Sermon Central
-
Who Is Jesus? Series
Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Jul 2, 2020 (message contributor)
Summary: We have many questions in our day. We go to Google for answers. What kind of answers can we find with God?
Watch this message at: https://youtu.be/yxaTRq51900
Grace Community Church
Winchester, VA
www.gracecommunity.com
Introduction
The late Francis Schaeffer was a 20th century American Presbyterian theologian. He wrote a number of great books, including a well-known one called “How Then Shall We Live?” In the 1980s, just before his death, Francis Schaeffer was speaking before a number of church leaders and said that there was coming a day in the West that most young people would not recognize the name of Jesus and if they did they would not know the basic facts of his life, ministry, and identity. I think it is possible to take that a step further today, that many in the church today recognize Jesus as someone spiritually important, but we have little cognition of his importance.
In a recent article, Barna Research Group discovered the following information about what Americans believe about Jesus:
-The vast majority of Americans believe Jesus was a real person
-Younger generations are less likely to believe that Jesus is God
-Half of American believe that Jesus committed a sin on earth
-Most American say they’ve made a commitment to Jesus
-Most people are unsure whether good deeds or faith in Jesus will get them to heaven
It is no surprise and it should stir us to do something about the fact that the majority of millennials and Gen-Zr’s are the ones unsure or denying faith in Jesus. This is on the doorstep of the church. I think partially because we’ve created churches full of Jesus fans, but few followers. Hindus believe in Jesus. Muslims believe in Jesus. Almost everyone believes in Jesus. Even the demons believe in Jesus. There’s a tremendous difference between believing in Jesus and putting your faith in him.
It is said that Leonardo da Vinci took a friend to critique his masterpiece of “The Last Supper.” The remark of the friend was, “The most striking part in the painting is the cup.” To which, da Vinci took his brush and wiped out the cup. He said, “Nothing in this painting shall attract more attention than the face of the Master!”
Because Christ is Supreme, nothing should distract us from him. We must get rid of anything that keeps us from glorifying Christ
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him, all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
The book of Colossians was written to combat heresy on the deity of Christ. It was a combination of mysticism, Jewish legalism, and humanism. The core of the teaching was that Jesus was not God but a god. A sort of angel that obtained a ‘secret knowledge’ of faith that enabled him to discover a higher spiritual knowledge. Salvation wasn’t through faith in Christ but through Christ, one could obtain this secret knowledge to earn god-like status themselves. This is why the Apostle Paul wrote the book
There may not be Gnosticism today per se, but this false teaching still exists and is gaining momentum in our country and churches. The key principle in Christianity and why these unbiblical teaches are so dangerous is because our very eternity hangs in the balance of the person and work of Jesus. If Jesus in the flesh was not God, his life, death on the cross, and resurrection is either a sham or for nothing and we are in spiritual and eternal trouble. If he is who the Bible says He is then our lives should be utterly transformed and we should change the way we live with him as Lord. There is no middle ground here.
Jesus is the Revelation of God
Paul tells the Colossian church, “He is the Image of the Invisible God.” The greek here for “image” means “an exact representation and revelation.” Jesus is the full revelation of God. He reveals God to us. That’s why Jesus could say, “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:7). No one else could make such a claim. Either he is who Jesus said he is, or he is was a religious loon.
What Paul is saying in Colossians is two important things. First, it is through Jesus Christ that we can see and learn about the characteristics and attributes of God. God told Moses that no man can see Him and live (Exodus 33). But there is a yearning in the heart of man to come closer and know God more.
