Introduction
Welcome back to week three of our foundation series with the Bible engagement project. Week 1 we talked about the authority and inspiration of the Bible. And throughout our entire series we'll be going back to the Bible to understand these core tenants of our faith.
Last week, We talked about the one true God that we served and his existence as three persons and one God. We reviewed that all members of the godhead are important, and each plays a specific role with the others. And all parts of the godhead have been around since the very beginning as we discovered in Genesis 1.
This week we're going to look at who Jesus is… in fact, this very question was asked by Jesus to the disciples in Matthew chapter 16 while they were travelling in the region of Cesária Philippi if you have your bibles today please open them to Matthew 16 and we're going to start reading in verse 13.
Matthew 16:13-17
Let's start with the same question that Jesus asked the disciples, who do people say that I am?
Muslims: Quaran
The Quaran holds Jesus in high esteem recognizing him as a significant prophet and messenger of God. He is considered al Massi meaning the anointed 1 the same thing that we come back to and hold him as the Christ which also means anointed 1.
The Quran even affirms the virgin birth of Jesus by a woman named Mary and it emphasizes the miraculous nature of his birth comparing it to even the creation of Adam without a father or mother.
The Quaran mentions various miracles that Jesus had done that coincide with the miracles of the Bible and while there are so many similarities that the Quaran holds to that Muslims believe.
The Quaran specifically denies the deity of Jesus…
Buddhism
Buddhism generally views Jesus as a historical figure who may have achieved a high level of enlightenment, someone who has vowed to achieve enlightenment but delays its helping others. There's no specific doctrine about Jesus in core Buddhist teaching but generally Buddhists see him as somebody highly revered and maintained that he was a historical figure, but he was not the Buddha and certainly not God.
Hinduism
In Hinduism, Jesus is generally reviewed with respect, often as a spiritual teacher or a manifestation of the divine. Typically, many Hindus see Jesus as a great spiritual leader similar to figures like Buddha or Krishna. His teachings are viewed as valuable and relevant to spiritual practice.
Some Hindus particularly those with Christian backgrounds or interfaith dialogue considered Jesus as an avatar a manifestation of the divine while others see him as a Yogi, someone who has realized God like consciousness and while they might see him as a manifestation of the divine they do not worship him as a God and do not see him as deity.
Krishna
in Krishna, Jesus is often viewed as a representative of Krishna comma a son of god and the spirit master, they have high reverence for Jesus and again see him as an avatar a special manifestation of Krishna.
In short nobody denies the existence of the historical figure of Jesus but aside from Christianity all deny his deity.
What do we believe?
Body
Foundation 3: WE BELIEVE in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, in His personal future return to the earth in power and glory to rule a thousand years (Matthew 1:23; John 1:1; Philippians 2:9–11).
Christ being “Deity” simply means that the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God.
The Bible clearly establishes the deity of Jesus and if you're going to believe in his miracles or his divine nature or you're going to be a person that follows his teaching then you must also believe in his deity.
There are several things in the Bible that clarify Jesus was truly deity, and a member of the triune God.
John 1:1-5, 10-18
1. His Eternal Nature
John 1:1 clearly states in the beginning the word already existed the word was with God and the word was God he existed in the beginning with God. Last week we talked about how Jesus was part of creation and that everything was made through him as we see in verse 3. We're going to talk a moment about his virgin birth but that was not the beginning of Jesus simply his human body.
Throughout the Old Testament we see Jesus appearing in various forms. Prior to him becoming flesh in stepping into history the eternal word of God, Jesus the existence of the revealer of God is seen throughout the Old Testament that many theologians call either Theophanes, divine appearances or Christophanies in his preexistent state as still a member of the godhead he is work throughout time is the revealer of the will of God.
Colossians 1:15 says Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation.
1 Timothy 2:5 says For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.
And Malachi 3:6 says, I am the Lord, and I do not change…
so, it only makes sense that the times in the Bible when God reveals himself to man would be the times when Jesus steps into the Old Testament to mediate and reveal himself to man. Consider these examples:
Genesis 21: 17-20
Genesis 48:15-16
Exodus 23:20-23, 27-31
Judges 13:16-22
These passengers clearly identify the Angel as deity, yet it distinguishes the Angel from God the father. Look specifically at Genesis 48:16, The Angel is the one who redeemed in the other passages it is the Angel of God who is identified both with God and distinguished from him, then in judges this Angel of the Lord receives worship. It seems obvious that this Angel was a manifestation of God otherwise he would have refused worship for this was the very sin that Satan was thrown out of heaven for. Such Old Testament manifestations of Jesus point forward to his incarnation when he finally steps foot out of heaven into history through the virgin birth.
2. His Virgin Birth
Luke 1:31-35
Matthew 1:23-25
God went against the natural to do the supernatural.
Before this time, you always had to bring a sacrifice for sin.
That sacrifice had to be slain, and blood was sprinkled on the altar.
This institution began in Egypt, the blood had to be placed over the door post and frame and when He saw the blood, there would be no loss of life.
The sacrificial offering was carried on into the Wilderness Tent of Meeting, and on into the Temple.
Now God is starting a new covenant with man, but the blood sacrifice remained.
God said that “Without the shedding of blood, there was no remission of sin.”
From the very beginning of God’s covenant with man, the sacrifice was always a part of God’s creation.
This time would be different; Deity would be joined together with humanity.
God and man joined together. = Relationship.
It's important to note that while his virgin birth does delineate his deity it also points to his humanity. Jesus was and is 100% God and at the same time 100% man. That is, he held a full set of divine qualities and a full set of human qualities in the same person in the same way that they did not interfere with each other. He remains the God man in heaven now and will return the same way in which he left as we see in Acts 1:11.
There was an early heresy that had to be addressed by Paul in which people believed that Jesus was spirit only and not man, but he was created with all the characteristics of the unfallen human being and literally became the second Adam
1 Corinthians 15:45-47
His humanity meant that he was subject to the laws of human growth and was born as a baby. He learned; he was hungry and thirsty and there were times when he felt anxious or tired or disappointed he suffered physical pain mental pain and eventually succumbed to death on the cross.
He was fully human, and the book of Hebrews takes great care to show us his humanity:
Hebrews 2:14-17. (This is just one of many…)
Jesus fulfills the one person of the Lord as fully divine and fully human 2 natures residing in one stepping out of heaven to bring relationship to mankind. God and man joined together.
His virgin birth establishes divinity, also…
3. His Sinless Life
Hebrews 4:14-15
We already established that he was fully man which meant he was tempted and tested in every way that you and I are tempted and tested and yet he never sinned. The only person that could do that was Jesus and the only way he could do that was because he is and was God!
Hebrews 7:26
Christ lived a sinless life because he chose to.
He had a divine purpose; He was here by divine appointment with a divine destiny.
He was on an assignment from the Father and He decided that He was not going to fail.
His deity is established through His virgin birth, sinless life, and…
1 Peter 2:22
He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.
I feel this passage is so important especially as we look at who this letter was written by. This is written by Peter and if we go back to our very first passage that we started with from Matthew chapter 16, Jesus asks the question who do people say the son of man is? or in other words who do people say that I am?
And Peter responds you are the Messiah the son of the living God! And Jesus confirms this sin that it was God the father from heaven that had revealed this to Peter and not from human thinking. Peter watched Jesus live And follow the law he never sinned he never deceived he always spoke truth for he is the way he is the truth he is the life. And as Peter is writing now as a pastor to the church he writes Jesus never sinned nor Did he ever deceive anyone. And Peter recognizes that it was despite the fact that he never deceived or did anything to anyone that he died on the cross to take our place because it was only as God could he die and yet live could he conquer sin death and the cross for our sake.
He lived to complete his divine purpose and everywhere he went:
• The blinded eyes were opened,
• The lame were healed
• The deaf could hear
• The dumb could talk
• Withered hands were healed
• The woman’s issue of blood was stopped
• The demons had no power to stay or speak
• The storm was calmed
• Simon Peter walked on water
• The multitudes were fed and healed
• The dead were raised
Philippians 2:6-11
These explanations establish the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
What I ask people so many times is this, if there is really nothing to the fact of Jesus’ deity.
If he was just a good man, or just a prophet, then why for over 2,000 years have people tried so hard to destroy the fact that Christ is the true, one and only begotten son of the Father?
• The very people who hanged Christ never accused Him of being a bore; on the contrary, they thought Him too dynamic to be safe.
• They have attempted to de-claw the Lion of Judah, certifying Him to be meek and mild, making Him as some household pet.
• He had no milk-and-water personality; they saw Him dangerous.
• He was tender to the unfortunate, patient with honest inquirers, and humble before heaven.
• He went to parties with disreputable company and was accused of being the friend of sinners.
I can tell you this morning, I’m glad I know who Jesus is.
• His love is limitless, His promises are sure
• His mercy is everlasting, His grace is sufficient, His reign is righteousness
• His yoke is easy, and His burden is light
• He is enduringly strong, eternally steadfast, and impartially merciful.
• John declared Him the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth,
• He is the centerpiece of civilization and the miracle of the ages.
• He is the giver of every good and perfect gift, for He alone can supply all of your needs.
Who is Jesus to you?
• He is the doorway to deliverance,
• the pathway to peace, the roadway to righteousness,
• The highway to holiness and the gateway to glory.
• He is indescribable, incomprehensible, invincible, and irresistible.
• The heavens cannot contain Him; let alone can man explain Him.
• You cannot outlive Him, and you can’t live without Him.
• Pilate found no fault in Him, Herod could not kill Him,
• Death could not handle Him, and the grave could not hold Him.
• He had no predecessor, and He will have no successor,
• There was none before Him and there will be none after Him
There is but one way to heaven, and that is through the Son.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life, NO ONE comes to the father except through me.”
(Jesus at the Center)
• May the Lord bless you and keep you.
• 25 May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
• 26 May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’
