Two reasons why Jesus lived and died! - 1 John 3:4-10

1 John 3:4-10

4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

And so.......

The bible verses we have posted today tell us two major reasons why the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world:

1. To take away our sins (writing to people who have trusted Christ for salvation)

2. To destroy the works of the devil.

The coming of Christ was for two very specific reasons - to saved 'people from their sins' and to reverse the works of the devil. All other 'side effects' of the presence of the Lord Jesus in the world are additional benefits but not the main reason for him being here. 

As is always the case with God the side effects in themselves are quite outstanding. The love of God was seen in the life of Christ, he was a great moral example, he showed us what it was to like to live a sinless life, he displayed compassion and care like no one else who ever lived and so the list goes on. BUT this was not the central reason for his being in the world. 

The central reason is expressed in the following verses:

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - 1 Timothy 1:15

The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world - 1 John 4:14

I am come that they might have life - John 10:10

How is it possible:

Only because of one thing - the death of Jesus on the cross. Hebrews 2:14 tells me that the Son of God took a body (flesh and blood) 'that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil and deliver them who fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage'. It is the death of Jesus on the cross that paid the price and laid the foundation for salvation. His death was the act that meant that the devil is a condemned foe who will ultimately face eternal judgement in the Lake of Fire. His death made it possible that we could be forgiven and our sins taken away.

So what do I need to do?

The response to that question is given in many places in the New Testament:

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ - Acts 16:31

Repent and be converted - Acts 3:19

Call upon the name of the Lord - Romans 10:13

Will you come, call, believe and be saved?

To access podcasts and videos explaining the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

this site will give you access to Bible Teaching Audio's and Video's as well.

Did Jesus really sweat drops of blood? - Sunday - The Daily Diary of a Bible Blogger

Q. The New Testament says Jesus sweat drops of blood when he was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane or is that just a figure of speech?

A. Many skeptics just think that this is a figure of speech. But let's read the story of Lee Strobel who found out otherwise!

"I was a sceptic once but then I started my research for The Case for Christ. I went to California to interview Dr. Alexander Metherell, a physician, research scientist, and expert on the crucifixion of Jesus.

“This is a known medical condition called hematidrosis. It’s not very common, but it is associated with a high degree of psychological stress,” he told me.

“What happens is that severe anxiety causes the release of chemicals that break down the capillaries in the sweat glands. As a result, there’s a small amount of bleeding into these glands, and the sweat comes out tinged with blood. We’re not talking about a lot of blood; it’s just a very, very small amount.”

Interestingly, it was Luke, a physician, who noted this phenomenon. He said of Jesus in Luke 22:44: “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”

Jesus’ anguish and passionate prayers over his impending torture and death could certainly have been enough to trigger this medical phenomenon. The Journal of Medicine analyzed seventy-six cases of hematidrosis and concluded that the most common causes were acute fear and intense mental contemplation.

I asked Dr. Metherell what affect this bloody sweat would have had on Jesus. “What this did,” he replied, “was to set up the skin to be extremely fragile so that when Jesus was flogged by the Roman soldier the next day, his skin would have been very, very sensitive.”

What could have prompted Jesus to willingly endure the misery of Gethsemane, the brutality of the flogging, and the unspeakable torment of the cross?

“Well,” said Dr. Metherell, “I suppose the answer can be summed up in one word – and that would be love.”

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8