To the editor:

Recent comments concerning the nature of Jesus Christ warrant a reply. Jesus is vitally important, not only to our present life but also to our eternal destiny.

The Christian faith is based upon the person of Jesus, including his virgin birth and bodily resurrection. These are key teachings in the New Testament; those who reject them could hardly call themselves Christians. The virgin birth points to the fact that Jesus is both divine and human (God–man). The Son of God was sent into the world to become our sacrifice for sins. The resurrection of Christ proved these things to be true. Those who witnessed the risen Lord went everywhere preaching forgiveness in his name and the hope of eternal life. They were willing to die for their testimony! The resurrection of Christ gives believers hope for our own resurrection at his second coming (1 Corinthians 15).

Jesus transforms those who surrender to him. There is no place in a Christian’s life for corruption, deception and fraud. However, Jesus did not come to end all wars and poverty. He told his disciples that there would be “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6) and “the poor you will always have with you” (Matthew 26:11). Christ’s healing ministry did demonstrate his compassion — a trait that should be imitated by his disciples. However, Jesus’ chief purpose was to liberate us from sin and restore our relationship with God (Mark 10:45).

David Stewart,

Lawrence