The Gospel in Twenty Questions by Paul Ellis Read Free Book Online

Or is
it the crucified Jesus we remember when we take communion? This may
shock you, but none of these Jesuses can save you. There is only one Jesus that
saves, delivers, heals, rescues, and gives new life, and that is the risen Jesus, seated at the right hand of God.
     
    And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled
himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God
exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every
name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth
and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:8–9)
     
    Dead religion proclaims a dead
Jesus and promotes dead works that achieve nothing. But the gospel of God’s
powerful grace reveals a risen and exalted king with a name that is above every
other name. A dead Jesus saves no one. But a risen Jesus who has conquered sin
and death and now sits at the right hand of God, interceding for us, is a Jesus
you can bet your life on.
    It
is essential that you see Jesus as risen and exalted above all things. If you
don’t, you will never experience the new life that is found only in him. Your life will be no different from that of an
unbeliever.
    Perhaps you
have said, “I’ll believe him when I see him.” Maybe you’ve been praying for a
vision of heaven or some supernatural sign. “Jesus, reveal yourself like you
did to Paul on the road to Damascus or show me a miracle, and then I’ll
believe.” It doesn’t work that way. The Pharisees saw plenty of signs and
wonders yet steadfastly refused to believe Jesus. And not everyone who saw the
risen Lord believed straight away. Some doubted. [14]
    Seeing is not
always believing. And seeing is not the key to being blessed. Do you remember
what Jesus said to Thomas?
     
    Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed
are those who have not seen and yet have believed. (John 20:29)
     
    Jesus is talking about us. He’s
saying those who walk by faith are blessed.
    Several
hundred people saw the risen Lord and were blessed to see him. But millions
upon millions have not seen him with their natural eyes, yet they have been
blessed too.
    You don’t
need to see to receive the favor of God. You just need to believe. And when you
believe in God’s favor you will see it. Why am I so sure? Because the gospel
reveals the life-saving power of God for all who believe (Romans 1:16).
    God is good
whether you believe it or not, but you’ll never fully experience his goodness
unless you believe it.
    The
Jesus of the gospel is more than alive. He’s ruling and reigning from the
highest place. Everything has been put under his feet (1 Corinthians 15:27). If you
are trusting in Jesus-on-the-cross, your faith is misplaced. Jesus is not on
the cross but on the throne. This is the Jesus that wants to bless you
with salvation power, and this is the Jesus we fix our eyes on.
     

What is the key to my breakthrough?
     
    Bob George tells a story about
a man called Stan who battled alcoholism for more than 40 years. Stan had given
his life to Jesus, but nothing changed. The drinking continued as before. Then
one night Stan came home in such a state that his wife called Bob. “Please come
and talk to him.” Bob went and was inspired to ask the following question:
     
    Stan, when you accepted Christ, which Jesus did you
believe in? … Did you have in mind an honorable man named Jesus of Nazareth who
lived 2,000 years ago in a place called Palestine? … In other words, Stan, did
you accept Jesus the man ? Or did you accept Jesus Christ the God who became a man, who was raised again from the dead? [15]
     
    Stan replied that he had put
his faith in Jesus who was a man 2,000 years ago. Bob asked if he was willing
to trust in Jesus the living God. Stan said yes and was completely delivered
from alcoholism that same night.
    What
you believe determines what you see. If you don’t