This was originally a Point to Ponder by FireStorm that was written several years ago during Passover Week.  I have been frequenting a chat room connected to a documentary internet channel the past few weeks, and it seems to me that there of course some who don't believe in God.  But not as many as you might think.  There are some who say that they are Christian, but you get the feeling that they really don't know who Jesus is although they might go to church sometimes.  There are a few that you can believe by the witness of their words that they have had "personal" experience in who Jesus Christ really is.  But they are sadly, too few.

Every one has an opinion on Christianity which usually equates to some church denomination or religious ritual.  They just do not understand who Jesus is. 

You will live forever somewhere and in some condition.  Both how you live now on this Earth, and how you will spend eternity depends on if you personally know Jesus Christ.  Who is He to you?

There is a basic question that goes beyond theological debates and sociological impact studies, it is a question you must ask yourself, "who is Jesus to me?" Make it personal!  I don't care if you go to church, or even pastor a church.  I don't care if you say you are a Christian or not.  On a personal level of your daily life, who is Jesus to you... ask yourself, "Who are you Jesus to me?"  Through the Holy Spirit, if you are real about it, you will find out.

Knowing Him... not just knowing about Him is the key to abundant life in God.

There are many who know about Jesus, but have never come to the fullness of the truth to themselves of WHO He really is. You see... the New Birth (through the New Covenant) is a spiritual birth that goes beyond "head knowledge"... but it goes to personal knowledge and fellowship with Jesus Christ through the power and ability of the Holy Spirit. We know Him, and He knows us... we ABIDE IN HIM, AND HE ABIDES BY THE SPIRIT IN US! Your success or defeat in life depends upon who Jesus Christ is to you personally.

You know, your mother and father... your grandmother and grandfather might have been Christians and known Him, but that won't help you personally. You might attend church and give offerings and tithe and sing your songs... and all of that is good, but it will not help you in the end if you really do not know Him! You can put the 10 Commandments in your yard, and put the biggest Nativity Scene in town in front of your house or business, but if you do not "know Him"... and have a real relationship with Jesus Christ, then it is all vain.

Many even who go to church, and even some that are in Christian families that live with Christians, who do not "really know who Jesus is". Because if you really knew who He is, then you will serve Him and love Him and live for Him. HE IS THE CHRIST!

He is not a name to swear by, He is the Christ!
He is not just a good man, He is the Christ!
He was not just a prophet, He is the Christ!
He is the same yesterday, today, and forever... He is the Son of the Living God... the Anointed One (Messiah or Christ) of God!

Many recognize that Jesus was something different than the normal everyday man. They equated Him as some great prophet that had come back from the dead. And even today, many think of Him as a man who died on a cross, but don't know why. Others such as the Muslims hold Him as a prophet.  But you must recognize Him as the Son of God for it to do you any good.  And you must make that recognizing personal... by calling on Him in faith and opening your life to Him.

John 14:6 " Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. "

There is only one way, and Jesus is the way.... Greek hodos meaning a natural way that man didn't make. You can't go man's way; you can't work your way there; you have to go God's way. Sorry to the author of the song, but you and Jesus don't have your own thing going... you can't go your way... you have to go His Way. HE IS THE WAY! Its all about Jesus!

Romans 10:9 " That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. "

Notice that Jesus told Peter that God had revealed this truth unto Him. We need a spiritual revelation of who Jesus is. WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE IS THE CHRIST.

CHRIST is a Greek word christos, which means the anointed one. Jesus is the anointed one. The oil of the Holy Spirit flowed through Him. The oil is the presence of God in His Spirit. And when we have Jesus Christ in our lives, He brings that anointing... that life giving presence of God through us!

John 15:1-5 " 1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. "

We become fruitful when we are connected to the True Vine... the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the anointed one, and He brings that anointing into our lives... fills us with the oil of the Holy Spirit... the abundant life. Do you know who Y'shua Messias is? Are you connected by the Holy Spirit to Him? For He is the True Vine and if you connect to Him as a branch... you will become fruitful as He brings His life through you!

John 10:10 " The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly. "

The Apostle Paul made it clear that Jesus Christ was the most important thing... and knowing Him the most important goal to his life. Paul had at one time been a man well connected in society, but he had given it up to know Jesus Christ. To him... knowing Jesus was the most important thing in life.

Philippians 3:8-10 " 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; "

In the end, you can have useless philosophical debates until you turn blue... you can wrestle with this and with that, and it will do you no good. You can have all the money and earthly political power that man can have, but it will not buy you one moment of peace. You can take the Word of God and get contentious with it... and become a thorn in the side of others... using it as a club... but that will never bring you joy.

But knowing Jesus... both understanding and accepting by faith who Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God is... brings that fullness of God's love and power in our lives. Knowing Him is more important that ANYTHING.

I pray that the Holy Spirit reveals more of Jesus to you today!

FireStorm