Pastor's Corner

I’ve heard it several times from people who claim belief in God and faith in Christ: “It’s all about me and Jesus.” In a manner of speaking, confessing that “it’s all about me and Jesus” is true. Jesus came to earth, shed his blood on the cross, and died for you. He died so that you might have life. So, in a sense, it is all about you and Jesus, because Jesus is, was, and always will be for you.

But, there are at least two problems with confessing that “it’s all about me and Jesus.” First, while Jesus has come to give himself for you, he’s also come to take away the sins of the entire world (John 1:29). So, to be clear, it isn’t all about you. Yes, Jesus died for you, but he also died for everyone else. When you believe in him, you are brought into a fellowship, the “body of Christ.” It’s within this community that you continue to receive the gifts that Christ has promised to give.The early Christians embodied this in a beautiful way. They had everything in common and supported one another (Acts 4:32). Even more, they dedicated themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship (Acts 2:42). Claiming that “it’s all about me and Jesus” in order to simply avoid coming together on a Sunday morning (or whenever else) because your faith is no one else’s business simply isn’t biblical, nor is it healthy. In fact, “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus [God’s] Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7 ESV). If you refuse fellowship with other believers, you remain in the darkness outside the body of Christ.

The other problem is more than just one of perspective and fellowship. It’s a matter of everything. While the Gospel is the good news of the forgiveness of sins in Christ, it’s also about the restoration of all things. Everything. All creation. Paul wrote, “The creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Romans 8:21 ESV). Jesus’ resurrection from the dead isn’t only a moment in history, it’s the first moment in many to come. When Jesus returns, he will call out to us and raise us from the dead, giving us new (real and perfect!) bodies. Even more, he will restore and renew all of creation, so that everything becomes as it is meant to be, free from corruption and death, full of light and life.

So no, it’s not “all about me and Jesus.” It’s about Jesus and his Church. It’s about Jesus and creation. Really, it’s all about Jesus – who he is, what he’s done, what he’s doing and what he has promised to do when he returns. Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia!