Keep an eye out for the one and only Jesus Christ

People occasionally get the best of me and, recently, I was bested big-time by a teenager.

Another teen was holding a younger child and said, in jest, she was going to kidnap her, likely because the “kidnappee” was so cute and sweet, but I asked about the ransom.

The “kidnapper” quoted $1 million, which I thought wasn’t nearly enough. When I asked the “kidnappee” what she was worth, she didn’t answer.

So, I said, “She’s worth Jesus, after all God sent his only begotten son as the ransom for each person; therefore, even the single worst of sinners is worth Jesus’ life (John 3:16; Matthew 20:28; 10:29-31; 1 Timothy 1:15-17).”

The “kidnapper” replied, “Nobody could pay that price.”

So, I said, “Well, tell them she’s worth Jesus, but you’ll take $10 million.”

Now for the zinger: Another teenager standing nearby spoke up saying, “Well, if that’s the price, I’d just bring someone named Jesus to you.”

Realizing that’s a fairly common name around here, the “kidnapper” and I started figuring out how to narrow the requirement to mean the one and only begotten son of God.

First, we considered that son of God angle, but realized in a sense that everyone is God’s offspring by creation (Acts 17:24-28). So, she proposed specifying Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-16; John 4:21-26; Acts 7:51-53; 2:29-39).

Still, Jesus said many would falsely claim to be “the Christ” (Matthew 24:23-26; 1 John 2:18-25). So, we must be on guard to recognize the real Jesus (2 John 1:7-11). Note 2 John 1:7-11 moves from Antichrists being anyone not acknowledging Jesus as coming in the flesh to anyone simply not continuing in the complete teaching of or about Christ (John 20:31; Colossians 2:6-13; Acts 8:35-39; 20:26-27).

Not teaching all the good news about Jesus keeps us and others from doing the whole will of God (Matthew 7:13-23; Luke 6:46; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10). But when we do God’s will, we’ll be known by God, having the indwelling fullness of Christ (Galatians 3:26-28; 4:4-9; Acts 5:32; John 14:15-21; 1 Corinthians 8:3).

Consequently, it’s critical for each Christian to study the Bible for themselves, verifying what they’re being taught and hearing what the Spirit says to them through the Word to understand the whole will of God so he’ll acknowledge them as his adopted children (2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Timothy 4:15-16; Acts 17:11; Ephesians 1:5-7; 5:8-17; 1 Corinthians 2:9-16; Romans 8:9-17). Then, even Satan can’t get the best of us (Matthew 4:1-11; 2 Corinthians 2:11; 11:14-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11; Psalm 119:9-16)!

Although the basis for this article wasn’t at a church function, I’m proud all three young people knew who the real, one and only Jesus Christ was, indicating some parents still are raising their children in the training and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:1-4; Proverbs 22:16).

Are you God’s child, adopted through the process he defined and living so others also can see the one and only Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 2 Corinthians 4:5-7)?

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected].