Pastor John D Jakes

Have you recently considered the claims of the Scripture? No, I don’t mean the claims of people who carry the Bible – they could have an agenda. I mean, have you really read what the New Testament claims about Jesus? It isn’t a message of morality. The New Testament does not have a simple respect for the man. The Scripture does not give us one of many possible ways to get to God.

The Scripture claims to be presenting the only way to God. Jesus is God. Jesus is the only way to life. Jesus is life. That isn’t a philosophy. That isn’t morality. That is a profoundly challenging claim.

Have you truly considered the claims of Jesus or merely patronized them? You know what it means to be patronized, right? It means to not be taken seriously, to be treated as inferior or childish, or to be ignored. Do we do that with the claims of Scripture? We accept Scripture as morally helpful. We accept Scripture as generally truthful. How can Scripture be good and truthful if we haven’t really considered its central claim?

No, it is dishonest to accept something halfway. So, with Easter just behind us, I would urge you to truly examine the claims of the Bible. Accept or reject, but don’t ignore. The Scripture declares that Jesus died for sinners. The Scripture declares that Jesus is the only way to God. The Scripture declares that without the resurrection we have no hope, no future, and no real life. Do you believe that? I know I do.

For us who declare that Jesus is our Savior, let us make sure that we are doing the same. If we say that we want the salvation Jesus has promised but we have little intention of listening deeper to what Jesus has said makes life real then aren’t we patronizing Him too? We all must truly consider the claims of Jesus. To do any less is dishonest. Let us all treat the claims of God’s Word as worth hearing and responding to. I pray that we will even do more than that. I pray that we will receive its claims as the very truth of our life!

Something to think about,

Pastor John