Jesus Christ the Same #1

The historian's test of an individual's greatness is, "What did he leave to grow? Did he start men to thinking along fresh lines with a vigor that persisted after him? By this test Jesus stands first."

"You can gauge the size of a ship that has passed out of sight by the huge wake it leaves behind." And the wake of the Old Ship of Zion or Christ Jesus is still stirring the waters today.

He has been called and considered many things:

A 1st Century Rabbi or good teacherA Philosophical GeniusA 1st Century HippieA Grandfather FigureAnd on and on we can go. Even when Jesus walked the earth there were many rumors about who he was. Jesus wanted to nail this down for his disciples. One day as they were ministering to the towns of Caesarea Philippi Jesus asked them one day, it appears just out of the blue, in Mark 8:27-33 and Matthew 16:13-23 "Whom do men say that I am?" and the answers are as predictable as they are informative:John the BaptistEliasOne of the ProphetsJesus wanting to get down to the heart of the matter asks, "But whom say YE that I am? Peter seems to be the only one who answered I assume he answered for the rest of the group, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God."

In these next few sessions I want to with God's help paint a word picture and Biblical foundation of who this "CHRIST, the Son of the LIVING GOD" is.

I picture in my mind's eye a watchman dutifully carrying out his orders. Strong and straight at his post he is watching on the south wall his appointed area when out of nowhere there comes this figure. Isaiah tells about this happening in Isaiah 63:1 and the question is called out by the watchman, "Who is this this that cometh from Edom with dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength?

He's calling out, "WHO GOES THERE?" the answer that comes reverberating back to him is startling and frightening even to a well-trained experienced soldier, " I That speak in righteousness, mighty to save."

Now I know not everyone sees this like I do, although many Bible scholars and even The Early Church Fathers do. I think this was none other than Jesus Christ the Messiah coming to tread the winepress of wrath on Edom. That great troubler of Israel. Although the word Edom is very interesting in the Hebrew it's similar to Adam or "Man" so all nations could be put here. Here Comes Jesus to conquer and still to conquer.

But who is He? Is he just some blood thirsty tyrant? Just a good teacher? Just a nice person who went around doing good things? Well let's look at this person.

Who is Jesus

In a recent Barna Study Release 1 out of 10 Adults believe that Jesus was a real historical figure.

However that number drops to only 56% of all adults surveyed believe that Jesus was who he said he was, God.

That number drops even more significantly when asked if Jesus was able to live a sinless life . Or as they word it, " When He lived on earth, Jesus Christ was human and committed sins, like other people. Even though 62% of all adults surveyed believe they have trusted in him as Savior.

I think we need a biblically based answer to the question - "Who is Jesus?" I think it is crucial to growing spiritually, in fact Peter in 2 Peter 3:18 put learning more about Jesus on par with growing in grace.

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

If we are going to develop a right relationship with someone we have to know some things about them, so it is with Jesus. The more we know about Him, the more we can develop our relationship with Him. Now I will probably use the designations "Jesus and Christ" interchangeably throughout this study but the name "Christ" is actually a title The title “Christ” comes from the Greek word “Christos” and is speaking of the role of “Messiah”. The word “christos” literally means “anointed one” and indicates that the Messiah will be in the ultimate sense God’s “anointed one.” The Hebrew word for the Messiah is “Mashiah” which also means “anointed one.” We derive our English word “Messiah” from the Hebrew. Peter properly identified Jesus as the promised Messiah by using the title “Christ.” He also properly identified Jesus as “the Son of the Living God” which speaks of His deity. On the day of Pentecost when God poured out His Spirit upon the 120 in the upper room, Peter further identified Jesus during His sermon. Acts 2:36 – “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” The title “Lord” (kurios) literally means “owner” or “master” and indicates the right to control one’s own property. When a sinner repents, and exercises faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, he becomes the property of Jesus (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Paul said in 1 Cor. 12:3 that “no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” This means that the only person who can say that Jesus is Lord personally must be a born-again believer. Jesus said in Luke 6:46, “Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?” indicating that only those who obey Him can truly call Him their Lord. Therefore, the test to determine whether or not Jesus is the Lord of your life is the obedience factor. If you are not fully obeying Jesus, He is not your Lord! For Jesus to be your Lord you must be walking in all the light God has given you (1 John 1:7). Christian Belief's Dr. Alan Brown Our foundational passage Hebrews 13:8 begins abruptly, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever." The writer of Hebrews is trying to tell us about the immutability or unchangeableness of Jesus. The theological perspective behind this concise Christological formula has been developed well in the course of Hebrews. The author asserts the Son’s role in creation (1:2, 10), certainly an aspect of “yesterday.” Presently the Son sits in his exalted status as Lord of the universe, who intercedes for his people (1:3, 13; 7:26–28). Then we see that Christ will rule “for all time” into the eternal “tomorrow” (1:8a, 10–12): But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: …. … 10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

What we can draw from this is the same one who walked the dusty shores of Galilee, touched the sick, raised the dead, made the blind to see, is right now in his exalted state sitting at the right hand of God and will rule eternally as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Our circumstances and perspectives change, Jesus Christ and his gospel DO NOT!!! George H. Guthrie. Hebrews (Kindle Locations 9773-9787). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. Oscar C. Eliason the Swedish Evangelist who passed away March 1st 1985 said it best when he wrote, That name still lives and will live on forever, While kings and kingdoms will forgotten be. Through mist or rain, ’twill be beclouded never, That name shall shine and shine eternally.

CHRISTOLOGY - Now we are going to do a study of CHRISTOLOGY - Now don't let the big word scare you Christology is the title theologians give to the study of Jesus the Christ. Harper's Bible Dictionary I think gives the simplest concise definition, "Christology, the study of Jesus’ self-understanding and of the titles, concepts, and conceptual patterns in which the New Testament church expressed its faith in him. " Achtemeier, Paul J. ; Harper & Row, Publishers ; Society of Biblical Literature: Harper's Bible Dictionary. 1st ed. San Francisco : Harper & Row, 1985, S. 163 While the majority of us here today are non-creedal in that the creeds, "Apostles, Nicene, etc are not binding. They were a way for the early church to make doctrinal statements concise and easier to memorize. I want to read just a portion of the Apostle's Creed to you this morning. Apostles' Creed: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. The third day he arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, whence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. DEITY OF JESUS - So today I want to deal with Jesus Christ the same in His Deity or in that He is God. Three things I want to emphasize 1.) His Eternal Existence 2.) His God Attributes 3.) His Names & Titles (Kingship) ETERNAL EXISTENCE I think one thing we need to understand before we go any further is that before the incarnation, or before the virgin birth of Christ, He existed. The Birth was not His beginning but rather a transition and we will deal a bit more with that tomorrow. Jesus says himself in a passage in St. John's Gospel that before Abraham was, now you need to understand it had been 2000 years since Abraham had walked the hills and hollers of Canaan looking for a city whose builder and maker was God. And Jesus says, "Before Abraham was I AM"

Do you understand what he was saying, That at least 2000 years before this moment He existed. in eternity. (Now we will deal with the Names of Jesus in a moment but in using the "I AM" he is also saying, "I am the I AM."The tense is again important to notice. Before Abraham was born, Christ was continuously existing. The statement “I am,” of course, is also a reference to His deity and a claim of equality with Yahweh. “I am” is a reference to Exodus 3:14, in which God identifies Himself as “I AM WHO I AM.” Moody Handbook of TheologyYou turn several more pages in your Bible and you find John the beloved in the first few verses of Chapter 1 writes John 1:1-3 (KJV) 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. Flip over several more pages in your Bible and an interesting saying from the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:16 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: So not only was Jesus existing before Abraham, he was existing before "In the beginning." and was active in creation. The point I'm trying to make here this morning - is as Vic Reasoner stated, "If Christ had a beginning point no matter where that point is he is then a created being." If Jesus was created he cannot be divinity He cannot be God. But according to the scripture we have looked at, he was not only active in creation but was responsible for it. In order for that to happen he would have to be eternal and attribute that only belongs to God. I conclude then that Jesus Christ is of the very nature of God.

Attributes of Jesus - Some Proofs of Jesus' Diety - Now I doubt there are many doubters of the fact that Jesus was both God and Man. Humanity or man has only 1 nature. That nature is either dead unto sin or Alive unto Christ. Jesus has two natures God (divinity) and Humanity. We will deal more with this tomorrow when we deal with the incarnation but I want to give some proofs of the deity of Christ. That Jesus was God. He was omnipotent over disease. Matt. 8:1-4; Luke 4:39Over demons - Matt. 8:16-17, 28-32; Luke 4:35Over Men - Matt. 9:9; John 17:2Over Nature - Matt. 8:26Over Sin - Matt. 9:1-8Over Traditions - Matt. 9:10-17Over Death - Luke 7:14-15; 8:54-56; John 11:4He was omniscient, knowing the whereabouts of Nathanael John 1:48 knowing the plot of Judas. - JOHN 6:70Knowing the hearts of the Pharisees - Matt. 12:25; Luke 5:22; 6:8; 7:39-40Knowing the thoughts of the scribes - Matt 9:3-4Knowing the sincerity of one scribe - Mark 12:34Knew the History of the Samaritan woman - John 4:24Knew the problems of his disciples - Luke 9:46-47 He was Omnipresent - Matt. 18:20; 28:20; John 3:13; 14:20He Was Worshipped As God - As God by angels - Heb 1:6As God by the shepherds - Luke 2:15As God by the wise men - Matt. 2:2,11By a leper - Matt. 8:2By a ruler - Matt. 9:18By a Canaanite Woman - Matt. 15:25By a mother - Matt. 20:20By a demoniac - Mark 5:6By a man born blind - John 9:38By Thomas - John 20:28By some Greeks - John 12:20-21By his apostles - Matt. 14:33;28:9He Forgave Sins - Mark 2:5, 10-11He Judges - John 5:22He Saves - Matt 18:11; John 10:28He was Called God - Stephen - Acts 7:59The Eunuch - Acts 8:37Paul - Gal. 2:20; Col. 1:15-17; 2:9; 1 Tim. 3:16; Titus 2:13Peter - 1 Pet. 3:22; 2 Pet. 1:17Jude - Jude 25James - James 2:1John - 1 John 5:20; Rev. 1:18;19:16Willmington, H.L.: Willmington's Book of Bible Lists. Wheaton, IL : Tyndale, 1987, S. 166 Names and Titles of Jesus - There are many designations of Him throughout the scriptures - Were I to name them all it would take a long time. Way longer than what I have this morning. So I will condense it down to about 25 of my favorites. He is Known as - Alpha & OmegaThe Author and Finisher of our FaithThe Son of ManThe Son of GodThe Bread of LifeThe Light of the WorldThe Way the Truth and the LifeResurrection and LifeRedeemerSaviorLordFriend that sticketh closer than a brotherMessiahLamb of GodLion of the Tribe of JudahThe AmenImmanuelWonderfulCounselorPrince of PeaceMighty GodEverlasting FatherProphetPriestKing in fact he is known as the King of Kings

Sometimes when I need to get fired up I will just dwell on these names and titles of the Man Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever.

When I really need fired up I will go and listen to S. M. Lockridge a black preacher of days gone by who is known for his piece of oratry on Jesus MY KING. I want to read it to you this morning. Now I can't do it like he does nor am I going to try, But I want you to listen to the words and let them bless you as you think about this Jesus MY KING!

That’s My King

The Bible says

He’s the King of the Jews

He’s the King of Israel

He’s the King of Righteousness

He’s the King of the Ages

He’s the King of Heaven

He’s the King of Glory

He’s the King of Kings

and He is the Lord of Lords

Now that’s my King!

David says

The Heavens declare the glory of God

And the firmament showeth His handiwork

No means of measure can define His limitless love

No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply

No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing

He’s enduringly strong

He’s entirely sincere

He’s eternally steadfast

He’s immortally graceful

He’s imperially powerful

He’s impartially merciful

That’s my King!

He’s God’s Son

He’s the sinners’ Savior

He’s the centerpiece of civilization

He stands alone in Himself

He’s august

He’s unique

He’s unparalleled

He’s unprecedented

He’s supreme

He’s pre-eminent

He’s the loftiest idea in literature

He’s the highest personality in philosophy

He’s the supreme problem in higher criticism

He’s the fundamental doctrine in true theology

He’s the cardinal necessity of spiritual religion

That’s my King!

He’s the miracle of the age

He’s the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him

He’s the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously

He supplies strength for the weak

He’s available for the tempted and the tried

He sympathizes and He saves

He guards and He guides

He heals the sick

He cleansed the lepers

He forgives sinners

He discharges debtors

He delivers the captives

He defends the feeble

He blesses the young

He serves the unfortunate

He regards the aged

He rewards the diligent

And He beautifies the meek

Do you know Him?

My King is the key of knowledge

He’s the wellspring of wisdom

He’s the doorway of deliverance

He’s the pathway of peace

He’s the roadway of righteousness

He’s the highway of holiness

He’s the gateway of glory

He’s the master of the mighty

He’s the captain of the conquerors

He’s the head of the heroes

He’s the leader of the legislators

He’s the overseer of the overcomers

He’s the governor of governors

He’s the prince of princes

He’s the King of Kings

And He’s the Lord of Lords

That’s my King

That’s my King!

His office is manifold

His promise is sure

His life is matchless

His goodness is limitless

His mercy is everlasting

His love never changes

His word is enough

His grace is sufficient

His reign is righteous

His yoke is easy

and His burden is light

I wish I could describe Him to you

He’s indescribable

He’s incomprehensible

He’s invincible

He’s irresistible

I’m trying to tell you

The heaven of heavens cannot contain Him

Let alone a man explain Him

You can’t get Him out of your mind

You can’t get Him off of your hands

You can’t outlive Him

And you can’t live without Him

The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him

but they found out they couldn’t stop Him

Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him

The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree

And Herod couldn’t kill Him

Death couldn’t handle Him

And the grave couldn’t hold Him

That’s my King!

He always has been

And He always will be

I’m talking about

He had no predecessor

and He’ll have no successor

There was nobody before Him

and there’ll be nobody after Him

You can’t impeach Him

and He’s not going to resign

That’s my King!

Praise the Lord

That’s my King

Thine is the Kingdom

And the power

And the glory

The glory is all His

Thine is the Kingdom

And the power

And the glory

For ever

And ever

And ever

And when you get through with all of the forevers

Then

Amen

From <https://thatsmyking.wordpress.com/words/>