Making Jesus Real

Great men have expressed many magnificent words about the meaning of Christianity but they are difficult to quote when we are on the spot. However, there are some simple sayings that are famous for their wonderful truth and also easy to remember. For example, when we ask some Christians the meaning of their life they say, "Making Jesus real." This, in reality, is a great answer and it can be beneficial to the Gospel. We should know what this testimonial means and how it relates to the Bible. Paul tells us that a Christian has covered himself with Christ. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Gal 3:27

At the beginning of our Christian life, we volunteer to be baptized into Christ. Those who are watching know that the death and resurrection of the Savior is being acted-out. We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Rom 6:4 The new Christian is making their first official statement for our savior. They are making Jesus real to both themselves and the witnesses. As a Christian continues their life, they must repeatedly play out the death and life of Jesus. Being clothed with Christ takes many different forms as we accept His actions as our own death and life. Replication is how a Christian makes Jesus real to other people.

Considering the death of Christ, we know that it accomplished the putting away of all sin. Jesus achieved victory over sin and death for us but we must conform to what He has accomplished. A Christian's responsibility is to make the end of sin a reality as we live our life. When an old friend comes around and says, "Let's go and do something we used to enjoy together" it is our job to say "no". Jesus is made real to them as we explain our reasons for not doing the things we used to do.

In another example, we are offered a job at double the salary but it means we must move away from people that the Lord asked us to teach spiritually. Explaining why we turned down the money can make Jesus real to the people around us. Of course, people will say we are dumb or weak when we do these things for Jesus but persecution is the reality of doing what we preach.

Church people usually approve of removing sin from a Christian life but turning down money is another matter. The death of Jesus is about "more" than doing away with sin. You do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. John 15:19b Jesus says here that we are "not" a part of the world when we are making Jesus real. This is why money is not important to a Christian although it is everything to a worldly person. Most of us have read what Paul said about it, the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Tim 6:10 If we make Jesus real in our life, money and other worldly things will not have any priority. Accepting the death of Christ into our lives is the most overlooked Christian duty.

A good way to think of this is, we can never realize our personal victory in resurrection UNTIL we personally apply "the victory" over sin into our lives. Although the leading churches today reject the blood of Jesus as being required for salvation, the Scriptures plainly tell us it is absolutely essential. Now, we love to accept the resurrection hope into our life and dream of living in a wonderful new place. However, Rom 6:4 (above) says that we enter the death of Christ, in order that we also may have a new life. In other words, our new life must grow out of the death of our old life. Reminiscent of the way a new flower grows out of the old earth.

The Scriptures teach that our salvation includes us in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. How wonderful that we will never see death. I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. John 8:51 That's right, Jesus destroyed death for His children. A Christian never needs to enter death because they are no longer completely mortal. The Scriptures says; What is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Cor 5:4,5 The Spirit is deposited in us so that our mortality can be swallowed by eternal life. We have been created with the duality needed to be transformed from this life into another.

It is important to make Jesus real to this world while we have time. It won't be long until we leave for another world. Jesus is going to allow us to life with Him forever but first we must show the world how real He really is to us. Our Savior told Martha that whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? John 11:26 Making Jesus real on this earth is the first step toward living with Him forever. After joining with Jesus our life becomes His concern and whether we live or die we belong to Him.

What a Savior!