Grace Bible Church
Pastor-Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
Friday, January 10, 2014
Is there a God? If so, Is Jesus Christ God? If Jesus is God, then who is Jesus Christ?
Who is this One who is said to be raised from the dead? And if there is a God what does He desire from you?
1. For example, let’s take the first question, Is there a God? The Bible says in PSA 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
ROM 1:18-20, For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
Every individual is born with a conscience from God, JOH 1:9 There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
ECC 3:11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set the desire for eternity or an eternal being in the heart of man that only God can fulfill.
PSA 19:1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
Repent is the verb metanoeo which means to change their mind or their system of thinking NOT repent from their sins, repeat it does not mean to repent from your sins but change your mind about the existence of God.
The principle is to change their mind about an unknown god but to a god who can be known and understood.
JOH 7:17 says “If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or {whether} I speak from Myself.
2. The second question, Is Jesus Christ God? ROM 9:5 Jesus Christ is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
JOH 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
JOH 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
3. The third question is who is Jesus Christ? Well the Bible says in GEN 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
God did or TLJC did, COL 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities‑‑ all things have been created by Him and for Him.
4.The fourth question, Who is this One who is said to be raised from the dead? ROM 6:9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.
5. And then the fifth question, “If there is a God what does He desire from you?” The answer is, JOH 4:23 “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
The Gospel of John is normally recommended for new believers to begin to study about TLJC and the hypostatic union, which our
Lord is undiminished deity and true humanity in one person forever.
It is the reason that the apostle John gives us for writing this gospel as found in JOH 20:31.
JOH 20:31 but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
This Gospel is considered by many to be the deepest and most spiritual book in the Bible.
He who is from everlasting to everlasting was born of a woman and died on a cross.
He whose name in ISA 9:6 is called Wonderful Counselor, was spit upon by men.
He who is the Almighty God was crucified in weakness.
He who is the Eternal Father is a Son who learned obedience by the things he suffered.
He who is the Prince of Peace must suffer Himself the divine indignation and wrath of God.
He who created all things (COL 1:16, JOH 1:3) occupied an infants cradle.
He who is holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners (HEB 7:26) was made to be sin on behalf of you and I.
He who was the bread of life was Himself hungry.
He who was the giver of the “supernatural water of life” was Himself thirsty.
He who was dead is alive forevermore, in REV 1:17-18.
Is it any wonder, that TLJC Himself claimed He was God.
If He did say that He was God and He was not, then He would have been the greatest fraud and liar there ever was.
If TLJC received worship, then He is either God or He is a fraud and a liar.
Jesus Christ said to honor and respect Him as you would God.
TLJC said to honor and respect Him as they would God.
God is to be worshipped and therefore if Jesus Christ says to honor Him as you would honor God, He is saying that He is God or He was a fraud and liar.
Even those who were called disciples, which does not refer to just the twelve apostles only, but rather His disciples or students, even many of them stopped following Him.
Passages like this become a source of comfort for us pastors, because all of us pastors have a tendency toward insecurity and doubt, but we can take refuge in passages like this.
Because if one third of the angels who resided in Heaven could leave and abandon God then why should a pastor expect better results.
If TLJC had disciples who left Him, why should us pastors be shocked when others leave us.
The Son is dishonored when assigned a lower place than the Father.
The deity of God the Father and God the Holy Spirit are universally admitted, but the deity of the Son is constantly questioned and challenged.
COL 1:15-16, And He is the image of the invisible God, the first‑born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities‑‑ all things have been created by Him and for Him.
HEB 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high;
His name Emmanuel, MAT 1:23, means God with us, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call
His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”
1PE 3:15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
AMP 1PE 3:15 But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.
The Message Bible 1PE 3:15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.
This means according to our flesh not theirs.
The tendency is that most believers, especially those who have a tendency toward legalism, think that this verse says don’t recognize anyone according to their flesh, or their OSN, as if you are so holy that you think it’s their flesh you are overlooking and not yours.
You are commanded not to recognize your own flesh not theirs.
Because you should be occupied with you and not others. PHI 2:12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, be accomplishing your own preservation with respect toward Christ and reverence toward doctrine;
You should be occupied with your flesh not their says ROM 14:10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.
EPH 6:20, “On behave of which [Gospel] I am an ambassador in chains, that in this [proclaiming of the mystery doctrine], I might communicate with confidence as I ought to speak.”
Prin – There is a special need for those who communicate doctrine to do so with confidence.
That confidence cannot exist unless they are occupied with the person of Christ and have at least spiritual self-esteem, because they will be faced with constant negative volition from indifferent people.
With spiritual self-esteem the communicator speaks with confidence no matter what the attitude of his listeners.