Many things have been said about Yeshua over the past two millennia. Some say he was a great teacher, many say he was a heretic, and others believe he was just a well-meaning man. The question is, when you lay aside any personal bias and look at the facts, who do you say he was? Because if Yeshua actually was Messiah, you stand at the crossroads of the most important decision you will ever make.
Take a look at what the Scriptures say about that decision:
How God Sees You
Isaiah 64:6 “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.”
(That’s actually a polite translation—the original Hebrew says “polluted menstrual garment”.)
It’s pretty common in our society to think we can win our ticket to heaven by being good people who do good things for others. The Scriptures make it clear that God is not impressed by our efforts. We need perfection to be able to be with the Father and even the best of us are not that righteous.
Psalm 14:1-3 “There is no one who does good, not even one.”
Sin is literally defined as missing the mark that God has set for us, God’s standard. While giving above average amounts of money to charity or volunteering our time is admirable, it requires much more to hit God’s mark.
What Missing God’s Standard Means
Isaiah 59:1-2 “Your iniquities have separated you from your God.”
Because we all miss the mark we are separated from God. He no longer acts on our behalf and there is no place for us in heaven with Him.
Ezekiel 18:20 “The soul who sins shall die.”
We live in a society that accepts the practice of explaining away our actions, often by comparing ourselves with someone worse. God does not condone this action. The one missing God’s mark is the one who will get the consequences.
The Solution God Provided
Leviticus 17:11 “It is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”
Sin comes at a high cost—everything. Because blood is the very essence of life, it is the only thing that can be used to pay for our shortcomings.
Isaiah 53:1-12 “He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him.”
The Scriptures reveal God’s stunning solution. Instead of being a savior from a political or national issue limited to a specific period in history, the Messiah will fulfill a much more profound role: to be the perfect life that pays the penalty for the sins of every person by sacrificing his own life, ensuring their reconciliation with God.
It’s Not Automatic
Genesis 15:6 “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
Abraham was a noble and honorable man, but his actions are not what pleased God. Instead it was his life-altering belief in God that was credited to him as righteousness.
Habakkuk 2:4 “The righteous shall live by his faith”
When we become convinced in our own minds that the moral standards we live by are enough and that we do not need a God, we become proud and foolish. Habakkuk makes it clear that the righteous live by humble faith in God and what he has done for those who choose him.
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So who do you say Yeshua is? Was he Messiah, God’s masterful solution to your problem? Take time to examine these Scriptures carefully for yourself. After you have learned about the Savior from the Jewish Scriptures or Old Testament, we suggest starting to learn about Yeshua and his life with the Book of John in the New Testament. (Please note: in most New Testament translations his name is translated “Jesus.”)
Fellowship with a community of believers is incredibly important in pursuing a relationship with Yeshua as well. We encourage you to find a gathering of people who can study the Scriptures with you as you continue to learn about Yeshua and your relationship with him.