Why Jesus?

The gospel of grace is as simple as the words of Jesus, “he that believes in me has eternal life”
(John 6:47).

If the gospel is so simple, what prevent so many from coming to faith in Christ? The answer to
that question is more questions. Who is Jesus and why do I need to believe in Him?

The New Testament teaches that, “no man can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him”
(John 6:44). If you are asking any of these questions, then I believe that you are being drawn to Jesus by the Father. May I open the Word of God and help you find the answers?

The story of Jesus does not begin in a manger. It is beyond King David, the prophet Moses, and
even Abraham, the father of many nations. To understand who Jesus is begins in eternity past,
(Revelation 13:8) but we will begin in the first book of the Bible, Genesis.

Humanity begins with creation of Adam and Eve. Rd God gave Adam authority over all the earth
and everything in it (Genesis 1:26). Adam demonstrates this authority in naming the animals.
The only prohibition was the fruit of one tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The
penalty for eating from that tree was death. (Genesis 2:17). Eve was created to help Adam to
rule over the earth (Genesis 2:18). Life was good in the Garden.

One day, the serpent spoke to Eve. She was tempted to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree
because it was beautiful to behold, appeared to be good for food, and was desired to make one
wise (Genesis 3:6). Adam was with her, and they both ate the fruit.

Immediately, they realized what God had said about this tree was true. They discovered that
they were naked, and for the first time felt shame and fear (Genesis 3:7-10). They attempted to
cover their nakedness with fig leaves and hid from God. Perhaps their fear was that God would
execute them for disobedience.

God did not kill them. Instead, He killed an animal and clothed Adam and Eve with the skins.
This was the first death in the garden, the first blood shed, and the first sacrifice. This sacrifice
was symbolic, pointing to a future sacrifice of a man, not an animal. It was temporary, man
continued to sacrifice animals from then on. Abel sacrificed from the flock (Genesis 4:4). And
finally, this sacrifice was partial. It covered their sin (atonement is the Biblical word), but did not
offer true forgiveness.

After the LORD provided a sacrifice instead of killing them (the first sacrificial substitute), He
made a promise to Eve. He promised that from her would come a man that would execute the
serpent at the cost of his own life (Genesis 3:15). This promise was before Abraham, Moses, or
David. Each generation looked for the promise to be fulfilled.

The genealogy in Luke traces the lineage of Jesus all the way back to Adam (Luke 3:23-38).
The word Christ (Greek) or Messiah (Hebrew / Aramaic) refers to one who is anointed. The long
wait for the seed of the woman is finally over.

The death of Jesus on the cross fulfills the promise to Eve that a man, born from her line, would execute the serpent and reverse the curse of Adam. In Adam all die, but in Christ, all live (1
Corinthian 15:22). Through Adam came sin and death (Romans 5:12). Through Christ came life
and righteousness (Romans 5:21).

The sacrifice of Christ was not symbolic. It was real. The blood of bulls and goats cannot take
away sin (Hebrews 10:4). A man sinned, a sinless man need to die (just as promised to Eve).

The sacrifice of Christ was not temporary. It is permanent. Since Adam man continually offered
sacrifices. But now, Christ was offered “once for all” (Hebrews 9:28; 10:10).

Why Jesus?

Through Him you can experience true forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life.
“He that believes in me has eternal life” (John 6:47)

The sacrifice of Christ was not partial. It is complete. the blood of Christ offers forgiveness of
sins (Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14). Sins are no longer remembered by God (Hebrews
10:17), and there is not longer any sacrifice needed (Hebrews 10:18).