Why I Believe in Jesus Christ ( and Hope that You do Too)
I choose to believe in and to put all of hope in my Creator, Savior, God, and friend Jesus Christ, for here and now, and in the life to come; and, I hope that you do too. There are many world views, religions, philosophies, and psychological methods that we humans rely upon for succor, security, peace, and happiness. I have taken a serious look at many. I was a proponent of a form of Hinduism when young. I have sat at the feet of several “gurus.” But for me, there is nothing that makes more sense and that has more adherents throughout history than Christianity. It has been the backbone of Western civilization for two millennia. Most of the great people I admire and whom I seek to imitate were Christians. Certainly, most of the heroes of America devoted themselves to seeking after God through Jesus Christ, the Creator in human flesh.
All of these things would be enough if belief in Christ was a philosophy. But that is not enough for me. I must have much more to base my life upon here and in the afterlife.
1) I love Jesus because He first loved me. – The Bible teaches that God made us to be his children forever. He loves us far greater than any mother or father on earth could. Jesus loved us before we were even born. “”Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart.” (Jeremiah 1:5) God set us ‘apart’ because he loves us.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
John 17:21 Father, I pray that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
John 17:23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
2 Corinthians 6:16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
Revelation 21:3-4 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
2) I love Jesus because there is no other way to have an intimate fellowship with the living, eternal God. – This may sound arrogant. But I do not make this claim in disrespect to others religious convictions. I respect their sincerity. I say this based on logic, empirical evidence, and personal experience.
Logically, there can only be one God. Most religions agree. Some say Buddha, Allah, or Krishna; and others claim that God is an all-encompassing Spirit that permeates the universe, just a state on ‘being’ and a oneness with all things, whether good or evil. Then there is “Shintoism,” practiced by the Japanese who pray to dead relatives for help and guidance; and Atheism, which says there is no spiritual realm: We are born from dust and return to dust.
When the Apostle Thomas asked Jesus to show him the way, Jesus responded and claimed, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to the Father apart from me. If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” (John 14)Then the Apostle Phillip asked Jesus to show him the Father, Jesus answered, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? (John 14)
3) I love Jesus because I know Him. I have been a servant of Christ for most of my long life. Jesus has been my constant companion. For me to deny Him would be like denying my mother and father. Jesus is my best friend. I have had more conversations with Him than with all others combined. He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own. He leads me in my way. And even when trials and tribulations come, he is my anchor, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One. (Isaiah 43:1-3)
4) I love Jesus because He promises me an eternal life filled love, beauty, joy and everlasting peace. – The bible is full of such wonderful promises as this: “Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said,“I am making everything new! ”Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.” (Revelation 21)
5) I believe in Jesus Christ because He saved me. I do not believe that sinful humanity can save itself by its own efforts. All the praying, goodness, and giving we do cannot be enough to earn eternal life. It is a gift from God. The Bible says it is because of God’s Grace and lovingkindness towards us that He sent Jesus to die and pay the penalty for our sins on our behalf. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Mark Baird
