May I encourage you to listen, as I deliver today’s lesson for the benefit of each of us here today and for all those who will read this later in an email or on our church website.
True Christians are the church of God (Acts 20:28). We follow God and Him only. But Jesus is God, so we are the church of Christ (Romans 16:16), and we follow Jesus and Him only. We don’t follow any man other than God (Jesus). We don’t follow the Pope, the Prime Minister of the UK., Joseph Smith, John Calvin, Ellen G. White, or Billy Graham. Remember, you don’t even follow me (except as I follow Jesus (READ: 1 Corinthians 11:1).
We don’t follow any man. We only follow God through His Son Jesus who has been revealed to us by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, the Word of God. Since we are following Jesus, wouldn’t it be wise to know who He is?
WHO IS JESUS? Since He came into this world, those have asked, “Who is this man? Is He just a man, or is He the Son of God and the Savior of the world?” From the Scriptures, we may see that Jesus is, indeed, the Christ, the Son of the living God.
I). (Jesus is referred to as “God” in the Bible) The prophet Isaiah, in Isaiah 9:6-7, called him “the mighty God.” In John 1:1-3,14, Jesus is called “the Word” which became flesh and dwelled among men. In (Heb. 1:8 we read, “But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.” ) In John 3:16, Jesus is called the “only begotten Son” of God sent to save the world from sin. Yes, Jesus is Divine, according to the Scriptures. He is referred to as God, as the living Word, and as the only begotten Son of God. He is the Christ, not just a good man or a great teacher.
II). (Jesus showed that He is God) Who but God has the power to create? Yet, in (John 1:1-3, we read that all things were created through Jesus Christ). Who is to be worshiped but God? According to Scriptures: (READ: Matthew 4:10, Revelation 19:10, and Rev. 22:9), show that men are to worship God. But Jesus accepted the worship of men while on earth (READ: Matthew 8:2; 9:18). Therefore, Jesus is God.
He is eternal. He is not a created being. He is the author of creation. He is the living Word through whom all things were created. The epistle to the Colossians sets forth the dignity and the Divinity of Christ (READ: Colossians 1:13-20). Also in (Philippians 2:9-11, Paul wrote: Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father).
Thus, Jesus Christ is more than an angel and He is more than a prophet. Jesus Christ is Divinity. He is the only begotten Son of the heavenly Father. Who has the right to forgive sins? God has the right to forgive sins; yet, while on earth, Jesus had the power to forgive sins and to heal miraculously (Mark 2:1-12). Only God can forgive sins. Therefore, since Jesus forgave sins while on earth, Jesus is Divine.
Jesus is also spoken of as equal with God the Father and with the Holy Spirit. In (Genesis 1:26 we read, “AND GOD SAID, LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, AFTER OUR LIKENESS…” Those present were God the Father, God the Son (known to believers as Jesus the Christ), and God the Holy Spirit – the Godhead. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit worked together in these mighty acts of creating the world (Genesis 1:1-2).
III). (We note that Jesus was one with the Father). In (John 10:30, we read, “I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE.”) These are the words of Jesus describing His relationship to the Father. They are one in nature, purpose, and teaching. Philip once said to Jesus (READ: John 14:8-9, Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father?)
Yes, Jesus was one with His Father.
In Philippians chapter 2, there is a statement that shows that Jesus was one with God. The Bible says (READ: Phil 2:5-8, said: Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross). What has been said of Jesus here is true of no other person who has ever lived.
Just as the centurion declared, as he stood before the cross of Christ and watched the Son of God crucified for the sins of the world..Said: “TRULY THIS WAS THE SON OF GOD” (Matthew 27:54). Jesus is the Son of God! He is not a mere man! He is not a created being! He is not one of the angels! He is above the angels! He is the only begotten Son of God!
The entire epistle to the Hebrews points out the contrast between the old Law of Moses and the New Covenant of Christ. It also exalts Jesus above all. The epistle begins (READ: Hebrew 1:1-4 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they).
IV. (Finally, we can know that Jesus is the Son of God by the miracles He did) Jesus asked the Jews, “Why do you say, concerning the one whom the Father set apart as His very own and sent Him into the world, that I am blaspheming because I say I am the Son of God?” (John 10:36). Notice He said, “The Father sanctified or set me apart as His very own.” It is clear that Jesus Christ is above all others. There has never been anybody like Jesus. He is unique. Of all the beings in Heaven, not a single one was set apart like Jesus. He was set apart, sanctified, assigned a mission, sent into the world to die for us, and even now, is at the right hand of God as our great High Priest, as King over His spiritual kingdom, the church.
How reasonable is it to believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Listen to the rest of His words in (John 10:37-38, Jesus said: If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him”).
What Jesus said was this: If you want to know that I am the Son of God, just look at the miracles I have performed. Think about that!
The Gospel of Mark tells us story after story of the miracles of Jesus, proving Him to be the Son of God. One time He was in the village of Capernaum. There was a man who had an evil spirit. Jesus walked up to this man and said to the evil spirit, “Come out of him.” The evil spirit wrenched his body and shrieked as it came out of the man (READ: Mark 1:21-27). On another occasion, there was a man who had leprosy. His flesh was covered with sores. He came to Jesus saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched the man. Immediately his skin was restored to its normal condition (READ: Mark 1:40-42). A ruler of the synagogue came to Jesus and said, “My little daughter is ill and at the point of death,” but she died before Jesus got to her. When Jesus arrived at Jairus’ house, He with a few others went into the room where the child was. He took her lifeless hand and told her to get up. Immediately she stood up and walked around the room. The people were all amazed because they had never seen anything like that (READ: Mark 5:21-43).
QUESTION:
Why did Jesus do these things? He did them to show that the Father was in Him and He was in the Father. He did them so that we might believe He was the Son of God come to earth (READ: John 20:30-31). He did many more miracles, but the ultimate miracle was His own resurrection. The Scripture says, “Early on the first day of the week when Jesus rose from the dead…” (READ: Mark 16:9).
Again who is Jesus? He’s the Son of God. How can you really know Jesus is the Son of God? You can know because He fulfilled many ancient prophecies (READ: Luke 24:27). The place of His birth was foretold (READ: Micah 5:2). The time of His coming was foretold (READ: Daniel 2:44). His virgin birth was promised (READ: Isaiah. 7:14). His divine name was predicted (READ: Isaiah 9:6). He lived a sinless life (READ: 1 Peter 2:21-23). His enemies could not deny His miracles (READ: Acts 4:16). His atoning death was foretold (READ: Isaiah 53:5-12). His crucifixion was pre-announced (READ: Psalm. 22:1-8). His resurrection was promised (READ: Psalm. 16:10). His resurrection is ultimate proof (READ: Matthew 12:38-40). His tomb remains empty to this day (READ: Mark 16:4-7). His church will never be destroyed (Matthew 16:18). He convinced His strongest critics of His divinity (READ: Acts 6:7; 9:1-19). His teachings bring out the best in all (READ: John 10:10).
Brethren and fellow friends. With all of this proof that Jesus is the Son of God, it is important that you give your life wholly to Jesus. Your relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important matter you will ever be concerned with. The Bible says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (John 3:36).
Your relationship with Jesus is more important than marriage; more important than having children, more important than graduating from high school or college, and important than landing a good job. Jesus is the most important person you will ever know. He said (John 14:6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me). It would be a mistake to think you could ever be good enough to go to Heaven on your own. Salvation is by grace, not by works of merit. It is promised to believers, not achievers. If you want to go to Heaven, you’ve got to go through Jesus. It is clear that through obedience to His gospel, we may be made citizens of that spiritual kingdom, His body over which He is Head. Then, by continuing to live faithfully in His body, we may one day spend eternity with Him.
To be members of His church, the body of the saved, we must come to God through Jesus, believing in Christ as the only begotten Son of God (John 8:24). We must then repent of our sins; that is, change our minds and then change our lives, turning away from sin (Luke 13:3). Then we must confess Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, and be buried in baptism for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 8:36-39). It is then that we are cleansed by the blood of Christ, and added by the Lord to the church of Christ, which was purchased with His precious blood (READ: Acts 2:41,47; 20:28). God bless you all.
Today’s lesson has been delivered by; Bro. Robert H. Brown
