3 Reasons Why You Need Jesus
Have you ever wondered why so many people follow Jesus even 2000 years after his death? In a world filled with stress, anxiety and suffering, Jesus offers real solutions that can transform your life. This article will examine 3 key reasons why you still need Jesus today.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Jesus offers forgiveness of sins, purpose and meaning in life, and the promise of eternal life, all of which we desperately need, especially in troubled times.
Jesus Offers Forgiveness of Sins
We all make mistakes. Some are small, like telling a white lie or procrastinating on an assignment. Others are more serious, like betraying a friend’s trust or engaging in harmful behaviors. The truth is, no one is perfect.
The Bible tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). This means that everyone has done things that are displeasing to God. Sin separates us from God and leads to death (Romans 6:23).
Thankfully, God provided a solution to the problem of sin through his Son, Jesus Christ.
We Are All Sinners in Need of Forgiveness
The Bible makes it clear that all human beings are sinners. From the very first humans, Adam and Eve, disobedience against God has been our natural inclination (Genesis 3). Throughout history, we see example after example of human sinfulness.
From Cain’s murder of his brother Abel, to David’s adultery and scheming, to the religious hypocrisy of the Pharisees, the Bible paints a sobering picture of the sin that infects us all. As the apostle Paul said, “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10).
We all have moments we are less than proud of. Times when we lose our temper over something trivial. Times when we are dishonest or lazy. Times when we hurt the people closest to us. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves (1 John 1:8). The inclination to sin lives inside each one of us.
All sin, no matter how “small” it may seem, separates us from God’s perfect holiness. And on our own merits, there is nothing we can do to bridge that gap. No amount of good behavior can undo the sins of our past. We need God’s forgiveness and grace.
Jesus Sacrificed Himself to Pay for Our Sins
Out of his profound love for us, God provided a way to forgive our sins through Jesus Christ. Jesus, God’s perfect Son, paid the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross. Though he was sinless, he took the punishment we deserved upon himself (2 Corinthians 5:21).
His death satisfied the wrath of God toward sin, so that anyone who believes in Jesus can have their sins forgiven.
Jesus’ resurrection proved God’s power over death and sin. His sacrifice opened the door for us to have a restored relationship with God. As the Apostle Peter said, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
By his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).
Rather than leaving us condemned, Jesus took our sins upon himself so that we could be free. He paid our sin debt in full through his sacrifice on the cross. All we need to do is accept his free gift of salvation by faith.
Faith in Jesus Brings Total Forgiveness and Cleansing
When we place our trust in Jesus Christ, confessing our sins and believing he alone can save us, we are forgiven and cleansed from all unrighteousness. God no longer counts our sins against us (Romans 4:7-8). We are reconciled to God and become new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17).
God gives us new hearts with his law written on them (Jeremiah 31:33). The stain of sin is washed away by the blood of Christ.
The forgiveness Jesus offers is complete. As the author of Hebrews declares, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more” (Hebrews 10:17). God buries our sins in the deepest sea and separates them from us as far as the east is from the west (Micah 7:19; Psalm 103:12).
We are made as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).
This does not mean believers will never sin again. We remain imperfect people. But it does mean every sin – past, present and future – is fully paid for by Christ’s sacrifice. As we walk with Jesus daily, confessing our sins, he keeps cleansing us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
We can rest confidently in his finished work on the cross.
Jesus Gives Life Meaning and Purpose
The Emptiness of Life Without God
Many people feel a sense of emptiness or meaninglessness without God in their lives. They find that pursuing money, status, pleasure, or relationships ultimately leaves them unfulfilled. King Solomon in the Bible summed it up when he said, “Meaningless! Meaningless!
Everything is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Augustine, the famous 4th century theologian, said that our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God. Scientists have discovered that people who classify themselves as non-religious are more likely to struggle with depression and mental illness than those who are actively engaged in a faith community.
Without God, there is no ultimate purpose or meaning in life. We are just tiny specks in a vast cosmos that will one day burn out. Nothing that we do will ultimately make any difference. Bertrand Russell, the famous atheist philosopher, wrote that unless people found some way to conquer death, then ultimately nothing really matters.
He said, “Such a life leads to despair.”
Jesus Shows Us Our True Identity and Worth
When we come to Jesus, everything changes. We learn that our identity and worth do not come from our job titles, bank accounts, accomplishments, or what other people think about us. God created us in His image and sent Jesus to restore our relationship with Him.
We discover that the Creator of the universe loves us deeply and has an amazing plan for our lives.
The Bible says that we are God’s masterpiece and adopted as His children (Ephesians 2:10, Romans 8:15). No longer do we need to strive to prove our worth through material success or the approval of others. God already accepts and approves of us because of what Jesus did on the cross.
We can rest securely in His love and embrace our true identity as His beloved sons and daughters.
Following Jesus Brings Joy and Satisfaction
Pursuing intimacy with God brings deep and lasting joy. King David, who lived around 1000 BC, wrote “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence” (Psalm 16:11). Modern surveys confirm this.
A Gallup poll in 2014 found that very religious Americans of all faiths reported higher wellbeing and deeper positive emotions than their nonreligious counterparts.
Jesus promised that those who follow Him will experience a life overflowing with purpose, meaning, and supernatural peace and joy that the world cannot give (John 10:10, John 14:27). His presence satisfies the deepest longings of our hearts.
We were created to know God intimately and to walk in close relationship with Him. Jesus makes it possible for us to reconnect with our loving Father and experience life to the full.
Jesus Promises Eternal Life
Death Is Not the End
For many people, death is a scary and uncertain event. We fear death because it represents the end of our existence here on earth. However, Jesus taught that physical death is not the end for those who believe in Him.
Jesus promised that He has the power to give eternal life to those who put their faith in Him (John 11:25-26). This promise of eternal life brings comfort and hope to all who trust in Jesus.
Jesus Conquered Death Through His Resurrection
Unlike any other religious leader, Jesus rose from the dead after being crucified. His resurrection is a historical fact that proves He has power over death itself. As the apostle Paul said, “Death has been swallowed up in victory” through Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:54).
Jesus paved the way for our own resurrection by conquering the grave. His resurrection points ahead to a future where death will be no more for those who are united to Him by faith.
Those Who Believe in Jesus Will Live Forever
Jesus did not just make empty promises about eternal life. He backed up His words by rising from dead. All who put their trust in Jesus can be assured of living forever with Him in heaven. As Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.
The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25). Physical death does not need to be feared because it leads straight into eternal life for believers. What an amazing comfort it is to know that our existence does not end with death if we have placed our faith in Christ!
Conclusion
In a broken world filled with emptiness and death, Jesus stands out as offering real solutions to our deepest needs. He provides forgiveness, purpose and eternal life to all who put their faith in Him. If you have not already, consider opening your heart to Jesus today.
