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WHO IS JESUS? |
A wide majority did agree that Jesus was a man, was born of a virgin, really lived (as a historical fact), and died on a cross. Slightly less believed that Jesus bodily rose from the dead after three days. Consider for a moment that the vast majority of respondents on our survey, were regular church attenders -- many having grown up in the church. How can so many not know these basic truths? We dealt with the Biblical answers to each of these questions during our time at each location. While many profess to be a follower of, or believer in, Jesus Christ, one might ask, "What Jesus are they following? If the Jesus they are worshipping bears little resemblance to the scriptural and historical Jesus, we have cause for concern. The apostle Paul was concerned about this very matter in Corinth... For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. (2 Corinthians 11:4) Any gospel based on "another Jesus" is a different gospel and a cause for concern. But not only concern, it's a call for the message of the one true Jesus and the one true gospel to be clearly taught and preached. Yes, we need to be teaching doctrine (a word that seems to have fallen out of fashion in many churches today). Even those who responded correctly to the questions, often admitted that they could not prove what they believed from scriptures. If we can't show people where the scriptures teach these truths, how do we expect others to believe? Just saying, "Take my word for it." isn't acceptable. Today, many people, teachers, and preachers, are saying "take my word" and are propagating outright heresy. People have to be taught to check out the truth from the source -- God himself. Sadly many have bought the lie that scriptures are something only the theologians, scholars, and church elite, can really understand. This is wrong. God gave His word for all the people to read and study. In quick summary: Yes, Jesus is God. Jesus, himself, said so. Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." (John 8:58) And as the next verse tells us that the people of Jesus' day wanted to kill him for saying so. They knew that he was professing to be God, because they were aware of the old testament passage that Jesus was referring to. When God had revealed himself to Moses, at the burning bush, this is what He said. And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" (Exodus 3:14) Many other passages also testify to this truth, and no study of this topic is complete without a study of the tri-unity of God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Anyone worshipping a Jesus who was "just a man" is worshipping a false Jesus. Once people get their understanding straight concerning the deity of Jesus, the other questions tend to fall in line. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) Was Jesus creator? ... as God, yes! (And the entire triune God was present at creation, check out Genesis 1:2, regarding the Holy Spirit, and the "us" of Genesis 1:26) He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:15-16) As for judgement, the apostles clearly testified that Jesus is judge. He (Jesus) commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. (Acts 10:42) Learning the right answers to these questions is only a start -- a very good start as it is rooted in the Word of God. But knowing all the right answers won't save you -- even the demons could recite these truths -- you still need to believe. In whom do you believe?
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-- R. C. Sproul
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-- Martin Luther, 1517 |
Written by Brent MacDonald of Lion Tracks Ministries. (c) 1998. This electronic version is formatted different than the original. Duplication is permitted, provided the source is cited. |