1. You are very special because you are created in the image of God. You are made by God, for his glory. (Genesis 1:1; Eph. 1:3-5). You and I can’t find our meaning when we look first to our own mind and reasoning. We find the real purpose and peace and security when we realize that we are “created by the Creator”. He made us so that we can know Him, belong to Him, enjoy Him and His creation, and serve our neighbor according to God’s will.
2. God loves you. “God is love,” the Bible teaches. That’s His very nature. The 4th point of this outline explains that further. But for the moment, to make a simple illustration, if you were to squeeze an orange, orange juice would come out. You would not get apple juice or tomato juice. You’d get orange juice, because that’s the nature of the fruit. Thus, when you “squeeze” God, or when you investigate God further, you will always see love, because that’s one of the key things about Him. There are other things, such as creative power. But, since there is a universal longing for love and acceptance and life, it’s important to know that the God who created you also loves you.
3. The “world” is currently at odds with God. There is much “disharmony” in the universe. The Bible simply agrees with what we see: In the midst of the wonder of creation, there is also much tragedy. In the beginning of the Bible (the 3rd chapter of Genesis), we see that the first people – Adam and Eve – fell out of favor with God. They did this by transgressing boundaries He had clearly laid out. And even before they disobeyed, the unseen angelic powers had their own rebellion. Their chief led Adam and Eve into rebellion. Since that day, weeds grow in gardens, people die, and mankind lives in a strange mix of good and evil. Every person born inherits this situation. This “sin” is a condition of our human nature, an attitude of the heart, and an open rebellion. Many even declare the God of the Bible to be a sinner – “its all His fault because He let it happen”. Thus they write off the whole matter and move on to their own self-made philosophies. But f you are willing to investigate the person the Bible puts forward as the “solution” to all this, you will be surprised, and even pleasantly drawn into to a new viewpoint beyond your imagining. Take a look.
4. Jesus Christ is the one the Bible puts forward as the solution to all this. Learn as much about Him as you possibly can. The “New Testament” writings, originally in Greek, are the historically solid testimony. These aren’t fabricated religious writings. The come directly out of the soil of history. Their credibility is solid. Take it or leave it. But it would be foolish to drop the matter here. The “Law and Prophets and Writings” of the Hebrew Bible foretold of Jesus’ coming. He appeared on the stage of history when the time was right, and lived an amazing life. He was born of a Jewish mother, and most people presumed Joseph was his father. But it was a miraculous conception, because the Holy Spirit of God caused Mary to conceive as a virgin. Jesus did miracles, healed people, raised the dead, and cast out evil spirits. When he taught, people were astonished at his authority. He was a threat to the powers, religious and secular, Jewish and Roman. They put him on a cross and executed him. It later became apparent that even though “they” did it, the sins of all people of all time made it necessary that this one should die for all. Jesus was the “sacrificial lamb.” He died for you. He died for me. And He did it so that we wouldn’t have to taste death in any long-term sense. He even died to restore harmony to the entire creation. Those who trust Him and accept what He offers by way of forgiveness are transferred from this world of decay into a new citizenship. With this new status, all who trust Jesus the Christ and submit to Him are guaranteed to overcome the guilt, fear, shame, and ultimately, the grave. The Bible also makes it clear that those who rebel against Christ must give an accounting to Him at the final judgment. He will be a fearful judge for some on that day, and not a savior.
5. So then, I have given you the Good News. If you’ve ever heard the word “gospel”, this is what it means. The “gospel message” is the “Good News” that Jesus Christ comes with the gift of life to a despairing and rebelling world. He offers it to you as you hear or read this. Life. Peace. An eternal family, with Him and His goodness at the center. Read the New Testament and check it out for yourself. Then also read the Old Testament, where the stage is set for His coming. If you have trouble reading long things, ask someone to help you. Many people will help. Receive Christ into your heart and into the center of your life. Forsake your self-centered, prideful living. It’s useless. It will end in death – eternal death, away from God and away from any possibility of joy, peace and life. Now is time – then will be eternity. Forsake your foolish pride. Sure, you’ve done many good things, but so has everybody. You’re no different. All you good works are good. But they don’t guarantee you eternal life, because on judgment day, your evil works and “hidden” attitudes and deeds will become visible. (ouch) Why live in fear of that? Why pretend that it won’t happen? It will
As far as other belief systems are concerned, of course there are many. But you always must compare the person and work of Jesus Christ with them. Which of them takes reality into account as does Christ and the Bible? As to the meaning of evil, there are difficult questions. But the one who did those mighty works and said those astounding things is the same one who went to the cross for you and for me. He is not far; he is near.
So there I’ve given it to you. Jesus, the Christ is amazing. Receive Him – now. He’s looking at you, because you can’t hide from God. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself. Be reconciled to God. Call on the name of Jesus. Then go tell someone. And begin to get help from a Christian friend or a pastor or Bible teacher to help you grow. You’ve just begun the Great Adventure. It won’t be easy, but it will be very, very good.
2. God loves you. “God is love,” the Bible teaches. That’s His very nature. The 4th point of this outline explains that further. But for the moment, to make a simple illustration, if you were to squeeze an orange, orange juice would come out. You would not get apple juice or tomato juice. You’d get orange juice, because that’s the nature of the fruit. Thus, when you “squeeze” God, or when you investigate God further, you will always see love, because that’s one of the key things about Him. There are other things, such as creative power. But, since there is a universal longing for love and acceptance and life, it’s important to know that the God who created you also loves you.
3. The “world” is currently at odds with God. There is much “disharmony” in the universe. The Bible simply agrees with what we see: In the midst of the wonder of creation, there is also much tragedy. In the beginning of the Bible (the 3rd chapter of Genesis), we see that the first people – Adam and Eve – fell out of favor with God. They did this by transgressing boundaries He had clearly laid out. And even before they disobeyed, the unseen angelic powers had their own rebellion. Their chief led Adam and Eve into rebellion. Since that day, weeds grow in gardens, people die, and mankind lives in a strange mix of good and evil. Every person born inherits this situation. This “sin” is a condition of our human nature, an attitude of the heart, and an open rebellion. Many even declare the God of the Bible to be a sinner – “its all His fault because He let it happen”. Thus they write off the whole matter and move on to their own self-made philosophies. But f you are willing to investigate the person the Bible puts forward as the “solution” to all this, you will be surprised, and even pleasantly drawn into to a new viewpoint beyond your imagining. Take a look.
4. Jesus Christ is the one the Bible puts forward as the solution to all this. Learn as much about Him as you possibly can. The “New Testament” writings, originally in Greek, are the historically solid testimony. These aren’t fabricated religious writings. The come directly out of the soil of history. Their credibility is solid. Take it or leave it. But it would be foolish to drop the matter here. The “Law and Prophets and Writings” of the Hebrew Bible foretold of Jesus’ coming. He appeared on the stage of history when the time was right, and lived an amazing life. He was born of a Jewish mother, and most people presumed Joseph was his father. But it was a miraculous conception, because the Holy Spirit of God caused Mary to conceive as a virgin. Jesus did miracles, healed people, raised the dead, and cast out evil spirits. When he taught, people were astonished at his authority. He was a threat to the powers, religious and secular, Jewish and Roman. They put him on a cross and executed him. It later became apparent that even though “they” did it, the sins of all people of all time made it necessary that this one should die for all. Jesus was the “sacrificial lamb.” He died for you. He died for me. And He did it so that we wouldn’t have to taste death in any long-term sense. He even died to restore harmony to the entire creation. Those who trust Him and accept what He offers by way of forgiveness are transferred from this world of decay into a new citizenship. With this new status, all who trust Jesus the Christ and submit to Him are guaranteed to overcome the guilt, fear, shame, and ultimately, the grave. The Bible also makes it clear that those who rebel against Christ must give an accounting to Him at the final judgment. He will be a fearful judge for some on that day, and not a savior.
5. So then, I have given you the Good News. If you’ve ever heard the word “gospel”, this is what it means. The “gospel message” is the “Good News” that Jesus Christ comes with the gift of life to a despairing and rebelling world. He offers it to you as you hear or read this. Life. Peace. An eternal family, with Him and His goodness at the center. Read the New Testament and check it out for yourself. Then also read the Old Testament, where the stage is set for His coming. If you have trouble reading long things, ask someone to help you. Many people will help. Receive Christ into your heart and into the center of your life. Forsake your self-centered, prideful living. It’s useless. It will end in death – eternal death, away from God and away from any possibility of joy, peace and life. Now is time – then will be eternity. Forsake your foolish pride. Sure, you’ve done many good things, but so has everybody. You’re no different. All you good works are good. But they don’t guarantee you eternal life, because on judgment day, your evil works and “hidden” attitudes and deeds will become visible. (ouch) Why live in fear of that? Why pretend that it won’t happen? It will
As far as other belief systems are concerned, of course there are many. But you always must compare the person and work of Jesus Christ with them. Which of them takes reality into account as does Christ and the Bible? As to the meaning of evil, there are difficult questions. But the one who did those mighty works and said those astounding things is the same one who went to the cross for you and for me. He is not far; he is near.
So there I’ve given it to you. Jesus, the Christ is amazing. Receive Him – now. He’s looking at you, because you can’t hide from God. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself. Be reconciled to God. Call on the name of Jesus. Then go tell someone. And begin to get help from a Christian friend or a pastor or Bible teacher to help you grow. You’ve just begun the Great Adventure. It won’t be easy, but it will be very, very good.
