THE JESUS I KNOW…Bill Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible….

Matthew 1:21 

 She will bear a son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.

I Timothy 1:15

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 

There is in the last verse of John’s Gospel a most interesting comment on the ministry of Jesus.  John 21:25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did.  Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.  And many of those things done by Christ are made the reason for his coming.  He came to be King of the Jews; He came to provide healing for His people; He came that we might have an abundant life; He came to bring peace to the world; He came to be for us a model of all God would have us to be.

While the issues named may be debated by some, the simple Christian such as I rejoices to hear the revelation from Joseph’s dream and positive testimony of Paul, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”  If that is not enough, Paul sets the standard of this saving benefit by the additional claim to primacy, “Of whom I am Chief.”

I will add this to Paul’s statement, “this is the Jesus I know”.  He saves His people.  Matthew writes with the same clarity as Paul, “He will save His people from their sins.”  When the convinced sinner sees these words, “from their sins” the whole of God’s purpose in a Savior from the virgin birth to the present reign in heaven is explained.  The burden is gone.  The light of heaven shines through the darkest cloud.  There is a way to have peace with God.

It is true that salvation is not given as a fire escape.  But as one who has looked over the edge into the great abyss, salvation that delivers from God’s eternal wrath as a result of my sins is most welcome.  And anyone who underestimates the fear of God’s eternal perdition has failed to appreciate the extent of the merit that is the wages of sin.

Jesus the heaven born son of Man, the light of heaven and earth is the Savior of a poor lost sinner such as I.  This is the Jesus I know.

Please read Romans 5:6-11.

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

                             Charles Wesley, 1738