There are many misconceptions about the nature of Jesus Christ. These can be held by those who are antagonistic to the idea of God and His Son. They also are often held by those who would identify themselves as followers of Jesus.
We can know Jesus only by what is revealed in the Bible. We have Old Testament prophecies, the gospels, and what is revealed to us in the remainder of the New Testament. It gives us a complete picture of Him, one that often conflicts with the claims made by those ignorant of these words. Let’s examine some of the contrasting views of Jesus. What is legitimate, and what is not! As John wrote, “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him” (John 1:10).
It is wrong to think Jesus will let everyone into heaven!
Jesus truly loves all mankind. It His desire that all men be saved, and He died to accomplish our redemption. But that gift Jesus has given has conditions! “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
Some mistakenly think that Jesus brings only peace!
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He brings the reconciliation of men with God the Father, and a unity to all who accept His Lordship. But some will not aquiesce to Him. This was true of the religious leaders of His day, and it is true now as well. Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matthew 10:34).
It is wrong to think Jesus hopes for obedience, but does not require it of us
This is clear from Matthew 7:21, quoted in the first point. The truth of it is bolstered in many different places. It must be accepted that you can’t live your own life, doing what you want, without regard to Jesus’ wishes. He is our Lord. This means He has all authority (cf. Matthew 28:18). We must obey Him. As Jesus asked, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).
It is foolish to think Jesus accepts MY view of what’s moral and what’s not!
The scripture clearly establishes what is holy, and what is not. Things such as sexual immorality, deceit, lasciviousness, hatred, selfishness, pride, drunkenness. These are all unacceptable to those who would follow Jesus as the Lord. He requires holiness to be a characteristic of His followers, and in His revelation to us (cf. Hebrews 2:1-4), He reveals what is that holiness. “Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness” (Luke 11:35).
It is a fallacy to think Jesus does not require true repentance to obtain eternal redemption.
Men have a tendency to trust in Jesus’ grace without accepting the conditional nature of His acceptance. It is naïve to think that a life of an unrepentant man will bring anything other than eternal condemnation. Jesus Himself made this very clear, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). As Paul asked and answered, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1-2).
It is foolishness to think that Jesus’ message was exclusively a message of Love
This is the preeminent thought in scripture. We love Him and His Father because of the love They first showed to us! “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us…” (1 John 3:16). The love of God and His Son is unconditional, but Jesus spoke just as often about God’s justice and the end of those who do not obey. “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:46). This is not a lack of love on Jesus’ part, it is what is required for the justice and righteousness of God!
The view that Jesus is solely positive in His preaching is an invention of the ignorant.
Jesus always dealt with sin. Sometimes with compassion, when it was appropriate, and sometimes with scathing words. “But He answered and said, ‘Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch’” (Matthew 15:13-14).
It follows then that those who think Jesus to be too nice to call someone wicked are mistaken!
He actually said just that often in His ministry. Consider this example, “Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). See also Matthew 23:33; John 9:41; Matthew 23:27. Even when being compassionate, he pointed out the guilt of sin (cf. John 8:11).
Another false view is that Jesus views us all as God’s children. He does not!
He said the following to those who opposed His work, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do” (John 8:44). These mistaken views of Jesus that are so prevalent lead to a world that ignores Who and what He is! We simply can’t allow ourselves to mold Jesus into our own desired image. Doing so is tantamount to having no faith in Him at all! Jesus is who He is, not what some want Him to be! Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
