What the Bible Says About Jesus

Thesis/ Central Idea:

The main subject of the Bible record is not only the story of Jesus Christ but also a presentation of the reasons why He is considered the divine Son of God.

Intro- The 2nd Great Christian Doctrine Concerns the Divinity of Jesus.

24 lessons all together

2 lessons incorporate the second doctrine of the seven

1- is tonight’s lesson “What the Bible says about Jesus” of His Divinity

2- is next week “The Resurrection as Proof” of Jesus Divinity

Seven Major Doctrines to Help Us “Understand Our Religion”

Inspiration of the Bible

Deity of Christ

Original Goodness

Fall of Man

Restoration of Man

Kingdom of God

Second Coming of Christ

Many theories about Jesus

Jewish Rabbi

Prophet

Ghost

Alien

I. The Bible’s Central Theme

Jesus is the main theme throughout the Bible.

The Old Testament sets a stage for Jesus’ coming into the world.

The four Gospels are the eyewitness accounts of His life, death, and resurrection.

The New Testament is a record of the witness and life of His Apostles and church.

1st step in establishing His Divinity: What does the Bible say about Him?

The Bible speaks concerning Jesus:

Promise

Preparation

Circumstances

Content

Details

People

II. Who is Jesus?

-According to the Bible

Historical figure (Josephus Flavius)

Jewish man who lived in Israel 2000 yrs ago.

Claimed He was the Jewish Messiah.

Executed by Roman government for insurrection.

Followers established the Christian church.

III. Witness of the Apostles

1. Peter

Matthew 16:16 ESV

16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Acts 3:14–15 ESV

14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

What Peter concluded about Jesus:

Savior

Divine

Resurrected

2. Thomas

John 20:24–28 ESV

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

Thomas’ experience

Resurrected

Worshiped

Divine

Authority

People are free to accept or reject these claims about Jesus but they can’t deny that this is what the Bible teaches about Him.

3. Paul

Acts 22:1–16 ESV

1 “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” 2 And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished. 6 “As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’ 11 And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus. 12 “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. 14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

Colossians 1:15–18 ESV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 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. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

What Paul says about Jesus:

Image of God

Existence

Supreme

Agent of Creation

Eternal

Head of the church

Leads the resurrection

IV. Testimony of Jesus

- What Jesus says about Himself:

1. To Samaritan Woman- John 4:25-26

John 4:25–26 ESV

25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

2. To Peter- Matthew 16:15-17

Matthew 16:15–17 ESV

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

3. To Apostles- Matthew 28:18-20

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Among other things the Bible teaches that Jesus is:

The Jewish Messiah

The Son of God

Divine

Resurrected

Eternal

Creator

Head of Church

Supreme Authority

- Faced with a mountain of information about Jesus, John simply summarizes:

John the Apostle

John 20:30 ESV

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;

John 21:25 ESV

25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.