(There is a special message at the end of this article for those who might happen to read this and do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.)
Before proceeding, let me please point out a few important points to consider.
Truth matters in all things, and there is only one version of it. If you are going to understand the real Jesus, as He truly is (John 14:6), then you must agree to that.
Over history, there have been many “christians” and “churches” that are guilty of some of the most terrible crimes and conduct imaginable. I would offer this thought: They are, or were, not following the dictates of Christ or His commands, so are they really Christians, or are they just claiming to be?
Throughout history, those same terrible crimes and conduct can be attributed to human nature regardless of ethnicity, skin color, citizenship, or “belief system.”
True Christians and true Christ-believing churches and organizations have done far more good and glorious things for the benefit of mankind than bad, and they have been “washing people’s feet” in the Word (the Gospel) and, indeed, for generations.
To borrow a thought from the old X-Files TV show, “The Truth Is Out There,” you will not find that to be evident unless you search it out for yourselves. Carefully.
Having made these important points, we move on.
The recent “He Gets Us” Superbowl ad and its limited message has stirred up a great deal of controversy and discussion. I think that is a valuable ripple effect that it generated.
However, if we are going to source the love and compassion of the Lord Jesus and His commands from the Bible as this ad did, it is imperative that the entirety of Him be understood.
The message contained in the ad of “Love your neighbor” is, to be sure, critical to hear and entirely necessary; however, there are additional truths that are wed to that command (it was not a suggestion) that must also be a part of this same message.
If you are only exposed to “love your neighbor,” you are not getting the rest of the story.
The rest of the story has eternal consequences and reveals the full nature of Christ and His purpose in coming into the world.
According to this same source (the Bible), all judgment has been given to Jesus, and so every person must answer to Him.
“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22).
The verse in the Bible that the ad conveys is taken from the below statement made by Jesus when asked what the most important commandments were:
“Jesus replied, ‘This is the most important: “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” The second is this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” No other commandment is greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31) Emphasis added by me.
This message, as is true of all Scripture, was not only for the Jews but for all who would ever read it.
“For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him” (Romans 10:12). Emphasis by me.
What else did Jesus say?
“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Emphasis added.
There are two names (titles) with strong descriptive meanings by which Jesus is referenced in the Word of God.
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’ (John 1:29). Emphasis added by me.
The reference to Him being the Lamb of God indicates the purpose of His first advent: to pay the price for sin that all of us are guilty of. According to this same Bible,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).
It is vital to understand Jesus’ own revelation of the additional reasons why He came:
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matthew 10:34).
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17).
“For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37).
When the apostle John is taken into Heaven (Revelation 4:1), he receives a revelation of the true Holiness of God and the full nature and Glory of the Lamb (the Savior) who opens the seals of judgment (Revelation 5:1-5). It is revealed to John that Jesus’ true and complete self is that He is also the Lion of Judah (the Judge of all the earth).
“But one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals'” (Revelation 5:5). Emphasis added by me.
The reference to Him being the Lion of Judah refers to His purpose when He will return for the second and final time: To execute judgment on all who would refuse to repent of their sins and receive Him as their One and Only Lord and Savior.
Jesus, during His time on earth, fulfilled the purpose of His first coming in the Old Testament Book of Isaiah, as it is recorded in the Gospel of Luke.
“He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord'” (Isaiah 61:1-2.5).
“Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing'” (Luke 4:20-21).
Why did Jesus stop and close the book at that point?
It was because the very next verse clearly separates the two purposes and ministries of the True and only Lamb from the future ministry of God’s Lion of Judah.
“And the day of vengeance of our God” (Isaiah 61:2.5 cont.).
That “day of vengeance” was not a part of His first ministry as the Lamb of God.
It is so very important, eternally important, to understand the fullness and Truth about Jesus Christ, for when He returns (and prophetic indications are that it will be very soon), He will return as the Lion of Judah, the Judge of all the earth.
“Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God” (Revelation 19:11-13).
If you have only ever heard of His command to “love your neighbor,” you might think that He will excuse sinful conduct, but that is simply not the case.
We have already seen that we are “all” guilty of sin, but there is more to it.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
How much does God, who Jesus really is, love ALL people that He would willingly pay the price for anyone who would receive Him?
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
“For He taught His disciples and said to them, ‘The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day'” (Mark 9:31).
And, as history confirms, He did indeed rise again just as He said He would.
Now to the crux of this article
God cannot allow any unrepentant sinner into His eternal rest, and so, He provided a way in which He can satisfy His requirement for justice by paying the price Himself.
All He requires is that we repent of our sinful behavior and rejection of Jesus’ sacrifice for us and receive Him as our One and Only God and Savior.
This repentance must come while a person is still in her or his “living years.”
Important: The ancient prophecies contained in the Bible, up to this point in history, have been fulfilled with 100% accuracy. God is the only possible source of that Truth. It is a given that the balance of the prophecies will be fulfilled as well.
If someone should choose to say they don’t believe in God, Jesus, or the Word of God (Bible), It will not change reality in the slightest bit. “It is,” as they say, “what it is.”
“For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:18).
I pray you will repent, consider, and act on His offer of the gift of forgiveness and Salvation that Jesus, the complete and Righteous Savior, has provided for you.
The special message I promised you:
For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no hope or peace in your life.
You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior. The peace that passes understanding.
It requires that you come before God on His terms.
And, what are His terms according to His Word?
- Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
- Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
- That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
- To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
- Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross.
- To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.
God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.
- No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
- No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
- Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.
If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus, and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.
“Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life” (John 5:24).
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
Pro Salvator Vigilans
To contact me: canoeman96@gmail.com