Wednesday, May 27, 2009

TITLE: THE BASICS - JESUS


INTRODUCTION

Your beliefs about Jesus Christ are critically important to your identity as a Christian. Although we don’t know everything about Jesus, in the Bible, God has revealed all that He wants us to know (and what we need to know) about our Lord and Savior. Under Satan’s influence, there are many cults, misguided teachers, and heretical teachings attempting to corrupt our understanding of who Jesus is and thereby either condemning those who reject Jesus to hell or destroying our witness to non-Christians.

Although not all inclusive, this week’s devotional is intended to present some of the clear teachings from the Bible about Jesus. If any of these points are unclear to you, or if you don’t agree with them, please: pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of these points to you; speak to your pastor, deacon or a mature Christian from a Bible believing Church about these points; read your Bible and discover the truth about Christ; and if possible, join us for service Sunday morning at Temple Baptist Church.


SCRIPTURE

Focus Verse: John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Additional Verses: John 1:1-34, John 14:6


DISCUSSION

The truth about Jesus:

1. As the second person of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit – One God, three Persons), Jesus has existed for all eternity (John 8:58, Exodus 3:14, John 1:1). A full understanding of the Holy Trinity is beyond our comprehension (Isaiah 55:8-9). For more on the Trinity, see the devotional on this site titled “All in One” posted on March 22, 2009.

2. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin (Matthew 1:18-23) and was fully human (John 1:14).

3. Jesus Christ was fully God (John 1:1 and 20:28).

4. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 5:17, Hebrews 9:13-14).

5. In order to satisfy the justice of God, Jesus Christ offered Himself as the perfect (sinless) sacrifice to pay the price for all the sins of the world (1 Peter 3:18, John 1:29, Romans 5:8).

6. After His crucifixion and death, Jesus Christ defeated death and rose from the dead on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Luke 24).

7. Forty days after He rose from the dead, Christ ascended into Heaven. After Christ ascended, God sent the Holy Spirit to comfort, guide and teach us (Luke 24:51, Acts 1:9-10, John 16:7).

8. Christ is the mediator (intercessor) between us and God (Hebrews 7:25) and our advocate before God the Father (1 John 2:1).

9. Christ is the only way to God the Father and Heaven (John 3:3, Romans 10:9, John 14:6).



PRAYER

Holy Father in Heaven, may Your word, Your Holy Spirit and the body of Your Son Jesus Christ (the Church), reveal the truth of Jesus to a lost world. I submit myself to Your divine sovereignty and ask that you use me to help spread the good news about my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May I die to myself and live only in You. Amen.