|
| |
Who is Jesus Christ?
Acts 5:42 - And daily in the temple, and in every house, they
ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the center of the
entire Bible
The "success" of the early church can be summed up in these words.
Their success was not based on programs, plans, or promotions. They simply
taught and preached Jesus Christ.
Peter preached Jesus Christ on the day of Pentecost and 3,000 souls were
saved.
Peter and John preached Jesus Christ in Acts 3 when the lame man was healed.
Acts 4 when the early church was commanded to not speak in the name of
Christ, they continued preaching and teaching Jesus Christ, who he is and what
he has come to do.
Acts 5 When the Ananias and Sapphira died because they wanted the
pre-eminence, the early church continued to preach and teach Jesus Christ.
Peter and John preached Jesus Christ when they were persecuted.
All the church continued in one accord, preaching and teaching Jesus Christ.
Paul taught Jesus Christ, proving from the scriptures that Jesus is the
Christ.
Many today might major on some doctrines, but the doctrine of Christ is, by
far, the most important doctrine of all. Rev. 2:4 The doctrine of Christ is
so important that if we lose our first love, we are in danger of ceasing to be a
church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Many might deny that Jesus every existed, but they are all liars. Many might
declare that the stories about Jesus have grown, as they are told and retold.
They are all liars. The Bible declares who Jesus is and what he came to
do. The Bible is the word of God, and is absolutely true.
I. He is the promised seed.
A. Gen. 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. Gen. 12:7 - as explained in Gal. 3:16 - the promise is to seed,
not seeds.
II. He is the Son of God, whose earthly body developed in the womb of Mary.
A. Matt. 1:18 - Born of a virgin, which was prophesied.
1. Matt. 1:23 - "Behold a virgin shall be with
child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel,
which being interpreted is, God with us."
2. Phil. 2:6-8 - Jesus Christ was in the form of God, yet left
all heaven and its glories to come to the earth and die for unworthy
sinners.
B. Jesus is the creator, who left all heaven and came to the earth as a
part of his creation, his earthly body being formed in the womb of one of
the women he created.
1. John 1:1-3 "In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the
beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not
any thing made that was made."
2. Verse 14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt
among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of
the Father,) full of grace and truth."
3. Colossians 1:16 (and verses 12-16) reveals that Jesus Christ
not only created everything, but also shed his blood that we might have
redemption of sins.
4. Our sins have separated us from God, not from people. David said in
Psalms 51:4, "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned
"
C. Jesus is the one who makes it possible for us to "get to"
God.
1. Eph. 2:11-22 Use verse by verse show how Christ made
it possible for us to contact God.
2. The resurrection from the dead reveals that Jesus is God.
a. Acts 17:32 Mars Hill When Paul declared the resurrection
of the dead, some mocked, others wanted to hear more, and some rebelled.
b. Acts 26:24 Festus declared that Paul was mad when he preached
about the resurrection from the dead.
III. He is the Son of God. I am my
father are one. John 10:30 (To say that Jesus is the son of God is the same
thing as saying he is God.)
A. Jesus and God have many of the same characteristics.
1. John 5:21 Same attributes "For as the Father
raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he
will."
2. John 5:23 Same honor "That all men should
honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the
Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him."
3. John 5:24 Same life "Verily, verily, I say unto
you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath
everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from
death unto life."
4. John 14:1 Same belief "Let not your heart be
troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me."
5. Matthew 9:2-6 Same works "And, behold, they
brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing
their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins
be forgiven thee. 3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within
themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said,
Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy
sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6 But that ye may know
that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to
the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine
house."
|