Holding forth the Word of Life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ
Philippians 2:16
Trinity Reformed Baptist Church
Topeka Kansas -
The Scriptures proclaim that Jesus Christ is God.
From the very beginning in Matthew 1:23 it said His name shall be called Emmanuel
which is God with us. The Scriptures proclaim that Jesus is the possessor of the
divine names of God. For example, in Acts chapter 3 verse 14, Peter calls Jesus the
Holy One -
The Scriptures also proclaim that Jesus is one with God the Father. In John 8 it says to know Him is to know the Father. In John 15 it says to hate Him is to hate the Father. In Matthew 10, to believe Him is to believe the Father. In John 14, to see Him is to see the Father. In John 5, to honor Him is to honor the Father. And in Mark 9, to receive Him is to receive the Father.
Furthermore, the Scriptures proclaim that Jesus is omnipresent. He Himself said in Matthew 28:20, "Lo, I am with you always." A characteristic only true of God.
The Scriptures further proclaim that Jesus is unchanging and eternal. In Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 8, it says Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
The Scriptures further proclaim that Jesus is the creator of the world. It says in John 1 that all things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made.
The Scriptures also proclaim that Jesus is able to forgive sin. Repeatedly in His ministry, such as in the second chapter of Mark, it says He said, "Thy sins are forgiven thee." A prerogative belonging only to God.
The Scripture also proclaims that He is to be worshiped as God. Paul writing in Philippians chapter 2 said that to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, every knee shall bow of things in the earth, above the earth, under the earth.
So, you see, Scripture very clearly indicates to us and those are just samples that
Jesus Christ is God...that Jesus Christ is every bit God, fully God. And as God,
He lays a tremendous claim upon man to respond to Him. Now these things do not tell
us that He is any less man. He is the perfect God-
This Jesus was the God-
Furthermore, the Old Testament clearly indicates that He is the promised Savior,
that He is come into the world not only to show us what God is like but to bring
us to God in an act of redemption. And the prophets outlined the details of life
with astounding accuracy. For example, His birth -
And then you look at His life. In Deuteronomy it said He would be a prophet like Moses. In Psalm 22 it indicated He would trust God from His birth onward. Isaiah 9 said He would begin His ministry in Galilee. Isaiah 11 said He would be anointed by God's Spirit. Isaiah 53 said He would carry our pains and diseases. Zechariah 9 said He would enter Jerusalem on a colt. Isaiah 35, He would perform miracles.
And even His death. In Psalm 2, that kings would see His death. In Psalm 22 that He would be forsaken in death by God. In Psalm 22 again, He would be scorned and mocked. In Zechariah chapter 11, the prophet said He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. In Zechariah 12, He would be smitten and pierced. In Isaiah 52, they said He would be brutally treated. Isaiah 53 says He would die for the world's iniquity. Psalm 22 said His garment would be divided. Psalm 41, He would be betrayed by a friend. Psalm 34, not a bone of Him would be broken. Isaiah 50, verse 6, His beard would be plucked out. Isaiah 50 also verse 6, He would be spit upon, Hosea 6 said He would be raised from the dead. And Psalm 16 said He would never see corruption. Psalm 22 said He would conquer death,
And even His priestly work at the present. In Psalm 110, verse 4 indicates that He would continue as a priest. And Amos 9, that He would sit on David's throne, and on it goes.
You see, we have to deal with someone who is such a dominant theme of Scripture and
who is none other than the God-
We learn, also, from the Scripture as we look at His life that He was loving. That
He loved the Father and He loved Him obediently and He did His will. That He loved
people. He loved the lost, the ungodly, the sinners. He loved His own. He loved the
church. He loved children. He showed His love by becoming poor, by giving His life,
by forgiving sin, by seeking the lost, by healing, supplying needs, sympathizing,
strengthening His people, showing compassion on those who were without a shepherd,
those who were lost, those who were hungry, those who were sick and blind and demonized
and grieved and repentant and even dead. And He was prayerful. And He was meek. And
He was humble and righteous and good and faithful and truthful and just and self-
It is this person of whom Pilate asks: what then shall I do with Jesus who is called the Christ? And the answer to that question is the determiner of every person's destiny. For Jesus Christ came into the world to redeem the world from sin, to bring salvation, to remove transgressions, to destroy Satan, to set up an eternal kingdom of peace and glory for those who love and believe in Him. And it was essential in doing this that He die for sin. And as we come to Matthew 27, we know that we are close to the cross and therefore close to the climax for which Christ came into the world. He came to die for our sins, to pay the penalty as our substitute and to rise again that we might live forever.
And so, no other person has ever come even remotely close to Jesus Christ. And the destiny, as I said, of every human being hinges on what that person does with Jesus Christ. Therefore I say Pilate asks the most important question that could ever be asked.
“What then shall I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?”
To Read and hear it all -