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| Who Is Jesus - And Why We All Need To Know And Trust Him - |
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Need2Know
 Posted:
Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:19 am |
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Who Is Jesus - And Why We All Need To Know And Trust Him
The Prince of Peace… The Word made man… Savior and Lord… The King of Kings… The Lion of Judah… The Lamb of God
When Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his followers, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They answered, “Some say you are John the Baptist. Others say you are Elijah, and still others say you are Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Then Jesus asked them, “And who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because no person taught you that. My Father in heaven showed you who I am.” (Matthew 16:13-17, NCV)
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When Christians answer the question “Who Is Jesus?” they build their answer on the Bible – on the things Jesus said about Himself, on the prophecies from the Old Testament that foretold his coming, and the doctrines laid out about Christ through the rest of the New Testament.
There is little historical question that Jesus existed, but people do often wonder about His divine nature, His miracles, and His offer of eternal salvation through grace “first to the Jew and also to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16)… in other words, to all mankind.
Because the love that Jesus offers comes in the form of a “personal relationship” with Him, many believers have particular definitions about who the Lord is to them.
The gospel of Jesus is literally “good news,” and it brings to light the miracle and wonder of what the God of all creation did for you.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8897
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| Need2Know
Posted:
Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:21 am |
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He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. (Psalm 118:22)
He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth. -Isaiah 25:8-
The Old Testament was completed hundreds of years before Jesus was born. A large number of prophecies were made in astonishing detail by many people throughout these books. In fact, fulfilled prophecy is one of the distinguishing marks of the Bible, authenticating its claim to be the inspired Word of God.
For example, the Old Testament indicated Jesus would be betrayed by someone he trusted. "Even my close friend whom I trusted, he who has shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me" (Psalm 41:9). The New Testament, which records Jesus' life and resurrection, reveals that one of the 12 people Jesus chose to be part of his inner circle betrayed him: "Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them" (Mark 14:10).
More than 300 Messianic prophecies like this were made in the Old Testament and then fulfilled through Jesus' life, death and resurrection. The chances of one person fulfilling a mere eight of these prophecies are one-in-100,000,000,000,000,000. For one person to fulfill 48 of these prophecies, the number becomes staggering – one chance in 10-to-the-157th power. Add to that the 250 other prophecies, and it becomes impossible for any other person except Jesus to ever fit that particular sequence of time and events.
A FEW EXAMPLES
Messiah to be born of a virgin: Prophesied – Isaiah 7:14; Fulfilled – Matthew 1:18-25
Messiah to be accursed and crucified: Prophesied – Deuteronomy 21:22-23, Psalm 22, Psalm 69:21; Fulfilled – Matthew 27:34-50; John 19:28-30, Galatians 3:13
Messiah to be raised from the dead: Prophesied – Psalm 16:10; Fulfilled – Acts 13:35-37
Last edited by Need2Know on Tue Sep 30, 2008 12:00 pm; edited 3 times in total
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
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| Need2Know
Posted:
Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:23 am |
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“So Jesus tried again. ‘When you raise up the Son of Man, then you will know who I am - that I'm not making this up, but speaking only what the Father taught Me. The One who sent Me stays with Me. He doesn't abandon Me. He sees how much joy I take in pleasing Him’” (John 8:28-29, The Message).
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being” (John 1:1-3, NAS).
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, NLT).
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From The Book of Acts
The Book of Acts describes how Christianity moved from being seen as a sect of Judaism into a world religion because the spirit of God moved in the lives of those who had witnessed Jesus, and who now carried His message of salvation into all the world.
At Pentecost, Peter preaches, “Let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ – this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:22-36).
From Paul’s Letters
The Apostle Paul wrote numerous letters to the churches he helped establish in southern Europe and Asia Minor, helping to answer questions or solve disputes over Christian theology.
“Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
“For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11).
“Just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:5).
“It was for freedom that Christ set us free” (Galatians 5:1).
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25).
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5-7).
“And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation” (Colossians 1:15).
From The Book of Hebrews
The Book of Hebrews is about the superiority of Christ – over prophets, angels, Moses, and priests. He made Himself our High Priest, so that we can all become priests with our own access to the Father.
“God… has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things” (Hebrews 1:1-2).
From The Book of Revelation
“Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5).
From Demons
“Suddenly they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?" (Matthew 8:29).
What’s a Testament?
The Old and New Testaments are covenants God has made with His people. Covenants are binding agreements made with blood. The New Testament represents the new agreement God has with man because of all the requirements and prophecies Jesus fulfilled.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8897
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| Need2Know
Posted:
Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:24 am |
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It was one of Jesus’ favorite ways to refer to Himself. He’s quoted 85 times in the King James Version of the New Testament calling Himself the “Son of Man.” Here are some of His human characteristics:
Jew who grew up in Nazareth, learned carpentry from his earthly father, “grew in wisdom & stature, and in favor with God and man,” (Luke 2:52) and began a ministry throughout Israel at age 30.
The cousin of John the Baptist, who proclaimed the coming of the Messiah.
Was baptized by John at the beginning of His ministry, at which point a voice from the heavens proclaimed, “Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well-pleased.” (Luke 3:22, NAS)
Was tempted by Satan in the wilderness for 40 days, at which time He fasted and prayed, and resisted temptation by quoting scripture.
Was misunderstood by His family and those of His hometown.
The half-brother of James, who authored the Book of James, and was a leader of the early church.
After ministering, healing, and teaching for three years, was crucified outside Jerusalem during the feast of Passover by the Romans at the demand of Jewish religious leaders.
Had human needs to eat, drink, and sleep. Showed human emotions of love, happiness, sadness, and anger… but not fear, hatred, or pride.
Born in Bethlehem into a poor family where the mother, Mary, was a virgin. Both she and Joseph the “step-father” were of the line of David and the tribe of Judah, fulfilling prophecies from: Micah 5:2, Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14, Genesis 49:10, Psalm 132:11, Jeremiah 23:5, and Isaiah 11:10.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRIST'S HUMANITY
Living on earth for 33 years, Jesus experienced every temptation you and I face, which is why “the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation” (2 Peter 2:9). He also showed us how to model our behavior. 1 Peter 2:21 says, “Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.”
So, He knows what we go through. A god-savior could forgive sins, but would not be able to relate to the sinners. A man-savior would be able to relate to humanity, but would not have the authority or power to forgive sins or return from the dead. It was necessary that Jesus be both.
In doing so, he became “the New Adam.”
“For as in Adam [the first man, through whom sin entered the world] all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. So also it is written, ‘The first man, Adam, became a living soul.’ The last Adam became a life-giving spirit” (1 Corinthians 15:22, 45).
WHO KILLED JESUS?
With the release of the film The Passion of the Christ, this question again became something of an issue. Was Pilate responsible? Was it Rome? Was it the Sanhedrin, or the entire Hebrew Nation? Or did you and I kill Jesus?
Yes. And no. First, He’s not dead. Upon His death He descended into Hell, where He took the keys and ministered to the dead. After three days, He came back to life, and not as a spirit, but with flesh and bones. When, after 40 days, He left His followers again, He ascended into Heaven, where He sits at the right hand of the Father until the time comes when He will return.
Second, Christ offered Himself up as a sacrifice, which is why we are to daily offer up ourselves as “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1). With armies of angels and the power of the heavens at His command, would it have been possible to hang the Son of God on a cross without His permission? What’s more, how awful would it be for us now had nobody “killed” Jesus? We required His perfect blood to wash our sins away. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22).
Therefore, to blame any individual or group for “murdering” Jesus is incorrect, and a dishonor to His sacrifice.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8897
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| Need2Know
Posted:
Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:25 am |
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JESUS WAS NOT SIMPLY A GOOD MORAL TEACHER.
How, in the name of logic, common sense, and experience, could an impostor -- that is a deceitful, selfish, depraved man -- have invented and consistently maintained from the beginning to end, the purest and noblest character known in history with the most perfect air of truth and reality? How could He have conceived and successfully carried out a plan of unparalleled beneficence, moral magnitude, and sublimity, and sacrificed His own life for it, in the face of the strongest prejudices of His people and age? (Philip Schaff, The Person of Christ. New York: American Tract Society, 1913, 94-95)
C.S. Lewis, one-time atheist and author of The Chronicles of Narnia, put the dilemma this way:
A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said [about Himself] would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic -- on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg -- or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon, or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come away with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to. (Mere Christianity)
Jesus would have to have been lying or insane (not the qualities of a good moral teacher) to call Himself the Son of God and the Savior of mankind if it weren’t true.
Therefore, to separate what is comfortable about Jesus – His kindness, His message of unconditional love, His healing of the sick – from that which is less comfortable (He was born of a virgin, He claimed to be God, He rose from the dead) isn’t really possible.
There are four options open to a person dealing with Jesus. You may consider Him: a legend, a liar, a lunatic, or Lord and God. If He existed, then He's not a legend. If He's a liar, that goes against everything else we know about His character. If He's a lunatic, how to explain the consistency in His message, the constancy of His love? If those options are removed, where does that leave you?
JESUS WAS/IS NOT A POLITICAL MESSIAH
This is one reason some Jews of Jesus’ time could not believe He was their Savior – He didn’t deliver them from the oppression of their Roman occupiers. He never actually intended to. The deliverance Christ offered and still offers today is of a spiritual nature, reconciling mankind to God (Matthew 11:27). The peace this Messiah brings is internal. His hope is for each human to be restored to a relationship with God, which sin has broken.
Last edited by Need2Know on Tue Sep 30, 2008 12:06 pm; edited 1 time in total
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N2K
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| Need2Know
Posted:
Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:27 am |
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JESUS – literally, “God saves.” In the original Hebrew, the name is Yeshua, “salvation,” and/or “The Lord who is salvation.” It is the name the Angel of the Lord told Joseph to bestow upon Him (Matthew 1:20-21).
And there is power in His name: “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. 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” (Philippians 2:8-11).
CHRIST – Not His last name. It’s a Greek title meaning “Anointed Messiah.”
It denotes that He was… consecrated to his great redemptive work as Prophet, Priest, and King of his people… To believe that ‘Jesus is the Christ’ is to believe that He is the Anointed, the Messiah of the prophets, the Savior sent of God, that He was… what He claimed to be. This is to believe the gospel, by the faith of which alone men can be brought unto God. That Jesus is the Christ is the testimony of God, and the faith of this constitutes a Christian (1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 John 5:1). (Easton’s 1897 Bible Dictionary).
MESSIAH – The deliverer whose coming was foretold by the prophets of the Old Testament. Jews still await the coming of their Messiah today (link to MessiahRevealed.org).
SALVATION – The condition of being redeemed by faith, saved by grace from an eternity of damnation. Salvation is also the belief that the death and resurrection of Christ accomplished:
Substitution – Christ sacrificed Himself in the place of sinners, just for unjust
Redemption – He paid the price of sin for each individual who accepts it
Reconciliation – Man is no longer alienated from God
Propitiation – God is satisfied with the sacrificial death of His perfect lamb as payment for sin
The Fulfillment of The Law
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8897
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| Need2Know
Posted:
Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:29 am |
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THE PROBLEM: Holy God and sinful man.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
"The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
The word “sin” is used in a lot of ways, but the essential meaning and result of sin is separation from God, since it involves pride -- man thinking more highly of his own ways than God’s. Without Jesus, His sacrifice and resurrection, connecting to God is not possible because of sin. We all have sinned, the results of which are death and an eternity separated from God. Since God is Holy, there can be no imperfection in His presence.
But death was not God’s plan for us. Abundant and eternal life (John 10:10) is what Jesus came to bring.
Why? Because even though man was broken and earth given over to evil, God never stopped loving us. Romans 5:8 says, "But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."
THE RE-CONNECTION TO GOD
Nothing but Jesus could have permanently fixed the problem – it was a gap that could not be bridged. Your best work just can’t get you to Heaven. Even if you could somehow achieve a score of 99 out of 100 in life, you’d still need a sacrificial savior to make up the difference and pay off your debt. That’s the difference between Grace and the Law. James 2:10 says, "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all."
However, “God saved you by His special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). You can’t earn a gift – it's an unmerited favor. You do, however, have to make the choice to accept it.
So, we all, as sinners, have to turn to God for forgiveness of sin, and trust that Jesus died to give us new life that we may be born again (John 3:3; 1 Peter 1:23).
Faith is the key. It’s the cause and effect of our hope for salvation. If there is truly “no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12), then your acceptance of God’s gift, your admission that you are a sinner, your repentance (changing of your mind), and your faith in the real-but-unseen Lord is all that can bring eternal and abundant life.
If knowing about Jesus has stirred your heart to hear even more, receive forgiveness for your sins, renew your Christian walk, or get involved in ministry, you may pray the following prayer and mean it with all your heart, this is a solemn moment between you and God:
"Lord God, thank you for loving me enough to send your one and only Son to die for me. I know I am a sinner, and that Jesus was crucified and raised to life to pay a debt I was unable to pay, in order that I may live with You forever. I want to turn from my way of life and follow Jesus. I invite Jesus into my heart as the Lord of my life. Thank you, Father, for giving me new life in the name of Jesus. Amen!"
What’s the next step? Connect with other Christians, learn more, find a Bible teaching church.
Last edited by Need2Know on Wed Oct 08, 2008 7:52 am; edited 1 time in total
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8897
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| Need2Know
Posted:
Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:08 am |
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Very Worth Repeating:
A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said [about Himself] would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic -- on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg -- or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon, or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God.
But let us not come away with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.
Jesus would have to have been lying or insane (not the qualities of a good moral teacher) to call Himself the Son of God and the Savior of mankind if it weren’t true.
Therefore, to separate what is comfortable about Jesus – His kindness, His message of unconditional love, His healing of the sick – from that which is less comfortable (He was born of a virgin, He claimed to be God, He rose from the dead) isn’t really possible.
There are four options open to a person dealing with Jesus. You may consider Him: a legend, a liar, a lunatic, or Lord and God. If He existed, then He's not a legend. If He's a liar, that goes against everything else we know about His character. If He's a lunatic, how to explain the consistency in His message, the constancy of His love? If those options are removed, where does that leave you?
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8897
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| Need2Know
Posted:
Mon Oct 06, 2008 11:41 am |
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Jesus is Human. He became our supreme example as God in human form (see Philippinans 2:5-11)
Jesus is Divine. Even though He became human, He still remained God (see Colossians 1:15-20).
He had a specific mission to accomplish. He came to save humankind from sin (see Luke 4:16-21).
He made the ultimate sacrifice. He endured tremendous pain, so we could enjoy eternity with Him.
He has great power to change people. He has transformed countless lives and given them purpose and meaning. He can change your life too.
He has external dominion. His kingdom extends beyond the boundaries of space and time.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8897
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| Need2Know
Posted:
Mon Oct 06, 2008 12:03 pm |
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"That's My King"
The late Dr. S. M. Lockeridge, a pastor from San Diego, California
said these words in a sermon in Detroit in 1976:
My King was born King. The Bible says He's a Seven Way King. He's the King of the Jews - that's an Ethnic King. He's the King of Israel - that's a National King. 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.
Well, I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him? Don't try to mislead me. Do you know my King? David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork. My King is the only one of whom there are no means of measure that can define His limitless love. No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of the shore of His supplies. 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 sinner's saviour. He's the centerpiece of civilization. He stands alone in Himself. He's honest. He's unique. He's unparalleled. He's unprecedented. He's supreme. He's pre-eminent. He's the grandest idea in literature. He's the highest personality in philosophy. He's the supreme problem in higher criticism. He's the fundamental doctrine of historic theology. He's the carnal 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 our needs simultaneously. He supplies strength for the weak. He's available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He's the Almighty God who guides and keeps all his people. He heals the sick. He cleanses the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharged 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. That's my King.
Do you know Him? Well, my King is a King 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 legislatures. 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.
His office is manifold. His promise is sure. His light 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 . . . but He's indescribable. That's my King. He's incomprehensible, He's invincible, and He is irresistible.
I'm coming to tell you this, that the heavens of heavens can't contain Him, let alone some 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 about Him. 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 the fact that He had no predecessor and He'll have no successor. There's 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! That's my King!
Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Well, all the power belongs to my King. We're around here talking about black power and white power and green power, but in the end all that matters is God's power. Thine is the power. Yeah. And the glory. We try to get prestige and honor and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His. Yes. Thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory, forever and ever and ever and ever. How long is that? Forever and ever and ever and ever. . . And when you get through with all of the ever's, then . . .Amen!
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8897
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| Need2Know
Posted:
Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:08 pm |
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Jesus Has a Question for You
by Charles R. Swindoll
At the zenith of His career, Jesus pulled away to the secluded area of Caesarea Philippi. On His mind was a crucial question for His disciples-and for us as well. Travel back with me to the scene as it unfolds.
The surroundings are impressive. Flowing springs. Lush gardens. Monuments and temples dedicated to the worship of the Greek god Pan line the pathways. A massive, white marble temple to Caesar looms tall. Perhaps standing in the midst of the monuments and the buildings and the shrines and the temples built to the gods, Jesus leans forward and says rather quietly to a small handful of men-knowing there was not one monument built in His honor, not one building erected to His glory-"Who do the people say that the Son of Man is?" (Matthew 16:13).
He is posing an opinion-poll question about Himself. "What's the buzz?" He asks. According to verse 14, the disciples respond spontaneously, "Some say John the Baptist." Now remember, John's dead. He's been beheaded by Herod Antipas. Some people are saying that Jesus is John the Baptist raised from the dead. That's why He has miraculous powers.
The disciples continue, "Some say . . . Elijah." Elijah had ministered hundreds of years earlier. For centuries the Jews viewed Elijah as the prince of the prophets who would be the forerunner, but not the Messiah. And a third answer comes: "Some say . . . Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." British scholar Alfred Plummer describes these on-the-street opinions as "wild and fluctuating guesses."¹ But they all boil down to this: "He's a man."
Then Jesus narrows His gaze and personalizes the question for His men: "But who do you say that I am?" (16:15, emphasis added). In Matthew's original text, Jesus emphasizes "you"-and it's plural. He’s asking each man who they think He is.
I don't know how much time passes between verses 15 and 16, but Peter can't stand the silence any longer. And even though the question was addressed to the group, Peter speaks for all of them. That's like Peter, isn't it? I love his answer.
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (16:16).
We have at times laughed at Simon Peter. But here's a moment when we must salute him. He's never had a greater moment than this. Christ is the flesh-and-bone God, not a fixed-in-stone god. And notice the definite articles. This isn't a generalized series of wild guesses. This isn't public opinion talking here. This is a specific answer about the Messiah, the Son of the living God.
Can you picture the scene? Peter didn't always get it right, but he nailed it this time! How great is that!
Now imagine for a moment that Jesus turns His gaze from Peter and the disciples . . . to you. He has a question for you also: "Who am I to you?" He asks.
There can be no greater question you could answer. "Who is Jesus Christ to you?" Your reply must be, "The Son of the living God, my Savior, and my God."
Who else could He be? There is no one else qualified to grant forgiveness but Jesus. There is no one other than Christ who will stay closer to you when everyone or everything is stripped from you. There is no one else who can turn your bitterness into relief or turn your grief into joy. There is no one else you can trust with your deepest and most scandalous secret, only Jesus. Only He can relieve the abuse. Only He can erase the bitterness and remove the scars. All other counselors and friends can simply put arms around you, weep with you, and point you to Him. But only He can change you!
And that's just what He can do in this life. When you've taken your last breath and you step into eternity, having answered Jesus's question with faith, there is not a soul who has ever lived who will be by your side but Jesus. He alone is qualified to escort you from the grave to glory. He alone is God.
Jesus has a question for you. Aren't you glad you have the answer?
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
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| Need2Know
Posted:
Mon Oct 27, 2008 10:00 am |
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"BEAUTY FOR ASHES"
I. JESUS IS TRYING TO PREPARE HIS DISCIPLES FOR THE BITTER SHOCK AND DISAPPOINTMENT THEY WILL HAVE WHEN THEY SEE HIM DYING ON THE CROSS.
A. From the first acknowledgement of their belief that He was the Messiah He was trying to let them know that things were not going to be as they were expecting.
1. They were expecting the Messiah to set up the Kingdom of God immediately, and were even in arguments as to who would receive the greater position when He set up His kingdom.
2. Jesus was trying to let them know that He had come to present Himself as the Messiah, but He would be rejected, turned over to the Gentiles and be crucified, but that He would rise again on the third day.
3. Somehow they just could not comprehend this concept of the Messiah. In fact Peter rebuked Jesus for even suggesting that He would be put to death.
4. Matthew records in his gospel the many times Jesus spoke to them of His death and resurrection.
MAT 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
MAT 17:22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.
MAT 20:17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
MAT 20:19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify [him]: and the third day he shall rise again.
MAT 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
MAT 26:2 Ye know that after two days is [the feast of] the passover, and the Son of man will be betrayed and be crucified.
B. Now we have come to the eve of the crucifixion, and once again Jesus seeks to prepare them for the sorrow they will soon experience.
1. He said,
JOH 16:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
JOH 16:22 And you now will have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man can take from you.
II. IN THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAH AS HE SPOKE OF JESUS, HE SAID:
ISA 61:1 The spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [those that are] bound;
ISA 61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
ISA 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
C. This is the passage that Jesus read when He first began His public ministry in the synagogue in Nazareth. Upon reading the first portion of this passage He rolled up the scroll and proclaimed, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled before your eyes." Declaring that He was the Messiah.
D. The things that the Messiah would do:
1. Bind the brokenhearted.
a. There are so many people in the world today whose hearts are broken.
b. The heart break of a broken relationship.
c. The broken heart over the death or serious illness of a loved one.
d. Jesus can bind up your broken heart.
2. To comfort all who mourn.
a. He came to comfort you who mourn.
3. To give beauty for ashes.
a. Some have burned out their lives at a very early age.
b. I see the pitiful sights of young people who by their very appearance you know that their lives are already ashes.
c. The filthy clothes, the matted hair, the blank stare in their eyes as they push the shopping cart with all of their possessions down the street.
d. You know that the drugs or alcohol has already taken its toll and they are burned out.
e. Jesus can give beauty for ashes. I think of the thousands and thousands of people who today are living worthwhile wonderful productive lives who the Lord picked up out of the ashes and brought beauty into their lives.
4. The oil of Joy for mourning.
a. He can turn your mourning into joy.
5. The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.
E. In John 16 Jesus is telling His disciples you are going to be weeping and lamenting while the world around you is rejoicing.
1. When they see Him hanging on the cross, and they realize that when He talked about His being crucified, He was not speaking allegorically but of an actual experience they are going to weep and lament.
2. Their hopes will be dashed, they will lose their will to live.
3. Don't you know that on that Sabbath they sat around weeping and and lamenting. They were feeling total despair.
4. That was probably one of the most miserable days of their lives.
5. Hopes and plans for the future shattered. Where do you go back to try to pick up the broken pieces of your life to start over again?
6. Oh what a difference a day can make.
F. Jesus said, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.
1. Just a day but what a difference when Sunday comes and they find that the tomb is empty.
2. It is interesting that the angels sort of rebuked those who came to the empty tomb they said, "Why are you seeking the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen just as He said."
3. Jesus said to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus when they spoke of their hope in Jesus in the past tense. Oh foolish and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have said concerning the Messiah.
4. What a contrast of emotions from the deepest sorrow, to the highest joy.
G. What was it that brought them such great sorrow?
1. Their failure to believe His word.
2. Their unbelief.
3. Unbelief will have you weeping when you should be rejoicing.
4. Not believing God's word can cause great anxiety and sorrow.
H. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
1. Today He can give you beauty for ashes.
2. The oil of joy for your mourning.
3. And the garment of praise for your heaviness.
I. The resurrection is what did it.
1. Resurrection Sunday was more than just the resurrection of Jesus.
2. It was a resurrection of their joy.
3. It was a resurrection of their hope.
J. To some people Jesus is still in the grave. They have no hope for the future, no hope of life after death. They have put their whole life in this world, but now this world is falling apart, and men's hearts are beginning to fail them because of the things that are coming to pass in this world.
What a sad day for those whose hope is in this world only. Their world is falling apart at the seams. What exciting days for those who know and believe the word of Jesus, for we know that a new, better world is just around the corner.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8897
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| Need2Know
Posted:
Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:25 am |
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I Choose Forgiveness
by Dr. James MacDonald
How eternally blessed is the one whose sins are covered!
It's so true, isn't it? Think of the crowd of people on the broad road through life, carrying their sin with them, and compare them to the few people who chose the forgiveness of their sins in God. Everything begins to fall into place when you have made the choice to be forgiven by God.
Have you been forgiven? Have you had your sin washed away? Are there not many things hanging in the attic of your conscience that you long to have washed clean? Do you long to know that the God who made you and loves you has provided a way to forgive you completely?
Here's a choice you can make today that will forever alter your identity and your life: you can choose God's forgiveness. Because of God's grace and mercy, you can be forgiven.
Grace: getting what we don't deserve.
Mercy: not getting what we do deserve.
You might be thinking, "This forgiveness thing sounds like a pretty good deal. God is going to just wipe away my sin? God will say, 'Oh, it's OK, never mind about your sin'?"
No. That's not it at all. Because of God's holy, pure, righteous character, He could never lightly dismiss sin. Sin is not a trifle-it's a terror. So you have to get this next part.
God doesn't dismiss sin; He pays for it Himself. All of God's wrath for all the selfish, prideful things you've done; all the good that you should have done but is left undone; and all of your indifference to God-God placed the sum of it squarely on Jesus Christ. As it says in 1 John 4:10, "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." You don't really get Christianity until you understand that Jesus paid for your sin.
By the way, evangelical churches are filled with people who don't get it. Even more shocking, many people who go to your church are going to perish. What? Yes, it's true. Church attendance doesn't count. Neither does leading a small group or serving in Sunday school. Jesus said many people will come to Him and say, "I did all these things for You . . ." but He's going to respond, "I didn't even know you" (Matthew 7:21-23). You were just some religious person going through the motions of what you thought would save you. You're saved when you personally turn from your sin and embrace Jesus Christ by faith for your forgiveness.
Now we're on the bull's-eye of the gospel. This is what separates biblical Christianity from all false religions of the world, including aberrant Christianity. In all false religions, there is this one thread: I will get to heaven on my own. I will prove to God how good I am. God has to reward my performance. In every aberrant religion you find people cutting themselves, walking on their knees, doing penance, kissing rings, bowing down, making a journey to some sacred location and trying to do for God what God has already done for us in Christ.
The glory of the gospel is that God loves you! The greatest proof of that love is when Christ stood in for you -Romans 5:8- and took God's wrath for your sin. All of God's righteous anger was placed upon Christ. Revelation 13:8 says that Jesus is the lamb slain before the foundation of the world. Rather than some tragic turn of events, this was God’s plan from the start. He knew we would choose the wrong, so even before we chose the wrong, He chose the right. God's love made a way out for us. That's what John 3:16 is all about. Whoever chooses Christ will not perish.
His love for you is so great that He did for you what you could not do for yourself: He sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world to die a substitutionary death on your behalf. Jesus put Himself in your place and took upon Himself the punishment for your sin.
Isaiah 53, written a thousand years before Jesus Christ, prophesied about His life and declared He would bear our sin, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one-to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all" (v.6). Second Corinthians 5:21 says: "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Jesus paid a debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay. What would drive Him to such a sacrifice? First John 4:10 says, "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [payment] for our sins."
The only way to have our sin forgiven is to throw our arms around the gospel with our whole heart. Someone had to pay, and God's love sent His Son to get it done for you.
When you believe on Him, you give Him everything. You give Him your life. You trust in Him completely, so that if you were to die today and stand before God, and He asked you, Why should I let you into heaven? you'd answer, "You shouldn't, Lord. I can't believe I'm even here. But I trust in what Jesus did on my behalf on the cross. I'm here because of Him. His work is the total basis for my forgiveness. It's because I accepted Jesus' payment for my sin."
This is the gospel, my friend. Have you chosen it for yourself?
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8897
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| Need2Know
Posted:
Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:43 pm |
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The King of Kings
by R.C. Sproul
The gospel of Luke ends with a supremely jarring statement: "Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God" (24:50-53).
What is jarring about this passage is, as Luke reports the departure of Jesus from this world, the response of His disciples was to return to Jerusalem with "great joy."
What about Jesus' departure would instill in His disciples an emotion of sheer elation? This question is made all the more puzzling when we consider the emotions the disciples displayed when Jesus earlier had told them that His departure would come soon. At that time, the idea that their Lord would leave their earthly presence provoked in them a spirit of profound remorse. It would seem that nothing could be more depressing than to anticipate separation from the presence of Jesus. Yet, in a very short period of time, that depression changed to unspeakable joy.
We have to ask what is it that provoked such a radical change of emotion within the hearts of Jesus' disciples. The answer to that question is plain in the New Testament. Between the time of Jesus' announcement to them that He would soon be going away and the time of His actual departure, the disciples came to realize two things.
First, they realized why it was that Jesus was leaving. Secondly, they understood the place to which He was going. Jesus was leaving not in order that they might be left alone and comfortless, but that He might ascend into heaven. The New Testament idea of ascension means something far more weighty than merely going up into the sky or even to the abode of the heavenlies. In His ascension, Jesus was going to a specific place for a specific reason. He was ascending into heaven for the purpose of His investiture and coronation as the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is King in the highest possible sense of kingship.
In biblical terms, it is unthinkable to have a king without a kingdom. Since Jesus ascends to His coronation as king, with that coronation comes the designation by the Father of a realm over which He rules. That realm is all creation.
The King is already in place. He has already received all authority on heaven and on earth. That means that at this very moment the supreme authority over the kingdoms of this world and over the entire cosmos is in the hands of King Jesus. There is no inch of real estate, no symbol of power in this world that is not under His ownership and His rule at this very moment.
In Paul's letter to the Philippians, in chapter 2, in the so-called kenotic hymn, it is said that Jesus is given the name that is above all names. The name that He is given that rises above all other titles that anyone can receive, is a name that is reserved for God. It is God's title Adonai, which means the "One who is absolutely sovereign." Again, this title is one of supreme governorship for the One who is the King of all of the earth.
he New Testament translation of the Old Testament title adonai is the name lord. When Paul says that at the name of Jesus every knee must bow and every tongue confess, the reason for the bowing in obeisance and for confessing is that they are to declare with their lips that Jesus is Lord - that is, He is the sovereign ruler. That was the first confession of faith of the early church.
The lordship of Jesus is not simply a hope of Christians that someday might be realized; it is a truth that has already taken place. It is the task of the church to bear witness to that invisible kingdom, or as Calvin put it, it is the task of the church to make the invisible kingdom of Christ visible. Though invisible, it is nevertheless real.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8897
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| Need2Know
Posted:
Mon Nov 24, 2008 10:34 am |
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Face-to-face with Jesus
...His Countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
-Revelation 1:16,
There are so many pictures of Jesus in our minds. From Sunday school lessons to 'The Jesus Movie', we have countless images that float by us in life. God's Word gives us the only exact picture of Christ's face in the entire universe.
As the apostle John prayed and adored God through His Son, Jesus Christ, he heard a sound and turned-it was Jesus! But it was not the Jesus he was used to seeing, or that we think of in pictures and movies. It was the transformed Lord Jesus Christ!
First, John saw Jesus' eyes, which were as flaming fires penetrating like laser beams. Then he heard the voice of Jesus, thunderous and big, bigger than anything on earth. After that he saw His face of glory shining "like the sun"-and it changed John's life!
Something fascinating about Jesus and the sun is revealed in the first chapter of Genesis. On the fourth day of creation, God said, "Let there be lights ... in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so. Then God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also (Genesis 1:14-16).
Just by Jesus speaking a few words, the sun suddenly appeared ninety-three million miles out from earth! Isn't that absolutely amazing? It just flamed to life. Traveling at the speed of light, it may have taken about eight minutes for the first warmth and light from the sun to get to the earth. Then the moon started reflecting that light on the backside of the planet. That is phenomenal!
One of the most amazing statements in the Bible is the last five words of verse 16: He made the stars also. In that short sentence God describes what scientists cannot comprehend-the limitless expanse of the rest of the universe. Jesus put some of those stars in spiral galaxies, some of them in beautiful filmy nebulae, and others of them in clusters of galaxies. Then he made one hundred billion stars just in our own Milky Way Galaxy. It's almost written like a postscript..."He made the stars also."
Among those many stars, our sun is an average "yellow" star. It is in the middle as far as size, temperature, and brightness. As you read this, think of what it must have been like for John to see Jesus' face shining "like the sun":
In the Orion constellation there are two stars of note. Rigel is 15,000 times brighter than our sun, and thus hotter and so on. Antares is 36 million times bigger! At the center, or core of our sun, things are incredibly hot. The atoms stripped of their outer electrons are so densely packed it is absolutely dark and intensely hot. In fact, it is 16 million degrees centigrade.
How hot is "16 million degrees centigrade"? A piece of the sun the size of a pinhead would kill you one hundred miles away because of the heat radiating from it! The energy radiated from the sun in one second is more than all the energy used on the earth since Creation!
So, on a Sunday, 1,900 years ago on Patmos-a barren speck of rock just sixteen miles square and fifteen miles from nowhere in the Mediterranean Sea-John heard a voice and turned and saw the face of Jesus shining like the sun! And what did that do to him? It flattened him: When I saw him, I fell at His feet as dead (Revelation 1:17).
What happens when a person comes face-to-face with Christ in all His power and glory? It smites us with an overwhelming sense of our humanity: our fallen nature and our weakness. Do you remember Isaiah's response when he saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and heard the seraphim crying out: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!" (Isaiah 6:3)? He said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! ... for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts" (Isaiah 6:5).
A face-to-face encounter with Jesus Christ cannot help but strike us with His majesty and His glory. As His creatures, we would want to respond by worshiping Him, and that is exactly what John does. Have you met Jesus face-to-face? Have you responded in heartfelt worship? A genuine encounter with Jesus Christ is life changing!
My Prayer for You: Father in heaven, from the depth of our beings, from the center of all we are, we want to be found worthy when we stand before You face-to-face; we want to be there clothed in Your righteousness. We don’t know when You are going to come or call us home. It could be that the days written in Your book for us end this week. We pray that we would therefore be those who live for You, Lord Jesus, a life that is true and right. I pray that You, Holy Spirit, will put Your finger into the hearts of each one of us and point out those untoppled idols, those unforsaken sins, those unrestrained areas of flesh in our lives, and that we would say, "Lord, I don't want to be found living, talking, acting, or doing that in my last moments when You come or call for me that would be counted sinful." I pray that we would make those choices while we're thinking about getting ready to stand before You with all the redeemed, with all the angelic hosts, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty." We love You, Lord! Captivate our hearts we pray! In the name of Jesus. Amen.
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N2K
Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 8897
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