Notes

Two challenging questions to consider this Easter Season:

1. Is what I believe about God even true?
2. What impact is what I believe about God having on the life I’m living?

My conviction:  I BELIEVE HE CAME!

My question:  If I believe He came, then we must wrestle with the why - why did Jesus come?

Answer: I Believe Jesus came to make a way for you to be with Him for eternity!

If you believe that Jesus came to make a way for you to be with Him for eternity, how should that impact how you live on a day to day basis?

1. Hope
2. Joy
3. Gratitude

Verses

{And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God. John 1:34 NLT}{John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen— the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. And tell him, ‘God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.’” Matthew 11:2-6 NLT}{In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it… So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John 1:1-5, 14 NLT}{He has planted eternity in the human heart... Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT}{From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Matthew 4:17 NLT}{Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. 1 Peter 3:18 NLT}{Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” Matthew 16:24-26 NLT}{For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT}{Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:42-43 NLT}{May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Colossians 1:11-14 NLT}

Quotes

A.W. Tozer : What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. (The Knowledge of the Holy); Craig Groeschel : Christian Atheism – where people believe in God but live as if He doesn’t exist. Christian Atheism is everywhere. There has to be a better way to live. (The Christian Atheist); J.B. Phillips : The “Grand Old Man” is treated with reverence and respect – look at what a help He was to our forefathers! –– but He can hardly be expected to cope with the complexities and problems of life today! (Your God Is Too Small); C.S. Lewis : I do not want my image of God, I want God. (Mere Christianity); Erwin McManus : What Jesus was saying to John has been far to barbaric for us to keep in the mainstream of the Christian faith. Jesus was saying to him, ‘John, I’m not coming though for you. I’m not getting you out of prison. I’m not sparing your life. Yes, I have done all this and more for others, but the path I choose for you is different from theirs. You’ll be blessed, John, if this does not cause you to fall away. (The Barbarian Way); C.S. Lewis : Though we cannot experience our life as an endless present, we are eternal in God's eyes; that is, in our deepest reality. (Letters to Malcolm);