Lesson # 4 / Part Two - The Person of Jesus Christ (Fundamentals of the Faith by John MacArthur)

The Person of Jesus Christ and the Memory Verses

We're going to continue with lesson number four on the person of Jesus Christ. The verse or the two memory verses were John 1 1 and 14 in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God and the word became flesh and dwelt among us and we saw his glory Glory as the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth.

I think this is a quotation from the NASB. I haven't memorized in the New King James. So whatever version you memorize it in is is okay. So We're going to continue last time we ended in Section two the man who is God.

Part one was the God who became man. But then part two the man who is God and we looked at all of the attributes. So if you who sees that where we left off talks about how Jesus is sovereign eternal Unchanging all-knowing perfect or sinless holy and truth.

So, let's let's move on. It says Christ. The next part says Christ demonstrated his power that is Omnipotence in his earthly ministry in the following ways. So let's look up these verses who would like to look up Matthew 8 starting in verse 23.

Linda okay, you're gonna look that up Luke 4 verse 40 who's got Luke 4 mark Luke 4 33 through 36 who would like to look that up? Tim okay Luke 4 33 through 36 and then John 11 43 through 44 who would like to look that fourth one up dad, okay.

So again Christ demonstrated his power Omnipotence, that's what does omnipotence mean means all all power or all powerful God Almighty in his earthly ministry. He demonstrated that in the following ways.

So let's read Matthew 8 23 through 27.

Followed him and suddenly the great tempest arose on the sea so the boat was covered in the waves. But he was asleep and his disciples came to him and awoke him saying Lord save us for you're perishing.

But he said to them why are you fearful on you a little faith? Then he arose and removed the winds and the sea and there's a great calm. So the men marveled saying who can this be that even the winds and the sea obeyed him?

Okay, so Jesus demonstrated that he is all powerful by rebuking the storm. Calming the storm and you notice what they said, who is this that even you can even control the weather? Well, what's the answer?

He's he is God Almighty John 1 1 in human flesh John 1 14. Yes, Larry.

Is because it says that then there came a call like immediately the waves were calm. Have you ever noticed that? Before a storm or after a storm if you're near a lake. How the waves. It takes a long time for the waves to settle down before there's a calm, but he did it.

Right then right, right.

Yeah, the the miracles of Christ were I think all but one. They were all immediate and without question. This was an act of God if I pray that tomorrow I pray that tomorrow is a nice day. 50 about 58 degrees.

Well, it could be a nice day and it might even be 58 degrees, but that's not proof that I caused it. But if you can rebuke the wind and it immediately ceases. I mean, that's another story. Or when somebody is healed I pray that someone gets better.

Or you know, some of these people out there they decree. This is the new thing you're starting to hear. Or people I decree in the name of God that you will Feel better and then the person feels better the next day.

Well, that's not proof. They could have felt better the next day anyways. But if you can lay hands on someone or speak the word and they immediately someone who's paralyzed can get up and walk. I mean, that's a Indisputable miracle, so that's what Christ could do.

Totally unlike the mirror the so-called miracles you see today. So Christ demonstrated his power During his earthly ministry in that number one He could calm the storm. All right number two. Luke 4 verse 40.

He lays hands on everyone.

Okay, so Christ not only had power over the creation power over the weather he had power over all sickness and Disease. Was there ever a time where Jesus couldn't heal? Well, there was one time right.

Because of the he went to a place and because of their lack of faith, I think he chose not to. But if Jesus wants to do something he can do it. So he has all power and that's demonstrated and that he had power over Sickness and disease.

Okay, Luke 433 through 36 I'll not throw those curveballs at you. I'll try not to do that. All right, Luke 433 through 36. Tim.

In the synagogue, there was a man which had a spirit unclean devil and cried out a loud voice saying Let us alone what have we to do with thee. Have Jesus of Nazareth. Have thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art the Holy One of God.

And Jesus rebuked him saying hold thy peace and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst he came out of him and hurt him not.

Okay, so.

Yeah, sorry.

All right, so we see that Jesus had power over the unclean spirits or he had power over the demons. Today people I personally believe that there are Individuals in this world who are demonically oppressed and some that are demonically possessed and Then there's others who are struggling with other issues.

Today, we really can't even discern the difference oftentimes. I Think it's dangerous to try to discern but Jesus not only could discern someone who was demon-possessed he was able to cast the demon out and They recognized him as the Holy One of God, so the demons personally knew Jesus Because Jesus is their creator.

So they knew full well Who he was. So Jesus had power over? The weather. He had power over sickness and disease. He had power over The demons and now let's look at John 1143 through 44.

He cried with a loud voice And he who had died Came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes and his face was wrapped in the cloth. Jesus said to them loose him and then go.

Okay, so in this passage we see that Jesus had power even over.

Death.

He could raise The dead. Now there were other men in Scripture who raised the dead weren't there. In the Old Testament, there were a few prophets who raised the dead. Elijah raised the dead Elisha raised the dead.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul raised a young man from the dead. Well, but they were doing it by the power of God. Jesus has in himself the power of God because he is God in the human flesh and the thing that sets Jesus apart from them.

Is that Jesus? Yeah, he has that power in himself and when he died he was able to raise himself.

From.

From the grave. So Jesus has power over death. In the book of Revelation chapter 1 He says I'm the beginning in the end. I am the one who has the keys of death and Hades. So Jesus has power over life.

He has power over death because he is Indeed. He is the the Almighty God. Okay, any final or any more questions on that before we move on from this section? Yes.

26 that says that we are all created from one blood.

And.

God has predetermined our tides and the boundaries of our habitation. So not over not only When we will live but where? You know and yesterday I was visiting Winnie and the scripture passage and the daily bread was Genesis 45, which would that's when Joseph Showed himself to his brothers You remember when he was in Egypt and he is now second-in-command in Egypt and overseeing all the grain for the years of famine.

And He tells his brothers that God's God Sent me here to provide for you To to save and to You know, so people of the world didn't die.

And.

Winnie.

She had no strength the other day to get herself up so she called the ambulance While the ambulance came together. She said that they were have her on the stretcher and taking out Taking her out of her apartment and her neighbor came To see how she was doing.

He had a heart attack and collapsed on her living room floor While they were taking her up. So Did God? Have winning with no strength. So the ambulance would be there so they would help him immediately.

You know, I mean, yeah, no, but it's possible that God had worked out, you know. So even though it was kind of a bad situation.

But.

Therefore his life was preserved and he's home now, I guess. And yeah, he was gonna call him but pray for Paul. He needs he needs Jesus. Yeah, and what a way to.

Witness.

Yeah.

Yeah, I think one of the most powerful ways to witness is when a believer is faithful unto death. That can happen in two ways. Maybe you've heard the expression that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.

So when there's great persecution. That's when the church expands and grows obviously if somebody is faithful to the point of Losing their life for their faith. That's a great witness to people and they're willing to do it.

Hopefully we are willing to do it because we know that Jesus has power over death. Well. You have to answer that question yourself, but I I'm willing I'm willing to do that. You know, I don't know that we want persecution, but.

Yeah, that's something that's outside of our Control also though when somebody is faithful unto death and that maybe they die of natural causes. They're in the hospital. They only have hours or days to live and people come in and and they let them know they're at peace with it.

They're not afraid. I mean, that's a that's a powerful Testimony and you've seen the difference between a funeral for a believer in a funeral for an unbeliever the funeral for the unbeliever, there's.

There's not really much to be happy about but for when a Christian dies. And I guess it depends on what happened to them, but generally a funeral for a believer. Everybody's got a smile. They're happy.

Especially when it's someone who lived a long life, you know, there's reason for rejoicing because Jesus has power all power over.

Death.

Forgiveness of Sins and Christ's Authority

The next.

Question what additional authority did Jesus claim and exercise. Mark chapter 2 verses 3 through 12, we don't need to read all of this, but this is the account when Jesus told the paralytic Take up your bed and walk.

And what did he say to him that really caused the stir? He said your sins are forgiven you. You remember what the The Pharisees said. I think it was the Pharisees. Who does this man think he is that he has power to forgive sin.

Only God can forgive sin now. Is that true that only God can forgive sin? Yeah, we believe that is true and yet Jesus Forgave the man of his sin. So, what does that tell you that either Jesus was doing something that akin to blasphemy and He was a false prophet.

Which is what they believed and what they were accusing him of or he had the authority to forgive sin. And of course, that's what he said when he which is that which is harder to say your sins are forgiven you.

Anyone could say that and you would never really know if that were true. But Jesus said or Is a harder to say take up your bed and walk and then he healed the man right there on the spot and that proved That the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sin.

So who can forgive you of your? Transgressions. Only one person God through Jesus Christ you can receive forgiveness from other individuals. And you never really know if they've truly forgiven you. Right.

Have you have you experienced this somebody. They say they forgive you. But then they throw it in your face. Three months later, and I guess we're all prone to do that or there's the expression Wall forgive, but I won't forget.

Well God it says. God actually forgets.

So.

Jesus Christ has authority on earth to forgive sins according to Mark chapter 2 verse 7 who alone can forgive sins. God alone forgives sin. So since Jesus had the authority to forgive sins and only God can forgive sins.

Therefore who is Jesus Christ?

Is God.

What do you think the objection is? Because obviously not everyone believes that. What's the objection? That Jesus is God. Why why is it that people? Can't accept that or refuse to accept that you have any ideas.

Yeah, he is just a man all right. Well, but if you believe the things written about him. Then you would have to acknowledge he's more than just a man. So if you say he's just a man then you would have to reject the teachings of the New Testament.

You know and I asked this because I think it ties into this issue of sin. This is the reason why people don't want to believe in the Lord is because they love their sin too much. They don't want to be forgiven.

They want to do it this afternoon. They want to do it tomorrow, and they want to do it next week, and that that's the reason why people Will not come to church or profess faith in Christ and get back.

They love their sin too much. So that's that's what it really comes down to. But Jesus has the authority in the ability. He's not only able. He's willing. All right moving on to the next section titles of deity.

I'm trying not to preach. Okay. It's the Sunday school. I'm supposed to be teaching. I'm trying not to preach, but it's hard so Matthew 1 23. I Don't know how many titles I think Jesus. There's over 300 different titles for him in the Bible.

Is that ring a bell. I'm pretty sure it's over 300, but what are some of the titles given to Jesus titles of deity. Matthew 1 23. Which one is this? Emmanuel so we read this around Christmastime. Emmanuel being interpreted means what?

God with us. I would say that's pretty clear that Jesus is God With us because he came to earth. Carolyn. Did you have your head up? Okay, you want to answer the next one? Philippians 2 10 and 11. Another title of deity is Lord.

Okay. This is one that you know the maybe the groups like Jehovah's Witnesses and the ones that deny that Jesus is God.

I.

Just I just can't wrap my mind around it. How they can say that because in the Old Testament who's the Lord? Boys the Lord the Lord God. There's no nobody really argues with that, but in the New Testament.

Who's the Lord? Jesus is the Lord and that's repeated maybe more times than any other Name or title for God. Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ like it's in the name. He is the Lord. You're you're saying he is God he is the Lord of heaven and earth.

So yeah one of the most obvious, but sometimes overlooked titles of deity right. John 858 this isn't one that people would pick up on if they hadn't been taught but another title of deity is what I Am.

So if you didn't go to church if you weren't brought up in the church. And you didn't know nobody's ever taught you that you could read this. Jesus says I am The bread of life or I am there's seven. I there's a seven or eight.

I am statements Marcus.

8 ok.

But right you would read that and you would you wouldn't think much of it. I am ok he is. But yeah, that's a title of deity it comes from Exodus chapter 3. Moses meets the Lord in the burning bush. He asked him what what is your name?

Who should who shall I say? Sent me and God responds I am who I am so I am is a title of Deity and of course Jesus says in this section of John 8 before Abraham was I am. Statement doesn't really make a whole lot of sense to the average person reading it.

It doesn't know What's Jesus saying? I was before Abraham because I am. I'm the self existent God who has always existed from eternity past to eat for forever and That's what I am means the self existent God.

All right. It says this is a quote from John MacArthur. He says it stands to reason I believe that the one who is first in rank in the universe the one who is the point of reference for history the one who is the agent the goal the forerunner the sustainer the governor in the sphere of Creation the one who is head of the church and the one who is the beginning the source and the chief one.

The one who is the ranking one of all those? Resurrected. The one who is the first fruits if you will of them that sleep the one has the right to the title preeminent. Wouldn't you say okay?

Yes.

Yes, I would say that's true. So Jesus is preeminent, what does that mean? He is first, right? Why is he first. Because he is God. He's God in human flesh. I had something I was gonna say now it slipped my mind.

It seemed important at the time. Stands to reason. John MacArthur. What was it? All right. I'm gonna maybe it'll come back to me. Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Alright, let's go. Let's move on statements of deity. Write out the key statement, so Colossians chapter 2 9. What do you have written for Colossians chapter 2 9?

The Godhead bodily complete in him which is the head of all.

Principality in power. Okay. For in him all the fullness of deity dwells in.

Bodily form and.

Then Hebrews 1 1 through 3 who?

Who wants to share what they wrote for that or I'll do it.

He is the radiance of his glory that is the radiance of God's glory in the exact representation of his nature. And then John 1 1 in verse 14 Jesus Christ the Word is God right. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

Titus 2 13 he is called what? Blessed. Yeah, and it continues our our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Another one that comes to mind is from John chapter 20 where Thomas sees the risen Lord and Jesus, you know, put your Put your fingers and the nail prints.

What does Thomas say? My Lord and my God. So this is the universal testimony of the early Disciples that Jesus was in fact.

God.

Christ the Savior and the Titles of Saving Grace

Okay, let's move on to the next section. Number three the Christ who is Savior. According to John 3 17 Jesus is the Savior of the world. List the following titles that describe God's saving grace. Okay, John 1 29.

What's that? Title all right. So this reflects his His nature or his work as Savior. He's the Lamb of God. John 6 35. He is the Bread of life. John 14 verse 6. He is the Way the truth and the life. All right, let's just spend a moment on these.

Jesus is the Lamb of God. Why is he called the Lamb of God again? If you're not brought up in church if you're not taught this this seems like an odd.

Title.

The Lamb of God. See, this is yeah, Carol.

Yep, right.

So this is why knowing the Old Testament and teaching the Old Testament is important because without the context of the Old Testament Scriptures Lamb of God doesn't make any sense. It's weird if you don't know the context of the Old Testament that the Passover lamb was offered as a Sacrifice every Jew would have understood that they understood the the sacrificial system.

So when you when you get that It's all pointing to Jesus. Jesus is the lamb the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Right. John 6 35. He is the bread of life. Again without The context of the Old Testament being taught that this wouldn't make a whole lot.

What do you mean? He's the bread of life. What does that mean? Who wants to try to explain that?

Mary.

Okay. Okay.

Yeah, and they thought at well at times when Jesus would speak this way they thought. There we believe the Bible we take it literally, but sometimes people took Jesus overly literal. I'm her Nicodemus.

How is a man born again? Does he have to enter into his mother's womb a second time and be no that's taking it to literal when Jesus says About the bread or the drink the woman at the well the water you'll never thirst again.

You'll never be hungry again. You don't take that to literally. So Jesus is the bread of life life. Or excuse me bread sustains life. I think this comes from the manna in the wilderness the Israelites would have starved to death if God didn't feed them.

Of course, they ate the manna and they got hungry again. And of course they all died, but Jesus is that bread from heaven? The man appointed to him. He's the bread from heaven. So if you eat if you partake meaning if you believe in him.

You will never hunger.

Meaning.

You have everything you need to sustain you. For life and life everlasting. So he is the bread of life. But you have to know about the manna in the wilderness for this to make sense.

Larry.

How much.

Manna how much water was provided daily.

For.

The Israelites as they wandered for 40 years in the wilderness a lot.

Whole bunch.

Professor he was into trains. He loved trains. So he he calculated.

The.

The space everyone needed, you know. Like I think it was like if a three foot square your personal space. For everyone that left Egypt. I think it was 50 miles wide by 150 miles long. That's the people and so then the daily provisions and he had it all calculated it up and it come down to like a train nine miles long.

Every day and twice on on Friday.

That's no problem for God. Right. And just as there was obviously a supernatural element to the manna There's something supernatural to the bread of life. Not hard at all. John 14 verse 6 Jesus says I am the way the truth and the life.

But remember that's a title that describes God's saving grace. So Jesus is the way and there's no other Savior, you know Buddha and Muhammad and all these other religions. I mean, you know that they cannot save because everybody who Was part of these really they all they all die.

So well every Christian dies too, right. But There's everlasting life in Jesus, which is a matter of faith. So we need to trust him by faith that he is the way he told the truth and He is the life. Eternal life is found in him and in him alone, which is obviously.

Not.

The majority viewpoint even in Christianity today. Most professing Christians do not actually believe that Jesus is the only way they think. There's many paths, but it's just not what the. Certainly not what Jesus taught Marcus.

He was the truth.

Sure.

On that thing where You're talking about translating or interpreting scripture as literally as possible. There are those places where I like to use the verse in Isaiah 118 it says Come now, let us reason together.

Because at the same time that we will take it as literally as possible. Especially in the poetic books of the Old Testament.

Come on now.

Let's reason together. Let's use let's use the brain that the Lord gave us. Yeah common sense is.

Right, I'd rather I'd rather take things too literally and then be corrected on it by the Lord. When I stand before him then not take it literal and just think that yeah. What he said actually means the opposite because that's what you have today.

Jesus the scripture will say something in the way people interpret it. They actually interpret it to mean the exact opposite of what it says. I'd rather be corrected for taking it too literal then than that.

Yeah, you have two choices every day. Who are you gonna serve? It's either the Lord God or the same.

The King Who Comes to Rule

Good all right. The next the next one number four the king Who comes to rule? Jesus is not just a person of the past. He is The destined King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 1st Timothy 6 14 and 15 who will someday reign over all the earth Says according to Daniel 7 14 what three things has Christ been given.

They are Dominion glory and a kingdom. So you notice this is worth pointing out. I think that this is John MacArthur. John MacArthur is a pre Millennialist that he believes that Jesus will return. There's gonna be the rapture of the church seven-year tribulation.

Jesus comes back to the earth and that's when the kingdom of God is set up. That's what he believes. That's what this church teaches. So notice what he said that Jesus will someday.

Reign.

Over all the earth. What would be the implication of that? That he's not reigning now. So you will just let you know this is out there. So we are more in the dispensational camp. Those who are reformed Presbyterian they would say no, that's not right.

Jesus is actually reigning right now. So we believe the kingdom is either spiritual or its future. They believe the kingdom. This is it that Jesus is actually ruling and reigning right now. So that difference is out there just to let you know that you might come across that barb.

Believe that the church bringing in the kingdom by their own by their works, right? You know, we gradually spread the gospel and you know, here we here we are. We brought in the kingdom, right?

Yeah, some who are reformed believe in Post-millennialism, like I said, we are pre we believe Jesus comes back before the kingdom age. Those who are post millennial believe Jesus comes back after the kingdom age.

Meaning they believe the church ushers in the kingdom of God on earth. These would be the the most well-known name right now is Doug Wilson. Who's who's teaching pre or post millennialism that the church is actually we usher in the kingdom of God.

Well, we're not doing a very good job job at that. And if Jesus is ruling and reigning right now. I mean you wouldn't you wouldn't know it. So anyway moving on. What did Jesus tell his followers in Matthew 25?

31 and 32. I'll just read this. Says but when the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him. Then he will sit on his glorious throne all the nations will be gathered before him and he will separate them from one another as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

So when Jesus returns there's going to be the judgment of The nation. So we would recognize that as an event that is still yet future. So that Jesus he is the king who comes to rule. He has not come to rule when Jesus came the first time he came to what?

He came to save he came to die, but he came to save. But he's not ruling on earth as of as of yet. When Christ ascended into heaven 40 days after the resurrection. What were the Apostles told. Acts chapter 1 verse 11 Says they also said men of Galilee.

Why do you stand looking into the sky who's speaking here the angels, right? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come in just the same way as you have watched him Go into heaven so they watched him go up.

You're gonna see people are gonna see him come down. So when Jesus returns to this earth, no one's gonna have to wonder there are people out there think Jesus already came back. It's already happened.

This is the kingdom. It's just invisible. Well, that's not what the angels said. Then it says described the return of Jesus Christ. 2nd Thessalonians 1 7 B through 10 says when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels and flaming fire.

Dealing out retribution to those who do not know God to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power when he comes to be glorified in his Saints on that day and to be marbled at Among all who have believed for our testimony or who have believed for our testimony to you.

Was believed okay. So when Jesus comes back, that's what's that's what's gonna happen. So when people look at all the things happening in the world today and It seems that the nations and the kings of this world are just getting away with all of this you know, there's there's a day of reckoning and that day is when Jesus comes back at the second Advent.

So rest assured There will be justice in the end. So this is the king who comes to rule. The now we move on to the last section number five. This is the application. It says Christ is God. Christ is Savior.

Christ is King. Ruler. So in light of this, how can you best prepare? For his second coming and this is where I want you to give an answer. How can you best prepare? What did you write down or off the cuff?

How can you best prepare Mary?

You have to obey.

Right, you have to obey. Well, I agree with that, you know part of what Jesus said. I'm the way the truth and the life part of following Christ is to. Like he said if you love me keep my commandments.

So the the best way to prepare is To make sure you're right with God and you're not you're trusting in him. You're you're walking with him. You're being obedient. Good, who else Marcus? Amen amen a few verses come to mind.

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Be diligent to make sure to make your calling and election sure. We want to be more faithful not less Faithful as time goes on and I guess there's some people who are remaining in the same spot.

They always were. I Guess that would actually be disobedience because we're told to grow, right? So I think people are either going in one or two directions. They're either getting more Christlike and growing in their faith or they're Going going the opposite way.

Well, the day of Christ is coming. Closer and closer. We want to be walking with him. Okay, you had something. Okay be without spot. Great. Great answer and here's the final one. What can you do this week?

To acknowledge.

Who he is?

Now the reference is Revelation 5 11 through 14, but what can you do this week. I guess we're sort of.

Both.

Those answers could apply to this I suppose but does anyone want to add something? What can you do this week? Show show kindness. Okay anybody else Marcus. Worship study and prayer and Then take what you've studied and prayed about and then go go do something about it.

Tell others What'd you say live it right doesn't do a whole lot of good if you believe it, but you don't live it. Let me just read this. Revelation 5 11 through 14. Then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne in the living creatures and the elders and the number of Them was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands saying with a loud voice Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing and every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea and All things in them.