Jesus is Good

There is a belief carried by many people, and I struggle to understand where it comes from. The belief is they believe humanity is inherently good. There are variations of this. For instance, I saw in a Facebook discussion someone arguing how humanity can learn to be kind to one another.

How can one possibly carry this belief? How can they look at the news and see the death, violence, and hatred humanity has towards others, and say this?

This is more of a hope people have, a hope I would obviously share. The unfortunate reality is, what the person in the Facebook discussion was really hoping for was a life without Jesus. So, their entire reference said we can learn to be kind without Jesus.

Again, I ask how?

It is sad to me when I hear the above beliefs spoken. What I hear is someone trying to justify their own wants and desires, a life lived without Jesus, a life where they say what is good and not good. I hear them saying, “Stop it!  I believe what I want to believe, and I don’t need Jesus.”

Without Jesus, how can humanity even know what is good and what is not good? What is kind and what is evil?

You can’t. The only expectation one can carry without Jesus is, people will do what they believe is best for them.

Even in the example where someone is arguing they don’t need Jesus, they are saying, “This is what I think is best for me!” The problem becomes a life lived serving ourselves, our own wants and desires, is exactly the image described in the Bible when people live without Jesus.

Jesus provides a way for us to live radical lives. They are radical lives of surrender, a way of loving people in such a way the world cannot understand without Jesus.

7 Dear friends, let’s love each other, because love is from God, and everyone who loves is born from God and knows God. 8 The person who doesn’t love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how the love of God is revealed to us: God has sent his only Son into the world so that we can live through him. 10 This is love: it is not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as the sacrifice that deals with our sins. (1 John 4, CEB)

Jesus says as Christians, as my followers, you will do the same.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. (Matthew 16:24, CEB)

People are changed when they see His love and understand the forgiveness He extends to our lives, literally making humanity new. We go from living for ourselves to living for others. It is the only way to live when you are forgiven.

31 Put aside all bitterness, losing your temper, anger, shouting, and slander, along with every other evil. 32 Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ. (Ephesians 4, CEB)

Blessings,

Pastor Matt