The Nature of God - Jesus

1. The Nature of God - Jesus • Jesus Christ is the one absolute unique figure in all the long history of mankind; there is no other that begins to resemble Him. His entrance into the world was unique His teaching was superior to that of any man His moral character was faultless His experience with death was unique His influence for good in the lives of men has been unequalled by any other man before or after His time on earth.

2. Jesus is the central figure of the New Testament. • Take Jesus out of the Bible and you have a worthless book His life is our example His death is our salvation His resurrection is our hope His ascension to glory is our assurance for eternal life. If He is what the Bible says He is, He “is our everything;” but if He is not what the Bible claims Him to be, He is nothing!

3. Pre-Existence of Christ – His Divinity “What do you think about the Christ (Messiah), whose son is He?” They said to Him, “The son of David.” (Mat. 22:26) “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Mat. 16:13) • The bible offers proof of Jesus’ pre-existence: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

4. Who was this Word that was with God? “Word became flesh and dwelt among us” The “beginning” in this verse is the same beginning of Genesis 1:1 Beginning of this Universe! This verse does not tell us how long He existed, but it certainly tells us that He existed before creation. Col. 1:16-17 “in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.” (Heb. 1:2)

5. Another point to notice about John’s statement is “the Word was with God.” “With” indicates a distinction between the persons said to be with each other. The Word was one person and God was another! This does not affirm that there are two God’s but it is to be taken to mean that there are two Persons of the Godhead.

6. John the Baptist’s statement: “John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me’.” (John 1:15) John was born about six months earlier than Jesus.

7. John the Baptist statement: “John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me’.” (John 1:15) John was born about six months earlier than Jesus. protos– before, meaning “in order of time” Jesus existed before John was born!

8. “Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born I am.” (John 8:58)

9. “Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born I am.” (John 8:58) Greek words ego eimi– translated “I, I am” eimiis a verb of existence, to be, to exist. Exodus 3:13-15 “Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.” (John 8:59) Why did the people want to stone Christ? Jesus just stated that He was God!

10. Jesus stated as a fact that He came from Heaven “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.” (John 3:13). John 6:35, 38, 41, 51 “…I am the bread of life” “For I have come down from heaven” “Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, ‘I am the bread that came down out of Heaven.’”

11. “I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father.” (John 16:28) Is Jesus lying? Is He lying about His pre- existence? • Bible claims that Jesus was Jehovah in the Old Testament. Isaiah 6:1-5 “…For my eyes have seen the glory of the King, the Lord of hosts.”

12. “I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father.” (John 16:28) Is Jesus lying? Is He lying about His pre- existence? • Bible claims that Jesus was Jehovah in the Old Testament. Isaiah 5:1-5 “…For my eyes have seen the glory of the King, the Lord of hosts.” Yehovah – Jehovah, meaning “the existing one”

13. John 12:35-41 “because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him” So Jehovah of Isaiah 6:5 is Jesus of John 12:41. “A voice is calling, ‘Clear the way for the Lord (Jehovah) in the wilderness; Make smooth the desert a highway for our God (elohiym).” (Isaiah 40:3) “For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, “the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight.” (John 3:3)

14. The Humanity of Jesus Christ: John 1:1 , 14 “And the Word became flesh…”

15. The Humanity of Jesus Christ: John 1:1 , 14 “And the Word became flesh…” sarx– the soft substance of the living body

16. The Humanity of Jesus Christ: John 1:1 , 14 “And the Word became flesh…” Logos – Jesus Christ the personal wisdom of God sarx– the soft substance of the living body God in Human Form

17. The virgin birth of Jesus “The angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy child shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:1) Jesus was not the Son of God prior to His birth! He was known as God! Phil. 2:5-8 “taking the form of a bond-servant” “being made in the likeness of men”

18. He hungered (Matthew 21:18 He thirsted (John 4:7) He became weary and needed sleep (John 4:6) He experienced pain and death ( 1Peter 3:18; 4:1; 1 Cor. 15:3) He learned obedience (Heb. 5:8) He was subject to testing and trials (Mat. 4:1; Heb. 4:15) He prayed (Mark 1:35) He had human recognition: Jesus of Nazareth Son of Joseph Son of Man

19. “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having learned obedience from the things which He suffered.” (Heb. 5:8-9)

20. “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having learned obedience from the things which He suffered.” (Heb. 5:8-9) hupakoe – obedience rendered to counsels

21. “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having learned obedience from the things which He suffered.” (Heb. 5:8-9) hupakoe– obedience rendered to counsels pasko – to be affected, to feel, have a sensible experience, to undergo. Luke 2:52; Hebrews 4:14-15 Jesus experienced everything that you and I have experienced. Jesus did not give up His deity when He became Human.

22. Why did Jesus have to become Human? To reveal God to man – John 1:14, 18. To identify Himself completely with man (Heb. 2:11-13) To destroy the works of Satan (death, Heb. 2:14; 1 John 3:8) To qualify as man’s High Priest (Heb. 2:17-18) To be our Savior (Heb. 5:8-9) To set an example of righteous living (1 Pet. 2:21).

23. Conclusion: Mankind was in a situation from which he could not free himself. We were hopeless and separated from God! 2 Corinthians 5:16-21