Our Faith

Jesus asked a similar question in the Bible when He said, “Who do the people say I am?” (Matthew 16:13).

My name is Elijah. It means “My God is Yahweh,” which holds true for me. The God of the Bible is my God. But what do the names of Jesus say about who He is?
Jesus is called the Alpha and the Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. He is the beginning and the end. Colossians 1:16-17 says that all things were created by Him in heaven and on earth. All things exist because of Him. Revelation 11:15 tells us that in the end times, Jesus will rule over all, forever.

By this name, we see that Jesus was not only a man on earth but God. He was at the creation of the world. He will be the ruler of all at the end of this age. No man could be or do this unless He was God. This God, this man named Jesus, knows you and knows you well. “Whatever troubles us is completely within His knowledge and power.” Jesus, the Alpha and Omega, is God. He has always been and always will be. But even more than that, He cares for us. That is why He came to earth.

Jesus is called Baby in a Manger. Most have heard of the amazing history of Jesus’ birth. In the book of Luke, we learn that Jesus was given to Mary even though she was a virgin. This is incredible, but you would think that Jesus, being God, would come as a prince or at least into a rich family. He did not. He came from a poor family. Colossians 1:16 tells us that He is a humbled king. He created all things but chose to be humbled. This virgin birth allowed Him to be what we never could be: the Last Adam.

Paul calls Jesus the Last Adam in 1 Corinthians 15:45. In Genesis, we learn of the creation of Adam and Eve, from whom we are all sons and daughters. They sinned against God and started the chain of sin that is passed down from generation to generation.

Paul points out that Jesus is not the son of Adam but a new Adam. One who is not a son of sinful Adam, but who lived a perfect life, who did not sin against God. We learn in the Old Testament that sin requires sacrifice, just as breaking the law in our country requires justice.
For this reason, Jesus came to this earth to live a perfect life, understanding our temptations but not sinning in them. Jesus, the Last Adam, chose to die on the Cross (1 Peter 2:24) as the ultimate and last sacrifice for those who will have faith in Him.

Jesus came because there is a crime that must be paid for. We know from Scripture that there are two ways your sins can be paid for: you pay for them yourself by going to hell for eternal judgment, or you give your life to Jesus in faith, knowing that He is the only way it can be paid, and you go to heaven.
God is a just God and will deal with sin justly. But He is also full of mercy and desires to share His mercy, His way. Many of us want His mercy our way. That is not how we buy our iPhones or our houses; we want them, so we do it the way required of us. God, being just, must give punishment for sin. But He gives you a choice of how you want to pay it. Either with your life in eternal judgment in Hell, or with your life given over to Him in faith, knowing that Jesus is the only way your sins can be paid forever, and you have eternity in Heaven with God.

Jesus is called Savior. We have all sinned (Romans 3:23), and the just punishment for that sin is death in Hell for all who do not call on Jesus for their salvation (Romans 6:23). Jesus says in John 10:30 that He and God are one.
Jesus is God, the one dishing out the justice for the crime, but also the one willing to pay for the crime He did not commit. That was the Cross. He died on the cross to pay for sins for all who will truly call on His name for salvation. He did this in time past to demonstrate His love toward us while we were still sinners against God (Romans 5:8).
Romans 10:13 says that anyone who calls upon the Lord will be saved. So how do you do that?
First, choose. This is not just words you say, but an honest desire to give your life to God because you recognize that you have sinned against a holy God. That you have no way to pay for your sins on your own and get into heaven by yourself. That Jesus is the Son of God, who is God. He lived on earth and died on the cross to pay for your crime and then rose from the dead. That you want to live your life for Jesus.
Second, pray for what you just chose. Cry out to God about your sin and ask Him to pay for your crimes. Tell Him that you believe He is God, He died for you, He rose again, and that you are giving your life to Him.
If you prayed that and meant it, you can know this from Romans 10:13: whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

I gave my life to Jesus years ago, and it was the best decision I have ever made. It did not make all of life perfect, but I now have someone to walk this hard life with who will never leave me or forsake me.
Jesus can do this for you.
If you want to learn more about being saved, have questions, or don’t know what to do, I would love to have a conversation with you. And if you prayed that prayer and meant it, please give me a call and tell me about it. I am so excited for you.

Call me at 304-266-4391.