Eternal Truths for Troubled Times

JESUS IS …

In Matthew 16:13, Jesus asked the question, “Who do men say that I, the son of man, am?” and in verse 15, he asked his disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Mt 16:16. Belief in Jesus Christ as the divine Son of God is the very central theme of Christianity. Everything we do is based on the belief in Jesus; the way we live, the way we face death, and our relationship with God. Therefore it is important that we know who Jesus is and what he means to us.

I) JESUS IS ETERNAL GOD

A) John 1:1 introduces us to the eternal Word, who is Jesus Christ; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

1) John 1:14 further explains “the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.”

2) Verses 2-3 tells us “He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.“

3) Not only was the Word (Jesus) present at the beginning of the world but he was the agent through whom God spoke all things into existence.

(a) There was nothing made without him! (Colossians 1:15-17)

(b) As the power of creation the Word was the original source of life.

(c) This same Word came back to the creation in the form of Jesus to bring life once again – life to people who were dead in spirit because they had left God. Jesus’ life did not begin when he was born as a baby, and it did not end when he died on the cross.

B) In the Old Testament, God refers to himself as I AM. Exodus 3:14, “and God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM. And He said,’ Thus shall you say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.”

1) It seems a small phrase to us (I AM), but we need to understand what it means.

2) The Hebrew letters for the name for God, YHWH (Yahweh or Jehovah) comes from Hebrew word (hayah, or ehyeh) meaning “to be.”

3) It signifies God’s eternal existence. God was, God is, and God ever shall be.

4) In the New Testament, when Jesus referred to himself as I AM, it has all the force of the Old Testament meaning behind it. He is saying I am God. I am eternal.

5) John 8:58 “Jesus said unto them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” John 8: 24 Jesus said, “if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.” (The word “he” is in italics in most translations of the Bible, which means it was added by translators to try to clarify meaning.)

6) Jesus is … not past, not dead, but present and alive. Jesus has always been, Jesus is alive today, and Jesus always will be.

II) JESUS IS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR

A) What do we mean when we talk about a Savior?

1) Savior is defined by Webster’s dictionary as a person who “saves from danger or destruction.”

(a) A man or woman can be a savior of a few people by saving them from a physical danger,

(b) But no one human being can be the Savior of the world, except the divine one (sent from God), Jesus Christ.

B) Why do we need a Savior?

1) Romans 3:10, tells us “There is none righteous, no, not one.”

2) Romans 3:23 states, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Every person who is old enough to be accountable commits sin. And sin comes between us and God.

3) Isaiah 59:1-2 “but your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you.”

4) Revelation 21:27 tells us that nothing sinful can enter heaven. Therefore we all need to be saved from our sins, and we cannot do it ourselves. We need a Savior.

C) What is sin?

1) “Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” I John 3:4.

(a) Sin is failing to obey God’s law.

(b) Sin is doing what God has forbidden (said not to do).

2) But this is not the only way to sin. It is also sin to NOT do what God has commanded.

(a) It is sin to act without God’s authority (or to go beyond what God allows.)

(b) The penalty for sin is death (Ezekiel 18:20 and Romans 6:23.)

D) Jesus came to this world to be our savior.

1) Luke 2:11; “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

2) Jesus said, Luke 19:10.

3) He said, “I AM the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by Me” John 14:6.

E) How does Jesus save us?

1) John 3:16.

2) Jesus said, “if you love me, keep my commandments” John 14:15.

3) If we are to be saved (have everlasting life), we must keep his commandments – we must OBEY him.

4) If we believe in him and obey him, he will save us.

5) Jesus said “…for if you do not believe that I AM (he), you will die in your sins.” John 8:24b “I tell you, no, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:3 “Therefore whoever confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven.” Matt.10:32 He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be condemned.” Mark 16:16

6) Titus 3:4-7

F) What does it mean to say that Jesus is Lord of my life? This means that he is at the very center of my whole life as ruler and master. This means that I am not the one in charge of my life, but that Jesus is. The word Lord (kurios) means ruler, master – the one who has complete authority. In becoming a Christian, the repentant believer confesses “Jesus as Lord” (Romans 10:9-10). He is then buried in the water grave of baptism. Thereafter the Christian’s confession of his Lord is not just with his lips, but with his whole life.

G) It is crucial that Christ and not “self” be enthroned at the center your life.

1) In every person’s heart there is a cross and a throne.

2) When “self” is on the cross, Jesus is on the throne as Lord and Master of that life.

3) This condition is powerfully described by Paul in Galatians 2:20.

4) When we are able to say with Paul, “I am crucified, and Christ lives in me,” then we can be assured that Christ is Lord of our life. “None of self and all of thee” should be more than a song we sing. This should be the tone – the very spirit of submission and selflessness – that pervades our whole existence.

III) JESUS IS THE LAMB OF GOD

A) “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29.

1) In the book of Revelation John writes, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.” (Revelation 5:12).

2) We know from studying other passages that this lamb that was worthy was Christ.

3) John’s reference to Jesus as the Lamb of God calls to mind the Old Testament sacrificial system.

(a) In that system God accepted the blood of animals as the way to make amends (atonement) for sin.

(b) Can you imagine the number of lambs that have been slain through the years as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind?

(c) It seems the primary reference would go back to that scene in Exodus 12, which talks about the passover lamb and the blood on the doorposts.

(d) Since lambs were used as sin-offerings (Lev. 5:6) and Jesus was to become a sin-offering (Isa 53:5-7, 10, 11), it was fitting that John call him “the Lamb of God.”

4) Remember that to use the term “lamb” in relation to Jesus would imply his death! Heb 9:22.

5) It took the blood of Jesus to take away the sins of the world. So if sins were to be taken away, there would have to be the death of Jesus, the only one worthy to make this sacrifice.

6) Revelation 21:9 speaks of those who are cleansed by the blood of the lamb.

(a) Peter affirms that redemption comes by the blood of the lamb (1 Peter 1:18-19).

(b) He also states “you have purified your souls in obeying the truth…” 1 Peter 1:22.

7) Think about the songs we sing that talk about the lamb. “Are you washed in the blood”; “Just as I Am…O Lamb of God I come”, “My faith looks up to thee, thou Lamb of Calvary”, “Near the cross, O Lamb of God”, “Lamb of God”. These songs and others remind us that Jesus is the Lamb of God whose blood was shed that we can have our sins forgiven.

8) Revelation 7:13-17.

IV) JESUS IS KING OF KINGS

A) In John’s vision of the victorious Christ the Lord had “… on His robe and on His thigh a name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords” Revelation 19:16.

1) John also declared Jesus to be “the ruler of the kings of the earth” Revelation 1:5.

2) Paul also described Christ as “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” 1 Tim. 6:15.

B) In this world, what is involved with being a king? (1) there is a king; (2) there is land or territory; (3) there are people ruled (subjects); and (4) there is law (the king’s laws/orders).

1) Our country does not have a king; we have a president.

2) However there are many countries that do have kings or queens as their rulers.

3) Jesus is a King and his Kingdom is the Church.

4) He rules the hearts and lives of his people.

5) Not only is Jesus the King over his Kingdom, but the Bible tells us that Jesus is the King of Kings. In other words, He is the King over all the kings and rulers on earth.

C) The most obvious and immediate implication of Jesus’ being “King of kings and Lord of lords” is his universal sovereignty (ruler over the universe.)

1) If He is over all other kings and rulers, he is over all of their subjects.

2) This, of course, includes every person on the face of the earth and everyone who ever lived.

3) God gave His Son “authority over all flesh” John 17:2. ( Matthew 28:18)

4) . Peter preached that Christ was “Lord of all” Acts 10:36, and Paul wrote that He was “over all” Romans 9:5.

5) The universal rule of Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords implies that all people are accountable to His law, His will, and His word.

(a) How does any ruler rule except through his law?

(b) This is the means by which the Lord of heaven and earth exercises His authority over men.

(c) Thus, if all people are subject (accountable) to Jesus Christ, all men are accountable to His will.

V) JESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE

A) I Peter 3:21-23.

1) Jesus showed us the way of righteous living.

2) Whatever his attitude was, so must be our attitude.

3) Whatever his practice was, must be our practice.

4) It is like we hear so often, what would Jesus do?

5) It is more than a slogan or a saying for the kids; it is how we must live our lives.

6) We must do what Jesus would and did do.

B) Some years ago, a novelist by the name of Charles Sheldon wrote the book, “In His Steps.”

1) It was dealing with the subject “what would Jesus do?”

2) He was trying to give us some idea of what might happen if folks really tried to follow in the steps of Jesus on a daily basis.

3) We sometimes sing the song, “Stepping in the Light” which begins: “Trying to walk in the steps of the Savior. Trying to follow our Savior and King; Shaping our lives by His blessed example, Happy, how happy, the songs that we bring.”

4) Following the example of Christ is the highest ambition that anyone can have.

5) Yet in the daily routine and cares of life, this goal may get lost from our view.

6) Therefore, it is of value to look at the example of Jesus and how we must follow his pattern in our lives.

C) This word Example comes from the word “hupogrammos”.

1) Thayer says “A writing-copy including all the letters of the alphabet, given to beginners as an aid in learning to draw them.”

2) Vine states, “Literally, an under-writing…to trace letters for copying by scholars.”

3) This brings to mind the writing tablets used for kindergarten and first grade that have lines for practicing and letters to look at and trace until the child learns to write well on his own.

4) Jesus is the perfect example for us to “trace” and to follow as we are learning to be the best we can possibly be.

(a) Sometimes that may discourage us when we see ourselves as we really are—with all our inabilities —and then see what we must do.

(b) Think about the first time you tried to write or the first time you tried to ride a bicycle or any number of things. Did you automatically know how to do it? And to do it right? Of course not. You had to be taught and guided, and you had to practice over and over before you figured it out and became proficient.

5) Another point to consider as we think about that writing tablet; a child does very well in coping the letters when he is on the first line and close to the sample letter.

6) The further down the page he goes, the worse it gets.

7) The farther away from the perfect letter, the harder it is to copy.

8) The same is true for us. The closer we live to Jesus Christ, the better people we are. The farther away we go, the worse we become – the less like Jesus.

9) For us to follow his perfect example, we have to live our lives close to Jesus.

10) We never stop growing, learning, practicing.

D) Philippians 2:5-8. “Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus…”

1) Whatever his attitude toward a particular thing was, that must be our attitude toward it as well.

2) If he was obedient—then we must be obedient.

3) If he was patient—so must I;

4) If he was compassionate—I have to do the same attitude.

5) If he was forgiving—I must be as well.

6) If he was a servant—then I must be a servant.

E) It does not require a great amount of study to realize that the overriding principle, which guided Jesus’ life was loving obedience to his father. (John 5:30; 8:29)

Con: Jesus Is… Eternal…Lord & Savior…Lamb of God…King of Kings…Example… Obedient. What is he to you? [Based on Material written for Jackson/Smith County Youth Camp by Larry Cole]