Do you know Jesus? He died on a cross to forgive every bad thing you’ve done (or ever will do) so that you can know God and live with Him forever in heaven.
Is there anything more to this? Well, yes, there are a few other details, but this is all you need to know. There is more to the story that merely confirms that this is true; there is more to keep theologians busy for the rest of their lives, but this is all you really need to know. Jesus died on a cross to forgive every bad thing you’ve done (or ever will do) so that you can know God and live with Him forever in heaven.
Is God going to fix everything?
Are all your problems going to go away?
Will you have a better life?
Will all your dreams come true?
Will you get rich?
Will you be healthy?
Will nothing bad ever happen to you?
No, not necessarily. Nothing beyond this is a guarantee. But this is definitely a guarantee: Jesus died on a cross to forgive every bad thing you’ve done (or ever will do) so that you can know God and live with Him forever in heaven.
Lots of people try to complicate this and there are disagreements among those who believe it about how to carry on (this is unfortunate), but this is the essence of it. It doesn’t really matter what else you believe, as long as you believe this. This is really all you need to know, and all you need to tell the world about (because once you know it, you’re going to want to tell everybody). Jesus died on a cross to forgive every bad thing you’ve done (or ever will do) so that you can know God and live with Him forever in heaven.
Honestly, it’s enough to start a revolution.
John Fischer The Catch 
Well, there is that whole “rising from the dead” part that’s pretty important also!
This reminds me of your recent “conflict” messages – why bother with church conflict when we are all family together from this one truth? We are still the same Jesus-saved God-family whether we believe in speaking in tongues or post-tribulation rapture or whatever; just the same as your mother is still your mother even if you are a Democrat and she’s a Republican (and you still both believe in Democracy over dictatorship). Different versions of essentially the same beliefs doesn’t change who your family is, so why have conflict about it?
Did the “customers like you…” ending line today come with the email template? It doesn’t seem to match the Catch. 🙂
Thank you and God bless!
Well, you might add that God raised Him from the dead. 🙂
For evangelism to work, it has to be us telling our story – or, His story in our lives. It has to be personal. Which is why I like John Newton’s take: “Although my memory’s fading, I remember two things very clearly: I’m a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.”
Uh, John, are you sure that’s really what you meant to say? Nothing else matters? I’m pretty sure God didn’t save us just for the afterlife. He also saved us from a thousand things in this life, as well. Something about becoming “a new creation.” Something about transformation. And something (you mentioned it, yourself) about a revolution. Jesus has eternal worth, but it starts with reclaiming lives now, so that we contribute less to the chaos and more to shalom, even in this life. But I know you know this. Why try to reduce it to a sound bite, when a sound bite will never do?
hey John, my plan was to come here, pick on you a bit to put a smile on your face by saying things like…. could you stop with all the fanciness and just get to the point?? or perhaps…. John, can’t you just make it simple?? but after i read some of the above comments perhaps my plan to pick on you a bit would be better served spreading some ”pick on-ness” ( truly in love ) other places. i believe i can do that by reposting some of your very words.
it seems that maybe you could have mentioned other things. but, oh wait….
“Is there anything more to this? Well, yes, there are a few other details, but this is all you need to know.”
well, ok. but still. would a little clarification hurt?? hmmmm….
“there is more to keep theologians busy for the rest of their lives,”
let’s not make it too simple. we don’t want to make it too easy on people looking for a little peace do we??
“Lots of people try to complicate this and there are disagreements among those who believe it about how to carry on (this is unfortunate)”
alright. so that cute and clever cliche’, What Would Jesus Do?? let’s put that into action. i wonder if He would be down with this simpleness??
Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”
John 6:29 New Living Translation (NLT)
well it seems that the above excerpt from that John’s writing would agree with the last excerpt i will post from our friend John’s writing here….
“This is really all you need to know.”
Dang it John!! and i really wanted to pick on you a bit!! : )
love you brother. keep up the great work. ( and keep it simple for me. in addition to my gift of child-like faith, i also have a child-like brain and heart. ok, at 6’6” and around 230lbs, the body may not be too child-like!! : ) )
Wanted to add a great big Amen to this: “Jesus died on a cross to forgive every bad thing you’ve done (or ever will do) so that you can know God and live with Him forever in heaven.”
You are correct, of course, that Jesus died so we could live – really LIVE! – meaning in relationship with our Father. And recognizing his death will change the way we live.
But..
We live in a culture that already recognizes, to some faint degree, that Jesus died and rose from the dead. Easter is celebrated, and so is Christmas. We celebrate his birth and his death.
So…
As for me, I want to know HOW HE LIVED. Not merely what he taught, or how he answered questions. How he included the unincluded, or was more truly moral than the religious leaders, these begin to scratch the surface of this amazing person. I want to know what is between the bookends.
And…
You are correct, John, because you seek Him with your whole heart. His death validates all that He did, and WHO HE WAS (excuse me, who he is). That is, his death changes the way we look at how he lived.
Keep preaching the good news, brother, and the rest of us will try to restrain our nit-picking.
It’s true. It isn’t about us.
“Do you know Jesus? He died on a cross to forgive every bad thing you’ve done (or ever will do) so that you can know God and live with Him forever in heaven.”
That’s the good news!
And it is true even if we don’t believe it. Even if we don’t have the strength to believe it.
Because of this truth I assume everyone I meet is on the same journey I am on. I will not decide who this truth does not include because if it is truly the good news it includes everyone.
Only God can quicken this truth to a heart.
I am responsible love others, give respect, and if I am lucky I might be there when someone understands those simple words John wrote.
I might get to share those words but only the spirit brings understanding.
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