Knowing Jesus Deeper Series

Knowing Jesus Deeper

INTRODUCTION:

Christianity claims that salvation can only be found in Christ Jesus. The Apostle Peter declared in the hearing of the Jews saying, “And there is no salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4: 12). This is the biblical testimony about salvation-through-Christ-alone!

This claim may sound extreme, radical, and narrow-minded. We must therefore be compelled to examine the truthfulness of this claim with honesty and without prejudice whether you are a believer of Jesus or antagonistic to His teachings. Who is He according to the testimony of the Bible, which consists, the Testimony of God the Father, the Prophecies of the Prophets, the names and titles given to Him, the Testimony of Jesus about Himself, and the Testimony of the Apostles? Through these testimonies, we who are believers of the Bible will be able to understand the truthfulness of the claim about salvation through faith in Christ alone.

A. THE TESTIMONY OF GOD THE FATHER ABOUT CHRIST:

1. What does the Heavenly Father testify about Jesus? In two occasions, God the Father testified that Jesus is His beloved Son.

Ø During the baptism of Jesus (Matt. 3:16-17)

Ø During the Transfiguration of Jesus (Luke 9:33-35)

2. The Father had testified that Jesus is His Son. This Divine Son-ship is not by sexual union or because of physical relationship between a woman and a man. He was conceived in Mary by the Power of the Holy Spirit of God. He alone was born without a human father. This is beyond our minds to comprehend.

3. To make Him distinct from angels, who are called sons of God in the Old Testament or from righteous persons who were called children of God, Jesus was called the Only Begotten Son of God. The Apostles and Bible writers used that title often for Him.

4. What does it imply? It implies only one thing: His Deity. Jesus is divine. With His humanity is His divinity. He alone has this dual personality or nature. He is both, as the Bible writers called Him, “the Son of Man” and “the Son of God”. Look at the reaction of the Jews towards Jesus. They wanted to kill Him for the reason that He claimed equality with God by calling Himself the Son of God. (Jn.5: 18).

5. Because of this unique nature, Jesus alone qualifies to become the Mediator between God and man. He’s the only bridge that can bring reconciliation between a sinner and a Holy God.

B. THE TESTIMONY OF THE PROPHETS:

1. The Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah who will give deliverance to Israel were all fitly fulfilled in the Birth, Public Ministry, Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. So what does it imply? This implies that Jesus is indeed the fulfillment of the Old Testament Prophecies. He is the Christ, the anointed One.

2. The word Messiah means “the anointed deliverer”. The Greek word used here is “Christos” which carries the same meaning. From this we get the word “Christ.” Therefore when we say “Jesus Christ” it means, Jesus the Deliverer, the Savior!

3. Example of fulfilled prophecies:

Ø The place of His birth was prophesied by Micah.

Ø The killing of babies was prophesied by Jeremiah.

Ø His virgin birth was prophesied by Isaiah.

Ø His sufferings and agony at the cross and the events surrounding His crucifixion were prophesied in the Psalms and the writings of the Prophets.

4. These fulfilled prophecies proved the Messiah-ship of Jesus, that indeed, He is the Savior of the World! Therefore in the writings of the apostles you can find that the New Testament church acknowledged no Savior other than Christ Jesus.

C. THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS:

1. The Testimony of Jesus about Himself was wrapped up in His 7 I AM’s. For the knowledge of all, in the New Testament, you will find 7 claims that Jesus made to Himself that begin with the word “I AM”.

2. What is the significance of this word “I AM”?

3. Let’s look at the confrontation of Jesus and the Jews in John 8: 56-59. Why were the Jews so offended and attempted to stone Jesus when He said, “before Abraham was born, I am”? What is in this word that they became so furious? The answer is: the word I AM was the name of God given to Moses at Mt. Horeb when God appeared to Him in the burning bush. They understood that Christ claimed to be the Jehovah of the Old Testament; that He was the God who appeared to Moses at Horeb. To them, it was blasphemy. They rejected the idea of Jesus’ deity. They adamantly refused the truth of Christ’s divinity.