Why Did Jesus Come? Part 2

In our last issue, we noted that Jesus came to this earth to die as a sacrifice for our sins. It is fitting and proper for folks to reflect upon the Lord's birth for had He not been born, nothing else would have been accomplished. His birth is a part of the story as much as anything else but our attention should remain focused entirely upon His mission-namely to offer Himself for us. We noted last week that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament law in His death and that all we who are lost can be saved. Now notice some other things accomplished in the Lord's death.

• HE BUILT HIS CHURCH. The Old Testament prophesied that Jesus would establish His kingdom in the days of the Roman empire (Daniel 2:44.) Jesus came in the days of the Caesars preaching that the kingdom was at hand (Mark 1:14-15.) Once, while speaking of the kingdom, Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven..." (Matthew 16:18-19.) This passage clearly shows the kingdom and the church are the same and it would be built upon the foundation that Jesus is the son of God. Not even the grave would stop the church from being built. In Acts 2:47 we find that the "Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." Here the church is spoken of as being in existence for the first time. What happened between Matthew 16:18 and Acts 2:47? The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Death certainly did not stop Jesus from building His church as the resurrection proclaims Him to be the son of God (Romans 1:4.) The church and the kingdom are the same and exist on earth today. Those waiting for the kingdom miss the point of plain Bible teaching. It is already here for Jesus built and died for it. Why not be a part of something Jesus built?
  


• HIS DEATH GIVES NEW LIFE. Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10.) Only in Jesus do we find out just how rich we can be in faith and new life. Just as Jesus died, folks are baptized into Jesus' death and raised to walk in new life (Romans 6:3-4.) We are a "new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17) and Christ lives in us because we have been "crucified" with Christ (Galatians 2:20.) This new life means we must learn to deny self, taking up or cross to follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24.) We no longer live a life of pleasing self but seek to do the things that please the Lord. We learn of Him and make His teachings the things we live by. By doing so, we find ourselves on the path to heaven and our great reward.