Batman Can't Save You: The Liability of Liberalism

Batman Can’t Save You

Who is Batman?

Would it be right to call him a “superhero?”

Batman was a remarkable human being, who could do some amazing things…but he was just a man.

He did not have any super powers compared to others like Superman.

A lot of people today say the same thing about Jesus...

He was a remarkable human being.

The most upright and moral example for us to follow.

He is a wise sage and teacher that taught important life lessons.

But…he was not God…just an amazing, if not the most amazing human being to walk the earth....just like Batman.

Key Point: Batman, nor any other remarkable human can save us because they are only human like us, However, Jesus can save us because he is both fully human AND fully God.

The Heresy

Liberalism-arose in the 1800’s

Fredrich Schleiermacher: German Theologian-Father of Christian Liberalism

Jesus was just a remarkable man, but was not God incarnate and did not rise from the dead.

Jesus gave us an example to live by, but he was not our substitute and did not die for our sin.

Denied the divine inspiration of the Bible. It is not required to read or even believe to be a christian.

Jesus Seminar

Pitted the Jesus of history vs. the Christ of faith

Concluded only 20% of the sayings could be attributed to Jesus in the four Gospels were something that Jesus actually said or something like Jesus said.

Also concluded that Jesus was not divine, not born of a virgin, and did not possess any supernatural powers.

a priori vs posteriori:

They based their conclusions not from the true reading of Scripture but from their a priori assumptions.

Who Commits the Batman Heresy Today?

Those that believe Jesus was just a man and try to emulate his compassion, mercy, kindness, and wisdom, without any commitment to his Lordship.

Jesus is only my example…Jesus was a good moral teacher....but he is not my Lord or the authority of my life.

We commit the Batman heresy when we pick and choose which passages of Scripture we want to believe and obey and which ones we want to throw out.

Treat Scripture like a Froyo shop.

Jesus is my homeboy.

We must not fall into the trap of believing Jesus was just a man because it is more acceptable and easier.

What the Bible Says

Old Testament Prophecies Spoke of Him

Isaiah 9:6-7 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

Jesus and Others Claimed He Is Divine

Son of Man

Matthew 8:20; Mark 2:28; Luke 5:24; John 1:51.

Daniel (eschatological figure) and Ezekiel (humble prophet)

Daniel 7:13-14 ““I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

Jesus existed before Abraham…He is the I AM.

John 8:54-59.

Other places where Jesus claimed to be divine.

John 1:1-4- Jesus is one with God.

John 5:19-29-Jesus claimed to have the same authority as the Father, able to raise the dead, issue judgement on the last day.

John 17:5 “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”

existed with the Father and shared glory with him before creation.

John 20:28-Thomas calling him Lord and God.

Philippians 2:5-6 “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,”

Jesus existed in the form of God

Hebrews 1:2-3 “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”

radiance of the Father’s glory, exact imprint of his nature, upholds the universe by the word of his power.

Colossians 1:19; 2:9-All the fullness of God dwells in Jesus.

James 2:1-Jesus’ brother called him “our glorious Lord.”

Jesus Did Things Only God Can Do

Not just miracles that Old Testament prophets and New Testament apostles performed.

Three distinct ways Jesus did things only God can do:

1. Created all things.

Colossians 1:16 “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”

2. Forgave sins

Mark 2:5-12 “And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!””

3. Accepted Worship

Only God can be worshipped

Exodus 20:5.

Isaiah 48:11 “For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.”

Herod was killed when he accepted worship (Acts 12:23-24).

However....

Jesus was worshipped at his birth

Matthew 2:11 “And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

Jesus was worshipped during his earthly ministry

Matthew 14:33 “And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.””

Matthew 28:9 “And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.”

John 9:38 “He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.”

Jesus asked the Father to glorify him and shared glory with him before the world existed (John 17:2-5).

Jesus was worshipped by the angels and saints in the presence of the Father in heaven.

Revelation 5:8 “And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

Why Is This Important?

If Jesus is not only fully man, but fully God, he cannot save us.

Three reasons

Salvation Belongs to the Lord

As humans we cannot save ourselves…sin and the curse is a human problem and requires a human solution. But the problem is, as humans, we cannot save ourselves because we are dead in our sin and alienated from the only one who can save us.

The Bible makes clear that God alone is the only savior and salvation is only from the Lord.

Here are some examples of why it is only God who can save us...

Only God can survive the wrath of God

Only God can satisfy God. The creature cannot earn salvation before the Creator.

Only God can be a mediator to God. A mediator between God and man must himself be God if he is to bring men to God.

Jesus’ Blood Is Precious

Only the blood of a spotless and unblemished lamb, who was foreknown before the foundation of the world (1 Peter1:18-21) would be able to pay for the sins of all who trust in Him.

No human, no matter how remarkable he or she was, would be worthy or have the value to sufficiently redeem all the sins of humanity.

Only God can provide atonement for all. If Jesus was merely a perfect man, he could have only died in the place of just one sinner.

Only God could provide an infinite payment for infinite wrath during the finite time on the cross.

Only Jesus, only the God who became a man can complete these tasks.

The Lord’s Salvation Is Bigger than Just You and Me

Only Jesus could reconcile ALL things to himself because ALL the fullness of God was pleased to dwell in Him (Colossians 1:15-20).

Batman cannot save you. But Jesus, who is God in the flesh, can.