BAPTIST DISTINCTIVES
Sermon #1
WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?
Mt 22:42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. (KJV)
Mr 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; (KJV)
Pr 30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell? (KJV)
INTRODUCTION: I have a purpose tonight in giving you this message. I want to give you some ammunition with which to counter any attack that may come to you as you are in the public places, or even from other sources. Also, I am introducing my next series of messages on Baptist Distinctives.
“Who Is Jesus Christ”? Before anyone can be biblically correct they must answer this question correctly.
There has been two battles in religion for many decades. They are:
1. Is all of the Bible inspired;
2. Is Jesus Christ the only Begotten Son of God?
There are those who teach that the Bible is inspired only in spots, and that they are inspired to spot the spots.
When doubt is cast upon either of these questions many people will follow the doubt. Most of the attack comes against the Baptist doctrine. If the Baptists are defeated by the satanic attacks than the other religions will make very little noise.
The humanists have been successful in making much of our school system into an atheist training camp for the younger people. Without a strong Christian family background not many of the public school children will come out of the school believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
I do thank God that there are still some born again teachers that are teaching in the public schools. At least there is a little core of believers that will do some good.
The movie “The Da Vinci Code” is opening soon in theaters across America, directed by Ron Howard (Opie Taylor). This movie will present the history of the N.T. as being questionable if not doubtful, or even heresy. It is taken from the novel by the same title written by Dan Brown. The book has sold millions of copies. It presents Jesus Christ as human only an not deity. It will also maintain the false idea that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, and they had a child named Sarah. Then from the child Sarah there are thousands or even millions of direct decedents of Jesus Christ on the Earth today. The purpose of the DaVinci Code is to remove the deity of Christ, because if the name and person of Jesus Christ is taken away – what do we have left? Nothing! The whole substance and strength of the Christian faith centers in Jesus Christ. Without Him as the Son of God we have nothing.
I haven’t done a detailed study on this and neither do I need to – to know that it is full of lies and false assumptions. All of the years of claiming that the Bible wasn’t the true Word of God has given us several generations of intellectual idiots, who think they are the authority on the person of God, Jesus Christ, and the Bible. For the dedicated and learned Christian this movie will do no harm, but to those who have had no training in biblical truths they will accept the movie as truth or partial truth and applicable picture of the N.T. history.
Dan Brown, has attacked Early History. Not just from the Bible aspect, but the secular history as well. He attempts to get us to question all history. If nothing in the past is concrete, then how can we be sure that the N.T. Age and the Biblical history are accurate.
In the book, Dan Brown says that Jesus assigned the building of the N.T. Church to Mary Magdalene, and that there was various struggles between she and the disciples during those years following His ascent back to Heaven. I am not sure if in this book or another where the author declares that in the picture by Leonardo Da Vinci, the Last Supper, that the person seated on the right side of Jesus is Mary Magdalene, and that Jesus wanted to honor her by having her at the Last Supper.
Various historians claim fanciful details and false assertions are presented as historical facts. Dr. Paul Maier, a well known historian and best selling novelist states Dan Brown’s approach to the historical view is wrong simply because he lies about facts.
The book is supposedly a novel, yet Mr. Brown claims its contents to be fact. A lot of people who don’t know biblical history will take Mr. Brown’s book as fact, and the movie even more so. He attempts to discredit the Four Gospels by superceding them with other writings that were not written until 300 years later.
A National Review, writer David Klinghoffer wrote, “What’s at stake in The Da Vinci Code is nothing less that traditional Christianity itself.” If the agenda presented in the book and then again in the movie are true then we are of most people most foolish to continue in our faith in Jesus Christ as our Redeemer.
The way to combat this is to know the truth of Jesus Christ. That is what I intend to do in this sermon is to give you biblical proof that Jesus is the Only Begotten Son of God. I know that you do not need that proof, but you may well be questioned by many who see the movie or read the book and which you will have to give an answer as to why you hold to the biblical teachings. I hope to whet your appetite and cause you to do a study yourself on Christ.
I. TO DETERMINE THE TRUTH WE MUST ACCEPT THE INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE
I stated at the beginning that biblical inspiration is one of the battles we must face today.
A. The Bible Is Known First As “The Bible”.
The Word Bible Comes From The Greek word “Biblos” – meaning “Book”. Mr 12:26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? (KJV)
Lu 3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (KJV)
Ac 1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. (KJV)
B. It Is Known As The Old And New Testament.
We have in the KJV all of the Scripture that God wanted us to have. We can accept it as the very words of God for us today.
C. It Is Called “The Scripture.” Joh 2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. (KJV)
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (KJV)
2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (KJV)
D. It Is Called The Word Of God.
1Th 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (KJV)
Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (KJV)
If the Bible is to be of any benefit to you or to anyone else it must be taken by faith as the Word Of God. The Gospel is addressed not to “reason” but to “faith”. What can be proved requires no faith to accept. Faith rests upon the character of God, not upon demonstrations of laboratory or logic. ((A.W. Tozer)
E. The Bible Is The Inspired Word Of God.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (KJV)
Ps 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. (KJV)
The word “inspired” means – “God Breathed”. Inspiration guarantees the accuracy of the entire Word of God.
II. THE BIBLE DECLARES JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD!
To be the Son of God He must have the same attributes as God.
Mr Brown apparently goes to some great length to discredit the biblical record of the birth and the deity of Jesus Christ. He says that it wasn’t until the 3rd Century that the Christian fathers voted to deify Christ, and that it was a close vote then. Meaning that many of them did not vote for the deity of Christ. What Mr. Brown overlooks is that man did not, neither can man, make Jesus Christ anything other than what the Bible declares Him to be. That declaration is “Jesus Christ, The Eternal Son of God.”
Mr 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; (KJV)
Lu 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (KJV)
Joh 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. (KJV)
Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (KJV)
We must not forget that the Bible is inspired and that God has preserved it’s accuracy through preservation. (Look at) Psa. 12:6-7. Ps 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
(KJV)
All of the Apostles centered their preaching and teaching around the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The heart of preaching from then until now has and always will be that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
A. He Is Omnipotent.
All powerful. All power has been given to Him.
Mt 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (KJV)
B. He Is Omniscient.
All knowing.
The disciples are speaking in John 16.
Joh 16:30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. (KJV)
C. He Is Omnipresent.
Ever present.
Mt 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (KJV) This occurs all over the world at the same time.
That means that whenever and where ever two or three are gathered together He is in their midst. Here in this church, anywhere in this city, this state, or the whole wide world – He is there. While we are having our evening service here now, other churches are doing the same thing all over this same time zone. If it is a Bible believing church then the Lord Jesus is present with each church.
D. He Is Holy.
Ac 4:30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. (KJV)
E. He Is Gracious. All grace is given unto Him.
Ac 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. (KJV)
F. The Scripture Declares Him To Be God.
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (If He wasn’t co-equal with God the Scripture wouldn’t state that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. That is a reverence that is given only to God; therefore He is equal to God.)
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (KJV)
G. God Himself Declares Jesus To Be God.
Turn to and be sure to remember this verse:
Heb 1:8 But unto the Son (Jesus) he (God) saith, Thy throne, O God, (Jesus) is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. (KJV) God the Father declares that the Son is God – Just as much as is God the Father.
III. JESUS CHRIST STARTED THE N.T. CHURCH AND THE CONTINUING OF IT WAS CARRIED OUT BY THE DISCIPLES AND PAUL.
Lu 6:13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; (KJV) Of that 12 men He began His church.
1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (KJV)
The continuing of the N.T. Church is seen in the Book of Acts and all of the Epistles. Mary Magdalene had no part in the building of the N.T. Church, as is suggested by Mr. Brown. Ac 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (KJV) In Acts 13 we see Paul and Barnabas being sent out to do world mission work and churches were started all over Asia.
IV. JESUS CHRIST DIED AND WAS RESURRECTED FOR THE PAYMENT OF SIN
In 1 Cor. 15 Paul tells us of the importance of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Remove the death and the resurrection from the Gospel, and the message of the N.T. is gone. Both the friends and enemies of Christianity admit that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is vital to the religion that bears His name.
Mr. Brown, nor anyone else can alter any of the truths that are so evident in the Bible and in the heart of each believer. It matters not if Mr. Brown attempts to discredit the deity of Christ. Jesus Christ doesn’t answer to man. Ro 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (KJV) When it comes to matters concerning the questioning the authenticity of God, then man is always a liar. God is truth and His word is the authority.
V. JESUS CHRIST ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN FOLLOWING HIS RESURRECTION FROM THE GRAVE
A. He Departed Visibly From The Disciples.
Ac 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (KJV)
B. He Sets On The Right Hand Of God Today.
1Pe 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. (KJV)
Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (KJV)
VI. AT THE APPOINTED TIME HE WILL ADMINISTER HIS SECOND COMING
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (KJV)
Mt 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (KJV)
Re 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (KJV)
Joh 14:1 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.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD - It matters not whether anyone believes it or not. He is still the Son of God.
HERE-IN STANDS THE TRUTH –
The Da Vinci Code can’t change any of that.
