Every organization has a goal followed by a catchy slogan. As the church of Christ we hold as a rallying cry: Jesus is our message. As Christ followers, knowing God is alive is what we believe and stand for. It is what sets us apart. When we give our life to Jesus we become a new creation. He doesn’t just repair or improve the state we are in, but a  metamorphosis occurs in our system of belief. Sharing this truth with others becomes our great commission.

Jesus is not part of the message, he is the message

1. Jesus is the message of the Church

Different from any other religion, our God is alive. His radical love for us is hard for the world to understand but it's the only way we can be transformed. Paul teaches that it's only by the grace of Jesus that we are saved, not the law. We have to celebrate the good news and not be ashamed, always remembering to be disciples through a lens of grace.

Matthew 28:16-20 - 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

2. Jesus is the message of our individual lives

Getting to know Jesus intimately gives you a new perspective in your life. If you want your life's message to be Jesus, you have to know him and have a personal relationship with him. Clinging to the word of God is the best way to encounter Jesus and receive a fresh perspective. When you are committed to becoming something completely different by the power of the spirit, Jesus will be your message in your everyday life. You’re still the same you, but radically different.

Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

The reality is, God created a perfect and good world, however, his creation chose to rebel. Yet, at the very moment we rebelled he had a plan for reconciliation through his son, Jesus.  For God so loved the world he gave his only son, so that whoever believes in him, should not perish but have eternal life. Walking with Jesus isn’t just a one time event but rather leads us to live a life of constant surrender, in response to his saving grace. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. In his name alone, there is power to save, and as we come to know him, he changes us from the inside out. He is the rock, a firm foundation, and the cornerstone of our faith.