Will Davis Jr. - 10 Things Jesus Never Said: And Why You Should Stop Believing Them

2011 by Will Davis Jr.

Published by Revell

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.revellbooks.com

E-book edition created 2011

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

ISBN 978-1-4412-3259-5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations labeled NASB are from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Scripture quotations labeled NLT are from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., by Tyndale House Foundation, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Published in association with the literary agency of WordServe Literary Group, Ltd., 10152 S. Knoll Circle, Highlands Ranch, CO 80130.

To protect the privacy of those who have shared their stories with the author, some details and names have been changed. Any similarity to individuals the reader may know is coincidental.

This will be a tool I will put in the hands of one person after another. Will clearly and biblically addresses the questions that tend to haunt so many, and in so doing infuses us with hope, reminds us of our Fathers grace, and causes us to smile.

Jeff Young , pastor of spiritual development,
Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano, Texas

Will Davis has nailed it. He has identified the most common lies that keep people from experiencing true freedom in Christ and has replaced them with the truth. I was in shock when I saw that some of those lies had crept into my own mind. Thank you, Will, for putting us all back on the solid ground of grace-filled truth!

Tim Liston , senior pastor, New Hope Church,
Manvel, Texas

We found ourselves smiling with relief as we read the pages of 10 Things Jesus Never Said . With stunning simplicity, Will Davis diffuses debilitating, unfounded guilt, inviting us to enjoy God with newfound trust and empowering truth.

Bob and Audrey Meisner , television hosts, Its a New Day ;
bestselling authors, Marriage Under Cover

Will Davis has a special ability to share incredibly profound insights in a way that makes you believe hes walking beside you on a journey and knows exactly how you feel. There is not an honest person alive who hasnt struggled with the mistruths outlined in this book. The freedom you will find as you read may change your life forever!

Ryan Rush , senior pastor, Bannockburn Baptist Church,
Austin, Texas

This is Will Davis Jr.s best book yet. You are about to be humbled, dismantled, and brought face-to-face with the misbeliefs that have stood between you and the most beautiful love that has ever been known. Be ready to fall on your face and into his arms and feel the divine lightness of his cross on your shoulders. Know this love. Nothing else matters.

Nancy Turner , host, This Is the Day , Moody Radio

To my friend Dave Busby,
who now lives in heaven.

He was the best example
of grace in action Ive ever known.

Learn more about Dave at davebusby.com.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Thanks to...

Susie Davisfor repeatedly showing me unmerited grace.

Will, Emily, and Sara Davisfor understanding what matters.

Greg Johnsonfor helping to make this book happen.

Vicki Crumpton, Deonne Beron, Janelle Mahlmann, Debbie Deacon, Claudia Marsh, Karen Steele, Dwight Baker, and the amazing team at Baker and Revellits a pleasure to be partnering with you.

The overseers, executive team, board of directors, and staff of Austin Christian Fellowshipfor learning about grace with me and for encouraging me to write.

Joni Kendrickfor putting up with me, protecting me, rebuking me, and making me laugh.

Cordel and Christy Robinsonfor defying the odds.

Peter Larkamfor modeling biblical forgiveness.

Audrey and Bob Meisnerfor sharing your story and helping heal countless broken marriages.

Randy and Denise PhillipsI love you both. Randy, are you ready to get saved?

Terri Crowfor another round of impeccable proofreading. Youre the best.

Introduction

What would happen if you were invited to a face-to-face meeting with Jesus? Suppose it was just you and Jesus for an hour, sitting directly across from each other, so close your knees were almost touching. What do you think he would say? Would you be uncomfortable? Would you look forward to that meeting? Would you eagerly jump at the chance to spend an hour with the incarnate God? Or would you dread it? What would you do if you were told to spend an hour alone with Jesus?

For many, spending any time alone with Jesus sounds absolutely wonderful. They know that someday they will be in his presence, and they eagerly look forward to their unbroken fellowship with him. But for many others, unfortunately, such an invitation doesnt sound too inviting. Its not that they dont love Jesus and long to finally and fully be in his presence; its just that many of themor I should say us live with a tremendous sense of guilt in their respective Christian walks. They know they dont measure up to Gods high and holy standards. They believe they are constantly letting Jesus down, embarrassing him, and even causing him pain. If you felt like that about someonea boss, a parent, a spouse, or a friendwould you look forward to spending time with him or her? Probably not.

So what do you think Jesus would say to you? How would the conversation start? Ive asked that question to adults and teenagers all over the country. The answers are typically something like these:

Im so disappointed in you.

What were you thinking?

You are a serious letdown.

You have no idea the damage youve done to my reputation.

If you were really a Christian, you wouldnt act like you do.

If you really loved me, youd try harder.

Were done.

And one of my personal favorites: Im really getting tired of forgiving the same old sin.

For a group of people supposedly saved by grace, loved unconditionally, and secure in our relationship with Christ, we certainly carry a lot of guilt and baggage in our relationship with God. Our hearts and minds are filled with tapes that play over and over, and the messages arent very inspiring. You dont measure up. Youre not doing enough. I cant believe you call yourself a Christian.

The problem is that many of the things we believe Jesus would say to us are actually things he never said and never would say. Theyre patently unbiblical and dont represent the heart of Christ. As Holy Spiritsealed followers of Jesus, we must learn to push back against the mental messages that tell us how fed up with us God is. We must bring those rogue thoughts under the authority of our loving Lord Jesus. We need to rethink our theology and let Gods revealed truth direct our beliefs about him, not some fictitious statement that doesnt even come close to accurately representing how Jesus feels about us. In short, we need to reject the things Jesus didnt say and start believing the things he did.