He is Who He Says He is

Christmas time is here! Which means… we have the opportunity to celebrate the amazing arrival of our Lord and Savior!

That is… as long as you believe that Jesus is the reason for the Season!

First off, we’re going to do a little quiz time… What do you know about the Christmas story?

Mary (a virgin) was visited by an angel, she was told she was going to have a baby.

Joseph was upset until the Lord confirmed the story to Him

They traveled to Bethlehem because of a census decree

Jesus was born in a barn because there was no room for them in the Inn or guest house.

Shepherds were alerted of what took place by an angel while they were in the fields.

Wise men (magi) visited Jesus

Herod tried to trick them into revealing the location of Jesus so he could kill Him.

Mary and Joseph flee to save the life of Jesus.

In a nutshell, these are the biblical truths surrounding the Christmas story. But… does anyone know why Jesus had to come in the first place?

Jesus came to pay the price we could not pay - the price for sin. Jesus was sent because of God’s love.

John 3:16 NIV

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

And all of what took place… fulfilled the prophecies that spoke of the coming Messiah.

Here’s what I want us to understand as we talk about the truth regarding who Jesus is… Jesus is who He says He is!

He is the Son of God – He is both fully man and fully God, born of a virgin, and was NOT born into the sins of this world. He was free from ALL sin, blemish, or rebellion.

He is the Messiah – as seen on our video study, Jesus fulfilled the prophesies spoken about the Messiah and beat the unbelievable odds of ANYONE ELSE being able to do that.

The odds were insane. In fact, I would offer that it would be impossible for any one person to fake the fulfillment of the prophecies. The only way they could be fulfilled is if the person who fulfills them is truly the One the prophecies is talking about!

Second… I find it fascinating that prophecies spoke of Jesus’ hands and feet being pierced… when crucifixion had not been invented yet!

He is the Savior of the world. There is no doubt Jesus is who He says He is!

Phil 2:6-11 gives us a pretty good idea of who Christ is tonight.

Philippians 2:6–11 NIV

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This text gives a lot of information on who Jesus is!

Being in the very nature of God, Jesus did not use His divine power and authority for His own advantage, took on the nature of a servant, made in human likeness, humble, became obedient to death, exalted to the highest place, given the name above all names to which every knee will bow and every tongue will confess His lordship!

This is truly who Jesus is and… the Christmas story helps to identity Jesus as the Son of God, as the true Messiah, as the Savior of the world!

So… why is it important for us to know this tonight? Hos does this topic coincide with the series on truth that we have been talking about?

The fact that the Word is TRUE makes a huge impact on our lives. The fact the Jesus truly is all that the Word says He is makes a huge impact on our lives. And this evening, I want you to understand how this truth can impact you.

Because He is who He says He is… He did only what He could do.

What Am I talking about here? I’m talking about taking away the sins of this world.

Jesus, as mentioned before, was sinless. He was without stain, without blemish. Because He was not born into sin AND because He NEVER sinned, Jesus was and is the only person that could pay the price that would cover all sin.

We talked about John 3:16 a moment ago. And what I want us to see from that verse is this: God’s love has never been absent from the world. God’s love compelled Him to give His Son, Jesus, to pay the price of sin.

Think of it this way: mankind would perish for their sin. God sent Him who was without sin to perish for those living in sin. This resulted in a major change in the story.

Those who believe in the Son are made righteous through the death and resurrection of the Son.

ONLY JESUS COULD HAVE DONE THIS.

Students, there is no other way, no other path to righteousness. Jesus is the only way. Righteousness is not something we can earn, it is something Jesus died for.

Galatians 2:21 tells us this truth.

Galatians 2:21 NIV

21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Here’s the deal: Christ did not die for nothing, He died for everyone! This was the Lord’s will for His life!

God’s will was for Jesus to be the ultimate offering for OUR sin.

Since part of God’s character is perfect justice, the price for humanity’s rebellion against God had to be paid.; but the payment had to be PERFECT AND COMPLETE. Only Jesus Christ’s life could have fulfilled that requirement.

Because He is Jesus, He did what only He could do – died on the cross to take away the sins of this world!

Because He is who He says He is… We are who He says we are.

I want us to look at a passage in John 1.

John 1:12–13 NIV

12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

As Jesus’ identity is proven and solidified, so can our identity in Christ be assured.

Jesus’ blood was sufficient to fulfill the requirement of the law. The price HAS been paid. The door has been opened that whoever would believe in Him would not perish.

Those who would call upon the name of Jesus are truly saved.

Your sins HAVE been forgiven. Your status has changed. The old HAS gone. You have been set free! You now stand justified in the eyes of God! YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE ONE TRUE KING!

Here’s another way of looking at it: Christmas happened so that Easter could become reality.

The world cannot change the fact that Jesus, the Son of God, was born on this earth and walked a sinless life. This world cannot change the fact that Jesus gave His life as the ultimate payment for sin. This world cannot change the fact that forgiveness of sin is now available through the blood of the Son. This world cannot change that fact that those who believe can find new life in His resurrection.

Your identity in Christ is secure because Jesus IS Jesus – the Son of God and the Savior of this world!

You are NOT identified by any sin or wrong doing, if you are in Christ, the Bible says you are a new creation.

When God looks at you… He does not see a huge record of wrong. He sees someone He loves and values. He sees someone who needs the help of His Son.

Christ died for you… that you might find your identity in Him. You were not created for sin. God created you for His glory! In Christ, you are His Sons and daughters. In Christ, your sins have been forgiven. But NONE of this would be a possibility tonight had Jesus not come to this earth.

The Christmas story tells of how Jesus came to the earth to be God with us… to be our redeemer, our Savior, and friend… to lead us away from the sin that was tearing us apart and back into the new life that can only be found in Him.

Because He is who He says He is… In Christ, you are who He says that you are!

Stop listening to what the world or your feelings might be saying about you… listen to what the Light of this world is saying about you!

Closing

Christmas is now 2 ½ weeks away. It is a season in which we celebrate the arrival of Jesus.

I pray we do just what I said… Celebrate Jesus. I pray all in this room have made the choice to follow Jesus. No matter what the world might try to say, we trust in what the Word has to say and believe that Jesus Christ IS Lord!

Never doubt your identity in Jesus.

You have been given the most incredible gift… the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Your sins no longer define you. Your mistakes no longer define you. You are not defined by what you do… but rather by who you serve.

As Christians… I pray that we will choose to be what Christ has called us to be: fully devoted followers of Jesus. Such a choice will impact what we do.

This Christmas, let’s choose to make the season all about Him.

Yes, you can carry on family traditions, but make it your mission to declare to this world the love of Jesus Christ!

And for those who want to give their lives to Him, I want to pray with you right now. God did all of this… for you… for all of us. He loves us beyond anything we could possibly understand. Will you give your life to Him?