8 BOCNEWS.com DECEMBER 2018 Who, What, and Why is Jesus Whose birthday is it on December 25th? Do you know that a whole bunch of people don’t know the reason why Jesus came? We are going to answer three questions. The first is who is Jesus? We are celebrating him, who is Jesus? The most controversial man in the world. The most talked about man in the world. Who is Jesus? The sec- ond question is what did Jesus come to do? And the third one is how relevant is Jesus today? Let me remind you that Christianity is not a religion. Religion is part of Christianity, but Christianity is not a religion. Christianity is a relationship. A relationship with God. God is not interested in a religion. He is interested in a relationship. If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, you are wasting your time. Today all over the world people will pray and yet they don’t know the God whom they are praying to. In South India, there is a man named Rajish. Rajish was my friend, and every morning I would go and see Rajish. He would put food in front of this little guy that he called God. And in the eve- ning, he would pack the food away. So, I called him I said, “Rajish who is this little guy?” He said, “he’s God.” I said, “who cooked the food?” He said, “my wife.” I said, “it’s either God is not hungry, or your wife is a terrible cook.” He said, “why?” I said, “God is not eating the food.” He said, “you don’t understand.” I said, “your wife is a bad cook.” We talked and talked and talked. Then I said to Rajish, “if you die where will you go?” He said, “if I die, I’ll come back.” I said, “yeah, as what?” He said, “I may come back as cat, I might come back as goat,” then he said, “I may come back as cow.” I said, “if you come back as cow don’t come to Nigeria, you’ll be suya. Don’t come back to America, you’ll be a burger. Just come back to India right here and you’ll be safe.” But my friend Rajish early in the morning is out there praying to God. So, when I told him about Jesus, he already had 300 million Gods, he said “give me, it’s not a problem I will add him.” He already had 300 million Gods so giving him one more can’t kill him. All he needs to do is put him somewhere. Rajish is still there serving God he didn’t know and a dead God. Paul was there one day, and he saw them in Greece among these Athens. And they said, to an unknown God. Paul said, “you are serving an unknown God, let me declare the name of that God to you. God knows your name before you were born. He knows who you are.” He said, “before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” You are not just a social security number. That’s what government calls you. So, who is Jesus? You must know him. Who is Jesus? Romans chapter one verses 1-4 1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who [a]was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holi- ness, by the resurrection from the dead. Number One: He is the son of God. He was declared to be the son of God. Matthew 3:17 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, say- ing, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Paul said, “he was declared to be the son of God.” Matthew said, “I was there when the dec- laration was made. The heavens declared him the son of God. Jesus is the son of God.” And then Jesus proved it by the resurrection from the dead. He was declared to be the son of God. Matthew said, “after baptism he was coming out and a voice came from heaven and said this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” “And then he proved it by the resurrection” Paul said “from the dead. He proved it. He came from death.” The man when he was hanging from the cross, the thief on the left said, “if you are the son of God.” Is that not true? When after 40 days of fasting Satan came to him, “if you are the son of God”. Jesus said, “wait a minute I’m going to show you.” So, he died and resurrected. Paul said, “he proved it.” There must be a sign in your life that you are a child of God. You must be able to demonstrate it. Not just wearing a big badge born again. Many people’s born again is born against. You must be able to show it. There must be evidence of it. Jesus showed it, I am the son of God. How? It was declared from heaven and I demonstrated it by coming from the dead. What are the proof that you are the son of God? Number Two: Who is Jesus? The Savior of the world. John 3:16 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Whoever believes in him should not perish. Should is a very important word there. I don’t care which translation you read it in. The word would not be would, could, might, it will always be should. In other words, it will always be available until you take it. You should not do that, but you could do it. You should not perish but people are perishing. It says you should not perish. Christ came so you should not perish but Hosea said, Hosea 4:6 My people perish when they should not perish but they still perish. What makes them perish? Ignorance. Ignorance of what? Ignorance of the word of God. My people perish for lack of knowl- edge. But, they shouldn’t. You could be poor if you want but you should not. You could be sick if you want but you should not. You could fail if you want but you should not. There are things that you will say I’m bigger than this no more failure, I’m bigger than this no more affliction. Why? I am a child of God and I have Jesus as my Savior. You should not. You could struggle if you want but you should not. This is a law that anybody that operates in it will not perish. It’s a law. You should not fail, you should not perish. Perish doesn’t mean with- out life extinction. Physical body you can still have, financially people are perishing, emotionally people are perishing, relationally people are per- ishing, but you should not perish. It did not say you cannot perish. It’s a wonderful English word, should not. You can read it NIV, you can read it King James, any translation you want. The word is should. That means there is a divine law that is operating that separates you from other people that are perishing. Simply because others are per- ishing doesn’t mean you should perish. The bible tells me in the book of 1 Corinthians 1:18 18 For the [a]message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. When we talk about the message of Christ it’s our own power, but to those who are perishing it doesn’t make sense. The message of the cross, what Christ did for me. I should not perish, I should not perish, I should not perish, and I’ve made up my mind I will not perish. 1 John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father hath sent the son as Savior of the world. Who is Jesus? ■ ■ Jesus is the Son of God ■ ■ The Savior of the world ■ ■ The Lord of the heavens and the earth Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them saying all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. He is the Lord of heaven and earth. Then he said go therefor and make disciples and I will be with you. God is with me! Have you ever thought about that? I don’t care who is against me God is with us who can be against us? Teaching them to observe all things that I’ve commanded you and lo I am with you. If God is with you who can be against you. 1 Corinthians 1:24 Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. The power of God is with you. The wisdom of God is with you. How can you fail? You should not perish. I can walk through the length and the breath of this world boldly because I know who is with me. Ade Ajala By Bishop Israel Ade Ajala SERMON Whoever believes in him should not perish. Should is a very important word there. I don’t care which translation you read it in. The word would not be would, could, might, it will always be should. In other words, it will always be available until you take it. You should not do that, but you could do it. You should not perish but people are perishing.