Come Back to God

 
In 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, the Apostle Paul provides the fullest explanation on the meaning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His saving act on the Cross at Calvary.
 
Because we [the Apostle Paul and his companions] understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that [Jesus] Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He [Jesus Christ] died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of [Jesus] Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know Him now! This means that anyone who belongs to [Jesus Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. —2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (NLT)

In 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, the Apostle Paul explains that God was in Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry (2 Corinthians 5:19) to plead to the world to “Come back to God!” God was in Jesus Christ to reconcile and bring humankind back to Him and cancel any and all sins of people. The Apostle Paul taught that Jesus Christ has commissioned all believers as ambassadors to continue His job of reconciling people to God (2 Corinthians 5:20). Jesus Christ makes His appeal and pleads through His followers to “Come back to God!”

Trust In Jesus Christ

But now God has shown us a different way to heaven —not by "being good enough" and trying to keep His laws, but by a new way (though not new, really, for the Scriptures told about it long ago). Now God says He will accept and acquit us—declare us "not guilty"—if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like. Yes, all have sinned (all of us — Jews, pagan Gentiles, humanitarians, and religious people); all fall short of God’s glorious ideal; yet now God declares us "not guilty" of offending Him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in His kindness freely takes away our sins. For God sent Christ Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to end all God’s anger against us. He used [Jesus] Christ’s blood and our faith as the means of saving us from His wrath (literally means to be a propitiation). In this way He was being entirely fair, even though He did not punish those who sinned in former times. For He was looking forward to the time when [Jesus] Christ would come and take away those sins. And now in these days also He can receive sinners in this same way because Jesus took away their sins. But isn’t this unfair for God to let criminals go free, and say that they are innocent? No, for He does it on the basis of their trust in Jesus [Christ]  who took away their sins. Then what can we boast about doing to earn our salvation? Nothing at all. Why? Because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds; it is based on what [Jesus] Christ has done and our faith in Him. So it is that we are saved (justified and made right) by faith in [Jesus] Christ and not by the good things we do. And does God save only the Jews in this way? No, the Gentiles, too, may come to Him in this same manner. God treats us ALL the same; ALL, whether Jews or Gentiles, are acquitted if they have faith. Well then, if we are saved by faith, does this mean that we no longer need obey God’s laws? Just the opposite! In fact, only when we trust Jesus [Christ] can we truly obey Him. Romans 3:21-31 (The Living Bible).

In Romans 3, the apostle Paul teaches that everyone stands guilty before God. The apostle Paul declares universal and equal sinfulness by everyone --- Gentiles (Romans 1:18-32) and Jews (Romans 2:1–3:8).  No one can find acceptance with God by any action or work on his or her own (Romans 3:9-20).  The apostle Paul states no one will be exempt from God's judgment on sin. Every person must accept his or her guilt of sin before God. The only way to escape God’s judgment is faith (trust) in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  God offers Jesus Christ as His wonderful gift of salvation to all who believe in Jesus Christ.  We receive God’s salvation not through following the Ten Commandments, works or the Old Testament Law but through faith (trust) in Jesus Christ. Once we accept God’s salvation through Jesus Christ, God the Holy Spirit comes into our lives so we are now empowered to obey the Ten Commandments, do good works and obey the Law.  

Please accept God’s gift of Jesus Christ today through faith.  All you need to do is wholeheartedly and genuinely turn to God through faith in Jesus Christ and away from sin.  God by the power of the Holy Spirit will do the rest!

JESUS IS ALIVE! He Has Risen From the Dead. Jesus lives!
Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-9

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as He said would happen. Come, see where His body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and He is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there. Remember what I have told you.” The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell My brothers (disciples) to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.” Matthew 28:1-10 (NLT).

The Good News of Jesus’ resurrection is an amazing story of God.  Like Mary Magdalene, the other women and the disciples, no one believed in Jesus’ resurrection until they encountered the living Jesus personally (John 20:6). When Jesus’ followers encountered Jesus, they were able to accept the fact of His resurrection from complete death (John 20:16).

Jesus' resurrection from the death is the central and unique fact to the Christian faith.  Only the Christian faith has Jesus as God who became human, died for His people, and was raised again from death by God’s Holy Spirit. During Jesus’ time on earth, He told His disciples He would rise from the dead. Jesus' bodily resurrection proved that He is not a false prophet, a legend, a human leader or imposter, but the Son of the Living God. In the resurrection, Jesus “was shown to be the Son of God when He was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:4). The Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is available to everyone that accepts wholeheartedly by faith Jesus’ resurrection.  The Holy Spirit reigns in the hearts of Christians everyday to help them live life completely. 

The Holy Bible unanimously describes the resurrection of Jesus from complete death by the Holy Spirit.  The evidence of Jesus’ resurrection is supported by (1) the empty tomb; (2) the accounts of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances; and (3) the transformation of His followers into world missionaries. As followers of Jesus, we must tell everyone of the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection (Matthew 28:18-20).

After Jesus’ resurrection, He made a number of appearances to different people. Jesus appeared to:

(1) Mary Magdalene and some other women at the tomb on Sunday morning (Matthew 28:8–10; Mark 16:9–11; John 20:11–18);
(2) Peter in Jerusalem on Sunday (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5);
(3) Disciples on the Emmaus Road on Sunday (Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13–35);
(4) Disciples in Jerusalem, except Thomas, in the upper room on Sunday (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36–43; John 20:19–25);
(5) Disciples in Jerusalem, including Thomas, on the next Sunday night (John 20:26–31; 1 Corinthians 15:5);
(6) Disciples beside the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1–25);
(7) 500 people at one time (1 Corinthians 15:6);
(8) James, the brother of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:7);
(9) The disciples who witnessed the ascension of Jesus to heaven (Matthew 28:18–20; Mark 16:15–19; Luke 24:44–53; Acts 1:3–12);

(For more on the importance of the resurrection, see 1 Corinthians 15:12-58.)
 

Friday: The Last Week of Jesus’ Life Before the Crucifixion (Passion Week)

In the last week of Jesus’ human life before on earth, He commenced the redemptive work to accomplish salvation for all humanity of their sins.  Jesus’ love, suffering and resurrection established salvation for everyone through faith (John 3:16; Romans 5:8-9).

Sunday, Jesus’ Messianic and Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19

Monday, Jesus curses the fig tree, Monday
Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14, Mark 11:20-26

Monday, Jesus clears the Temple
Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-46; cp. John 2:13-16

Tuesday, Jewish religious leaders questions Jesus' authority
Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8

Tuesday, Jesus teaches in the Temple
Matthew 21:28-23:39; Mark 12:1-44; Luke 20:9-21:4

Tuesday, Jesus anointed at Bethany
Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:2-11

Wednesday, The plot against Jesus
Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6

Thursday, The Last Supper
Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-20; John 13:1-38

Thursday, Jesus comforts His disciples
John 14:1-16:33

Thursday, Gethsemane
Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46

Thursday night and Friday, Jesus’ arrest and trial
Matthew 26:47-27:26; Mark 14:43-15:15; Luke 22:47-23:25; John 18:2-19:16

Friday, Jesus’ crucifixion and death at Golgotha
Matthew 27:27-56; Mark 15:16-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:17-30

Friday, The burial of Jesus in Joseph’s Tomb
Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:31-42

Forgiveness and Love!

When they came to the place called the Skull (Calvary), there they crucified Him, along with the criminals --- one on His right, the other on His left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:33-34 (NIV).

He (Jesus) told them (His disciples), "This is what is written: The Christ (Messiah) will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His Name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:46-47 (NIV).

Late Thursday night, the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot was now in place. Soldiers and guards came to arrest Jesus, including His own disciple and one of the Twelve apostles, Judas Iscariot.  Judas Iscariot kissed Jesus as the ultimate act of deceit.  Even facing betrayal, Jesus showed loved to His enemies by healing one of the soldiers’ ears (Luke 22:51). At this moment, all of Jesus’ followers and disciples deserted Him and He was arrested as a criminal. Throughout His public ministry, large crowds followed Jesus as He taught, performed healing miracles and preached (Matthew 4:23-25).  On this Thursday night, Jesus the Messiah (also mean “Christ”) was lead away to face His eternal destiny to atone for our sins on the Cross.

Into Friday morning, Jesus faced false trials, denials by Peter, condemnation by His once cheering crowds, beatings, and mockery.  Finally, Jesus was given a Cross to carry to the Place of the Skull (Golgotha) where He was crucified with two criminals.  On the Cross, Jesus forgave His enemies even as His enemies insulted, nailed and murdered Him on the Cross (Luke 23:34). Now, that is love!

Jesus was innocent and committed NO sins.  He was perfect and became our Perfect and Spotless Lamb as the final Sacrifice for all humankind sins. From 12:00 noon until 3:00 p.m. Friday, complete darkness filled the earth while Jesus suffered on the Cross.  Then Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me?” (Mark 15:34 (NLT) (see also Psalm 22:1 describing the cry of a righteous man).  At that moment, Jesus bore the sins of the world!  Then, the curtain in the Sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.  The tearing of the curtain indicated that Jesus entered heaven for humankind so that we to may now enter God’s presence (see Hebrews 9:8-12; Hebrews 10:19-20). 

Jesus’ body was placed in Joseph of Arimathea’s new tomb before 6:00 p.m. Friday night, when the Jewish Sabbath began and all worked stopped.  From 6:00 p.m. Friday night throughout the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday), Jesus laid in the tomb.

Question:  What will be your response to Jesus’ death?  Jesus dead the absolute worse death possible of all human suffering to save you.  What will you do? Read Romans 3 for the answer. 

Thursday:  The Last Week of Jesus’ Life Before the Crucifixion (Passion Week)

In the last week of Jesus’ human life before on earth, He commenced the redemptive work to accomplish salvation for all humanity of their sins.  Jesus’ love, suffering and resurrection established salvation for everyone through faith (John 3:16; Romans 5:8-9).

Sunday, Jesus’ Messianic and Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19

Monday, Jesus curses the fig tree, Monday
Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14, Mark 11:20-26

Monday, Jesus clears the Temple
Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-46; cp. John 2:13-16

Tuesday, Jewish religious leaders questions Jesus' authority
Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8

Tuesday, Jesus teaches in the Temple
Matthew 21:28-23:39; Mark 12:1-44; Luke 20:9-21:4

Tuesday, Jesus anointed at Bethany
Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:2-11

Wednesday, The plot against Jesus
Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6

Thursday, The Last Supper
Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-20; John 13:1-38

Thursday, Jesus comforts His disciples
John 14:1-16:33

Thursday, Gethsemane
Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46

Jesus and the disciples ate the traditional Passover meal in an Upper Room as Jesus gave His final farewell and instructions to His disciples. The Passover celebrated Israel's escape from Egypt when the blood of a lamb painted on their door frames saved their firstborn sons from death. This experience predicted Jesus' future work on the Cross. Jesus is our Passover Lamb (John 1:29; Revelation 5:1–14). His blood saves all people from the penalty of death from sin.

Thursday records the Lord's Supper, also called Communion or Eucharist (Thanksgiving) in the Upper Room (see also 1 Corinthians 11:23-29). Jesus and His disciples ate the Passover meal, sang Psalms, read Scripture, and prayed. The Psalms they sang were most likely taken from Psalms 115 — 118, traditionally sung at the Passover meal. Then, Jesus took the bread and the wine and gave them new meaning as symbols of His body and blood. The Lord‘s Supper is still celebrated in church services today.

After eating the Lord’s Supper, Jesus and His disciples went to the Mount of Olives into a garden called Gethsemane. At this garden, Jesus prayed for to God for the strength to carry the sins of all humankind on the Cross.
 
Thursday night and Friday, Jesus’ arrest and trial
Matthew 26:47-27:26; Mark 14:43-15:15; Luke 22:47-23:25; John 18:2-19:16

Friday, Jesus’ crucifixion and death at Golgotha
Matthew 27:27-56; Mark 15:16-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:17-30

Friday, The burial of Jesus in Joseph’s Tomb
Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:31-42

Wednesday:  The Last Week of Jesus’ Life Before the Crucifixion (Passion Week)

In the last week of Jesus’ human life before on earth, He commenced the redemptive work to accomplish salvation for all humanity of their sins.  Jesus’ love, suffering and resurrection established salvation for everyone through faith (John 3:16; Romans 5:8-9).

Sunday, Jesus’ Messianic and Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19

Monday, Jesus curses the fig tree, Monday
Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14, Mark 11:20-26

Monday, Jesus clears the Temple
Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-46; cp. John 2:13-16

Tuesday, Jewish religious leaders questions Jesus' authority
Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8

Tuesday, Jesus teaches in the Temple
Matthew 21:28-23:39; Mark 12:1-44; Luke 20:9-21:4

Tuesday, Jesus anointed at Bethany
Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:2-11

Wednesday, The plot against Jesus
Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray (deliver or hand over) Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray (deliver or hand over) Jesus. Matthew 26:14-16 (NLT).

Why would Judas want to betray Jesus? Judas, like the other disciples and other Jews, expected Jesus to start a political revolt and overthrow Rome. Judas, as did the other disciples, probably assumed (see Mark 10:35-37) that Jesus would give them an important position in His new government. However, as time progress, Judas began to realize that Jesus' Kingdom was not physical or political, but spiritual. Judas's desire for money and high status could not be realized if he continued to follow Jesus. Judas was known for his greed (see John 12:4-6).  Therefore, Judas betrayed Jesus in exchange for money and favor from the high religious leaders. Sadly, Judas did not know that Jesus' death and resurrection were the most important parts of God's redemptive plan in human history. In fact, Judas’s betrayal was even a part of God’s sovereign plan (Acts 1:16-17).
 
Only Matthew’s Gospel records the exact amount of money Judas accepted to betray Jesus.  Thirty pieces of silver was the price of a slave (Exodus 21:32). The religious leaders had planned to wait until after the Passover to take Jesus, but with Judas's startling offer, they step up their plans.

Thursday, The Last Supper
Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14-12-25; Luke 22:7-20; John 13:1-38

Thursday, Jesus comforts His disciples
John 14:1-16:33

Thursday, Gethsemane
Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46

Thursday night and Friday, Jesus’ arrest and trial
Matthew 26:47-27:26; Mark 14:43-15:15; Luke 22:47-23:25; John 18:2-19:16

Friday, Jesus’ crucifixion and death at Golgotha
Matthew 27:27-56; Mark 15:16-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:17-30

Friday, The burial of Jesus in Joseph’s Tomb
Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:31-42

Tuesday: The Last Week of Jesus’ Life Before the Crucifixion (Passion Week)

In the last week of Jesus’ human life before on earth, He commenced the redemptive work to accomplish salvation for all humanity of their sins.  Jesus’ love, suffering and resurrection established salvation for everyone through faith (John 3:16; Romans 5:8-9).

Sunday, Jesus’ Messianic and Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19

Monday, Jesus curses the fig tree, Monday
Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14, Mark 11:20-26

Monday, Jesus clears the Temple
Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-46; cp. John 2:13-16

Tuesday, Jewish religious leaders questions Jesus' authority
Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8

Tuesday, Jesus teaches in the Temple
Matthew 21:28-23:39; Mark 12:1-44; Luke 20:9-21:4

Tuesday, Jesus anointed at Bethany
Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:2-11

One day as He (Jesus) was teaching the people in the Temple courts and preaching the Gospel (Good News), the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to Him. "Tell us by what authority You are doing these things," they said. "Who gave You this authority?" He replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell Me, John's baptism--was it from heaven, or from men?" They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will ask, 'Why didn't you believe Him?' But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet." So they answered, "We don't know where it was from." Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." Luke 20:1-8 (NIV).

During Jesus’ public ministry, He was very popular with the people and large crowds often followed Him.  He spent time preaching, teaching and healing the people around Him.  During the last week before His death, He continued to preach, teach and heal the people.  Jesus received His authority for preaching, teaching and healing not from His education, title, position, or connections. However, Jesus' authority came directly from God, from who He was. The religious leaders' silence proved that they were not interested in God’s truth but they simply wanted to kill Jesus because Jesus’ popularity hurt their authority with the people.

Also during Jesus' last week, Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus (John 12:1-3), anointed Jesus with very expensive oil at Bethany.  Matthew and Mark’s Gospel place this event just before the Last Supper, while John’s Gospel places this event before the Triumphal Entry on Sunday. Each passage reveals the special sacrifice and devotion Mary made for Jesus before His sacrifice, death and burial. 
 
Wednesday, The plot against Jesus
Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6

Thursday, The Last Supper
Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14-12-25; Luke 22:7-20; John 13:1-38

Thursday, Jesus comforts His disciples
John 14:1-16:33

Thursday, Gethsemane
Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46

Thursday night and Friday, Jesus’ arrest and trial
Matthew 26:47-27:26; Mark 14:43-15:15; Luke 22:47-23:25; John 18:2-19:16

Friday, Jesus’ crucifixion and death at Golgotha
Matthew 27:27-56; Mark 15:16-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:17-30

Friday, The burial of Jesus in Joseph’s Tomb
Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:31-42