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Changed Lives Through Christ
They Knew They Had Been With Jesus
Introduction
The touch of Jesus changed the lives of those who accepted the saving grace he offered. The Bible is filled with the stories of people
whose lives He touched and the great boldness they demonstrated after their encounter with Jesus. From their character changes we see evidence of their
encounter with Christ; we see the joy of Salvation they displayed and the boldness with which they preached the Gospel. As we read we see lives restored and
physical bodies made whole from the touch of the Son of God. The changes we see in the lives of those who accepted Jesus went far beyond superficial reaction
as a result of the encounter. We see the hearts, souls, minds and in some cases even the physical bodies of those who encountered Jesus changed forever. With
confidence in the salvation provided by the blood of Christ and their eyes fixed on eternity they went boldly forward preaching the Gospel and spreading the
good news. So changed were their lives that despite suffering a martyrs death and torture at the hands of those who did not believe, they still persisted in
their spread of the Gospel.
Confidence in Jesus
As we look back through time we see that history is full of martyrs. Countless men and women who have died for their beliefs. For that
reason, it is not significant to point out that the first disciples were willing to suffer and die for their faith. But it is significant that while many
will die for what they believe to be the truth, few if any will die for what they know to be a lie. That simple fact is important because the disciples of
Christ did not die for deeply held beliefs about which they could have been honestly mistaken. They did not die for a new "religion" invented through
cleverly devised fables or falsehoods. Peter tells us in 2nd Peter 1:16, "For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power
and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty." They did not die for a "new way" of thinking; they died for what they saw, for
their witness of Jesus...
These men died for their claims to have seen Jesus alive and well after His resurrection. They died for their claim that Jesus Christ had
not only died for their sins and the sins of all men; but that He had risen bodily from the dead to show that He was like no other spiritual leader who had
ever lived. They suffered for their witness of Christ for their witness of His death and resurrection. We need to remember that their claims were made while
the events themselves were unfolding, while everyone who could refute or argue their claims were still alive. Around AD 55, the apostle Paul wrote that the
resurrected Christ had been seen by Peter, the 12 apostles, more than 500 people (many of whom were still alive at the time of his writing), James, and
himself (1 Corinthians 15:5-8). By making such a public statement, he gave critics a chance to check out his claims for themselves. In addition, the New
Testament begins its history of the followers of Christ by saying that Jesus "presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being
seen by [the apostles] during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3).
Peter's Boldness in Christ
Let's step into the book of Acts, chapter four and take a look at Peter as we let the Bible speak for it's self. Peter was one of Jesus'
disciples and one of His apostles who earlier in the Gospels before Jesus' death and resurrection denied three times that he knew the Lord when he felt
threatened. Now take a look at his boldness after witnessing the resurrected Christ. Peter was so adamant about what he knew to be the truth that he died a
martyr's death crucified upside down on a wooden Cross. But let's read how Peter answered the leaders of his nation, when questioned about healing a lame man
in the name of Jesus. "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a
good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole." "This is the stone which was rejected
by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by
which we must be saved." Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they
realized that they had been with Jesus.
"And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they
[the other followers] heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord. And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was
shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all". We see that Peter's boldness came from his encounter with the risen Christ. Peter's life
was changed forever from his encounter with Jesus.
James Follows His Brother
James was the brother of Jesus, a well respected and orthodox Jew who followed all of the Mosaic laws and customs of his people. The same
James, who did not believe in Jesus prior to His death and resurrection. It was this very same James after an encounter with the risen Christ who wrote in
his letter to believers, "Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds". What James is referring to here is not that people are
saved and come to God by the deeds or works that they do; but rather as a result of salvation, as a result of the saving grace of God applied through His Son
Jesus Christ, that the believer can't help but to have a changed life after their encounter with Jesus.
Paul's Boldness in Christ
Let's look at the apostle Paul. He was born Saul of Tarsus, a Jew, brought up as a Pharisee. See a Pharisee is what we would consider
today as a lawyer, they memorized and lived the Jewish laws and customs, and they were considered religious leaders, people who were zealous for the Jewish
faith and nationalistic in their loyalties and pride. Paul writes of himself, "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at
the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today". Gamaliel was a well known and
respected conservative Rabbi and teacher in Israel and Paul was one of his followers. Paul was taught by the great master himself. As Paul says of himself
regarding his Jewish training and upbringing, "If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh [law], I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the
stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the
righteousness which is in the law, blameless." Paul had the best Jewish upbringing, the best Jewish training and a great job. See Paul's job was to go after
Christians, people who believed in Jesus and take away their belongings, their freedom and their lives.
We should also remember Paul was born a Roman citizen! This was very unique in a time when most people living in the Roman world were either slaves or
foreigners. If they wanted freedom or citizenship they had to purchase it at a great price. Citizenship afforded Paul advantages and freedoms most people
were not accustom to, such as the right to a fair trial, the right to own and posses land. See non-citizens could be arrested and beaten without any right to
a trial whatsoever, so in Paul's case he had every thing to gain from his position and a lot to loose by following Jesus. Yet Paul would later write to the
Philippian church, "But what things were gains to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yes indeed I count all things loss for the excellence of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ"
Paul's Conversion
Why the change in Paul's life? Why by our worldly standards throw everything away? He had it all, a great upbringing, a great job, lots of
respect and power. So what was that something that made him change all of that in an instant, give it all up without a thought or a care, and at the same
time be joyful about it? That something was an encounter with Jesus, an encounter that took his focus off of the temporary things of this world and placed it
back on the things of eternity. After his encounter with Jesus, Paul realized that his actions may help him now in this world; but from the perspective of
eternity and life ever lasting they were a waste of time. Let's stop and see what the Bible tells us of Paul's encounter with the risen Jesus. "Then Saul,
still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so
that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a
light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" And he said, "Who
are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads." So he, trembling and astonished,
said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." And the men who
journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But
they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus."
Paul's life was so changed after his encounter with the risen Christ that others scarcely believed what they were seeing and what they were hearing. Remember
Paul was a Pharisee and man trained in the Scripture a man who lived and breathed hatred for the Christian faith. We read in chapter nine of the book of Acts
the reactions to those who witnessed his conversion. "Then all who heard were amazed, and said, "Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name
in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?" But Saul increased all the more in strength, and
confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving [from the scripture] that this Jesus is the Christ." With eternity in mind Paul saw the prize in front of
him, that prize was his salvation and eternity in the presence of God and His Son Jesus Christ. Paul would later equate the following of Jesus like running a
race, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. Therefore I run thus: not
with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I
myself should become disqualified." "...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that
is set before us."
What About Your Encounter with Jesus
As we read on through the New Testament we can see the numerous lives changed by an encounter with Jesus. We see Zacchaeus, a publican and
chief tax collector one of the most despised positions in Judaism who became Matthew the Apostle. We see Mary Magdalene who changed her life completely and
became a follower of Jesus. We see the resurrection of Lazarus and we see physical bodies made whole again by the touch of Jesus; but most of all we see
Salvation. We see the relationship between us and a Holy God that was once destroyed by sin now restored by Jesus. As we look deeper we see the ultimate
ransom Jesus paid for us at the Cross. There was a price required for our sin and that price was paid once and for all by Jesus.
Because of our nature, sinful man is separated from God. Humankind is unable to approach God because of our fallen state. Remember the Old Testament story of
Moses who wanted to see God's Glory, His Holiness. God responded to Moses' request by placing him in a cleft in the side of a mountain, this was after he had
explained to Moses that his physical sinful body could not see God's glory and live. So God placed Moses in the cleft of the rocks, held His hand over until
He had passed by. Moses was then able to see the after glow as it were; the remnant of holiness after God had passed on by. This alone was enough to change
the appearance of Moses' face, so much so that Moses had to wear a veil because the people could not look at the brightness of his face as a result of the
encounter.
Man by his very nature is separated from God by sin, and because of this we are unable to approach God directly by our own merit or on our own terms. Sinful
man can not make his own way, or create his own terms. Because of our sin man can't set his own way "With the man upstairs". God has provided a way that way
is Jesus. Because of our sin God must provide a way, a means to cleanse us so that we can make our approach to a holy God. That approach is what we call
Salvation. It is the means of restoring our relationship with God and is provided to us through the sacrifice that Jesus made for us at the Cross. Only
Jesus, God in the flesh, could provide the perfect sacrifice necessary to cleanse us of our sins. Without Jesus there would be no salvation, a sinful man can
not offer any sacrifice worthy enough to remove sin. How can a sinful man offer anything that is not a product of our already sinful state?
The saving work of Jesus at the Cross of Calvary is the central pillar of God's redemptive plan. God first showed us the need for salvation, and then He
showed us the way to salvation through His son Jesus Christ. We see throughout the Old Testament, stories that speak of Gods deliverance. As we read we see
the plots play out again and again the story of man's ongoing struggle with his sin and the sin of others. This culminates in the New Testament with God's
grace and His gift of salvation through Jesus and His death at the Cross, to pay for the sins of all humankind. Through the death of Jesus and His
resurrection we see the triumph of salvation and the offer of eternal life through accepting the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf.
Looking at your own life, knowing what's in you heart, will others look at your life and say "I can tell you have been with Jesus?"
Notes:
1. RBC Ministries, "Ten Reasons to Believe in Jesus".
2. MKJV Acts 4:8-13, 4:23, 4:31, 4:33, 9:1-6.
3. MKJV Romans 3:23, 5:8-10, 6:23.
4. MKJV James 2:18.
5. MKJV 2nd Peter 1:16.
6. MKJV Acts 22:3.
7. MKJV Philippians 3:4-8.
8. MKJV 1st Corinthians 9:24, 26.
9. MKJV Hebrews 12:1
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