Sermon Tone Analysis

Who is Jesus?

Many have been trying to define exactly who Jesus is.

Who is the Christ?

Even when Jesus was on the earth, people questioned who he was.

Stephen Wellum, in his book Christ Alone suggests several questions:

“Who is he who is born the son of David, the son of Abraham (Mt.

1:1)”?

“Who is he who announces the dawning of the Kingdom (Mt.

4:12-17)?”

After He calmed the storm, the disciples asked: Luke 8:25 “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?””

After Jesus forgave the sins of a paralytic man (and before he healed him), some of the religious leaders asked: Mark 2:7 ““Why does this man speak like that?

He is blaspheming!

Who can forgive sins but God alone?””

“Who is it that can turn water into wine?”

“Who is he who raises the dead and rises from the grave?”

Jesus even asked his disciples: Mt. 16:13 “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?””

And then he went on to ask them who they say he is.

Peter emphatically replied: Mt. 16:16 “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.””

Peter answered correctly, but even still had difficulty fully grasping all that the title Christ entailed.

The title “Christ” literally means - “anointed one.”

It’s the same meaning as the Hebrew word “Messiah.”

But what does that mean?

Can there be more than one Christ?

There are some today who argue that the Spirit of Christ is a spirit of anointing that lands on some people for a time.

They might say it landed on Moses, Samuel, Elijah then Elisha, some of the other prophets, and also JJesus.

Later, they would argue that this Spirit landed on people like Mohammed or Mother Teresa or Ghandi.

So is that all that Jesus Christ is/was - a temporarily blessed person?

Was He a good teacher or a religious subversive?

Was he just a good human, maybe the embodiment of all that we could be?

Was he simply fully enlightened and able to tap into the quantum realm in order to accomplish his miracles?

Furthermore, what was his role?

Why did he live?

Is he a good example?

we won’t have time this morning to address all of these questions, but we will seek to understand a Bit of what the Bible says about Christ and why that’s still important for us today.

In the years leading up to the reformation, the church had begun to teach of a salvation that in Jesus Christ that was partially realized.

There was an element of faith, but there was more needed - namely the sacraments.

With the foundation of Scripture Alone as the inspired and inerrant authority for the church, as we saw last week, the reformers began to argue from Scripture that salvation was found in Christ Alone - Solus Christus.

Stephen Wellum argues that...

Solus Christus stands at the center of the other four solas, connecting them into a coherent theological system by which the Reformers declared the glory of God

While in some ways this sermon should probably be the middle of the five, we’re going to consider the significance of Christ Alone as the next layer in a foundation of faith that we’re building or understanding based on the five Solas.

Scripture Alone is our authority

Salvation is found in Christ Alone...

...through Faith Alone...

By Grace Alone

To the Glory of God Alone

As we reflect on a bit of this, we’re going to look to Scripture to help us understand the identity and ministry of Christ - which should then lead us to an appropriate response.

The Identity of Christ

Scripture reveals that Jesus is so much more than simply a good man/teacher/leader.

One of the most common titles of Jesus is as Son.

But he’s not just any Son.

He is, first of all,...

The Eternal Son of God (Luke 1:35; Rom.

1:1-4; Col. 1:15-20)

In celebrating Christmas, we recognize Jesus as a son born of a woman.

In the announcement to Mary, the angel told her

Christmas acknowledges his incarnation - or as some would say - his “enfleshment” - taking on of flesh.

Jesus did not become the Son at his birth - he has been the Son since eternity past.

in his opening remarks to the book of Romans, Paul writes…

Wellum comments from this passage: that it “teaches of the son’s preexistence, which establishes his deity” -

There are some nuances of Greek grammar and dependencies that get can make this get a bit academic - but notice in that passage - “Concerning his Son” - suggesting there is a pre-existence or he was there before and that the prophets foretold about the one who would the one “who descended from David” - representing his human nature - and yet also “declared to be the Son of God”

Thomas Schreiner explains it this way:

“The one who existed eternally as the Son was appointed the Son of God in power as the Son of David.…

In other words, the Son reigned with the Father from all eternity, but as a result of his incarnation and atoning work he was appointed to be the Son of God as one who was now both God and man.”

But as the eternal Son of God, Jesus has had a role in the Universe since before the beginning, as we can learn from...

For those of us who have grown up in the church, this may seem like nothing new.

Jesus walked on earth for roughly 30 years, but being the second person of the trinity, fully divine - he has existed for eternity past.

He is truly the eternal Son of God.

Secondly, Jesus is...

The Perfect Son of Man (Hebrews 1:1-4)

human - like us in every way - physical attributes- except - without sin.

In many ways, the whole book of Hebrews could argue this point.

In fact, sometime this afternoon or later this week, consider reading through Hebrews as the writer there makes the argument that Jesus is better.

Consider the opening verses of the book.

Stephen Wellum again notes:

God the Son becomes man to fulfill God’s original intention for humanity (Heb 2:5–9)

All that God intended in fellowship in the Garden of Eden was torn apart by the rebellion of Adam and Eve.

The resulting punishment separated God from man.

With Jesus - God the son, becoming flesh - the Son of Man - he embodies all that was intended in creation.

He demonstrates that right and perfect fellowship and relationship with the Father.

He models God’s characteristics to us.

And yet, at the same time, he also identifies with us.

Wellum again states:

In the incarnation, Christ identifies with us; the eternal Son becomes like us, yet he does so to act for us.

Solidarity is not enough, as vital as it is, since “solidarity is not itself atonement, only its prerequisite.”4

Christ must identify with us in order to die for us as our new covenant representative and substitute.

So, we’ve briefly wrestled with the Identity of Christ - fully God, fully human.

Let’s look at...

The Ministry of Christ

Jesus did many things when he walked on the earth.

He was a teacher, healer, friend, counselor.

People like John Calvin and many others have divided Jesus’ ministry into three categories or offices.

First of all, Jesus has the office of...

Prophet - revealer (John 1)

The role of a prophet - OT - he would speak on behalf of God for to the people.

He represents God to the people.

Reveals God’s will for His people.

How Christ fulfills that role?

Just as a prophet would speak the words of God, so to here in creation, Jesus as the word was instrumental in creation.

All things made through him.

As the incarnate son, he reveals even more.

“in him was life and that life was the light of men.”

Jesus reveals God’s character and attributes - his love and mercy, grace and forgiveness.