How Will You Respond to Christ?

None of us really needs to have a personal view of Napoleon, King Tut, or Cleopatra. Besides being entries in our history books, they don’t matter in our daily lives. Jesus is unlike any other historical figure in that his life 2,000 years ago impacts us directly today, and we must personally respond.

Jesus’ birth provoked many responses. The shepherds sought him out after the angels’ announcement, and Simeon and Anna recognized him and praised God in the temple. The wise men traveled from a distant land to worship him, and Herod sought to murder him.

Scripture portrays not just the people who had right responses to Jesus but the people who had misguided responses. Even people who responded positively sometimes had the wrong response, as did the crowd who wanted to make Jesus the king by force.

Today, there are many people who want to recognize Jesus as a political reformer, a moral person, an insightful philosopher, or a righteous prophet. However, any description of Jesus that does not include that he is the Son of God who became incarnate to die for sinners and be resurrected falls disastrously short.

There are only two categories of responses to Christ.

There are only two categories of responses to Christ. First, we can believe that he is who he claimed to be and who Scripture testifies him to be—God the Son—and trust that his sacrificial death completely paid for the debt of sinners—as is proved by his triumphant resurrection. God promises that all who repent and believe in Christ will be saved.

The other response is any other response, whether superficially positive or negative. There will be people in hell who thought Jesus was a good prophet or the pinnacle of moral philosophy. There will be people in eternal condemnation who thought Jesus was the first created being but not God. And there will be lots of people who mentally assented to the idea that Jesus is Lord, but it never impacted their life at all.

Paul exhorts us all to “examine [ourselves], to see whether [we] are in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). How have you responded to Christ? If you’ve fallen short—and all of us do to some extent—today would be a great time to respond properly.

Questions for Discussion/Reflection: Who do you believe Christ to be? How has that belief developed during your life? How can you be sure your belief about Christ is true?

Suggestion for Prayer: If your beliefs about Christ have been deficient, repent and ask God to help you correct that. Thank God for sending Christ to provide salvation from the penalty for our sins.