Text Matthew 16:13-20
Focus we will focus on who people claim Jesus is, and what the Bible claims concerning him.
Introduction
This morning we are going to begin a series in which I have entitled “Foundational Studies”. In this series we will look at some of the basic tenants of the Christian Faith that we might have a better understanding of the truth we proclaim.
I am concerned as I have found trough research and study that a majority of Christians are unable to articulate the teachings of the bible.
We will begin this series as we investigate the question, “Who is Jesus?”
Who do others claim concerning Jesus?
As we come to Matthew 16, Jesus asks his disciples a series of important questions, the first was “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
The disciples answered Jesus’ question with the common view that Jesus was one of the great prophets who had come back to life. This belief may have stemmed from Deuteronomy 18:18, where God said he would raise up a prophet from among the people. Herod had thought that Jesus was John the Baptist come back to life (14:1-2), so apparently this rumor was widespread.
The people considered Jesus to be Elijah because Elijah had been a great prophet, and one like him was expected to come before the Messiah arrived (see Malachi 4:5).
Jeremiah may have been considered because, according to Jewish legend, he was “immortal” (his death is not mentioned in Scripture)—thus, like Elijah, he did not die but was taken to heaven.
Today, we find numerous views as to who people feel that Jesus is.
The Pseudo-Christian look
Mormonism (Italics from Walter Martin)
…teaches that Jesus Christ was not the Divine Son of God, rather the spirit brother of the devil who celebrated his marriages to both “the Marys and Martha”, whereby he could see his seed before he was crucified.
Concerning Christ’s atonement, they claim “that the sacrifice made upon the cross by Jesus Christ in the form of His own blood was ineffective for the cleansing of some sins.”
Jehovah’s Witness (following italic s from Fritz Ridenour except for Gnosticism)
…believe that Jesus Christ was not God but God’s first created creature. Jesus was not divine.
…concerning Christ’s atonement, they believe that Christ’s death provides the opportunity for man to work for his salvation: perfect human life for eternity on an Eden-like earth.
Christian Science
…claims that Jesus was not God. Science and Health states: “Jesus Christ is not God…” Scientists make Christ an outstanding man, a great teacher, but deny His deity.
Concerning the atonement they claim that Christ’s shed blood on the cross did not cleanse man from sin and his disciples were fooled into thinking him dead when he was really alive in the tomb.
Unitarianism
…in the view of Unitarianism, Jesus Christ was no more or less divine than any man. They deny the doctrine of the trinity as well as the deity of Christ.
Within the system of Unitarianism, there is no need for a savior as man is essentially good and can save himself by improvement – “redemption of character.”
Gnosticism
…is a form of religion which teaches that there is a hidden knowledge and is only available to those who have been enlightened. That there is no real need of salvation, only self enlightenment. And that Jesus can help us but is not necessary for salvation.
Liberalism
…When I use the term Liberalism, what I am referring to is Biblical Scholars who have rejected the traditional Orthodox Doctrines of the church for a new brand of theology.
Liberal scholars have made claims such as Jesus Christ never really lived and that his disciples made up the stories concerning him in order to validate their new movement. Spiritual atonement is not the answer; rather all we need is self improvement through education and better social programs which will eventually lead to a better society.
The Eastern Claims
Judaism
…many Jews accept that Jesus was a good teacher of ethics but do not accept him as Messiah (Savior) because Jesus did not bring lasting peace and Jesus was declared to be divine and the Jewish Messiah is a man sent from God to deliver Israel from oppression, not to save individuals from personal sin.
As far as salvation is concerned, Jews believe that anyone may gain salvation through commitment to the one God and moral living. They believe in and look for an afterlife, however, it does not stress preparing man for the next world as much as guiding his ethical and moral behavior in the present life.
Buddhism
…teaches that Jesus was a good teacher who was less than Buddha. They deny that he was divine because they deny the existence of a personal God.
According to this teaching the only way one can be saved is by there own self effort.
Hinduism
…Hinduism teaches that Jesus is just one of many incarnations, or sons of God. Christ was not the Son of God. He was no more divine than any other man and he did not die for man’s sins.
Man is justified through devotion, meditation, good works and self control.
Islam
…teaches that Jesus Christ was only a man, a prophet equal to Adam, Noah, Abraham and Moses, all of whom are below Mohammed in importance. Christ did not die for man’s sins; in fact Judas, not Jesus, died on the cross.
They believe that the only way to attain salvation is by earning it yourself and paying for your own sins.
But What about You? Who Do You Say I Am?
Understanding Orthodox Christianity
“The word orthodox comes from two Greek words that stand for “right belief” or “right opinion.” The plumb line for Orthodox Christianity is 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The basic tenants of Orthodox Christianity center on Jesus Christ. “By definition, the backbone of Christianity is Christ. The key questions concerning Christ are: His Person – who is he? His work – what did he do?
First – Who is Jesus?
All of the other belief systems which we briefly considered all “make Jesus out to be only a man – a great teacher, a great example in his life and martyrdom – but still only a man.
Was Jesus really God, or was he a great teacher and nothing more than that?
The Claims of Jesus as found in the Scriptures
John 1:1
John 1:14
John 10:10
Matthew 11:27
John 4:25-26
Luke 1:35
John 8
“Jesus made it clear by word and deed that to know him was to know God, to see him was to see God, to believe in him was to believe in God, to receive him was to receive God, to reject him was to reject God, and to honor him was to honor God.” (British Pastor John Stott)
Every one of the Apostles believed that Jesus was Divine.
The Early church fathers spoke the following:
*Ignatius: God himself was manifested in human form. (AD 105)
*Clement: It is fitting that you should think of Jesus Christ as of God. AD 150
* Justin Martyr: “Being the first-begotten Word of God, is even God”; Both God and Lord of Hosts”; the Father of the universe has a Son. And He …is even God. AD 160
*Tertullian: “Christ our God AD 200
*Origen: “No one should be offended that the Savior is also God.” Ad 225
*Novatian: “He is not only man, but also God.” Ad 235
The Council of Nicaea in 325 AD convened to discuss the Deity of Jesus Christ in which 318 Bishops agreed to the following Creed:
Recite the Nicene Creed
Today, Modern Orthodoxy continues to affirm the Deity of Jesus Christ.
“Modern Christianity may certainly be diverse, but at the core of all Christian faith is the belief that Jesus, fully divine and fully human, is the One through whom God reconciled the world – and each one of us – to Himself, and that salvation is found through faith in Jesus, who is not dead but lives” (Amy Welborn)
C.S. Lewis Quote
“Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about him being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
What about You
We have built a case for what the bible teaches concerning Jesus Christ, and what the church through ought her history has affirmed as well.
Let us now return to our text in Matthew 16 and let us consider Peter’s answer to the question, “But what about you? ... Who do you say I am?”
Peter did not have the time to write a research paper on the theology of Jesus Christ. All he knew was Jesus…all he knew was how Jesus changed his life.
Peter’s response to Jesus was not derived from a theological study, but a personal encounter with this man named Jesus Christ of Nazareth, here his reply: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
This morning we have done a contextual study on who the Bible and the church say that Jesus Christ is. We have considered a lot of material.
I close with one simple question this morning, “But what about you? ... Who do you say Jesus is?”
Let us pray
