Getting Job-ed
Remember, in order to see God, we have to see Jesus– when we see God, we see Jesus (John 8:30-59). That’s not Dr. Seuss and not just repeating the same thing, reread it. It’s Biblical and extremely important. Jesus is the exact imprint of God (Colossians 1:15-17, Hebrews 1:3). We are still building on that foundation. In this part, I want us to explore scripture that shows the purpose of Jesus coming to us.
We see that we are saved for the glory of God (Ephesians 1:4-13 and Isaiah 43:6-7). This concept is huge and paramount. We are saved for His glory! Does God save us because He loves us? Yes- John 3:16. But we CAN NOT see that is because of something we’re worth. It’s only because of who God is and for His ultimate purpose. Look at Ephesians 2:1 & 4 & 8-9 CSB:
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins… But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses… For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is a God’s gift- not from works, so that no one can boast.
Let me reiterate… YOU ARE NOT SAVED BECAUSE YOU ARE SPECIAL BUT BECAUSE OF WHO GOD IS! We are dead people! That’s not very peace-y in this self-help culture of “you are special because of who you are.” The Bible doesn’t teach that, and that theology is very prevalent in churches, even in a lot of praise and worship music. No, you are special only because of who God is. Woof, ok, off my soapbox.
“Jesus came to give us true life…”
Jesus came to give us true life: “‘I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance (John 10:10 CSB)’” which, interestingly, this “life” that Jesus talks about will involve “losing” your life:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it. For what will it benefit someone if he gains the whole world yet loses his soul? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life? Matthew 16:24-26 CSB and ESV
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Jesus came to enable us for “good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do (Ephesians 2:10 CSB)” and to make disciples for Himself in Matthew 28:19.
Jesus also came to destroy Satan, his works, and this slavery that he has held us in:
Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death- that is the devil- and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15 CSB
There are many purposes of Jesus coming that are shown in Scripture, but these are a few major themes. To wrap it up, Jesus, God, came because He loves us, for us to have true life, to save us from slavery, to make us truly free, to destroy Satan, to create disciples of God- all to the praise of His glory!
-Austin
