TRUE eternal plans, way beyond our present comprehension!
Relationship
‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,’ Matthew 28:19.
‘For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.’ 1 John 5:7.
The Holy Trinity, the mystery of the Godhead, is three persons, yet they are one and the same; a Father, a Son (Saviour), and Holy Spirit - the Spirit of life who teaches us how to live in Christ. ‘… will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.’ Romans 8:11. The big three, are in relationship, a family, yet one in the fullness of God.
‘For by Him (Jesus) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth’ Colossians 1:16. Together, the triune Godhead created the universe and this world. They made men and women in their image and likeness, to share everything with mankind as one big family. But the created humanity was not meant to become millions of conformist robots, but thinking, intelligent people, who love God from their heart with a free will, and have understanding of who He is. This is the Saviour’s message.
In the early days of Israel, God created laws of rules, regulations and commands that He knew mankind was unable to fully keep (The Old Testament). Animals were also sacrificed by the shedding of blood for sins, but that was never enough to fully cleanse mankind of all sin once and for all. The Son Saviour part of the Godhead, had to come to earth to prophetically fulfil what had been created in the religion of Israel. It was His assignment. Jesus Christ the anointed one, came down to earth to give Himself fully, as a living sacrifice on a cross (not animals), to bring mankind back to God. How? By your faith and love in Him from a pure heart, so we could be reborn in our spirit, and totally restart life brand new!
We all know the story; Jesus died and was resurrected to life in three days. He then went back to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to come and live within us; ‘and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit’ Act 4:31. Why? To have the power to learn, act, and become like Jesus in our present life; through a tangible relationship with Him. He is still alive, and living in us!
The Bible says clearly, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24. Your whole life, in what you do, and how you live it, is worship to God. It’s not just singing hymns and songs.’Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.’ Romans 8:9. There is no Christianity without the Holy Spirit living in you and through you. Without Him, all you have, is fruitless religion that can lead to all manner of deceptions. ’Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you,’ 1 Corinthians 6:19. ‘and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.’ 1 John 4:3.
How then do we know the truth about Jesus Christ? He said it Himself, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3. To see, and know God intimately as your Lord and Saviour, you have to make a choice, and invite Him into your heart and life. It’s a rebirth, known as being Born Again, where your spirit is switched on and you become alive to God; you can experience that anywhere. (There is a prayer to pray at the end of this blog).
Remember your physical body is where God has always intended to live through His Holy Spirit; you are the Church. He doesn’t live in buildings. He is the building! You become part of it by faith. ‘You also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.’ Ephesians 2:22. ‘You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house,’ 1 Peter 2:5.
It is in this journey you develop a living relationship with your Creator, working it out practically in your life. You discover who you are, and what your purpose it. This is not being ‘religious’ as such, but a real, tangible organic relationship 24/7, rooted in love. God has prepared an eternity for all believers to live that out with Him. “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9. ‘God is love, and he who abides (lives) in love abides in God, and God in him.’ 1 John 4:16. Live in love - that’s relationship, pure and simple.
Religion
‘Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.’ James 1:27. Pure spiritual religiosity, is not so much the building you go to, or the organisation you belong to, or a list of rules and commandments you follow, or how much money you give, or how many ministry things you are involved in. But… the way you connect with people with a pure motive of love, helping them when you can, and also taking good care of yourself; in not leading a worldly life, but a life that represents godliness as you grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and are led by His Spirit with His power to live it. ‘but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord,’ 2 Peter 3:18. ‘For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons (daughters) of God.’ Romans 8:14. ‘But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.’ Galatians 5:18.
‘The love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him’ 1 John 4:9.
When Jesus lived on the earth, He was far from religious, in fact He hated its hypocrisy. Even though He was God in the flesh, what the religion of Israel had become in His day, was a tradition that bound people up, and did not set them free. The Judaism of the time was driven by made up rules, fear, and spiritually powerless. Jesus came as Saviour, the great disruptor, to turn everything on its head, to set the world free to actually know Him and be saved, ‘and having been set free…’ Romans 6:18. That has been the journey of the last 2000 years of history - the battle for our freedom.
Jesus the Son Saviour had to be born into the world, and become a man, to be sacrificed for all humanity once and for all. He was born in a humble stable in Bethlehem, and hidden in a small village of about 12 families called Nazareth until He was 30 years old; before he was revealed to the world.
His earth job was a carpenter, a ‘chippie,’ they often worked with large blocks of stone. He knew very hard work as a tradesman, and understood the needs of the average man and woman. When He was baptised in water by His cousin John the Baptist, he went on to gather his disciples. The first ones were tradies too, like Peter, James and John; fishermen who knew hard work too. Family men that became His disciples to carry His message to the whole world; that continued for the next 2000 years until now!
The intention of Jesus - World Saviour, was never to crush your spirit, but set you free to live this short life abundantly, knowing who you are, and who He is. ‘Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.’ John 8:36. Indeed, indeed…! So much for man-made religions!
Promises
“I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.’ Matthew 28:20. The Bible is full of promises to those who believe. One of them is, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5. They are comforting words for anybody. No matter what you go through, or what you have experienced in life, God is close. You just have to call on Him. The word says, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!” Revelation 19:6. Remember God is Spirit. He is everywhere; not far off, and unrelatable, but constantly close to you wanting your love and relationship; to save, help and guide you through life.
When you give your whole life to Him with a surrendered heart, and make Him your Saviour, the truth is; He owns you, He has adopted you as His son or daughter. ‘Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?’ 1 Corinthians 6:19. Then, if He owns you, and He is always with you, how much more will he care for His son or daughter, regardless of what happens in this crazy post pandemic world! He has promised! “These words are faithful and true.” Revelation 22:6.
Return
‘For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?’ 1 Thessalonians 2:19. ‘Then they will see the Son of Man (Jesus) coming in the clouds with great power and glory.’ Mark 13:26. Jesus will come back; with all the signs of the end, now happening in the world like never before, it could well be in our lifetime. He will return as King of the Universe with great power - everyone on earth will see Him. “He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” Revelation 17:14. Guys, the whole alien thing we have been conditioned into for years is entertaining, but it’s a distraction and deception. It is Jesus returning that everyone will see; not weird looking green creatures with big eyes, or hideous lizard beings with millions of sharp teeth and buckets of fear and saliva in spaceships - leave that to Hollywood!
So how do you see Jesus? Just a man, a prophet, a long fair haired blue eyed porcelain religious Hollywood Jesus? Or a nuggety Middle Eastern tradesman, or just a good guy in a cute Bible story, or a historical figure, one of many? Or - The Son of God, sent to earth to redeem mankind back to Himself - World Saviour!
The Butchers Shop
Many years ago I was in my small local butcher shop, getting fresh supplies for my cat; wouldn’t eat processed cat food! I’d just returned from one of my several mission trips overseas. He asked me how it was, (the butcher, not the cat). I explained that we saw many people healed of sickness, as a big team prayed for thousands of people in the events, often held in fields. I told him a couple of the stories, and he was amazed.
‘Wow! f@#*ng Jesus Christ, really, thats incredible!” The butcher repeated that line maybe five times in our chat. He was a hard core tradie meat man with old tats!
He said to me, “How the… does that happen?”
Unflustered, I replied, “…well you have mentioned His name a few times already!”
He said, “oh…f@#* really?” somewhat bewildered.
I slowly explained.“His name is Jesus Christ. It’s through His power working in us, that the healing happened. We’re Christians.” He was instantly interested and open to the gospel and knowledge of the Lord. To my relief, He put down a rather large knife, and we had a fruitful chat.
The shop was now empty of customers, and after a while I said, ‘You know you have not sworn for nearly fifteen minutes?” He replied, “Oh f@#* really?” We both laughed. He apologised; water off a ducks back really. But that day, I was happy he knew of Jesus beyond just being a swear word.
Have you ever noticed, it’s incredible how many people use the Lord’s name as a curse word, and don’t even realise it. You see it happen in most movies, shows and general conversations. You never hear someone hit their finger with a hammer and shout out, Buddha, Muhammad, Krishna or any other deity as a curse word. It’s always Jesus. The spirit of this world wants to trample and bring to nothing the greatest and most powerful name in History. Why? Because, Jesus Christ is the only Saviour of the world!
‘God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ Philippians 2:9-11.
Selah (Pause and think).
Prayer
“Lord Jesus, I want to be born again. I open my heart for You to come and dwell within me. I believe You died and shed Your blood on the cross for my sins, and You Lord were raised from the dead and are now alive. Make me alive too, and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I believe I am now redeemed, and I belong to You as a believer in God. Help me to walk with You every day, and teach me to navigate and live in these troubled times on earth. I thank You, that You are always with me for ever, and I will spend eternity with You. In Jesus name, amen!”
(If you have genuinely prayed this prayer to God; find a friend, another Christian believer and share your experience with them. Start reading the scriptures (the New Testament gospel of John is great place to start). If you are able; find a good Christian church, and grow in community and the knowledge of God). Many blessings to you…!
By Stephen Bennett 15/11/2021
Author - Prophet Musician - As I have Called You
