Confidence in Christ

We can’t talk about faith in God without Jesus. He showed up to earth around two thousand years ago and claimed to be the connection to God and the Way to live forever. That’s why a relationship with Him is key.

“You believe in God, believe also in me. I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:1, 6–7)

Jesus refers to God as the Father, letting people know that His coming to earth was always God’s plan for humanity. Jesus is both human and God, or God in human form. That plan required the ultimate sacrifice as Jesus would lay down His life for our wrongdoing—sin, as the Bible calls it. His sacrifice is the source of our hope that set into motion a whole new lifestyle for those who would follow, one of sacrifice for others.

Remember, seeking and saving is what Jesus came to earth to do. The saving is from sins that separate us from God. That’s not a crazy religious concept because every day, people are separated from society because of their actions, crimes, or sins. While there are a lot of wrongs that can cause us to be separated from society, any sin that violates God’s law separates us from His kingdom beyond this earth.

The bad news is we all fall into the sin category, and the Good News is that Jesus came to save us all. He came to seek and save anyone and everyone who will choose Him. His seeking was done through conversations with people to see who would have faith and obedience and allow themselves to be found.

The first part of the Gospel is Jesus dying for our sins. We know that when someone makes a huge mistake, a price needs to be paid. That isn’t a foreign concept to us. We all mess up. We break the law. We violate trust. We say awful things. We fall short.

Our whole system is based on making our mistakes right—law enforcement, the courts, bill collectors, marriage counseling, sit-downs with the boss, school principal meetings, and the list goes on. For those mistakes, we pay the price. Sometimes, others have to suffer payment, too. But when you boil all these down, the result should be forgiveness.

If there is no forgiveness, we simply would be unable to have any meaningful relationships. Without forgiveness, marriages would break apart, family reunions would be canceled, and friendships would easily crumble. With forgiveness, husbands and wives stay together, family legacies carry on, and friends love and encourage one another through good times and bad.

Jesus offers forgiveness to those who choose to be in a relationship with Him. We are not simply saved or found because He exists. We must decide to be in a relationship with Him.

When you choose to be in this relationship with Jesus, you become one with Him.

Respond

• Have you chosen a relationship with Jesus? Explain.

Prayer

Glorious Lord, I love You. May my confidence in You and my relationship with You be evident to everyone I meet.