Jesus and His Word

 

A few years I ago we had a new family join our faith family. I was visiting with the man in the family and he made the comment that the church was a real Jesus-focused church. I said yes, but all churches were supposed to be Jesus-focused.

 

Many times, over the years I have been told that I use a lot of scriptures when I teach. I simply say that is all I have.

 

I am puzzled over why so many people are surprised over these two concepts. They seem to be asking why the church is to be centered on Jesus and His Word.

 

In John 14:6 Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

 

Jesus is to be the focus of the church because He is the way and the truth that leads us to the life.

 

Peter says in 2 Peter 1:3 that His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence.

 

Jesus is to be the focus of the church because He has given us everything, we need to live life in a godly manner.

 

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is making Jesus the focus of our lives because He is life and has given all we need to live a godly life through Him.

 

In Acts 4:12 Peter says, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

 

Jesus is the only way to receive salvation.

 

Salvation is:

Forgiveness of Sin

Assurance of Eternal Life

Relationship with the Father Through Jesus

Filling of the Holy Spirit for a Jesus-Directed Life

 

Jesus is the only way to all these aspects of salvation.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is receiving Jesus as the only source of salvation.

 

In Matthew 16:18, Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

 

Jesus is God in the flesh.

 

Jesus is just not:

A Good Man

A Man Following God

A Prophet of God

A Preacher of the Truth of God

 

Jesus is God who became man and then gave Himself to be our atoning sacrifice for sin.

 

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is believing and obeying and serving Jesus as God.

 

The church has to be focused on the Word of God because of what God’s Word does in and through us.

 

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

 

God’s Word is living – it is continually used by God to speak to us.

God’s Word is active – it is continually used by God to transform us.

God’s Word penetrates to the very core of who we are – it reveals our sins and weaknesses and reveals who we are in Jesus.

 

The Word of God speaks to us, changes us to be like Jesus, and reveals to us who we are and who God is. It does this through the empowering of the Holy Spirit.

 

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is making God’s Word part of our daily life and allowing the Holy Spirit it use it to change us.

 

Jesus responds to Satan in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

 

The church has to be focused on the Word of God because it is what we need to live based on.

 

The Word of God is to be spiritually to us what food is physically to us. It is what sustains us and gives us hope and joy and peace.

 

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is making God’s Word our spiritual food.

 

Jesus and His Word are to be the focus and foundation of the church. It is not just believing in Jesus and believing His Word; it is living out His Word and making Jesus the sole ruling authority in our lives.

 

With Jesus and His Word Directing,

Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls,

Joe