"A Christian Response To The Da Vinci Code"

"Who Is Jesus Christ? How Shall We Answer

The World?" (a response to the Da Vinci

Code challenge to the Diety of Jesus

Christ)

Text-Matthew 16:13-20

By-Rev. Danny Moss dannymoss777@yahoo.com

Introduction-

I have always been greatly interested in the

study of theology, especially when it comes to the

person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. While in

seminary at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

I majored in theology, and also loved to study the

beliefs of other faiths and cults, to see what others

believed and why. There is no more crucial issue in

the Christian faith than this one-Who is Jesus

Christ? Jesus knew this, and towards the end of His

public ministry He got alone with the disciples and

asked them this all important question. He wanted to

hear them say what other people thought of Him, but

more importantly, He wanted to know what they thought

of Him, those who had walked with Him, had seen Him

perform miracles, had heard His words, and had known

Him so intimately. Simon Peter, of course, gave the

answer Jesus was looking for. He said, "Thou art the

Christ, the Son of the living God!" Jesus called

him "blessed," and said that he did not come upon

this revelelation in his own thinking, but that it

had been revealed to him by God the Father. Herein

is a key idea we need to keep in mind when we respond

to unbelievers who see this movie, "The Da Vinci

Code," and come away from it convinced anew that

Christianity has no foundation, and ought to be

rejected. Folks, until God opens a person’s heart

and mind(understanding) they will not, they cannot

accept or believe that Jesus is who He claimed to be.

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the

Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him:

neither can he know them, because they are spirit-

ually discerned." When the light of God dawns on

them, they will know and believe, but not until then.

Let me also make perfectly clear that I am not ad-

vocating anyone going to see this movie. Why should

we as Christians make every Christ attacker that

comes along wealthy for denying our Lord? What this

does do; however, in my opinion, is give us as be-

lievers a golden opportunity to share our faith with

all of those who do not know Jesus, by telling them

the truth. Let’s not fail to take advantage of it.

So, let’s deal with how we are going to respond to

the world concerning this movie and its attack upon

the most fundamental belief of our faith. The forces

of evil are correct in thinking that if they attack

the person of Christ, and destroy belief in His

diety it will ultimately destroy the Christian faith

as we know it and have always believed it to be.

God will bless His Word, and what it says, more than

our words, and what we say. His Word is sharp and

powerful. It can bring conviction and change. Just

who is this one called Jesus of Nazareth? Who did

He claim to be? Who did others believe Him to be?

What do the Scriptures say concerning Him?

Let’s deal with these one at a time.

FIRST, WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES REVEAL ABOUT WHO JESUS

IS?

The Scriptures reveal that Jesus

Christ is the only-begotten Son of God, whom He

sent into the world on a mission-to save the lost.

The "Word"(Jesus) was with God, and was God.

John 1:1. These words were recorded by the

beloved disciple of Jesus named John.

It was only after the resurrection of Jesus

that the faith of Jesus’ disciples was

matured to the point of seeing who He really

was, and what He had come to do. Even John

the Baptist, the Forerunner of Christ, who

prepared His way once doubted if He was the

One to come, the Messiah. Jesus told him

to look at His works(healing, teaching, etc.).

Even Judas, who betrayed Him, admitted later

that He was "innocent."

Colossians 1:15-"Who(Jesus) is the image of

the invisible God, the firsborn of every

creature." By His own claim (John 8:24),

He is the Messiah of the Jews. Unless one

believes this, he will die in his sins.

In Him, all fullness dwelt.(Colossians 1:19)

II. Secondly, WHO DID JESUS HIMSELF CLAIM TO BE?

Jesus claimed to be the resurrection and the

life. (John 11:25)

Jesus also claimed to be the only way to

God (John 14:6)-"I am the way, the truth, and

the life: no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me."

Even from the early days of Christianity, there

were arguments and discussions about Jesus, and

who He was. Some denied His diety, and others

denied His humanity. The Scriptures reveal that