Preached: OL,2-1-04,AM

(Series: Knowing and Loving Jesus)

“JESUS IS GOD”

INTRODUCTION:

I. SOBERING CHALLENGE:

A. I Peter 3.15 “…always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that is in you…”

1. If someone at work or at school were to ask you, “Do you believe that Jesus was the Son of God…Why?”

a. Are you prepared to make a defense?

II. REASON FOR OUR HOPE: JESUS IS DIVINE!

A. HOW?

1. Luke 1.26-35

III. POINT OF CONTROVERY—JEWS

A. John begins his gospel:

1. John 1.1, 11.

1. John 5.18. “This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because…he was even calling God his Father, making himself equal with God…”

2. John 10.30-33

III. WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE?

A. Evidence?

DISCUSSION:

u HIS PERSONAL TESTIMONY

A. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God!

1. John 8.53-58

a. Exodus 3.13, 14

2. Jesus spoke the words of the golden text of the Bible:

a. John 3.16

3. Philip –

a. John 14.7-9

v TESTIMONY OF THE FATHER

A. After His baptism –

1. Matthew 3.16, 17

B. At His transfiguration –

1. Peter’s impetuous statement

a. Matthew 17.5

2. John 8.13, 17 “…the Pharisees said to him, ‘You are bearing witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true (valid).’” V 17, 18 “In your law it is written, that the testimony of two men is true. I am the one who bears witness about Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness about me.”

w TESTIMONY OF HIS DISCIPLES

A. John the Baptist – Matt 3.1-3 “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea. ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS: PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD; MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.”

1. At the baptism of Jesus, John witnessed the Holy Spirit descending as a dove and coming to rest on Jesus, and he heard the voice from heaven! (Matt 3:13-17)

B. Peter – Matthew 16.13-17

A. John – John 1.1-3, 14; I John 1.1-3 “That which was from the beginning…” 2.23 “No one who denies the Son…”

x TESTIMONY OF HIS MIRACLES

A. John 20.30, 31

B. Nicodemus – John 3.1, 2

C. John the Baptist in prison – Matthew 11.3-5

D. Man born blind – John 9.35-38

y TESTIMONY OF HIS RESURRECTION

A. John 20, the resurrection chapter

1. John

a. Vs 8, 9 “Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead…”

2. Mary Magdelene

3. Ten of the apostles

4. Thomas, eight days later

a. Vs 24-29

B. The Teaching of Paul

1. His personal testimony: I Cor. 15.8 “Last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.”

2. The foundation of the Gospel: Rom 1.4 “…declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

C. Think about the validity of the claim of resurrection:

1. His enemies certainly didn’t take away the body. That would have validated the very thing they denied.

2. His disciples would not have stolen the body and then later given their lives for a lifeless cause, that denies human logic and reason.

D. Vital scripture on the resurrection is I Cor 15.14-32

1. Consequences of Christ’s not being raised:

- Preaching is in vain

- Christian faith is in futile

- Dead have perished

- Christians are to be pitied

- Ministry is ridiculous

2. Paul’s personal application: V 30-32. “Why am I in danger every hour...What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die.”

3. Paul’s premise based on reason and witness: V 20. “But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead…!”

CONCLUSION:

sØ If Jesus is the Son of God what does that mean?

A. It means that whatever he taught and whatever he requires is absolutely essential:

1. His final instructions to his apostles before his ascension to the father:

a. Mark 16.15, 16