Last week I asked, “What is the meaning of life?” I promised that God wants you to know why he put you on earth. I told you that you are not an accident. God makes everything with a purpose, and God has a purpose for your life. Today I want to simplify the answers to all of life’s most pressing and deepest questions down to one word. That’s right. I am going to give you one word that will change your life, give you direction in your darkest times, and if you take it to heart, it will become your true north star!
The one word answer to all of life’s question is – Jesus;
Savior of the Lost 12-14
This answers the question, “How am I going to fix my life?”
14 Jesus redeemed and forgave us through the shedding of his blood.
Redeem ἀπολύτρωσις is the payment of a ransom.
forgivness ἄφεσις, is a release from bondage. Jesus set us free.
13 Jesus delivered us from darkness and conveyed us into his kingdom.
12. Jesus bestowed upon us an eternal inheritance.
Image of the Invisible God 15
This answers the question, “How do I get to God?”
An image is what you see when you look in the mirror.
When Father looks in the mirror, He sees Jesus looking back at Him.
Jesus is the exact likeness of the Father. Jesus is God.
He has the attributes of God.
He has the divine names of God.
He does works that only God can do.
He has the top rank over all things.
There is no salvation in any other but Jesus! .
Creator of all things 16-17
This answers the question, “Why am I here?”
Jesus is the creator of all things, not a created being.
Heaven and earth is, up there, and down here.
Visible and invisible are things you can see, and things you can’t see.
Principalities and powers are angels, demons, and humans.
Jesus is before ALL things. Jesus holds everything altogether.
I was created by him and for him.
Head of the church 18-19
This answers the question, “How do I find direction in life?”
Jesus surpasses all others in position, power and preeminence.
His authority has to do with how he directs His body, the Church. (us)
If you want direction in life, you must follow Jesus.
Redeemer of all things 20
This answers the question, “what will happen when I die?”
Creation will be delivered from the bondage of corruption. Rom 8:18-21
There will be a new heaven and a new earth. Rev 21:-1-5
This world is not my home.
Why does Jesus matter? If you are here without Jesus, you are missing the single most important, one word answer to all of the problems in life. Jesus. Sweetest name I know. It’s all about Jesus! Get your life back. Give your life to Jesus. Jesus is the answer to every difficult and ponderous question.
MESSAGE
Last week I asked the question, “What is the meaning of life?” And I promised you that God wants you to know why he put you on earth. I told you that you are not an accident. God makes everything with a purpose. And that God has a purpose for your life.
Today I want to simplify the answers to all of life’s most pressing and deepest questions down to just one word. That’s right. I am going to give you one word that will change your life, give you direction in your darkest times, and if you take it to heart, it will become your true north star!
The questions of life are incredibly complex, but the answers are simple. One word… It’s all about Jesus! There’s only one way to get your life back, and that’s through Jesus. There’s only one way to get your life on track and that’s through Jesus!
Is your life a mess? Jesus is the one person that will save your life! He will lead you out of darkness and into light! Do you want to know God? Jesus is the way to God! Find Jesus and you’ll find God! Do you wonder where you came from and why you are here? It’s because of Jesus! He created you and he is your reason for living. Do you need direction and guidance in life? Jesus is the plan. You were meant to follow Jesus, and when you do, you will gain clarity. Are you concerned about life after death? Jesus is the answer. One day you will stand before Jesus, so you should get to know him now!
Have you found the answer? If not, let me give it to you straight. One word – Jesus; One Lord, Jesus. One Savior, Jesus. One hope… it’s Jesus. In fact it’s all about Jesus. And in case you haven’t noticed it yet, at Pine Grove, we’re all about Jesus.
The answers to life are not found in secular psychology, it is found in Jesus. Jesus not only understands your problems, he can save your life! The answers to life are not found in our educational system, they are found in Jesus. Jesus not only knows everything, he knows exactly what you need. The answers to life are not found in politics, they are found in Jesus. Jesus, not a political party, or a candidate can change the soul of our country. If I didn’t make it clear; Jesus is the answer! It’s all about Jesus.
Let me give you 5 reasons why Jesus matters; #1. Jesus is the Savior of the lost
Savior of the Lost 12-14
This answers the question, “How am I going to fix my life?” And I’m not talking of just adding a little Jesus to your life, I’m talking about a radical and complete change of life. That’s found in verse 12.
12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
I would like to approach these three verses backwards, because they are in a descending order.
Verse 14 Jesus redeemed and forgave us through the shedding of his blood. To Redeem ἀπολύτρωσις apolutrosis has to do with the payment of a ransom. As humans, we are held captive by our sins. There is no way we could ever pay enough to get God to forget and forgive our sin, but Jesus did! The payment He made was in blood. It was a blood ransom, the only kind that could save us. By paying the ransom, it opened the door to forgivness ἄφεσις aphesis, which is a release from bondage. Jesus set us free.
Verse 13, Jesus delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into his kingdom. We once were in darkness, bondage, sadness and sorrow; everyone who Jesus saved, he releases from bondage! We are now citizens of His kingdom.
Verse 12. Jesus bestowed upon us an eternal inheritance. We not only have heaven as our home, but we are saints! We are rich! We will reign with Christ! Our future hope is set. That’s what Jesus does. It’s all about Jesus!
Let me give you 4 more reasons why Jesus matters; #2. Jesus is the way to God.
Image of the Invisible God 15
In fact Jesus is God.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
What’s an image? It’s what you see when you look in the mirror. When God the Father looks in the mirror, guess who’s looking back at Him? Jesus. He’s the exact likeness of the Father. In every respect, Jesus is God. He has the attributes of God; He’s all powerful, all knowing, and eternal. He has been given the divine names of God; He is called “the mighty God, the Savior, The Lord, Jehovah.” He does works that only God can do; creation, forgiveness of sins and raising people from the dead.
He is the firstborn over all creation. This simply means that Jesus has the top rank over all things. He is the head and ruler over all things.
So why is Jesus the only way to God? Because he is God. And why do you need to go through Jesus to get to God, because Jesus is the Lord of all creation and we are mere creatures. How can I come to know God? Through Jesus. There is no salvation in any other but Jesus! It’s all about Jesus.
Let me give you 3 more reasons why Jesus matters; #3. Jesus is the Creator.
Creator of all things
16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
Verse 16-17 are a clear and profound statement, telling us that Jesus is the creator of all things, and not a created being: Let me review: In heaven and on earth is up there in outer space, and down here on planet earth. Visible and invisible are things you can see, and things you can’t see. Principalities and powers are angels, demons, humans, and all other living things. Is there anything left that He didn’t create? No. In fact Jesus is before ALL things. Before created things existed, Jesus was already here. And if that isn’t enough, even today, Jesus holds it altogether – through him all things consist or are held together.
So why am I here on this earth? Because I was created by him and for him. I was created for His pleasure. I was born to worship Jesus? I was born to live for Jesus. It’s all about Jesus.
Let me give you 2 more reasons why Jesus matters; #4. Jesus is the Head of the church.
Head of the church 18-19
This one answers the question, “how do I find direction in life?”
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
There are a few words that stand out in these sentences; the word Head – meaning chief. The word beginning – meaning your search for direction begins and ends with Jesus. The word preeminence, meaning that his honor surpasses all others.
And notice that these three descriptive all have to do with the church, the body of Christ. The body of Christ was made to follow the head. Why do we follow Jesus? Because Jesus is our Lord; because Jesus has the answer; because if you want direction in life, you must follow Jesus. It’s all about Jesus.
Let me give you 1 more reason why Jesus matters; #5. Jesus is the Redeemer of all things.
Redeemer of all things 20
This answers the question, “what will happen when I die?”
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
Romans 8 expands on this concept
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Revelation 21 shares these powerful words
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
This is the wonderful future of every believer in Christ. That’s why this world is not my home. When you get that homesick feeling of dislocation, and the strange sentiment overwhelms you that you don’t belong here, let me tell you where you do belong. You belong with Jesus. Because Jesus is the sum and substance and hope of all the world!
Jesus is the answer to every difficult and ponderous question. Jesus answers the question, “How am I going to fix my life!” Jesus wants to transform you. Jesus answers the question, “How can I come to know God?” Jesus is the way to the Father. Jesus answers the question, “why am I here?” You were created for Jesus! Jesus answers the question, “How can I find direction in life?” The answer is “follow Jesus.” And Jesus answers the question, “what will happen to me when I die?” If you know Jesus, you’ll go to the new heaven and new earth to live with Him forever.
Why does Jesus matter? If you are here without Jesus, you are missing the single most important, one word answer to all of the problems in life. Jesus. Sweetest name I know. It’s all about Jesus! Get your life back. Give your life to Jesus.
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