I’m off and reading a new book.  It is titled “The Jesus I Never Knew” by Philip Yancey.  Having finished “Caste” by Isabel Wilkerson, it’s ironic this book looks into the caste of the Pharisees’ of Jesus’s time.   The caste of Legalism and upstanding membership has continued on into pious church goers until we can hardly recognize our Lord at all.  Philip Yancey creates for us a narrative that uses scripture to return to the true Jesus and just who He came for and Who’s He is.  In writing about the Sermon on the Mount, Yancey suggests that it is in it’s strict guidelines that we all fall together.  Literally.  

Thunderously, inarguably, the Sermon on the Mount proves that before God we all stand on level ground: murderers and temper-throwers, adulterers and lusters, thieves and coveters.  We are all desperate and that is in fact the only state appropriate to a human being who wants to know God.  Having fallen from the absolute Ideal, we have nowhere to land but in the safety net of absolute grace. – Philip Yancey (The Jesus I Never Knew)

     So just Who is Jesus?  Many depict Him and any who deviate from scripture distort Him.  He was and is the salvation from our Father in heaven and the cornerstone which supports His believers and followers.  We are the stones that continue from Him.  He is the head of the church.  The church is made up of those who believe He is the Son of God, The Redeemer, The Propitiation, sent by God to save us, Emmanuel (God with us), and the Word (also God).  We believe He can save us by grace and bring us to Him in eternal life.  We believe without seeing, we believe with our hearts, minds, souls and with all our strength.  Jesus is the one who came to die on a cross, without question, the only way He could ransom our sinful selves.  Had He not done that there would be no salvation.  By His very blood our stain of sin was washed clean when we believed in His purpose.  What was His purpose?  According to scripture it was to purchase us with a holy calling, so we can have a relationship with our Father in heaven.  

who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, – 2 Timothy 1:9  NASB

This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, – Ephesians 3:11  NASB

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. – Romans 8:2  NASB

     Who’s is this Jesus?  Lets be clear.  All fall short of the glory of God.  I have had people tell me there are humans who are innocents.  That is not true.  In Romans our condition is clearly stated.  There is no denying it if it’s truth you seek, which goes back to the quote by Philip Yancey.  If we are to belong to Jesus we must first become desperate.  We have to see inside our own brokenness.  We must repent.  Scripture calls on all, who wish to follow and have faith, to repentance.  This is an act of knowing we cannot do it ourselves.  The action is to call on the name of the Lord and ask for His healing power, His forgiveness for our sins against God.  Holiness doesn’t happen overnight but if one stays in step with scripture and builds on knowledge of God and His Son, they will find a lasting peace and assurance of purpose and a righteousness and that says, you are Mine.  We belong to Him.  In our imperfection and downright crudities we can overcome this broken world, gain a holiness that may at times seem far reaching and step up into heaven.  On this day I ask God to bless you and keep you under His mighty wings.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, – Romans 2:3  NASB