The Gospel

Discovering Who Jesus Is

The world knows that 2,000 years ago a man named Jesus came from the town of Nazareth in what is now called Israel. He traveled about the region and gained a large following. After a few years, the religious leaders in Jerusalem falsely accused him of crimes and handed him over to the Roman authorities. They executed him by nailing him to a cross. A short time later, his followers preached in the name of Jesus Christ, whom they said rose from the dead. More and more followers were added to this movement which has become the Christian church of today.

These are the facts upon which even the greatest skeptic will agree. But there is so much more to Jesus than that. Where he came from, what he did on earth, what he can do for us now is all revealed in the Bible. This book contains the only record of Jesus and was written by the generation of people who heard him teach and saw his deeds. Here is what the Bible teaches us about Jesus Christ:

1. Jesus Is God

John wrote about Him: In the beginning was the Word [poetic description of Jesus], and the Word was with God and the Word was God (John 1:1 ESV). He created the world and all that is in it (John 1:3). The religious leaders of his time understood that Jesus claimed to be God (John 5:17-18). Paul wrote that when Jesus died, the Father revealed to the entire world that He was God (Philippians 2:5-11).

2. Jesus Is The Son Of God

According to the Bible, “Son of God” means: (1) He is fully God. (2) He is one of three persons who together make up the One God. This concept is called the “Trinity.”

The religious leaders of Jesus’ time understood this concept: This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (John 5:18 ESV)

3. Jesus Became Human Through The Virgin Birth

The eternal Son of God already existed in heaven (John 17:5). Through the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20), He was born as a human being, who was then named Jesus (Matthew 1:25). To demonstrate that Jesus was not a mere man (Colossians 2:9), God chose a virgin to give birth to Him (Luke 1:34-35).

4. Jesus Christ Is The Savior Of The World

Anytime we disobey God is called sin. The penalty for sin is death, but God in his love wants us to live. Therefore, he sent the promised Messiah (also called Christ) to save the world (John 1:41). The Son of God, Jesus Christ, came to earth to die in our place. Because He lived a life without sin, only He was qualified to pay for our sins by His death on a cross. He then demonstrated His power over death when He rose from the grave three days later. Only through Jesus can our sins can be forgiven and we can come to God (Acts 4:12). Jesus Christ is the Savior of everyone in the world (John 3:16).

5. Jesus Performs Miracles

All through his time on earth, Jesus performed miracles. He healed the sick (Matthew 8:16 among many other instances), controlled the weather (Mark 4:39), multiplied food (Matthew 14:14-21), and provided money when needed (Matthew 17:24-27). Even after leaving the earth, He still does miracles in people’s lives (Acts 3:12-16).

6. Jesus Changes Lives

People who followed Jesus turned away from their sins. He cast seven demons out of Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2) and she became a devoted follower who told others that Jesus had risen from the dead (John 20:16). Zaccheus, a tax collector, repaid people whom he cheated when collecting taxes and gave half of everything else to the poor (Luke 19:1-10). When followers were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, they were able to declare the message of Jesus, perform miracles, and live free from sin (Luke 10:1-20).

For nearly 2,000 years, Jesus Christ has been changing the lives of people all over the world. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV). He can change your life as well. Jesus will deliver you from sin’s addiction (Romans 6:22), renew your mind (Romans 12:2), and heal your hurts (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

7. Jesus Lives In Heaven At Father God’s Right Hand

After Jesus rose from the dead, He ascended to heaven to the place where he was before becoming human. From there he is able to hear our prayers (Romans 8:34).

8. Jesus Will Return To Judge All Humanity

While he was still on this earth, Jesus said, Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man [a title Jesus used for Himself], and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matthew 24:30 ESV). When Jesus returns, He will separate those who will live with Him forever in heaven from those who will be punished (Matthew 25:31-33).

9. Jesus Christ Will Receive You If You Come To Him

Jesus said, Whoever comes to me I will never cast out (John 6:37 ESV). This was why He came to earth—to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10 ESV). It does not matter what you have done, Jesus still wants you to come to Him. He said, I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32 ESV).

What does Jesus mean for your life right now?

Maybe you understood everything above in your head but are still wondering what it has to do with your actual life. That is a fair place to be. Here is where it gets personal.

If you carry guilt over things you have done, Jesus offers real forgiveness. Not the kind that says what you did was fine, but the kind that says it is paid for, finished, and gone. You do not have to keep dragging it with you.

If you feel like you are searching for something you cannot name, something that makes life worth more than surviving it, Jesus is the answer to that search. He promised that those who follow him would have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10, ESV). That life begins the moment you come to him.

If you feel alone, like no one truly knows you or the weight you carry, Jesus does. The Bible says he was tested in every way we are, which means he knows from the inside what your life feels like (Hebrews 4:15, ESV). He is not somewhere far off. He is present, and he knows your name.

If you are afraid of getting it wrong, of not being good enough or not knowing enough to come to God, hear what Jesus said: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, ESV). That invitation has no fine print. It includes you exactly as you are.

God loved you before you ever thought to look for him

Many people come to God carrying the fear that they are too far gone, that what they have done puts them beyond reach. Romans 5:8 answers that directly.

While we were still sinners. Not after we cleaned up. Not after we figured it out or found our way to church. Before any of that. God did not wait for you to come to him before he loved you. He loved you first. He proved it on the cross. Whatever you have done, wherever you have been, that love was there before you were looking for it. It still is.

Common questions people ask about Jesus

Was Jesus actually a real person in history?

Yes, and this is not just a matter of faith. Ancient non-Christian writers, including the Roman historians Tacitus and Pliny the Younger and the Jewish historian Josephus, all refer to Jesus as a real person. His existence is not seriously questioned by historians.

How can Jesus be both God and a human being?

The Bible teaches it plainly: Jesus was fully God and fully human at the same time. Christians have believed this since the very first followers of Jesus walked the earth. Can we fully understand how? No, and that honesty is part of faith. Scripture is clear: God himself entered our world, lived our life, and knows from the inside what it is to be human.

Did Jesus really rise from the dead?

Yes. Paul wrote within decades of the event, “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time” (1 Corinthians 15:3-6, ESV). These were eyewitness accounts written while witnesses were still alive. The tomb was empty. No one ever produced a body to disprove it. Hundreds of people saw Jesus alive and told others what they witnessed. The resurrection is not a footnote. It is the foundation of everything.

Do I have to get my life together before I come to Jesus?

No. Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32, ESV). You come to him as you are. He does the changing.

What happens after I decide to follow Jesus?

The moment you put your trust in Jesus, the Bible says God’s own Spirit comes to live inside you (Romans 8:9, ESV). The Holy Spirit guides you, comforts you, and gives you the power to live differently. As you read the Bible, pray, and connect with other believers, you will find yourself changing from the inside out. Not because you are working hard at it, but because God is at work in you.

What if I still have doubts after reading this?

Doubts do not disqualify you. Some of the most devoted followers of Jesus started out with serious doubts. Bring your questions honestly to God. He can handle them. And feel free to use the button below to send us your question directly. We will write back. You do not have to have it all figured out before you take a step.

You do not have to figure this out alone

Something brought you to this page. That is worth taking seriously.

Jesus said, “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37, ESV). That includes you, right now, exactly as you are. If you want to respond to that, you can do it right now. You do not need a church or a ceremony. You just need an honest prayer.

If you sincerely prayed that, God heard you. The Bible says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13, ESV). That is not a conditional promise. It includes this moment, and it includes you.

We would love to know where you are on this journey. Please take a moment and click the button below that best describes you.

If you want to go deeper, here is a place to start: Steps to Peace with God