God and Reason (13)

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2.36

Let’s imagine
If we are being faithful in applying our minds to knowing God and Jesus Christ, we will be growing in all the blessings and promises of eternal life (Jn. 17.3). Our lives will be coming together and making sense as visible manifestations of the living Christ, the Word and Reason of God.

Increasingly, the glory of God will be refracted through us in even the most ordinary situations (1 Cor. 10.31). The evidence of the indwelling Spirit – His fruit, gifts, and power – will be more and more evident in us, especially in the manifestation of God’s love (Gal. 5.22, 23; 1 Cor. 13.4-7).

In short, we will actually be witnesses to the reality of Jesus, risen from the dead, because no other explanation can be given for why we do what we do, are what we are, and talk about the things we talk about (Acts 1.8).

And it’s quite possible that, as we persist in such a way of living, and grow in it, some who are still trapped in the Lie of unbelief may notice, and ask a reason for what they see as the hope that is within us.

And the reason why we are so different comes down to two words: Jesus Christ.

Jesus is Christ
We can rather simply explain to any who ask a reason for the hope that is within us that Jesus Christ is the reason. Why do we treat others with grace and kindness? Why are we able to do our work without carping and complaining? Why are we faithful to our spouses? Interested in the people around us? Gracious, loving, kind, patient, generous, or forgiving – whatever the manifestation of our hope may have caught the attention of those around us?

The answer is that Jesus is Christ, the Anointed One of God, Who came to rescue us from our sinful, selfish ways, give us a new heart and mind, point us in a new direction, and begin the great reversal of making all things new in our lives.

Jesus Christ came among us, those many years ago, in order to call the world to new hope, hope which He Himself has made possible by overcoming the power of sin and death and opening the way to eternal life with God. By believing in Jesus we renounce the ways of mere self-interest, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit for a new mind and a new heart and a totally new way of life.

Jesus the Christ saves us from the old ways of selfishness, fear, anxiousness, doubt, and death, and delivers us into the Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is Lord
And this Jesus Who saves is also the Jesus Who rules the world with truth and grace. Jesus of Nazareth is both Christ and Lord. Having risen from the dead, Jesus ascended to the right hand of God and is advancing His glorious Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. He rules by His Word of truth, and we who have come to know Him as Savior readily and gladly submit to that rule, for in the rule of our King Jesus we find the freedom that sets us free from the fear of death and judgment (Jn. 8.32).

But there is more. Jesus is Lord, and as Lord He is directing all of history toward a day when every knee will bow and every tongue will at last acknowledge Him for Who He is (Phil. 2.5-11). On that day, King Jesus will render judgment on every human being. Those who have received His salvation and submitted to His rule, all who have tasted of His true joy, will enter His Kingdom, glory, and joy forever. Those who reject His rule and insist on making their way in life without Him, will be granted the consequence of that choice forever, and be consigned to eternal darkness, doom, and self-absorption in a meaningless existence separated from the grace and glory of God, and from all that is beautiful, good, true, and joyful.

Make sure they understand
The reason why we are different has to do with the way we use our reason as human beings – in pursuit of the greater knowledge of Him Who has saved and is making us new. It is not our task to convert those who ask a reason for the hope that is within us. It is our task to make sure, to the best of our ability, that we have explained the Good News of Jesus as clearly as we can, and that they understand fully the hope and promises available to them, how they may gain these, and what are the consequences of refusing to believe the Good News.

So when the opportunity for giving a reason for your hope arises, be ready with the Gospel, because Jesus Christ alone is the reason for the hope that is within us.

For reflection
1.  The Good News of Jesus is that He is Christ. What is the focus and hope of this aspect of the Gospel?

2.  The Good News of Jesus is that He is Lord. What is the focus and hope of this aspect of the Gospel?

3.  The Good News of Jesus is that His Kingdom has come, and is coming. What is the focus and hope of this aspect of the Gospel?

Next steps – Conversation: Make sure you know how to articulate the Good News of Jesus. Talk with some Christian friends and help one another improve your telling of the Gospel.

T. M. Moore

This is part 2 of a 2-part series on God and Reason. You can download this week’s study as a free PDF, suitable for personal or group use, by clicking here.

We invite you to register for the free online course, One in Twelve: Introduction to Christian Worldview. This course provides a sweeping panorama of how life in the Kingdom of God unfolds in our age in flight from God. Set your own schedule and study at your own pace. Learn more, and register for One in Twelve, by clicking here.

Help us discover the state of people’s understanding of God’s truth. Watch the brief video explaining our Understanding the Bible Questionnaire (click here). Then download the Questionnaire and begin using it with the people in your Personal Mission Field. Be sure to come back to the website and record the answers you receive. We’ll update you from time to time on what we’re learning.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved