On March 18 2009 at 13:00 hours, CCN Citrus Chapter held a special meeting entitled "Who is Jesus? Liar, Legend, Lunatic, or Lord?" Students from the college were invited to watch the documentary film entitled "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel, and were also offered free pizza, cookies, and soft drinks.
A few members from the Citrus College Sexploration club joined the meeting including the leader who sparked a thought provoking question: "What is Salvation?"
CCN leader Kevin Nunez replied, "Salvation comes from God, but I first have to give you the bad news..." Both leaders exchanged dialog as Kevin explained how she violated the Ten Commandments in which she will give an account of on the Day of Judgment. He further explained that if anyone is found guilty of breaking God's commandments on judgment day, then they will be sentenced to spend an eternity in the lake of fire.
"I've explained that we need a substitute and that while we were yet sinners, Christ died on the cross. Jesus said 'I am the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me' " Kevin stated.
What is salvation? It's amazing how many modern churches have drifted away from the core of the Christian faith. It pulled the curtain on obtaining grace, mercy, and forgiveness of sins and placed the spotlight of self-satisfaction, life enhancement, and monetary success in which to many is the modern day salvation. Numerous church organizations declare that Jesus died so we are able to be saved from sin, hell, and to obtain peace with God, however the vast majority of sermons are focused to eat, drink, and be merry. "How shall we escape if we neglect so
great a
salvation..."( Hebrews 2:3)
Here are two words we perhaps haven't seen together: Secular Churches.
If one were to examine the definition of the word "secular" they would discover that it means
sec⋅u⋅lar
of or pertaining to worldly things or to things that are not regarded as religious, spiritual, or sacred; temporal: secular interests.
What is striking how one of the aspects of being secular is how it is temporal. The mere fact that the bible states that "neither is there salvation in any other" apart from Christ, then ideologies such as Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and other religions that rejects Christ as the only way to God should be deemed "secular" since those practices are temporal. We as Christians should not strive for vain things of the world but for God who is eternal "...for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18) Oh how we should be like the apostle Paul who said "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21)CCN treasurer Austin Sefton commented,"Salvation is all through the work of Jesus Christ. It is not through the work of man and man cannot do anything to gain his way into heaven or to be saved. We are saved by grace through faith and it is not of ourselves. It is a gift of God by repenting and surrendering your whole life to Jesus Christ. That is salvation."
Evangelist and CCN member Rudy Betancourt had this to say, "Salvation is to be changed and saved from your sinful nature... to be freed from being controlled by your flesh, to have love in your life, to be freed from hate, bitterness, drugs, lying, stealing, and to know the living God."
"Who is Jesus?" It's interesting how it's stated "Who is Jesus" and not "Who was Jesus?" We could say "Who was Muhammad?" or "Who was Joseph Smith?" since they were temporal. We cannot however say "Who was Jesus" since He is eternal.
"I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen."- Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:18)
-STB
