For most people Church is boring and irrelevant and out of date – ironically all the things its founder, Jesus Christ, never was. Contrary to popular opinion Jesus didn’t come to give us an oppressive set ofrules or regulations or to set up a new religion…. Jesus came ultimately to give us life in a new dimension. Just one chapter before In John 10.10 Jesus says, 'I have come that they might have life: life in all its fullness.'
Deep down we all long for this life in all its fullness. For a deeper more vibrant perspective of what it is to be human. For this something beyond us that we hope will one satisfy our deepest longings,and liberate us from our strongest fears. We search for this elusivedream in a 1001 places but often the last place we look is in the Church.
The Bible teaches that God in Christ offers us real life, life as it was meant to be, life full of joy, meaning, peace and freedom.This life is available to all as free gift. The gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ. This is not so much about a quantity of life but a quality of life. A life with a three dimensional quality;
Forgiveness for the past
Jesus came to deal with the guilt, regret and pain we all have in our lives. We have all messed things up indifferent ways. The Bible is honest when it says; ‘All have sinned, and fall short of God’s glory’(Romans 3:23). Sin is any way we have failed to love God and other people. Ithas consequences. It cuts us off from God and it damages our relationships with others. Jesus took this sin and made it his own problem even though it was really our problem. He took the consequences of sin, our sin, including God’s anger. The cross on which Jesus died (circa 33 AD) is God’s way of offering the free gift of forgiveness. If you accept Jesus’ death on the cross for you and ask God to forgive you, your conscience is cleansed, guilt is taken away andhurts from the past are healed.
Freedom in the present
The Bible says that the wages of sin is death. When Jesus died, he paid our wages and then declared ‘It is finished! He paid our wages so completely that death no longer had any rights to him. On the third day he rose again to new life – eternal life! Jesus’ historical resurrection isproof that he is the Son of God and the Saviour of the world. If we believe in Him, Jesus comes into our lives and gives us His eternal life. We can know thepower of Jesus raising us out of failure, addictions and fears.
Hope for the future
Jesus is the first man to die and then physically come back to life. In doing so, he proves that there is life after death and that he can give it to us. When we die, we do not reach the end of ourexistence but a cross roads. Either we will be raised to judgement for ours insand condemned to hell OR we will be raised to heaven where we shall be made perfect.The difference is whether we have believed in Jesus Christ. Jesus says ‘I amthe resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live even though hedies.’ He then asks a straight question which all of us must answer; ‘Do youbelieve this?’ (John 11:25-26).
We have to do something to accept God’s gift of 3D eternal life. Just as you might put out two empty hands to receive a gift, sowe must reach out to God through repentance and faith.
