INTRODUCTION
* Saul’s Searching Question
-Saul was passionate in persecuting the church
- Jesus confronted Saul on the road to Damascus
* A light from Heaven; a voice speaking to him.
- Saul’s question: “Who art Thou, Lord?”
- The voice’s answer: “I am Jesus…”
* But Who Is Jesus?
BODY
I. He Is The REPORTED (Prophesied) Saviour
A. The first promise of a Saviour came after the fall. Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
1. The One to bruise the serpent’s head
2. The One to redeem a sinful race
B. The prophets added their voices
1. The Saviour would be Virgin born. Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
2. The Saviour would be God in the flesh. Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
3. The Saviour would be born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
4. The Saviour would be preceded by John, who would prepare the way for Him. Isaiah 40:3 “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
C. The miraculous birth in Bethlehem (Luke 2)
1. The Roman Empire was part of the miracle (the taxing).
2. Christ was born right on time. Galatians 4:4-5 “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
II. He is the REDEEMING Saviour
A. We’re saved by trusting in Christ’s redeeming blood that was shed on the cross.
B. Every step Jesus took in His life was toward the cross.
1. Isaiah had prophesied His painful death for sinners (Isaiah 53).
2. John the Baptist called Him the Lamb of God. John 1:36 “And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!”
C. Jesus revealed His coming death to His disciples. Matthew 20:18-19 “Behold, we go up to Jerusalem: and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.”
D. On the cross, He was the epitome of forgiveness. (Turn to Matthew 27:29-50).
E. Even the dying thief found forgiveness. Luke 23:43 “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
F. All who come to Him find forgiveness and eternal life. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 6:37 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
III. He is the RISEN Saviour
A. His resurrection proved His Deity. John 2:19 “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
B. His enemies thought that they had destroyed Him at the cross.
1. But He arose. Matthew 28:1-6 “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
2. Because He arose, those who trust Him will also rise. 1 Corinthians 15:20 “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”
C. There are many proofs of His resurrection.
1. The empty tomb and the eyewitnesses.
2. The transformed disciples and the enduring church.
IV. He Is The RETURNING Saviour
A. Christ, Who dues and rose again, will come again.
B. He must come to fulfill His promise. John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
C. Are you ready for His return?
CONCLUSION
* Saul Found Out Who Jesus Was by Trusting Him as his Personal Saviour..
* Faith in Jesus Will Answer Your Questions About Him, Too.
Thanks to Roger Campbell for permission to use this outline with my own additions and illustrations.
