WHO JESUS IS Jesus is the expressed image of the invisible God. The gospel of John says He was in the beginning with God and is God, and all things were created by Him and for His purpose. He came in the likeness of human flesh to destroy the work of the devil, winning back our authority over the earth we lost in the garden through Adam. (Hebrews 1:3; John 1:1-3, 14; Colossians 1:15-17; 1 John 3:8; Genesis 3:1-19) Mankind was created to illuminate (glorify) God’s attributes throughout the earth. (Genesis 1:26-30; Isaiah 43:7) Following Adam’s sin in the garden, each generation of mankind brought forth heighten sin and rebellion against God even to the point of rejecting Him as creator.  They created their own gods made from gold, bronze, silver and wood to worship. (Romans 1:18-32; Acts 17:22-30) From the seed of faithful Abraham, God chose a people to represent Him on the earth. A nomadic tribe of sheep herders who would become a nation while enslaved in Egypt, named Israel would be the vessel God would re-introduce Himself through to the then known world. Under the leadership of Moses, Joshua, the period of Judges, the prophet/priest Samuel, King David, the Major and Minor Prophets Israel Represented God well despite the repeated apostasy of ungodly kings and “paid for hire” priests and prophets which led to Israel being dismantled as a nation. (Genesis 15:4-6, 13, 14; 2 Chronicles 36:11-21) God, who is faithful to His word kept His promise made in the garden (Genesis 3:15); came in the person of Jesus, born of a virgin, lived our life completely without sin, took our punishment on the cross at Calvary that we might live eternally in the presence of God in exchange for eternal damnation in the lake of fire prepared for Satan and his demons. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; John 3:16-18; Isaiah 53:5, 6; Revelation 20:10; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 20:15) We inherit by faith the righteousness of Christ when we confess with our mouth that we believe Christ died on the cross for our sins, taking the punishment we deserved. He was buried and resurrected from the dead by God proving He had defeated and conquered sin and death in our life (Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8; Romans 10:9, 10). Furthermore, when we submit to baptism (immersion) in the name of Jesus we are outwardly expressing that we have been united with Jesus in His death, burial and resurrection unto a new life in Him (Romans 6:3-14; 2 Corinthians 5:17). “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” - 2 Corinthians 5:16 Once we become reconciled to God through faith in Jesus the Christ, we become ambassadors (representing Him in all the earth) for Christ, reconciling others to God through Him. What must a person do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and he/she shall be saved and shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, which is the Spirit of God to lead and guide into all truth (Acts 2:38, 39; John 16:13). Is church attendance necessary? Church attendance is very much necessary and vital to the new life in Christ. It is through the Worship Services, Church School and Mid-Week Bible Study that we are nurtured, strengthen, and encouraged to emulate Christ through fellowship with one another as we share our testimonies of struggles, concerns and victories. It is within the church that we provoke each other to maintain corporate and private prayer, give assistance to one another and reach out to the lost that they might become a part of Christ (Hebrews 10:23 – 25; Acts 2:41-47; Revelations 12:11). What constitute a church? When the Bible speaks of "church" it isn't referring to a building or place, it is speaking of two or more Christians assembled together to praise, worship, study, teach and proclaim their faith in Jesus. The "church" is not brick and mortar, it is an assembly of people who have put their hope and trust in the risen Savior. The early church met in the homes of believers; Jesus and His disciples held church outdoors in the wilderness and at the seaside; Apostle Paul held church in prison when the brethren fellowshipped with him during his incarceration, and when he was jailed with Silas (Acts 16:22-34). Whenever and wherever Christians come together in fellowship, church is in session. Cornelius, his family, friends, and Apostle Peter and the brethren that accompany him to Cornelius' house had church when the Holy Ghost descended on Cornelius and his group as Peter proclaim the gospel to them (Acts 10). If you live in the Chicago, IL/Cook County area and would like to know more about becoming a Christian OR having "church" in your area, send an email to: acaison@christmadeknowninme.org. When emailing your requests or questions, it is not necessary to give your name unless you desire to do so.