JESUS of NAZARETH can TRANSFORM your LIFE!

Ron Bainbridge
Jan 12, 2020
7 min read

Friends, in a world too often filled with bad news, the primary Mission of Discovering A BETTER LIFE MINISTRIES, is in sharing the “Good News” that God has made it possible for everyone to enter into a personal relationship with Him through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is a wonderful reality that we treasure and enjoy by trusting that it is true (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Today’s Message of Encouragement from Discovering A BETTER LIFE MINISTRIES

https://abl-alb.wixsite.com/discoverabetterlife/about

(Stories of Real People, Real Events, Real Places) Dedicated to providing Spiritual FOOD FOR THOUGHT

To HELP Men and Women Find HOPE

THROUGH SHARING GOD’S GRACE and LOVE!

(Ron Bainbridge, Editor) (January 12th, 2020)

JESUS of NAZARETH can TRANSFORM your LIFE!

WELCOME to another message from Discovering A BETTER LIFE!

Friend, yesterday it was my privilege to introduce you to Jesus of Nazareth, the humble carpenter whose birth was so unique! His earthly life and teachings were so revolutionary, that they have influenced people and nations more than anyone else in the history of mankind. In fact, His teachings have been the basis of many national laws, humanitarian aid, social reform and medicine.

History records that the execution of Jesus, at thirty-three years of age, (for crimes He did not commit), was so unjust. -- However, the miraculous resurrection of His dead body, confirmed beyond any shadow of doubt that Jesus of Nazareth is who He claimed to be, “The Divine Son of God” and that, by His proven Divinity, He has the authority and power to break the bonds of sin and to assure forgiveness and eternal life to everyone who is willing to accept His gift of salvation.

Today, I’d like to share with you how this Jesus of Nazareth can make a transforming difference in the life of anyone who will let Him.

The first four books of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, provide us with four written descriptions of the greatest person who has ever lived on this earth. Amazingly, the four reporters all tell ONE story, and that story is STUNNING in it’s simple description of Jesus of Nazareth, who wrote not one book, yet explained the meaning of human life in a way that has changed all of human history!

Friend, I talk to people every week who recognize a need for God in their lives. Many of them have a genuine desire to make contact with God, but they can’t seem to find Him. In many Cities of the Western world, people searching for God, see a Church building on almost every corner, but this multiplicity of Churches is often times more confusing than helpful, because of their many conflicting doctrines.

Many of the people I speak to, say they plan to read the Bible, but somehow, they don’t seem to find the time to get around to it.

Friend, Robert Louis Stevenson believed that a person who came to the reading of the Bible with a hungry heart would be “startled and moved” by reading the story of Jesus and the transforming effect He had on people. The Quaker philosopher Elton Trueblood, believed that sooner or later EVERY person, if he or she thinks seriously about life’s purpose, must face the fact of Jesus of Nazareth, whether they choose to revere or follow Him or not.

It’s a fact of history, and cannot be denied, that the life of Jesus who lived in Nazareth over 2,000 years ago, determines the date of every secular document that men and women sign today. -- And the truth is, He can be taken seriously or rejected, but He cannot be ignored.

Friend, in the light of what I’ve just stated, allow me to ask you three questions.

(1).—When did you last read, as if for the first time, the account of Jesus’ life in the Gospel of Mark?

(2) --- What difference would it make to the quality of your life, if you took the time to do that today?

(3) --- My last question is this; rather than evaluating the extent to which anyone truly follows Jesus, as the leader of their lives, what would happen if you asked yourself: “Is Jesus really the Son of God?”

As I consider those questions, there’s no doubt in my mind that the meaning of LIFE and ultimate HAPPINESS is genuinely defined when we identify Jesus of Nazareth, as the Divine Son of God and are willing to submit our lives to Him.

You know, when we read the stories in the pages of the New Testament that have been written about Jesus by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, it becomes obvious that Jesus defines human worth and dignity in a way that no one else ever has! – He does this by defining the meaning of life, before death, and after death. – Jesus also spoke clearly and convincingly about our separation from God and also explained what God has done to re-establish our friendship with Him. -- And because of Jesus’ own resurrection, all those who willingly follow Him need never fear Satan or death again!

In a unique way, Jesus of Nazareth confronts our lives very much like a good Doctor confronts our physical health. He does this in a Comprehensive and Compassionately Caring manner. – And from my observation, a person with a competent, caring Doctor usually refers to their Doctor as a good friend!

As we consider the life of Jesus, we observe that His emphasis was not on small, superficial matters, but matters of the heart. – In fact, Jesus dares to show us what the NEW LIFE freely offered by God to men and women who willingly place their Faith and Trust in Him, is worth. – Even today, He brings, for anyone who wants to hear, what He brought 2,000-years-ago -- the message of God in the present tense! In fact, Jesus reassures us that we are NOT driven by fate, or forces which we cannot control.

Friend, History records, that the earliest followers of Jesus lived in ordinary families, experienced ordinary illnesses and worked in ordinary jobs. But Jesus changed their lives by showing them they were children of a heavenly Father, who had a purpose and destiny for each of them.

According to Jesus, the FAULT (DYSFUNCTION) in every-day life was that it was NOT lived in reference to God! Jesus also exposed the sad fact that all men and women WERE and ARE guilty of ingratitude and rebellion, which separates each of us from experiencing a safe relationship with a loving God.

When faced with these facts, many people questioned, what should they do?

Well, Jesus said that they were to REPENT, which simply means to reconsider their rebellious actions and submit their lives to a loving, gracious God who would forgive their shortcomings. – Unfortunately, whatever avenues to personal fulfilment our generation is pursuing, REPENTANCE is the road less travelled. – However, Jesus of Nazareth treated SIN as real; therefore, the FORGIVENESS He made available to all humanity, through His sacrificial death on the Cross of Calvary was valuable.

And as you think about what I’ve just said, let me ask you another question: Is human life TODAY really any different from when Jesus walked on this earth and sought out SINNERS to be with them – not as a judge, but as a friend? -- You see, Jesus was a real friend to people who knew their own failings. And He made it very clear, that the established, legalistic religious practice, severely missed God’s intentions.

Jesus didn’t beat around the bush, He told the truth about it. – He said that organized religion often keeps people FROM God, rather than HELPING them to FIND Him! – We also read in the pages of the New Testament, that Jesus ENJOYED the happy times people shared together --- like weddings – and He insisted that PEOPLE are more important than MATERIAL THINGS or RULES.

Friend, the story of the people who took Jesus of Nazareth seriously is the story of the New Testament letters. – In fact, they reveal to us very clearly that something, very Life Changing, happened when people met Jesus of Nazareth. And that this SOMETHING, changed FOREVER the way they related to each other, as well as the challenges of life they were experiencing. – Indeed, the letters of the New Testament, clearly reveal that their association with Jesus of Nazareth made people able to endure and to conquer life’s difficulties!

Throughout the centuries, Christian historians have concluded that believers in Jesus of Nazareth were given the power to “survive and surpass” any hurdle they faced. In fact, the change in the lives of those who followed Jesus is truly a MIRACLE!

What is even more wonderful for us! -- IT IS STILL TRUE TODAY! Because every person who is willing to REPENT of their sin and commit their life to Jesus, will be TRANSFORMED as they experience FORGIVENESS from God and are WELCOMED as an adopted child into FELLOWSHIP with Him.

The question is do you really want to enter into this FELLOWSHIP with a GOD who really loves you? And who has shown His amazing love through Jesus of Nazareth, who for centuries has been transforming the lives of men and women who have placed their trust in Him? – Let me say this, if you really want the HOPE God offers through Jesus, it is waiting for you.

Friend, if you are willing to accept God’s wonderful love and be adopted into His family, you will experience a HOPE that is not dependent on circumstances. It is a HOPE in the Living God, who will never leave you and who will gently guide you through the mountains and valleys of life. And what is even more amazing, is that when this life is over, you will spend eternity in heaven with Him!

Perhaps you would still like to know more about Jesus of Nazareth. – If so, we’d be happy to send you our FREE booklet titled, “Who is this Jesus?” Our mailing address is: Discovering A BETTER LIFE, P.O. Box 1540, Albany, Western Australia 6331 You may also Telephone your request on: 98-418-418