Who is Jesus Christ?

Jesus is God made flesh.

Who is Jesus?

Jesus Christ is the most influential person who ever lived, but He's also the most controversial. He claimed to be God in human form—not just a good teacher or moral example, but literally God who came to earth. He said things like "I am the way, the truth, and the life" and "Before Abraham was, I am." These weren't the words of a humble religious leader; they were the claims of someone who believed He was divine.

The historical evidence shows that Jesus really lived, died by crucifixion, and that His followers genuinely believed they saw Him alive again after His death. Even skeptical historians agree on these basic facts. But the question that matters most isn't whether Jesus existed—it's whether His claims about Himself are true.

What did Jesus claim?

Here's the thing about Jesus: He doesn't give you the option to just think He was a nice guy. C.S. Lewis put it well when he said that someone who claimed what Jesus claimed was either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord. There's no middle ground where He's just a good moral teacher, because good moral teachers don't claim to be God.

If Jesus was lying about who He was, then He's not worth following. If He was deluded, then He's not worth following. But if He was telling the truth—if He really is God who became human—then that changes everything. It means His death wasn't just a tragedy; it was the solution to humanity's biggest problem. It means His promises about forgiveness, eternal life, and a relationship with God are real.

That's why Jesus demands a response.
You can't stay neutral forever.

The gospel is the hope for all people.

What is the gospel?

The gospel isn't just a religious concept—it's the best news you could ever hear. Here's the story: God created us for a relationship with Him, but we've all messed that up through our selfishness, pride, and rebellion (what the Bible calls sin). This separation from God isn't just a problem for this life; it's an eternal problem.

But God didn't leave us hopeless. He sent Jesus to live the perfect life we couldn't live and to die the death we deserved to die. When Jesus rose from the dead, He proved that death had been defeated and that His sacrifice was acceptable to God. Now, everyone who trusts in Jesus receives forgiveness, a restored relationship with God, and eternal life.

The gospel is about what God has done for you, not what you need to do for God. It's the difference between religion (which says "do") and Christianity (which says "done"). Jesus did everything necessary for your salvation.

How should I respond?

Responding to the gospel isn't about getting your life together first or trying to be good enough for God. It's about admitting that you can't be good enough and that you need what Jesus has done for you. Here's a simple way to think about it:

Admit that you've fallen short of God's standard and need forgiveness. We've all sinned and broken our relationship with God through our selfishness, pride, and wrong choices.

Believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose again. Trust that His death on the cross paid the penalty for your sin and that His resurrection proves He has power over death and can give you eternal life.

Commit your life to following Jesus as your Savior and Lord. This means trusting Him not just for forgiveness, but surrendering your life to His direction and leadership.

What should I pray?

You can respond right now by praying something like: "God, I admit that I've sinned and need forgiveness. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose again. I commit my life to following Him as my Savior and Lord."

It really is that simple—not because the gospel is cheap, but because Jesus paid the full price. When you trust in Him, God sees you as completely forgiven and accepted, not because of anything you've done, but because of what Jesus has done.

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Colossians 1:15-23

Faith without action is dead.

Once you've trusted Jesus as your Savior, you're beginning a lifelong journey of following Him. The Bible tells us that "faith without works is dead" (James 2:26), which means that genuine faith naturally produces action. Your next steps aren't about earning God's love—you already have that through Jesus—but they're the natural overflow of a heart that's been changed by the gospel.

These steps don't make you more saved, but they're evidence that your faith is alive and growing. Remember, becoming a Christian isn't about having it all figured out—it's about trusting Jesus and letting that faith show itself through how you live. We're here to help you along the way.

What are my next steps?

Let Someone Know

Share your decision with a friend, family member, or someone at Orchard Hill. Going public with your faith is one of the first ways your new life in Christ shows itself. It helps make your faith real and gives you support for the journey ahead.

Get Baptized

Baptism is your way of publicly declaring your faith in Jesus. It's not what saves you, but it's an important step of obedience that demonstrates the reality of your faith and shows you're serious about following Him.

Start Growing

Begin reading the Bible (the book of John is a great place to start), praying regularly, and connecting with other believers. A living faith seeks to know God better through His Word and prayer. Growth happens in community, so don't try to do this alone.

Find your Place

Get connected at Orchard Hill through a group, serving opportunity, or regular attendance at weekend services. When faith is real, it naturally wants to be part of God's family and contribute to His mission in the world.

But, I still have questions…

We get it—deciding to follow Jesus is the biggest decision you'll ever make, and it's completely normal to have questions. Maybe you're wrestling with doubts about Christianity, wondering how faith fits with science, or simply want to understand more about what it means to follow Jesus. Whatever your questions are, we'd love to talk with you.

Our pastoral team is here to have honest, no-pressure conversations about faith, life, and the claims of Jesus Christ. We won't judge your questions or try to rush you into a decision. Instead, we want to provide a safe space where you can explore, ask hard questions, and discover truth at your own pace.

Whether you're curious about Christianity for the first time, coming back to faith after some time away, or ready to take the next step but want to talk it through first, we're here for you. You don't have to have it all figured out before we meet—that's exactly why these conversations exist.

Ready to talk? Reach out to us through our contact form below, stop by the Connect Center after a weekend service, or give us a call. We'd be honored to be part of your journey of discovering who Jesus is and what He means for your life.