The question of salvation begins with why we need it. We need it because sin separates us from God and all have sinned and fallen short of His glory (Rom. 3:23). Left in our sinful state, our destiny would be eternal destruction. In order to reconcile ourselves with God, we need an emissary or savior who can and has paid the cost of our sin (and that of the world). This person is Jesus who was the Christ foretold in the Old Testament (Isa. 53).
You may have heard that we are saved by grace which is defined as unmerited favor. This is true and we have the option to accept it or not. His grace is not forced upon us but is made available by the blood of Jesus and we have a choice of whether to believe in Him or not. In order to show this acceptance, there are things we as individuals have to do, just as they did in the 1st century and since.
What makes Christianity attractive? Or, more to the point, what makes Jesus attractive to human kind? There are many factors involved in trying to answer this question. We believe there are several factors that could be a part of the over-all answer to the attractiveness of Jesus.
“I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me.” (John 14:6)
Jesus
Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea over 2000 years ago (Matthew 2:1). Was that the beginning of His existence as a being? If so, He was only a mere man like all other men. But the Bible portrays Jesus as Deity—as God—as equal with the Father (John 10:30). His birth was of a miraculous nature—conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20) and born of a virgin (Matthew 1:23). Jesus not only claimed to be God, but was confirmed with power yet condemned by the religious leaders for such a claim (John 5:16-18). He used expressions that identified Him as being equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
THE MIRACLES
As people witnessed the miracles perform by Jesus on themselves or others, it caused them to follow Him so they could evaluate further what kind of interest they would show in Jesus (John 6:2). The selfish, self-centeredness of mankind became a big factor concerning miracles, that is, what can I get out of this? (John 6:26) But there were others that were absolutely sure of Jesus’ great power and that He had to be from God. Miracles could not only confirm that His message was from God, but serve as proof of His Deity (John 20:30-31). Why wouldn’t people be attracted to the man who would be, and was, God in the flesh?! (John 1:1-3)
HIS TEACHINGS
Jesus is considered the Master teacher. Nicodemus was convinced that Jesus was a teacher come from God (John 3:2). The people’s general reaction to Jesus’ teaching was “no man ever spoke like this man!”(John 7:46) or “the people were astonished at his teachings, for he taught them as one having authority” (Matthew 7:28-29). Luke’s gospel states that the people were “attentive to him.” (Luke 19:48). Great crowds of people followed Jesus continually during His public ministry—even up to the time of his arrest. His teachings challenged them, but also gave them great hope.
HIS SINLESS LIFE
A big factor in people listening and even believing a teacher is when they know his life and it is consistent with what he teaches. Jesus not only challenged people deeply in His teachings, but He never taught what He did not model before them. Jesus never did wrong, never broke God’s Law, and never needed forgiveness. He even publicly challenged the religious leaders to point out His sin (John 8:46). When brought before Pilate to be tried, Pilate said he found no fault in the man (Matthew 27:24). Judas, who betrayed Jesus, later stated, “I have betrayed innocent blood.” (Matthew 27:4). The Centurion that had watched Jesus all through His death ordeal felt compelled to exclaim, “Truly this was the Son of God.” (Matthew 27:54). The Apostle Peter stated that Jesus “committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.” (1 Peter 2:22). People should naturally be attracted by One who is perfect in his life.
HIS DEATH, BURIAL, RESURRECTION
But the real attraction of Jesus centers in His death, burial, and resurrection from the dead. Jesus’ statement in John 12:32 strongly indicates this: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” The tragedy of how He died is not the attraction, for thousands upon thousands had been crucified up to this time. The attraction is that He died in my place and took my punishment upon Himself, so that I could be set free. He paid dearly for my redemption from the penalty of my sins. Jesus is not lifted up before a lost world as a mere man that died unjustly at the hands of the Romans, but as One who loved me enough to leave heaven, come to earth, live as a man perfectly, and then offer Himself as the perfect atonement for my sins. The preaching of Christ crucified is the power to draw men and women to Jesus to receive the salvation He offers.
However, Jesus’ death apart from His resurrection would have been meaningless. Without the assurance of a resurrection unto life, what is the point of His death? The gospel message does not stop with the death and burial of Christ, but completes the message by preaching Jesus was raised (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Man, as a living being, does not cease to exist upon physical death, but will continue in existence either in a place of reward or a place of punishment (John 5:28-29).
