Who do you say I AM: Jesus, the Son of God

Introduction

3.2.25 | New Life Cicero | John 1:1-18; Matthew 16:13-20

Welcome—March—8 wks till Easter—Congrats baptizees

Starting 7-wk series: Who do you say I AM?

 Who are you?

I interview people all the time—common questions: Who are you? Where do you come from? Tell me more about yourself?

First response: Name, education, school, credentials, degrees, experience, skills, etc.

Knowing ourselves is easy: We all know who we are—our parents—our culture—our background—where we came from—where my family came from: German American, Mexican American, Irish American—this is who I am! It’s easy because we know

Jesus has a different question for you today!!

He doesn’t ask “who are you”? because he knows you

He created you! Knew you since your mother’s womb

[Psalm 139:13] For you made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb

·    Never say “I’m just a nobody”—You are somebody

·    Young people? struggling with finding your identity?

·    You are known by Jesus—loved—He cares about you! We care about you—Equip Conference—life-changes

·    What does Jesus ask? Here’s what he asked his disciples:

[Matthew 16:13-16] 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” 15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

·    Jesus: Do you know who I AM? Do you know me? Not just by name—not just by what you read—do you have a relationship with Jesus?

·    Knowing Jesus is life-changing experience—it changes the way you live—the way you make decisions—the way you handle hard times—the way you handle blessings

·    Don’t know him? You’ll have an opportunity to begin a relationship with Jesus today

What about those that “know” Jesus?

·    For those of us that have “given” our lives to Jesus—it is important that we also know who Jesus Is

·    You may know about Jesus—But do you know who He is

·    If we areChristians > we follow Christ > we should know

·    In the Gospel of John, Jesus made some powerful statements of who He is—the 7 “I AM” statements:

o  I am the bread of life—He nourishes our soul

o  I am the light of the world—He is light in Darkness

o  I am the door—He is our gate to Security

o  I am the good shepherd—He leads/guides us

o  I am the resurrection and the life—John 11:25

o  I am the way, the truth, and the life—John 14:6

o  I am the true vine—John 15:1.

·    Understanding these statements and who Jesus is in your lives can transform your life! Your every-day life! Your walk with Him! It can get you through the darkest moments—because you KNOW who Jesus is!

·    Each statement reveals an aspect of Jesus’ identity—and the impact of those truths in your life.

·    Our prayer is that this will help deepen and strengthen your relationship with Him—and transform your life

Peter answers this important question…

[Matthew 16:13-16] 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

The Gospel of John

This series is based on the Gospel of John—The Apostle John wanted his readers to know who Jesus was

·    Why? Here’s the reason: John 20:31

[John 20:31] 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.

·    So that we can believe Jesus is the Messiah—Our faith can increase—truly come to know him

·    So that we can believe Jesus is the Son of God—He is God—creator of the universe—our creator—he made us, knows us, and wants us to know him

·    Why? Believing in Jesus gives us life

BIG IDEA:  BELIEVING THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD IS FOUNDATIONAL TO OUR FAITH AND TO HAVING ETERNAL LIFE IN HIS NAME.

Three reasons why we know Jesus is the Son of God!

#1—JESUS HAS ALWAYS EXISTED EVEN BEFORE CREATION ITSELF (v. 1-5)

[John 1:1-18] 1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God.

·    The gospel of John differs from the other gospels in many ways—One unique difference: It takes back all the way to the beginning (creation)—when it all began—both start with “in the beginning…”

·    At creation—Jesus (Logos or the Word)

o  Jesus (the Word) was with God—co-existed with God the father—the Holy Spirit.

o  Jesus is God—“the Word was God”—Not just a messenger—but God himself.

3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

·    Jesus (the Word) was present with God the Father at creation—God is the initiator of creation

·    Everything was created “through” Him—Jesus is the agent, the means by which everything was created.

·    Jesus was with God, in God, was God, is God

·    This is how John Piper describes His creation:

“And all things were created for him. All that came into being exists for Christ — that is, it exists to display the greatness of Christ. Nothing — nothing! — in the universe exists for its own sake. Everything from the bottom of the oceans to the top of the mountains, from the smallest particle to the biggest star, from the most boring school subject to the most fascinating science, from the ugliest cockroach to the most beautiful human, from the greatest saint to the most wicked genocidal dictator — everything that exists, exists to make the greatness of Christ more fully known — including you, and the person you have the hardest time liking.” --John Piper

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

·    In this dark world that we live in—in the darkness we go through in life—JESUS is the light that shines—

·    When we feel like there is no way (darkness)—He makes a way (he shines a light)—light at the end of the tunnel.

·    Darkness can never overcome the light of Jesus—NEVER!

APPL: Jesus has always existed—He is the Son of God—the creator and messiah—When we place our faith in Jesus—we find light—we find life—we find our creator

#2—JESUS GIVES LIFE TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND RECEIVE HIM

6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.

·    Go sent Jesus to be our Savior—He was about to appear as The Messiah to a people that would find it hard to believe—

·    God sends a witness, a messenger named John The Baptist—someone to introduce/announce the savior, the true light, Jesus.

·    Why a messenger? Not to make a grand entrance? God knew the hearts of the nation of Israel—although rich in spirituality—they were blind to its own Messiah—the very person they were waiting to save them—God wanted to “prepare” them to open their hearts!

 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

·    John The Baptist: Jesus—the one who can save you—who can give you light/guide you/show you the way—is coming—listen—believe—receive—be saved.

10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.

·    Key: We all need to make a decision—Jesus has come!

·    We either RECEIVE him or we REJECT him.

·    Jesus created you—Jesus is here—He is alive—He is present—He wants you to KNOW him—to recognize Him as God, Creator, Savior—

·    What happened then: They REJECTED him.

·    They didn’t know who He was—Jesus is the true light, but they had other lights (copies—Moses, Law, Temple, Sacrifices)—They were busy/content their content with “other” lights—They MISSED the True Light

·    What happens today?

o  Will you RECEIVE Him or will you Reject him

o  Will you focus on your “current” lights, copies of lights (job, money, career, skill, family, others, etc.)?

o  Don’t miss it—Don’t reject Him—He is the True Light—RECEIVE Him.

·    What does it mean to “RECEIVE” him?

12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

·    If you REJECT Him, you miss knowing who He is and how He can transform your life.

·    Here it is:

o  If you “believe”—to have full confidence in—to be fully persuaded about—faith (Hebrews 11)—Believe that Jesus is the son of God, is God, is creator, died for our sins, is the light and can give us life.

o  If you “accept”—Jesus doesn’t force himself into your life—He gave us the freedom to choose (accept or reject)—Accepting means you accept His salvation—His light—His guidance—His fathership…

·    What happens when we “believe”?

o  You get some rights—To be a “child of God”

o  Do you know what happens when you become a child of a King?—all the rights and privileges—never have to worry about anything in your life—provision—That’s what Jesus offers—a child of God/King of kings with all its rights and privileges

§  Access to High places!!!

·    Not everyone is a child of God—Only those who receive him—Jesus called some “child of the devil”—We must choose—I choose Jesus—I choose to be a child of God—Don’t worry—God gives you plenty of opportunity! Because He loves us

·    Reborn: born-again Christian! New person! Old is past—new start—new life—God of second changes!

[John 3:16] “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

·    We have a choice: believe=eternal life or reject=perish

·    This is big and important decision, that’s why we walk with you

#3—THE TESTIMONY OF THOSE WHO SAW HIM CONFIRMS HIS DEITY AND HUMANITY. (v. 14-18)

14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

·    Jesus (Word) became human (like us)—came to be among us—He understands our hurts & joys because he was fully human—not spared from pain/feelings/death.

·    Who is Jesus?

o  Full or unfailing love: Satan is after you, your soul, your family—Jesus is also after you, because He LOVES you—His love will never fail (not temp, not conditional)

o  Full of Faithfulness: God keeps his promises—His word is unwavering—He is committed to loving you.

15 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”

·    John gave testimony of Jesus—We must give testimony of Jesus—Make His name known.

·    Important: John recognized that Jesus was “greater”

·    Everything we do in live must point to Jesus & His glory

16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

·    When you believe—Jesus pours blessings upon your life—He has abundance of blessings—never ending.

·    Jesus is near to God—the only one who has seen God

·    Jesus reveals God to us, whom we can’t see—when we see Jesus, we see God—when we know Jesus, we know God.

IT IS FOUNDATIONAL TO OUR FAITH AND LIFE TRANSFORMATION TO BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD…FULLY GOD AND MAN.

Invite Worship Team

ALTAR CALL:

12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

·    Have you BELIEVED Him and RECEIVED Him today?

·    Are you ready to make this decision to RECEIVE him?

·    COME ON UP!