While 80% of Americans say they are “Christian,” 45% call themselves “Born Again Christians.”* I’m sure some of the responses in the 80% group are based on the “I’m a good person” or “I go to church” mentality – or perhaps it’s simply the culture in which we identify. But if Jesus were to press you, as He did Peter in the passage above, He would cut through all those superficial answers and get right to the heart of the question. Who do YOU say Jesus is?

Now, that’s an important question that each of us should answer honestly. Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God” (Matt 16:16).

The Word of God says that God sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for your sin and my sin. In fact, He took upon Himself the sin of the entire world, dying a cruel death on the cross. Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb, but three days later He rose from the dead, conquering death for all eternity.

Some might insist, however, that God is God and discount this miraculous resurrection of Jesus as unnecessary for their faith. But Jesus is the key to our salvation by stating emphatically in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Do you believe this statement? Is Jesus really who He says He is? Jesus came to earth in human flesh to bridge that gap between a holy and righteous Father and sinful man. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for our sin, which makes us acceptable to stand before God. His resurrection proves this is true. By placing our faith and trust in WHO Jesus is, Scripture says that our sin is removed “as far as the east is from the west.” No one comes to the Father God, except through Jesus! No one. We cannot pick and choose which scripture to believe and which ones to discard. It really is that absolute.

So… the question remains, “Who do YOU say that Jesus is?” Jesus is either Truth or He’s simply a liar. I agree with Peter, that Jesus is the Christ. I believe that with not just my mind, but with my whole heart. I pray that you, too, will have that same assurance!

 

*Barna Group, Ventura California, USA