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How many people have heard that name all their lives and still don't know why we Christians care so much about this Jesus fellow? Most folk know the basics. He was born in a manger in Bethlehem to a virgin girl named Mary. He was venerated by shepherds and later by wise men that were following a star. You can learn that much by watching the Peanuts Christmas Special. But, there's much more to Jesus than that.
First off, Jesus of Nazareth is a verifiable historic person. In other words, it is a fact that he actually lived on planet Earth and was crucified during the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Even Tacitus, the Roman historian, confirms this.
The Hebrew Scriptures that make up what we call the Old Testament are replete with predictions about a Messiah, a Deliverer, who would come to bring peace and justice. In fact, there are so many details in the Scriptures concerning the Messiah, that the odds against any one man fulfilling them all were practically incalculable. Nevertheless, Jesus matched the details verbatim.
Christianity makes many claims that are utterly unique when compared to the religions of the world, past and present. For instance, Christianity starts with a fact – Jesus lived and was crucified. Then, it follows up with the central event tenet of historic Christianity – the resurrection. The Bible declares that Jesus was dead and buried. He remained in the grave for three days and three nights. And, He rose from the dead, ate and drank with his apostles and rose into Heaven, taking His seat at the right hand of God.
This central event – the resurrection - has come under all sorts of scrutiny and criticism over the last 2,000 years, but it remains one of the most enduring and powerful events of human history. Books and volumes have been constructed proving the veracity of the Biblical account and after years of hard-headed study I am equally convinced that the total sum of Christian doctrine stands or falls on that central reality.
And perhaps the most convincing proof of the truth of the resurrection is that Christianity continues to make cataclysmic changes in people even today. People are converted from cynicism to faith; from anger to loving kindness; from self-centeredness to charity and service. There is a power that continues to overwhelm people, driving them toward those things that are good and true, despite themselves. The same power that resurrected Jesus continues to bring people from their spiritual darkness into the light of understanding and grace.
And that, my friends, is a very big deal.
To learn more about Jesus, His life and His teachings, you can visit our website at www.salvationbygrace.org
About Grace Christian Assembly
Grace Christian Assembly was formed five years ago and holds to the doctrines of the Protestant Reformation (commonly called "Reformed Theology" or "Sovereign Grace"). We are located at 904 Hazelwood and we meet Sunday mornings at 10:30. We also have a mid-week meeting Wednesday evenings at 7. In this electronic age it seems that most of our communication is done via email (we have an expansive listening audience), but our phone number is: 691-3072.
We concentrate on verse-by-verse exposition of Scripture. Currently, we are working our way through the Acts of the Apostles on Sunday mornings and the book of Genesis on Wednesdays. All of our messages are available as mp3 downloads from our website and everything on our site is free.
About Jim McClarty
The pastor of Grace Christian Assembly grew up and attended high school and college in Livonia, Mich. He was involved in a pre-divinity curriculum and originally intended to follow in the Lutheran ministry. However, when he moved to Los Angeles in 1976, he landed a record deal and embarked on a series of albums and national tours. But, by the mid-1980's his music career was waning and he returned to his first love, interning at a church in Glendale, Calif. Meanwhile, his parents had moved to Shelbyville, and McClarty moved his family to Middle Tennessee following the birth of his son. He joined the teaching staff of a sovereign grace church in Franklin and eventually was called to help establish GCA.
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