Chapter
8
Jesus: THE answer to life's questions
....foundation beliefs of a "literal" Biblical worldview
Jesus: God's Counterintuitive Plan
God's "perfect" COUNTERINTUITIVE PLAN for having an intimate, personal relationship with us humans — His creation — is simple. It is believing in Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection to forgive our sins and give us Eternal life with Himself. That's God's plan. And it....
STARTS when we believe in Jesus' death and resurrection to save us,
CONTINUES as we live in His mercy and grace day-by-day, and
LASTS for Eternity in Heaven with our Lord and Savior.
"Counterintuitive" is a word describing "human reasoning"
....about something we cannot fully explain or, perhaps, do not understand. Dictionaries define "counterintuitive" as....
different from or not agreeing with what seems right or natural, and
something counterintuitive does not happen in the way we expected.
Our "INTUITIVE" human reasoning might tell us to "do some good works" to get to heaven. In so doing, ....through our own efforts, ....we PROVE TO OURSELVES that we are worthy ....and we have "earned" eternal life.
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"COUNTER" to such "INTUITIVE" thinking....
Jesus said, “This is the only work God wants from you:
Believe in the one he has sent.”
— John 6:29 NLT
Why the Cross?
....Jesus did for us ....what we could not do for ourselves.
Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son (Jesus) also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could He die, and only by dying could He break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could He set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.
— Hebrews 2:14-15 NLT
God's Counterintuitive Plan....
God saved you by his grace WHEN YOU BELIEVED. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. SALVATION is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.
— Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT
....and why do we need salvation?....
Jesus' resurrection changes everything
God's plan may seem counterintuitive to us, but that's because He is God and we are not. ....And honestly, we humans with our "self-tendencies" ....cannot be good enough on our own to live in relationship with the Holy, Lord God Almighty.
Before the Cross and Resurrection ....John 14:29
Jesus told His disciples about "the Plan"
The Father loves me because I SACRIFICE MY LIFE SO I MAY TAKE IT BACK AGAIN. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I HAVE THE AUTHORITY to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For THIS IS WHAT MY FATHER HAS COMMANDED.
— John 10:17-18 NLT
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been BORN AGAIN, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. ....For you know that God paid a ransom (ON THE CROSS) to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was paid with ....the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.
THROUGH CHRIST YOU HAVE COME TO TRUST IN GOD. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. ....YOUR NEW LIFE will last forever because IT COMES FROM THE ETERNAL, LIVING WORD OF GOD.
— 1 Peter 1:3,18-19,21-23 NLT
The brilliance of God's Plan is simplicity!
....Just believe in Jesus — John 1:12-13; 3:16 and Colossians 3:10
....EVERYONE is equal before God — Colossians 3:11 and Ephesians 3:6
....Come with a learning, believing mind and a teachable, responding heart.
....That is all God requires as we believe in Jesus — 2 Corinthians 5:17
As you continue reading this discipleship study, you'll see in coming chapters ....Jesus is indeed THE answer to life's biggest questions ....and more!
Jesus answers life's questions....
Let's remind ourselves what worldview questions we are asking ....to help build our lives on a solid foundation. In chapter 2, we discussed six of life's biggest questions....
How did I get here? — questions about origin. Where did I come from?
Why am I here? — questions dealing with life's meaning and purpose.
Where am I going? — questions about destiny, addressing the future.
What is true? — questions about the nature of truth and whether it is objective or subjective. If truth is objective, what is it based on? What is the source of truth?
How should I live? — questions dealing with morality. Are right and wrong based on an objective set of moral standards, or are they subjectively based on someone's feelings, desires or standards that fit the time and place?
....and expanding #6 to a question every Disciple asks....
Who am I ....IN JESUS? — questions about identity. Knowing who you are. Knowing Whose you are. ....Knowing your self-worth — your intrinsic value as a person, where it counts the most in life ....NOW and for the rest of ETERNITY.
Answers to these worldview questions ....is the way you look at and explain life and the world around you. ....Which influences your choices in life.
Next 3 chapters' summary questions....
So, how is Jesus THE answer to the above worldview questions? Let's answer that with the following three summary questions....
Why are we created as "eternal" spirit beings living a human experience "in time"? ....This summary question answers: How did I get here?, Why am I here?, and Where am I going?
Why is Jesus the "only way" for our salvation, saying, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me"? ....This answers: What is true?, and How should I live?
Why is Jesus worthy of all we are, and of dedicating our lives and gifting for His glory? ....This question answers: Who am I ....IN JESUS?
Answering these summary questions in chapters 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3, we'll look at a lot of scripture. ....Because we need to hear answers directly from God's Word, ....THE primary source of TRUTH....
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*Credits: galaxy title photo from Webb telescope / cross icon from clipartcraft / Jesus birth image anonymous / Charles Spurgeon quote from princeofpreachers / Bible with scripture on phone annoynous
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