The Identity of Jesus of Nazareth

The Church that Jesus built  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  1:07:53
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The distinctions of His Church so far.

We introduced aim the the series: to look at the distinctions of the church that Jesus built vs. others using historical, and biblical proof.
We then looked at the existence of God followed by the Identity of God.
WHen it came to existence there is the Atheists/Agnostics and then everyone else
When it came to the identity of God there is the distinction of
The God of Abraham of the bible is the one true God, then there is everyone else.
Our distinction today is looking at the identity of Jesus of Nazareth.
Jews, Muslims believe he was a good man, or a prophet
Christians believe he is the Son of God, the Messiah.
(Transition) we will look at the different claims and proofs that help us to know the distinctions and be able to biblically prove them when it comes to Jesus of Nazareth.

The Claims made about Jesus

The New Testament makes bold claims about Jesus.
Look at Confession of Peter (turn to Mt16:13-17)
Matthew 16:13–17 NASB95
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
We also can see the writings, the description after the resurrection (turn to Lk24:25-27)
Luke 24:25–27 NASB95
25 And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
Then turn to (Lk24:44-48)
Luke 24:44–48 NASB95
44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 “You are witnesses of these things.
The N.T. clearly presents Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of God.
Maybe look at how this was introduced in the N.T. turn to (Jn1:1-3)
John 1:1–3 NASB95
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
then turn to (Jn1:14)
John 1:14 NASB95
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The N.T. only allows two alternatives.
Jesus is everything that the N.T. authors claim (the Christ, the Son of God); the King of Kings (ref: 1Tim6:14-16)
Or He is a liar and the N.T. is a carefully orchestrated fraud, written with sole purpose to deceive
Authors leave no other choice (turn to 2Pt1:16-18)
2 Peter 1:16–18 NASB95
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”— 18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
Either it is true or they were false witnesses and to be pitied (turn to 1Cor15:13-15)
1 Corinthians 15:13–15 NASB95
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.
There is sufficient evidence, proof that they were not deceived, as proven by the resurrection, which was the ultimate proof of His deity.
Turn to Act10:39-41)
Acts 10:39–41 NASB95
39 “We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. 40 “God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
Or further evidenced in turn to (1Jn1:1-4)
1 John 1:1–4 NASB95
1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
The alternatives offered by the skeptics are theories but lack proof.
They hallucinated
They stole the body
The swoon theory
The overcoming factor, proof is over 500 saw him at one time (ref: 1Cor15:4-8)
(Transition) So the Bible is true,the New Testament and it’s claims about Jesus are true, or the Bible is just a book of lies. Man has to wrestle that out. May we look at which is more reasonable to believe.

Implications if claims are not true

The N.T. is a lie, maybe carefully orchestrated, but a lie
You can read with great accuracy, events, places, and people that are confirmed by historical writings and by archaeology.
Turn to (Lk2:1-5)
Luke 2:1–5 NASB95
1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.
If it is a lie, if the resurrection is not true, then we have fact and fiction being interwoven together.
We have to ask ourselves is that something reasonable to believe?
Next, would someone be willing to suffer extreme hardship for what they knew was a lie?
Many people are willing to lie to get something out of it, but what did the apostles get out of it? (turn to 1Cor4:9-13)
1 Corinthians 4:9–13 NASB95
9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. 11 To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; 12 and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; 13 when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.
Think about this, what did Paul get out of holding to his testimony? (turn to 2Cor11:24-29)
2 Corinthians 11:24–29 NASB95
24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?
How do we know, that they really suffered?
We have the letters 2,000 years later that they have been saved
The proof of the people who could have easily said it was a lie from first hand knowledge like the Corinthian church.
So, looking at these evidences is it reasonable to believe that Paul and others suffered for a lie? Is it logical to believe that?
The authors who were martyred knew they were dying for a lie.
History proves James was stoned, Paul was beheaded, Peter was crucified.
Is it reasonable to think someone would be willing to die for a lie? Is it rational?
In suffering and dying for a lie, they went against everything Jesus taught and even they themselves taught.
Let your yes be yes, your no be no (Mt5:37; Jesus)
Put away lying, speak truth (Eph4:25; Paul)
Lay aside all malice, guile, hypocrisy (1Pt2:1; Peter)
Does it make sense to believe that? Is it logical that the worlds most published book, book with the highest standard, and proof, with the loftiest goals set within was compassed by a bunch of liars, frauds, and deceivers?
Highest standard, consider the Sermon on the Mount (Mt5-7)
Or on love (1Cor13).

Drawing a conclusion

One must believe for if they do not believe the N.T. when speaks of the miracles, the fulfilled prophecies regarding the Messiah and the resurrection accounts then the N.T. is a carefully orchestrated lie , and the writers suffered and were martyred for what they knew wa s a lie.
Those who do not believe seem to be a group who
Has not read the N.T. carefully
Have not fully considered the logical implications of simply regarding it as a mixture of fact and fiction.
To those who have read, who have believed to them they know the word is true, the word points to a resurrection Jesus of Nazareth and in Him man can be saved.
This has not been exhaustive but hopefully thought provoking to consider the evidence for you will have to make a decision on what you are going to do with it. Consider John’s word as we get ready to close
John 20:30–31 NASB95
30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
(Insert invitation) (Song) (Prayer)
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