TESTIMONIES THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST

1 Timothy 3:16 KJV

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

How do you spot something that is real and something that is fake? What? Sometimes a forgery is easy to spot. Like in 1996 when a Western Union manager became suspicious of a young dockworker who tried to cash a check made out to “Roadway Express,” a shipping company in Dallas. When asked for an ID, the 18-year-old produced an ID with the name Mr. "Roadway V. Express."

The manager asked him to wait while he got him the money. He went in the back and called the police. = Fresh Illustrations.

The Name of Jesus Christ is an amazing one. The Christ itself is a name unlike any other. Around it is formed something this world had never seen before, imagined or even sought after.

This word Christ literally means the anointed one, and is commonly referred to as the Messiah. Jesus is the anointed one, the Son of God. I believe that today, I believe it to the degree that I will not only believe in Him for my salvation, but also live my life with the realization that He is the anointed one.

He have commonly heard him referred to as Jesus Christ, or even more correctly, Jesus the Christ. I believe that God put that in there for us to understand that we are to know he is the “THE ANOINTED ONE.”

When we think of this word anointed, we like to use it in lots of ways. In the Old Testament we know that the Word is used often as to pouring something on someone, when a king was chosen he would be anointed with oil. When someone was sick in the Bible and even in the New Testament they are to anointed with oil and prayed over.

Also today often here of a singer, or a sports personality that is described as anointed, meaning God has blessed them.

But the fact is, though these describe themselves or others describe them as anointed, they do not even come close to paling in comparison to Jesus the Christ.

This a truth beyond dispute!

When the Bible says without controversy, this is what it is referring to.

This is a fact that is undeniable.

Luke says in Acts 1:3

Acts 1:3 KJV

To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

This is something beyond all question

Friend, did you know that from a historical view alone, this Jesus Christ is the most quoted, most maligned, most sought after name, most denigrated name in all of the world. The best selling book of all time, the most widely distributed book in all of history is the Bible. All other religious books from other religions pale in comparison and though combined together do not equal the dispersion of the Bible.

It is the most quoted book on earth, the most given book on earth, it is the most sought after book on earth, oh yes, the best sellers are wonderful for a few months, they make their money but wait a year and they are at used book store for a fraction of their former cost, yet the Holy Bible is over and over again printed, and yet the demand for it continues to grow.

Without controversy these things are true –

I. THE TESTIMONY OF THE MARTYRS

The Christians of his day testified that he was the Christ, they did more than testify it, they lived it and they died for it.

Simon surnamed Peter:

Origen says that Peter felt himself to be unworthy to be put to death in the same manner as his Master, and was therefore, at his own request, crucified with his head downward.

James the son of Zebedee:

He was put to death by Herod Agrippa I shortly before the day of the Passover, in the year 44 or about 11 years after the death of Christ. From Acts 12: 1-2.

John:

No death date given by early writers. Death date is by conjecture only and is variously assigned as being between 89 AD to 120 AD

Andrew:

He is reported to have been crucified at Patrae in Achaia.

Philip:

Again, the Bible does not say when he died nor do we have accurate information. According to tradition he preached in Phrygia, and died at Hierapolis.

Bartholomew:

Bartholomew was martyred for his preaching in Armenia when he was flayed to death by a whip.

Matthew:

There is a legend that he died a martyr in Ethiopia

Thomas:

Thomas was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church in the subcontinent

James Alpheus:

also known as Thaddeus, James son of Alpheus was thrown down from the temple by the scribes and Pharisees; he was then stoned, and his brains dashed out with a fuller’s club.

SIMON the Zealot:

He was martyred, but the location is uncertain; some claim that he was crucified in Samaria; others claim that he was sawn in half in Persia; still others claim that he was martyred in Iberia.

Matthias:

the apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded.

The apostle Paul:

was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67.

What are these things that are without controversy, without doubt, which are assuredly true:

II. THE TESTIMONY OF GOD IN THE FLESH

John 1:1–3 (KJV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:14 KJV

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.

Philippians 2:5-7 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

III. THE TESTIMONY OF THE SPIRIT

Justified here is not in the sense of justification at salvation, instead it means vindication.

This vindication applies in two ways

o It applies to the veracity of the work of Christ on Earth, the Holy Spirit’s presence constantly authenticated who Christ was.

o It also applies to the work of the Holy Spirit today, it is through his confirmation that we know this book is real and that he is the Lord.

Think about it, why do we believe on Christ? Because Spirit of God speaks to us, confirms this truth in our hearts.

IV. THE TESTIMONY OF THE ANGELS

I had often wondered what this passage meant, what was its significance.

Simply it shows heavens interest in the ministry of Jesus Christ.

From the announcement from Gabriel to the ascension into heaven, the angels were attentive with great earnest to what was happening on earth.

It was the angels that proclaimed “Glory to God in the highest, peace, good will toward men,” at the birth of Christ.

It was the angels who ministered to Christ after he fasted for 40 days, and was tempted of the devil

V. THE TESTIMONY OF PREACHING TO THE GENTILES

Do you understand what prejudices the Jewish people had at this time? They were very prejudiced. They took the commandment to not marry into families from certain nations as to the greatness of who they were rather that the demand of God of His children to be separate from sinners - and they were wicked nations. But individually, if they would believe, they could come into God’s family - anyone could even then.

VI. THE TESTIMONY OF THE WORLD

Believed on in the world

Psalm 19:4 KJV

Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

Romans 10:18 KJV

But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Christ is either cheered, jeered, or smeared in every nation on earth. He is either represented, misrepresented, or his name is being scrubbed from their land, but His testimony is there. People either believe in Him or fight against Him - but He is there.

VII. THE TESTIMONY OF THE ASCENSION

When Christ was finished with his work on this earth, after that he lived for 30 years, ministered for 3 ½ years and then was beaten, crucified and risen again, he then after 40 days, ascended back to heaven.

Acts 1:9 KJV

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

The testimony that He is the Christ - is that His body is not hear. You cannot find it. There are two others whose flesh never saw the corruption of the earth, there is Enoch, there is Elijah and their is Christ. Enoch and Elijah were taken up by God, but Christ both raised from the dead and went to heaven by His own power.

The Bible calls Christ the first fruit of the resurrection.

1 Peter 1:3 KJV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

You might say, well pastor, we know these things, what is the significance of it? First of all for the Believer.

You need to go forward in full assurance with the knowledge and faith that Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed one, the one that all of human history has pivoted on - that as you can trust Him for your salvation, you can also trust Him to live for Him, knowing your eternity is secure and that He is on throne.

But for someone who might not be sure today; that has doubts; who has not taken that step of faith to trust in Christ as their Lord and Savior, please know that Jesus is your Savior and that only through Him and His shed blood for you on the cross can you see salvation.

You are not trusting in what I say or any anything man has to stay - you are trusting in witness and testimony of:

The Testimony of: THE MARTYRS, THE FLESH; THE SPIRIT, THE ANGELS; THE GENTILES; THE WORLD & AND THE ASCENSION