Adoring Jesus, Loving People & Equipping the Church
Senior leaders answer the question, "Who is Jesus?"
Paul Bane, Senior Pastor
Jesus of Nazareth was a real man living in real time. The uniqueness of Jesus is He also claimed to be God. The religious leaders of the day authenticated His claims. The penalty for claiming to be God (blasphemy) was punishable by death under Jewish law. The apostles creed states I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth,and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
If we stopped here Jesus would have been like other great religious leaders, they lived and then they died. Jesus however, on the third day rose again. The resurrection is the greatest announcement of history. It is a proclamation to all the world that a savior the Son of God came into the world to rescue humanity from the curse of physical and spiritual death.
This same Jesus invites all of us to know Him. Jesus offers us life which lasts beyond the grave. Jesus will speak to all who seriously call upon Him.
Rick Madden, Elder
While growing up in a good "Bible-believing" church I came to understand a lot about Jesus. I believed that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, that He was God in flesh, that He died on the cross for the sins of the world and that He rose from the dead to prove His victory over sin and death.
It wasn't until later in life that I came to understand that, concerning all those things, "even the demons believe that — and shudder" (James 2:19). Although I was well versed in the Bible, baptized, a basically good person, and very active in church and youth group, I realized that Jesus was describing me in Matthew 7:21-23 when He said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord', will enter the kingdom of heaven... Many will say to me ... 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me...'"
I realized that although I had the "religious" and "good" things down pat, that I was in charge of my life. The Bible said that "those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." (Romans 8:14) But, it was I, not God's Spirit, who was leading my life. In an act of faith I transferred trust to Jesus and His finished work on the cross from myself - what I was doing and had done "for God." I no longer try to do things for God in order to earn a right standing with Him, but in response to the great love that God has shown me through the sacrifice of Jesus for me.
Doug Watts, Elder
In the beginning was the Word, Jesus Christ, and He was with God, and He was God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ offered himself as a sacrifice for my sins and those of all humanity. Through His life on earth, His death and His resurrection, He became the Savior of all those who believe in Him. We became children of God, and as children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. He showed us how to live and gave us eternal life.
