It seems that followers of Christ have been duped into thinking that the Christian faith is all about us. It’s not. Christianity is all about Jesus Christ. While that should seem obvious, it’s not for some contemporary Christians.
If you need proof, just check out “Christian Self-Help books” online. Such books certainly have their place, but Jesus Christ is much more than a life coach to help us realize our full potential. A friend of mine once said that this life now is our “boot camp” to make us ready for the next life. But that’s a topic for another time.
Here is a list of New Testament references to consider. My prayer is that these verses will be a blessing to all who read them. I have taken the liberty of giving you the first few verses below.
- Each believer is FORGIVEN in Christ. [Ephesians 1:6-7]. “. . .to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”
- Each believer is JUSTIFIED [literally, “declared right with God] in Christ. [1 Corinthians 6:11]. “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”
- Each believer is RECONCILED to God the Father in Christ [Colossians 1:20]. “. . . . and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.”
- Each believer has ETERNAL LIFE in Christ. [Romans 5:21].
- Each believer is made ALIVE in Christ. [Romans 6:11].
- Each believer is REDEEMED in Christ. [Ephesians 1:7]. This means that everyone who chooses to follow Jesus Christ is bought out [redeemed] from the slave market of sin.
Jesus Christ is the subject of the Christian faith. We humans are not. Jesus is the purchaser and Lord of the church.
World events right now are troubling and can even shock us. I will not enumerate them here. Anyone who is remotely observant knows this. But the great thing is that world events do not change the truths outlined above. They are an anchor for the soul and a reason to rejoice in Jesus Christ in this new year.
