#4 - God's gospel made known in the Person of Jesus Christ

I remember when the Queen came to Regina as a child and in my teen years. I remember them making a big deal about her coming. There is a hotel in downtown Regina that has a suite specifically designed for royalty.

Here is an interesting fact.

Royalty has visited Regina specifically 32 times since 1882

The Queen herself has visited Regina 6 times plus once as a princess.

We would always joke that they painted the lawns green along the routes she would take through the city. This is why we love the colour green.

All joking aside, today’s big idea is about someone.

Could you image in you were not watching the news and someone very famous came to Merritt. I mean a high security person, the would need our whole detachment to protect the one person. The streets would be blocked off as the person would make their way through.

You would wonder what is happening to this town.

If you read the gospel, you will see the leaders of the Jewish nation asked this question.

Who is this man?

Jesus began to do various miracles that drew attention to himself, especially the religious leaders of the day.

Luke 5:21 ESV

21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Today’s Big idea is this

Big Idea: God’s Gospel is made supremely in the Person of Jesus Christ

If we are talking about what the gospel is, we need to mention the person of Jesus Christ. IT’s the center of the discussion. While serving at another church, our message from the Pulpit was always pointing to Christ. One person began to discuss with us and complained that we spent too much time on Jesus.

God’s Gospel is Christ.

the Gospel truth writes,

“Jesus Christ is always been a controversial figure however, unlike other figures in history, the controversy surrounds Jesus of Nazareth has not been focused primarily on his teachings, or even on his actions, but on how these points to his identity .

His moral instructions have been widely acclaimed and his religious devotion almost universally admired. But the early Christians were not content with describing Jesus simply as a great moral teacher or even a Prophet of God. His words and actions compelled them to turn to the category of divinity in order to explain him. Nothing less would do. Jesus was God Incarnate. In Jesus, divinity took on humanity: He was truly God and truly man. This is more than a theological proposition: it is the heart of the gospel, for we believe that God's gospel -- the good news of Jesus God saving work is supremely revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.” pg 92

This morning and this week we will look at why the Gospel is made supremely in the person of Jesus Christ. To do this we are going to look at his Identity and His Life.

Jesus’ Identity

It is critical that we understand who Jesus was. His identity is important as we share with others Christ’s identity with friends, neighbors and loved ones.

He was God incarnate. He is God. Our current yearly dates are based upon his arrival on this earth. The days go by and for some of us, they go by quicker, but as each day goes by we are farther away from the date of Christ’s first appearance here on earth.

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Philippians describes His identity by showing his Divinity, His Humanity, His Entrance and His purpose in life

His Divinity

The part of the identity of Christ is found in his Divinity. We need to hold onto the fact that Christ was God. He was fully God.

Colossians 2:9 ESV

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

If you have a chance to talk with your neighbor, do you start with the fact that Jesus is God?

We believe, as we learned in previous weeks, that God is an eternally existing Triune God and now that Triune God came to earth, Fully God.

Jesus was not like God, He is God, Fully God. In Him the fullness of God Dwells.

To think anything less would lesson the very words of Scripture. Christ spoke not with God given authority, but as the authority.

In today’s world, at local bookstores or even libraries, we bring in authors to promote their books. In some cases depending on the nature of the book, they would read from their own book.

We gather around the authors and ask them to sign our copy of the book.

A few years ago, while living in Alberta, we would often head to Edmonton in Jan to attend what was known as Breakforth Canada. A weekend conference of Christian speakers, writers, musicians, and leaders.

I have had the greatest chance to listen to speakers teach on the material we often read. I have many books in my library, ones that have impacted me greatly, signed by the author.

I heard them talk about the very thing that is written throughout their pages on their books.

They are the author. If I wanted to get a better explanation of their words, I would talk with them. They were the authority on that book. The books became more real to me as I began to listen and meet with the authors.

We need to hold to the fact that Jesus was fully God because it leads us hold to God’s written word is from God

Jesus’ words found is scripture is the very voice of God speaking.

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Gospel is God’s written word. The Word of God is from the Voice of God, Jesus.

Philippians 2:7 ESV

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

look once again at Paul’s words to the church in Philipii

In his description of Christ’s deity. It is in two parts. One part is of God and the other form of Man.

to understand this verse you have to have the two.

Man in the garden grabbed from the tree to grasp which was God. We continue to grasp what is God’s. We strive to be equal with God. To have our lives about us.

Christ is fully God and He had the freedom of deity to be in the very presence of God and the Angels.

His full Deity is not questioned. It wasn’t that he emptied His Deity, He emptied its luxouries if we can say it that way and added to his deity humanity.

Taking on the form is an addition to.

When we go through training and finish training, we are pronounced with a title.

A carpenter studies and works and receives a ticket. They are known as a carpenter. It is an addition to who they are.

A doctor goes through training and is awarded their designation, doctor. They add that to their name. They were the same person before, but now can also say, I’m a doctor.

When I graduated from Bible School, I was awarded a degree. A piece of paper that granted me the proof that I passed the test.

Before I walked across the stage to receive this piece of paper I was Paris Perry. I walked across the stage, and was handed a piece of paper and walked off the stage with new initials behind my name.

It was added.

We must look at Jesus in the same. He was God, Is God, Continued to be God, He was fully God, yet now he took on the image of Man. He now is fully Man

His Humanity

To understand Christ and how He is the Gospel we must understand his humanity.

Christ was fully human as well.

For those of you in the crowd who thrive on the technical terms, this is called the Hypostatic Union

Fully God and yet Fully Human.

the two existed together

You must keep in mind this is not a mixture of the two, but distinct in each of the natures.

To be honest, it’s a hard concept to grapple with. God’s essence and all that comes with God is now in the form of Man.

Science fiction has tried to portray it in the Startrek series as Q. They attributed this character with all that is God and came to the crew in their form.

In one episode, the Q lost his omnipotence and became mortal and felt pain. Felt hunger. During this period, he experienced the true meaning of what it was like to be human.

This description is not anything like that of Christ.

Christ did not lose his Deity, but gained humanity. He felt hungry, he felt pain, yet remained God.

What he did gain was the understanding of humanity.

He felt sorrow. He wept when his good friend Lazarus, died.

He felt pity for the women at the well, knowing her life, let still had compassion on her when he spoke to her.

The only human way I can picture this for you, and I shutter at this illustration lest it lead you to a misunderstanding of the truth about God, but it is like oil and water.

If you put the two together, a cup of water and a cup of oil you now have two cups of fluid. They exist together, but are separate.

Why is the believe that Jesus was fully man so critical in our understanding.

If Jesus wasn’t God, then our salvation, our reconciliation with God is in question.

Hebrews 2:14 ESV

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

Hebrews 2:17 ESV

17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

He also is the new Adam.

Romans 5:19 ESV

19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

He became like us so that we too can become like him.

Notice our definition of a disciple.

Seeking to know God, while being transformed into the image of Christ.

He was transformed into the image of man so that we can become like Him.

His Entrance

Christ’s identity is that He is Divine, He is Human, the third thing we must look at is his entrance into this world.

His entrance.

Christmas is coming. I time when we as a church celebrate the entrance of our Risen Lord.

Luke 1:34–35 ESV

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

I don’t know about you, but I get excited about this verse.

Maybe we don’t show our excitement about the implications of this verse because it is so familiar to use each Christmas season. We hear it in our Children’s plays, in the Advent services.

But think about this verse.

God Almighty. The King of Kings, Lord of Lords,

His plan before creation, is now being fulfilled.

His Love for His creation is unfolding before our eyes. He is coming to us.

A parade should be set.

Social media should be excited. There should be news briefings

He is coming. He is appearing

But look how he came.

He came to the lowly. He didn’t suddenly appear.

In fact he came in a form of us, yet He usurped human nature.

He was born to a women who was a virgin.

We exclaim as Mary Did, “How can this be”

I hold to the position that life begins at conception.

I hold to the position found in scripture that we are created in the image of Christ. Conception begins the new life that God has set out for our lives. We quickly and rapidly begin to take on a form. We are a new creation. Created by the power and sustaining will of God. We are conceived in our human nature, by human means.

But Christ’s entrance into this world was different.

For that time it was scandalous.

God acted outside of the natural order of human nature to come to man. It was not a sexual act, rather an act outside of natural creation to bring to us God Incarnate.

1 Corinthians 15:47 ESV

47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.

His conception was that of God and thus has been called the new Adam. The one to bring salvation to the people.

This is a significant part of the identity of Christ. He was not conceived like you or I, but that of heavenly proportions.

To think anything less would weaken the very Gospel we stand upon.

His Prophecy

The final section of his identity is the prophecy about the Christ. The messiah.

You see Jesus coming into the world was not a last minute decision of God based upon facts about mankind.

We have made several decisions as a church leadership over these past few months as we entered and are living through this pandemic.

We will be making more decisions in the next few months as we determine as a church moving forward with the loss of our Youth Pastor and what will God Provide.

But nothing is a surprise to God.

Christ’s coming to this earth, was written and planned from the beginning.

There are many prophecies about the coming Messiah.

Luke 24:44 ESV

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

We could spend hours pouring over the scripture of the many prophecies about Christ.

The church leadership of the time were very aware of the prophecies and they took notice when Christ began to fulfill them.

If you are interested you should look up the topic of Messianic Miracles. Ones that only the messiah could do.

When Jesus began to provide to the people these miracles, the religious leaders began to notice.

They began to follow. Before they marked Jesus as a passing excitement, but when he began doing Messianic miracles, they took notice.

Jesus’ identity, His divinity, humanity, entrance, and prophecy all prepare us for This week’s big idea

The next part is his life here on earth

Jesus’ Life

Jesus life is central to the gospel message.

Put this way, “

The gospel is not a code of ethics or a philosophy of life, much less a myth or legend. The Christian message is essentially a declaration of the saving acts of God in history, as he has come into our role personally in Jesus Christ. “ p 104 Gospel truths

Jesus’ life is marked by 4 words that begin with the letter S

A sinless, suffering, sustaining, situational life.

A Sinless Life

The first part of Jesus’ life is that he had a sinless life. As we learned last week, man because of the fall are born with a sinful nature. It has separated us from the once pure relationship we had with God.

With Christ there was no sin in Him

1 John 3:5 ESV

5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

The new testament presents Jesus as a perfect son of God that came to take away our sins. He who knew no sin so that the wrath of God would be able to come upon him.

The sin that entangles our life is removed because of Christ was sinless.

Again we see the contrast before the first Adam, given a choice to follow choice to rebel against God’s word.

Christ choice was to be obedient to His father and commited no sin.

Romans 5:19 ESV

19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Hebrews 4:15 ESV

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

He was tempted with the same temptations we face. Even after Jesus high point in His ministry Launch the devil tempted him with all that man could possibly want. Each of Jesus’ response was a quotation from Scripture.

Do we have scripture so implanted in our lives that when we come upon temptations that we have that as our source of strength to combat that temptation.

A Suffering Death

The second aspect of Jesus’ life is a suffering death. This is not a story, but a historical actual fact. Not only recorded in the bible but accurate to the history books in the world.

Why a suffering death.

The disciples didn’t even like the idea. Peter was quick to rebuke Jesus when it was first mentioned.

Matthew 16:22 ESV

22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”

Suffering was essential to his role as the messiah to the world. He was called, predicted in Isaiah and His own words knew what was coming. He was born to die so that we might live.

1 Corinthians 15:3 ESV

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

This was a fulfillment of scripture for you and me. It’s not wonder why in the Garden he was crying out to God. Why he needed so much prayer and communication with His and our father.

A Sustaining Resurrection

I use the word sustaining Resurrection because of its significance. IT’s central to the gospel. Without the resurrection there is no way that we can have peace with God.

After Christ’s death his followers were confused. They were wondering what was next. They were told, but the pain of the death overcame them.

Christ’s resurrection after the 3rd day brought joy, delight and their eyes were open to the truths taught to them.

His resurrection was of divine power restoring mankind’s relationship with a holy God.

1 Corinthians 15:17 ESV

17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

This is the sustaining power of the Christian’s life.

Without the resurrection of Christ there is no Gospel or good news.

We serve a living God, that came as a man, sinless, died a suffering death, and rose from the dead so that we may have eternal life.

A Situational Presence

The last part of our Saviour’s life is what I call a situational presence.

Acts 2:33 ESV

33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

After Jesus arose from the Grave, he spent a few short days walking among the people. On one occasion He offered his disciples to see his hands, touch them. See the wounds in his feet, hands, and side.

The situation is now that he sits at the Father’s right hand.

This shows that Christ rules with His father as Lord and heaven and of earth

His name is to be exalted, higher than anyone else. All authority is given to him.

He is our High priest.

He stands in the place of our unrighteousness. Our sin. It was taken upon him, once for all.

Hebrews 10:12 ESV

12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,

Conclusion

As the worship team comes forward let me remind you of this.

We have a gospel message to share with the world. This message begins with the identity of Christ, and the life he lived, and next week we will discover the Gospel is accomplished, and finished through Christ.

May I encourage you once again to pick up one of the weekly devotionals. Whether in your cluster group, cord of three, or personal study let’s focus this week on the big idea of