Why Jesus?

Where will I live? What kind of work do I want to do? Where will I go to college? Who will I marry? When do I want to retire? These are but a few of the questions that every person has to answer at some point in their life. One question that is more important than any of these is, "What will I do with Jesus?" The answer to this question will have more to do with your ultimate fulfillment in life and what you will experience in eternity, than any other single question you will ever face.

One day while walking through the countryside, Jesus asked his disciples a very interesting question. He asked, "Who do men say that I am?" The disciples responded with a variety of answers, then he drew the question a little more direct and asked, "Who do you think I am?" Simon Peter put forth a bold answer, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus responded by saying that Simon had not figured this out all on his own, but that God had revealed this to him.

If you ask a hundred people who Jesus is, you will get a thousand different answers, but having the right answer makes all the difference. The congregation of FirstSarasota truly hopes that you will seek an answer to this most important question by seeking an understanding from God himself. Here is some guidance in seeking an answer to "Why Jesus?"

Jesus offers forgiveness.

No one on the planet leads a perfect life. "We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” wrote the apostle Paul to the church in Rome. It is part of the human predicament to mess up and make mistakes. Every one of us needs to hear the words, "You are forgiven!" Jesus offers such forgiveness. While he offered forgiveness throughout his ministry, as he hung dying on the cross, one of his final acts on this earth was to seek forgiveness for the very people who have crucified him. He cried out, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." Jesus stands ready to bring you forgiveness!

Jesus brings liberty.

Part of the human predicament is that we are always bound by some circumstance, tragedy, habit, addiction or attitude which dehumanizes and demeans our character. These struggles can overcome and control us if we do not find a release from them. Throughout his ministry, Jesus brought healing and liberation to all sorts of physical, psychological and spiritual prisoners. On the day that Jesus was chosen to read scripture in the synagogue, he choose these words, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” Jesus stands ready to give you liberation from what binds you!

Jesus brings the power to change.

Life is change, the question is: what kind of change? We are either becoming bitter or better, a victim or a victor. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior brings with it a resident power for life transformation. We have all made New Year's resolutions only to see them thrown aside in a few minutes, hours or days. The power of God through Christ can reside within you 24/7 bringing forth life change. As his own personal experience told him, Paul testified of what Christ can do....“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Jesus desires to come and live within your life, empowering you for life transformation!

Jesus, the Son, reconciles us to God, the Father.

Part of the human struggle is dealing with the hole in our soul that was created ages ago when the first man, Adam, sinned. Ever since that day, man has struggled with the void between God and man. Jesus, being the very Son of God, brings us into a new relationship of salvation and vital faith, introducing us to the presence of Almighty God. As Paul wrote, “....God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation." Jesus died on the cross to make it possible for you to come into a personal relationship with his Father. Won't you pray today to ask his forgiveness, inviting him to live within you?

Truly, making the right decision about Christ is the most important decision you will ever make. For more information, email us at info@fbcsarasota.org.

That all might believe......

Pastor William Hild