Do We Know The Real Jesus?

This may seem like and odd question but trust me there is a logical reason for asking it. I listened to a sermon the other day that asked if Jesus was first our teacher before we embraced him as our savior. The idea he was trying to bring across is the problem that many churches today are trying get people to embrace Jesus as their savior without knowing what he teaches or requires of them.

When we fail to recognize what Jesus taught about living this life and embrace him as our savior before we embrace him as our teacher, we end up with a shallow version of Jesus that is not real and thus neither is the forgiveness we expect to receive. Following Jesus requires that we first embrace what he teaches about the human condition and the cure for our broken idea of living as God intended.

In the four gospels Jesus is revealed in both his daily life and the things he taught. If we don’t read the gospels much it is not surprising that we don’t really comprehend who Jesus is or what he taught. The first challenge Jesus gave people when they met him and listened to to his messages was “Come Follow Me.” That meant, “Come listen to what I have to say.” We too often challenge people to accept Jesus as their personal savior when they haven’t even embraced who Jesus is as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. As a result many have created an image of Jesus with very little factual information. Consider this truth: Ask anyone if they believe in God and if they say, “yes” we need to dig a little deeper to determine if they are talking about the real God or someone like Buddha or Muhamad or even one of the many god’s in Hinduism.

When Jesus first started to teach people they were amazed at his measure of authority. They recognized that Jesus had authority before they recognized him as their savior. This is so important to truly grasp Jesus as having the ability and power to make us born again, let alone transform our lives.

 Matthew 7:28-29 

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

When we are convinced that Jesus has authority greater than anyone else we can put our trust in him. However, when we don’t acknowledge his supreme authority above our own we don’t put our full trust in him, and our belief in his saving power is mere talk and not a reality. How sad when people are made to believe that Jesus can cleanse them of sin and yet not have the ability to truly reconcile them to God. Scripture is very clear about the reason God is ready to forgive our sin and that is for the ultimate goal of “Reconciliation,” not going to heaven as many falsely teach today. God’s purpose in redemption is to establish a true relationship with him, not just to forgive our mistakes and rebellion. That relationship makes it safe for God to welcome us to heaven, otherwise God would introduce sin and destruction into his heavenly realm.

When Paul was speaking about reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5 he was building the case of why Jesus died for us. It was to transform us from living selfishly to living for God. Jesus didn’t die to forgive us and let us stay in our sin state but to cleanse us out of our sinful choices. To embrace Jesus short of this is to embrace a false picture of who Jesus is and, in fact, embrace a lie that can cost us eternity without God.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

King David started out his writing of the psalms with the key to our salvation and transformation. David advised people not to listen to and embrace the deceptive teachings of the world, but to reject them for God’s ways and God’s law. David understood that God’s law was a picture of God’s heart for our health and happiness. So often today’s pastors and teachers declare a false Jesus who people stake their eternity on, but who God is not obligated to back up.

Psalms 1:1-2 

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.

So, going back to the original question I posed in this article: Have we embraced the real Jesus as our teacher, as he is presented in the four gospels in order truly be born again, or have we embraced a make believe Jesus?  To embrace him as our teacher first is the only guaranteed hope for legitimate forgiveness of sin and becoming a child orf God. Having our eyes wide open to who he is means we embrace the ways of God “Before” we ask for, or hope to find, forgiveness. Real forgiveness only comes when we embrace the ways of God as scripture define them. Remember, Jesus stated very clearly that it is by continuing in his word that we become his followers; then we become his disciple or student “AND THEN” we will know the truth and the truth will set us fre. 

John 8:31-32

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.

At this point Jesus started to condemn the cities in which he did the most miracles because they didn’t repent of the way they were living. He, in fact, said that in the judgment day, when they face God, they would be found wanting or rejected because they didn’t meet the requirements for forgiveness. Following this rebuke Jesus stated that when forgiveness takes place we we exchange our burdens for his rest. The point Jesus was making is that you can’t get free of your sins as long as you hold onto them. 

Matthew 11:28-30 

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Knowing the real Jesus is essential to finding reconciliation and forgiveness. Without these two element we don’t become children of God. Make sure you know the real Jesus and not the make believe one that so many profess today.

Questions:

1) Have you read the four gospels yourself or have you just listened to sermons that talk about Jesus? Paul challenged Timothy, his spiritual son, to study. (2 Timothy 2:15)

2) Do you feel you know the real Jesus or maybe there are some flaws in your understanding? Never be afraid of reading stories about how others learned about Jesus in their own lives.

Learning to love the real Jesus day by day,

Pastor Dale