"I AM" the Son of God - Part 2
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Introduction
Introduction
Dad: Did you hear about the kidnapping at school? Son: No. What happened? Dad: The teacher woke him up.
Okay, enough, right?
Let’s get serious and into God’s Word.
We are back into our study of the “I AM” sayings of Christ.
We are in John 10.
I hope you brought your Bibles and I encourage to you to open them to our text - John 10.
We ended last week right around verses 30 and 31. Let’s pick up there.
30 I and my Father are one.
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
Remember that Christ is now speaking to the Jewish people who are gathered with Him in the Temple. They had started this conversation with Him back in verse 24 where we read...
24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
The majority of our time last week centered around Christ’s answer in verses 25-30. The essence of which was He already had told them that He was the Christ, the Messiah. In fact, not only had He told them, but He also had performed many miracles that backed up His claim. However, despite all that Christ had said and done, they still “believed not.” Therefore, Christ’s argument to them was why would you believe now. The reality is they would not believe. Only those who have ears willing to hear and hearts open to understand will believe. In Christ’s day, there were only a few that did. The majority of Jews rejected Christ culminating with their chants of “Crucify Him, Crucify Him” on the day of His trial.
As we pick the story back up this evening, Christ has just finished with a very bold statement. He said to them...
30 I and my Father are one.
Arthur W. Pink, who wrote the book “Exposition of the Gospel of John” notes the significance of this statement. He wrote...
“All the diligent care and tender devotion of the Shepherd for the sheep but expresses the mind and heart of the Owner towards the flock. The Shepherd and the Owner are one, one in their relation and attitude toward the flock; one both in power and in Their loving care for the sheep.”
This statement by Christ was a direct statement of authenticity. Christ, the Shepherd, and God, the Owner/Creator of all things are ONE! In other words, this was a claim by Christ to be God. It was an accurate truth. However, note the reaction of the crowd to His claim.
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
These reprobates instantly understood and recognized Christ’s claim of absolute equality with the Father. Again, we see the core of human depravity. Christ was completely innocent. He did nothing wrong. Yet, these people hated Him without cause. They did so because He was indeed holy. His holiness exposed their sinfulness. Instead of falling on their knees before Him admitting their sin, they instead chose to rise up against Him. Truly we have a picture of sinful man’s constant rebellion against God in full view here. A rebellion that has been evident since the Garden of Eden. Why did Cain hate his brother, Abel?
12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
Why did the Jews hate Christ so?
7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
And, for those who would stand with and for Christ, Christ said...
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
Going back to our text, Christ’s response was...
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
The word “works” here refers to all that Christ did during His earthly ministry. It speaks to His perfect life, His gracious works as ministered to those in need, and His wondrous words. All of His “works” met the Father’s full approval. They were “works” commanded and authorized by God the Father. And, when Christ was done, He said to the Father...
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
Now back to our text and verse 33 to see the Jew’s answer.
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Now, here is something that you must know and remember. Each of the Gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) focused on presenting Christ with a specific purpose. The Gospel of John focuses on presenting Christ as God Incarnate. Thus, it was focused on the deity of Christ. For that reason, we often see in this gospel more than any other man’s wicked response to Christ as God Incarnate. Evidence once again that the carnal mind is “enmity against God.” And here, just like other times, these men sought to kill the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, here and even on the cross, Christ was gracious with an infinite amount of forbearance. He, who could have spoken a word and ended them all, chose to engage them instead. Praise God that He still does the same today.
His reply to them as two parts. Both of which is based on the fact that He was indeed the Son of God.
Note the first part of His response in verses 34-35.
34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
One of the awesome things the Lord Jesus Christ did often in His conversation with others was quote Scripture. Here in His answer to this crowd who was furious over His claim to be God once again used Scripture. His quote is from Psalm 82. Look with me at that Psalm.
A Psalm of Asaph.
1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; He judgeth among the gods.
2 How long will ye judge unjustly, And accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
3 Defend the poor and fatherless: Do justice to the afflicted and needy.
4 Deliver the poor and needy: Rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
5 They know not, neither will they understand; They walk on in darkness: All the foundations of the earth are out of course.
6 I have said, Ye are gods; And all of you are children of the most High.
7 But ye shall die like men, And fall like one of the princes.
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: For thou shalt inherit all nations.
The context here is God addressing the wicked magistrates and judges of Israel. Many have referred to this Psalm as the “Judges” Psalm. This Psalm contains the duty of civil judges. Judges have the duty to judge rightly according to God’s Word. They are not to judge unjustly. Their duty is to defend the poor and fatherless, to do justice to the afflicted and needy, and to deliver the poor and need from the hand of the wicked. Verse 6 is the verse that Christ quotes in our text.
6 I have said, Ye are gods; And all of you are children of the most High.
In essence, these judges were given distinguished positions. They were considered to be “gods” which is the Hebrew word “Elohim.” It is a word used quite frequently when speaking of God himself. However, in a few instances, it also used of a “judge.” God Himself, as we know from Scripture, is Elohim or the Great Judge of all men. Thus, these “gods” aka “judges” were distinguished in that they were the “children of the most High.” They were God’s vice regents who were to administer justice to God’s people. They judged for God. Thus, their sentences of judgment when they matched God’s Word were God’s sentences of judgment.
Here was Christ’s argument to them. If they, who did without question, accepted the fact that the Law established judges as “children of the most High,” then why was it blasphemy for Him, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be God’s Son? Look again at our text.
34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
Note that Christ said of himself that He was one “whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world...” Christ had much higher commission than the judges of Israel. And, additionally, Christ had already present much more evidence of that commission by His teachings as well as His miracles. Yet, now, these who had failed to see and understand that singularly important fact were now charging Him with blasphemy. This was the very same people who held in high regard judges whom they readily admitted were “sons” of God. Why then could they not accept the same thing of Him?
The second part of Christ’s answer is in verses 37 and 38.
37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
Remember that He had just declared in verse 30...
30 I and my Father are one.
He and the Father were one in power and operation. Christ was calling them to believe. They were to believe not just because He told them, but they were to believe because of they had witnessed Him do. All the miracles He performed were testimony to the fact that He was indeed the Son of God. All they needed to do was see and admit these miracles were from God. Thus, He was God.
Let me finish with two observations applicable to today.
Christ’s authenticity as God is always supported by two things. These are the two observations.
First, Scripture always authenticates Christ as God.
You cannot study Scripture come away thinking any think different. It is for this reason that Christ Himself always drew upon Scripture as His support. Here in our text, He uses Psalm 82. In it, He directly links Himself to being the Elohim or Judge of all things. It noteworthy that Christ said...
35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Indeed Scripture cannot be broken. It is the Word of God. God’s Word is eternal and will stand forever.
89 LAMED. For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.
152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old That thou hast founded them for ever.
8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: But the word of our God shall stand for ever.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
It is through God’s Word that we learn about God’s plan of salvation. A plan that centers upon His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, without fail, God’s Word testifies that Christ is the Son of God. He is the great “I AM,” Jehovah God.
The second observation then is this. Christ said...
36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
Christ is the One whom the Father “sanctified, and sent.”
There are those who preach and teach the the word “sanctified” means to be cleansed from sin. That is incorrect especially when you consider that Christ said He was “sanctified” by the Father. If the meaning were to be cleansed from sin then that would mean that sin was found in the Son and the Father had to morally cleanse Him. However, that is blasphemy and complete heresy. Sanctification does not mean cleansing. It simply means to be set apart. God’s Divine plan for man’s salvation determined that Christ, the Son of God, would be set apart. He was specially chosen by the Father to fulfill God’s plan in saving men’s souls. Therefore, He was sent. He was set apart and sent into the world. He was God’s Son set apart and sent to be the Savior of all men. For that reason, He then is the only avenue by which one can enter Heaven. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is only way to the Father. Christ came and shed His own blood as payment for our sins. Today, when a person opens their heart allowing faith to come in and they believer all that Christ had done for them, they too are sanctified. Just recently we read and studied this verse in 1 Corinthians 6 which said...
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
The book of Hebrews expounds even more on this thought. Look at Hebrews 10.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Thus, we are saved in Christ are sanctified in Christ. We are set apart. We are His. We belong to Him. And, as we said last week, we are secure in position as believers. No man or thing can separate us from Him. Praise God!
Conclusion
Conclusion
Christ is the great I AM. He is the Son of God. There is no denying that Christ was God incarnate meaning God come in the flesh. He came for one purpose. He came to die for the sins of humanity. Something that He chose to do because of His great love.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
