Who is Jesus?
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Last week, I told you guys that my goal over the coming weeks and months, and for as long as God permits, is to help encourage and educate you on how to go about telling a lost person about the Lord Jesus and how to lead someone who is lost to Him, right?
As we work our way through these messages, my hope is that you will begin to feel convicted & challenged to to go out and tell someone about Him because you feel more comfortable and confident on how to explain to them just exactly who Jesus is and what He has done for them!
Listen, I heard on the CBS evening news one night this week that they took a poll of like 10,000 people or something like that and if I’m not mistaken, it was something like 73% of those people said that they felt alone or lonely!
Dear friend, I feel a lot of things but one thing I’d have to say I feel very rarely is lonely and here’s why! Even when there’s no one else around, I know my heavenly Father is there and I know that Jesus is there and I know that the Holy Spirit is there so therefore, even if there’s not a soul in the room but me, I know I have at least 3 other people with me and listen friend, some of the greatest times I’ve ever had in my life, were when it was just those three and me having a grand ole time of fellowship, Amen!
If you’re here and you feel alone today friend, then you need to let me introduce you to my friend named Jesus! He’s the best friend you’ll ever find! And the best part is, when you come to know Jesus as your friend, then you automatically gain the other two as well! People say a dog is man’s best friend but I’d have to say they’re wrong! God is man’s best friend if you’ll let Him be! That’s the key!
The point I’m trying to make here though is this…if 73% of people feel alone or lonely then that means we have plenty of work to do! We need to be out there telling them that they don’t have to feel that way because there is someone who loves them and only wants what’s best for them and they need to let us introduce them to Him, Amen!
Last week, if you’ll remember, we looked at the “Rules of Engagement” and talked about how we need to pray for opportunities to tell people about Jesus; how we need to take opportunities when they are presented to us; and lastly, we talked about how sometimes we just have to make opportunities to tell people about Jesus when it seems there is no other way!
So what I’d like to move on to today is the very simple question…Who is Jesus?
If Evangelism is the act of telling people the gospel of Jesus Christ, don’t you think we should know as much about Him as possible? Because here’s what’s going to happen…you’re going to finally muster up the courage one day to go out there and say to that person you’ve had on your mind forever… “Do you know who Jesus is?” and inevitably they are going to say, “no, who is He?” And if you’re not prepared with an answer, chances are, you’re going to have that deer in the headlights look going on!
And you’re going to be thinking to yourself…but who don’t know who Jesus is! I thought everyone knew who Jesus is! But the reality is there are a slew of people in this world who either don’t know who He is at all or they don’t know who He truly is!
You see there are many false conceptions in the world today of who Jesus really is! Some think He was just a prophet. Some believe He was a just Jewish Rabbi. Some believe He was simply just a good man! But the reality is, although He was all of those things, they barely scratch the surface of who He really is!
He wasn’t just a prophet but the prophesied Messiah! He wasn’t just a Rabbi but the one the Rabbi’s talked about and sought after! He wasn’t just simply a good man but He’s also a great God!
And these are the things we need to be able to relay to the misguided people of the world today! We need to be able to explain to them just exactly who Jesus Christ was and is and will be when He returns!
So, today we’re going to be looking at a message entitled “Who is Jesus?” If you have your Bibles with you I’d ask you to take your copy of God’s word and turn with me to the Book of .
He is the Creative Christ
He is the Creative Christ
King James Version Chapter 1
IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
King James Version Chapter 1
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or tprincipalities, or spowers: all things were created vby him, and for him: 17 And whe is before all things, and by him all things consist.
King James Version Chapter 1
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or tprincipalities, or spowers: all things were created vby him, and for him: 17 And whe is before all things, and by him all things consist.
, 14 — 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
— Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
— For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
He is Eternal in Presence — “In the beginning was the Word”
He is Eternal in Presence — “In the beginning was the Word”
The word "beginning" refers to when creation came into existence, not when Christ came into existence because He has always existed!
Then, when the Bible says here “was the Word,” the word “was” is the Greek word “en” which is the imperfect tense of the Greek word “eimi” which means “to be, to exist, to be present.”
So, what the Bible is saying here, is that when the beginning was, the Word already was! The word beginning has to do with time but when it comes to eternity, time does not have beginning nor ending therefore, if the Word was before the beginning, then we can understand that the Word also transcends time and space therefore having no beginning and no end!
Jesus is Eternal in Presence!
— I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
— — 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
— And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
Jesus is Eternal in Presence!
— I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
— And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
— And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
He is Equal in Proximity — “and the Word was with God”
He is Equal in Proximity — “and the Word was with God”
If you go back to and look up the word God, you will find it is the Hebrew word “elohiym” and when you do a little research, you will also find that the word is plural. And if you look in Verse 26 you will see a perfect example of this.
— And God (elohiym) said, Let “us” make man in “our” image, after “our” likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
When the Bible says here “us” and “our” I don’t believe it’s speaking of the mouse in God’s pocket, Amen! It’s speaking of the Trinity! The Father, The Word & The Holy Ghost! If you look in...
— For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
There are three distinct persons acting in complete cohesiveness as one God! Now, don’t get confused here! It’s not 1+1+1=3 but rather 1x1x1=1!
The point though is this…before Jesus came to this world, He was in the very same presence as the Father and the Holy Ghost! He was with God!
He is Equal in Proximity!
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
He is Equal in Person — “and the Word was God”
He is Equal in Person — “and the Word was God”
The Word was God! Doesn’t get much plainer than that now does it? Many people want to claim that Jesus was just a man, some will even go as far as to say He performed miracles but they still claim He was just a man but I’m here to tell you this morning, Jesus became a man but before He became a man He was God!
The Word was God! There’s that word “was” again! Remember it means preexisting, right? Before He was Jesus, He was the Word and if the Word is God, then dear friend you can rest assured that Jesus is God as well! He was fully God before He became fully man!
He is Eternal in Presence, He is Equal in Proximity and Person and lastly, He is Equal in Power!
He is Equal in Power — “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
He is Equal in Power — “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
The Bible says here that everything was created by Jesus and even goes as far as to say, “without him was was not anything made!” In the Greek these words were very emphatic and would read “not even one thing!”
Speaking of Jesus — — 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Dear friend it says, “ALL THINGS” were created by him! Not just the things here on earth but the Bible says things that are in Heaven and Earth! Visible and Invisible! From the greatest galaxy in existence to the most minute particle known to man Jesus created it all!
— And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
You say, Preacher I’m gonna need you to explain all this to me in the most finite of detail! Dear friend, I’m here to tell you that I don’t fully understand it all and any man who says that he does is a liar for there are things that have been left out of God’s word for a reason and that’s why Paul stated in...
— And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness:
It is not meant for us to know everything! But what we can know is what His Word tells us and what we’ve just learned is that His Word tells us that Jesus is the Creative Christ: Eternal in Presence, Equal in Proximity, Person & Power as God!
He is not only the Creative Christ but He is also the Compassionate Christ!
— And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
a — And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness:
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
He is Equal in Power
He is Equal in Power
He is the Compassionate Christ
He is the Compassionate Christ
This is shown in the fact that even though He is God, He decided to forego His humble abode in Heaven and come to this world to save us from our sins! The Creator became the Created to save His Creation!
— 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
— 14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
He became as we are, so that we might become like He is!
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
He had Compassion for the Sick
He had Compassion for the Sick
— Leper — Jesus was moved w/ compassion when the Leper asked Him if He would heal him.
— Legion — Jesus told the man to go tell his family how Jesus had compassion on him.
— Two blind men — Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes and immediately they received their sight!
Jesus never met a human need He did not supply! He caused the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak, the lame to walk, the withered hand to write, the dead to rise again!
Jesus had compassion on the sick! But He also had compassion for the sinner!
He had Compassion for the Sinner
He had Compassion for the Sinner
— And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
— Prodigal Son
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Lu
— Good Samaritan
Jesus is the Compassionate Christ who came to save the Saint, Sinner & Sick alike! He was compassionate in the fact that He freely gave His life so that all who would believe in Him could live!
Which leads us to the next section…He’s not only the Creative Christ and the Compassionate Christ but He is also the Crucified Christ!
He is the Crucified Christ
He is the Crucified Christ
— And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and “became obedient” unto death, even the death of the cross.
— Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
— 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
ic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
He died for us
Listen friend Christ had to die for us becasue
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
— Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
— For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Although He became the Cru
What you need to know this morning though friend, is that the only reason He became the Crucified Christ was so that He could become the Conquering Christ!
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
He is the Conquering Christ
He is the Conquering Christ
Because of His obedience to the death of the cross, the Bible goes on to say in...
— 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
— 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
— 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
— 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
— 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
— And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Not only is He the Creative Christ, the Compassionate Christ, the Crucified Christ & the Conquering Christ but He’s also the Contemporary Christ!
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
He is the Contemporary Christ
He is the Contemporary Christ
Preacher what exactly do you mean when you say He’s the Contemporary Christ? Well the word Contemporary means “modern” and the reason I want you to understand He is the Contemporary Christ is because this world would have you to believe Christ is outdated and that there is some better way or alternative way to be saved today!
Friend, I’m here to tell you that you can try any new alternative way this world has to offer to try and get to heaven but unless you trust in the only way that’s worked for the last 2,000 years you’ll never make it for Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth & the life and no man comes to Father but by me!”
When He made that statement friend, that was an end all be all moment! He didn’t mean there would be a better way or another way thousands of years later, He meant for all of eternity until God decides to wrap this thing up if any man wants to get to heaven he must go through Him!
Say what you will & believe what you will, but 2,000 years later, Jesus Christ is still as Contemporary as He’s ever been!
He is the Contemporary Christ and finally today I want us to understand that He’s the Coming Christ!
He is the Coming Christ
He is the Coming Christ
— 14 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
— 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
For those of us who have been born again, oh what a glorious day that will be when Jesus comes to take us all home to be with Him!
But dear friend if you don’t know Him as your Lord and Savior that day will be a most miserable day! Once the rapture takes place, the great tribulation period will begin to unfold and the Bible says that things will get so bad that... — “15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”
Friend the key to escaping this great and terrible day is to make preparations today! Not tomorrow or next week for if you wait too long, you will miss heaven altogether!
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Jesus said, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.”
This morning I’ve taken God’s word and given you a brief overview of Who Jesus is. He is the Creative Christ, He is the Compassionate Christ, He is the Crucified Christ, He is the Conquering Christ, He is the Contemporary Christ & He is the Coming Christ!
But the all important question still remains…who is Jesus to you?
If He’s not your Lord and Savior this morning, my prayer is that if God is dealing with your heart that you would come to know Him as such! This world will tell you that you don’t need him. They will tell you that He was a liar and a lunatic but I’m here before you today declaring unto you that He is Lord over all creation and that He loved you so much that He stepped out of the splendors of Heaven and came to the slums of this world to die the most horrible death imaginable for you, so that you in turn could have eternal life!
He died so that you might live!
To believe is to be saved but to deny is to be altogether lost! Belief in Jesus will bring about salvation while denial of Him will bringeth out condemnation!
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.