we know who Jesus is, we must know to the degree that we can explain it to others.
Jesus was completely God and completely human.
II. What did He do?
He died for us to reconcile us.
Reconcile – To bring back into proper relationship. Reconcile – Only used three times in the New Testament, it means the restoration of a previously existing relationship. Sin puts us at odds with God, Jesus, through His work on the cross, bridged the gap between us and God, making it possible for us to have a relationship with Him.
Peace – The absence of hostility; the presence of tranquility. Peace – to bind together, not only a cessation of hostility, but the presence of tranquility, from the Old Testament concept of shalom which meant to be healthy, to be whole, the harmony enjoyed when a person's relationship with God is where and what it should be.
Not only a condition in relation to God and men, it is also a blessed experience in concrete life situations.
This peace will be with the believer - I Corinthians 1:3
It will reign in his or her heart - Colossians 3:15
It will keep his or her heart and thoughts in Christ Jesus - Philippians 4:7
It comes directly from Jesus - John 14:27
It is the same peace that Jesus enjoys. It is His peace - John 14
There is nothing that can rob us of that peace - John 16:33, Romans 8:35-39
It is an external evidence of the internal residence of the Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:22
Jesus Himself is our peace - Ephesians 2:14
III. Why did He die for us?
We were:
Alienated – This is our position, our state of being. Denotes isolation, loneliness and a deep sense of not belonging. It means to be estranged or cut off, separated. This is the natural spiritual state of man.
Hostile in mind – This defines our attitude towards God. Those who do not know Jesus, who live outside of a relationship with Him and outside of His will, are living in rebellion against Him. They are hostile in their minds, in other words they hate God. Have you ever wondered why some people seem so violently opposed to Christianity? You don't see them being that opposed to other philosophies or doctrines, but you begin to talk about God or about Jesus and they get down right hateful. Why? Because their very nature, as Ephesians 2:3 says, made them enemies of God.
Engaged in evil deeds – Alienated from God, outside of a knowledge of His will, not possessing the ability to discern spiritual things, with a nature and an attitude that is hostile to God and His truth, the natural result is that one's actions will follow ones attitude.