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Father we praise you this morning for gathering us all here for this place of worship for a Bethlehem Bible Church and for the way you've protected it as a church for the way you've Led it and built it as a church Lord as we turn to study the person of our Savior Jesus Christ this morning.
I pray that you would bless our time. Keep us focused on you father encourage us from your word remind us once again of the great work that you have done on our behalf. Father I pray that this time would be Glorifying to you edifying to your saints in Christ's name.
We pray amen well, if I can ask you a few questions here to start off this morning is Jesus Christ a prophet. Yes, is that all Jesus is? He's a king. He's a priest. It's Jesus Christ a man. Yes. Perfect man is Jesus Christ God.
Yes, is Jesus Christ a good teacher? Jesus. Yes, is Jesus Christ a good teacher? Jesus and you can present them to certain groups or certain people and they will say you know what I agree with you. But if you try to put all of them together You will find some resistance much as Jesus himself did.
This morning we're going to talk about the person of Jesus Christ. The person of Jesus Christ you might say well, why is this important? Well, it ought to be obvious why it's important. We are Christians.
We are followers of Christ and it is our obligation to present Christ as he is as the Bible Presents him and we could spend literally weeks on this and we probably will one way or the other. Maybe not the person of Jesus Christ, but certainly by the time we are done You will get to know him you'll get to know his work and you will I think have a better Insight and certainly these all serve as very good references when we think about well, how do we proclaim Christ?
How do we present Jesus Christ to unsaved people? And even sometimes how can I meet this person where he or she is. I've mentioned before how I had when I worked in the jail in Los Angeles County I had.
Maybe some of you haven't heard it. I had a trustee working for me once who told me he was Muslim and he was getting close to getting out of jail and he told me what he was gonna do and it Didn't sound very godly to me.
And I said I said does your God really? Think those sorts of things are okay, and he said well, you know, you have to try them out. And I said, hmm. I Said what do you know about Jesus? And he said well Jesus Christ was a prophet.
I said, okay I said, let me ask you this. Do you think Jesus Christ was God and he said no, I Said why not? And he said because Jesus never said that he was God. Now if someone said that to you if someone said to you Jesus never said he was God would your response be well yes, he did and that's all you could say or could you open up the Bible and Show that man or woman exactly where Jesus said he was God.
We need to be students of the word we need to be students of Christ because this is how we learn how to present him how to preach him how to be ready as Peter writes to give a reason for the hope that is within us.
What is our hope? Anybody had been listening for the last year our hope is in the things of this world in the bailouts in. People are laughing. Oh, it's a rescue plan. Sorry. What's our hope our hope is Christ.
Our hope is in the things of? The next life. When Peter was writing that he was saying that because he wanted people to understand that or Believers to understand that no matter how bad our circumstances were we were to act well, right?
We were to respond well to persecution. We respond well to difficult circumstances so that when people looked at how we responded to those difficult circumstances. They would want to know why we could do that how we could possibly be joyful in the midst of all this tribulation and The reason for the hope that is in us is Christ himself.
So with that as our foundation, let's study the person the Lord Jesus Christ, and I've taken some I mean if you ever seen that poster was one of the first things I do when I did when I got saved besides You know finding myself some CDs.
Was to get you know the poster with all the names and You know some of them are Misapplied on that poster, but that's neither here nor there there's no way we could possibly go through all of them without turning this into a year-long series, but I want to just give us a sense of some of the Names and titles of Christ first.
He's called Lord or in the Greek. That's what that is in case you're wondering curious in case you're curious. It's curious. That's Greek for Lord. It is the title of honor. Let's look at Matthew 7 21.
Matthew 7 21 in the Sermon on the Mount and I have every confidence that we will get there. Matthew 7 21. Those of you who are laughing I've probably been at this church for a while. Okay? Matthew 7 21 not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven.
But he who does the will of my father who is in heaven will enter. What's he saying? Not everybody who pays lip service to me not everyone who shows me respect. Because a lot of people called him Lord in the New Testament were they all believers.
No, it was common to refer to someone as you know. That you viewed or that should be seen as viewed as having a higher station than you to call them Lord. And he's saying look not everybody who gives me.
You know some kind of credit not everybody who selects the right title is getting into the into the kingdom of heaven. You know what? I could shut it off. That's a much better idea because I would hate to get a big, you know, the big phone call right during class.
Thank you. I Wonder what that noise was. Okay now when we think of Lord Besides our prayer time, what do we think about. I'll give you a hint. It's right there on your paper. The idea of Jesus as Lord we talk about his lordship, I mean for unbelievers, it's just a matter of Honor, you know, maybe some lip service but for believers It implies Ownership, let's look at 1st Corinthians Chapter 7 verses 22 and 23 and somebody gets there before I do and you should since I was turning off my phone.
1st Corinthians 7 22 and 23 do I see a hand going once going twice. Carl? Do you ever think of it that way? Do you ever think I am a slave of Christ? And that price isn't you know, we so often here Not at this church, but we often hear this idea that you know what?
I'm going to take Jesus as Lord, but I don't want him as Savior or you know what I can be a carnal Christian. I can go my own way. I could do my own thing. It doesn't really matter because I've been blot with the bought with the blood or blot with the bud bought with the blood Of Christ and therefore whatever I do, it doesn't really matter.
I'm going to heaven what that mindset shows is Something other than salvation. It doesn't show a changed heart a changed heart wants to obey a changed heart wants to follow a changed heart. Understands and is in awe of the grace of God that he would save us and wants to follow him.
Jesus said what? Take up your cross daily and follow me. He didn't mean like they do in the Philippines to pick up some great big wooden cross make a great big show of it and walk down Main Street. What and he didn't mean by the way that your wife your husband, you know your car payment or whatever else was your cross?
He meant you should be willing to die to yourself to utterly hate who you used to be to change 180 degrees the direction of your life and to follow Christ. He owns us in the sense that we are no longer ourselves.
We are obligated to obey. We are obligated to follow him and in that same sense we could say number three. We are his slaves. I like Romans 6 22. Let's let's go there and I like Romans 6 because It really shows, you know this.
This whole idea. This notion that somehow we have ever have a free will is Not quite Biblical. We might sense that we have a free will but it's not really a biblical idea. Romans 6 22. Now listen to this carefully and think about how this applies to your life.
But now having been freed from sin. When did that happen? When were you freed from sin. When you accept the Christ as your Savior when he saved you Says but now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God.
Again, here's the idea. You exchange I'll even use the words of Jesus slightly changes in them a little bit. You exchange one yoke for another. What did Jesus say about his yoke? It's easy. It's light.
You derive your benefit resulting in sanctification and the outcome eternal life. Listen. Here's the biggest Delusion out there is this idea that before you were saved you had a free will. You didn't have a free will because you could never Never please God.
You could never obey him. Everything that we did before salvation was what? Filthy. Filthy rags. Our best efforts always fell short of the glory of God. We were slaves to sin. In fact, Timothy or Paul writes Timothy and he says that we were Ensnared by the devil we were held his captive.
Jesus said that he set us free. He said those that the Son has set free will be free indeed. But we're not free from all obligation to obey. We're not free from Honoring the one who saved us. We are free from the power and the penalty of sin.
Okay, secondly his name Jesus. First it shows a miraculous purpose to be the Savior of his people the Savior of his people and the whole. When I say miraculous purpose, why is it miraculous? Why is it right?
Why would I use that word miracle? I Watched a little Bogus TV this week and I have to tell you that was really something. Let me just tell you. It's this woman and I don't recommend this, you know. But I I couldn't help it.
I saw the title of the show and I just thought you know I don't know what this is gonna be like it was on at 3 o 'clock in the morning and I just recorded it and This woman and her little group. They would write down they would pray and they would write down words.
Have to show you this. This is so bad Isaiah, let's just let's just digress this is what you call an excursus or You know. Just kind of mad TV here. Okay, Isaiah 45 I'm gonna read verses 2 3. The Lord says I will go before you and make the rough places smooth.
I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars. I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden wealth of secret places. So that you may know that it is I the Lord God of Israel who calls you by your name now.
What they would do is they would pray they would get these words. They were write them down. It could be red could be tennis shoes could be braids could be you know, all kinds of words, you know, Troy and you know all kinds of things or What was another one joy and you know all this other stuff and then they go out Treasure seeking and what they do is they go interact with people on the street and they go.
Hey. What's your name Troy? We had it right here. You know if the guy says says build and they go. Oh. You know next one. Oh, do you have red tennis shoes? No, you know and it's just like and if they don't get any of them, then they move on to the next person.
But when they get somebody they're like, this is the treasure got to send us, you know, and she's talking about. You know if you've ever preached the gospel to people you need to make sure you have The good news and she went on to explain that the good news means that you don't talk about judgment.
You don't you don't talk about hell. You don't talk about any of those other things. I thought oh, yeah. Yeah, it's just God loves you. Have a nice day, you know, and but here's the here's the worst part as.
If all that isn't bad enough the worst part is Little study in hermeneutics here. She read Isaiah 45 2 3 and she used that the worst part is little study in hermeneutics here. She read Isaiah 45 2 3 and she used that whom I have taken by the right hand.
To subdue nations before him and to loose the loins of King Kings to open doors before him. So that gates will not be shut. Quote. I will go before you etc. Etc. Etc. So all this stuff isn't for believers to go out, you know and make up these treasure lists and then go out evangelizing.
It's a Cyrus. It's this is a historical. It wasn't historical then but it was a prophecy fulfilled in the life of Cyrus as he set the people of Israel free. So I'm just like boy talk about Misapplication of Scripture, so I'm completely off there.
But it just it just struck me, you know, cuz she was talking about miracles and all this other stuff and that's where I got going. Miracles, what is a real miracle not some treasure hunting? Miracle, what's a miracle?
What's that? Peggy says that God saved her. Can I get a second? That's good. I mean it every salvation true or false is a miracle. True why? Because it's so undeserving but there's an even more technical definition of why it's a miracle.
Charlie yeah.
Okay, the suspension of logic for the purpose of conveying a message to those who witness it but Only something God can do. We're getting really close. John a Supernatural act listen, I would define it this way.
It is a supernatural act of God intervening in the time-space continuum and doing something that only God can do. So when I say that salvation is a miracle it's because God intervenes in the space-time continuum and Changes your life in a way that no person not you not anyone could ever do.
So when I say it's a miraculous purpose Savior of his people. It's because God intervening in the space-time continuum and doing something that would not naturally occur could not naturally occur. The birth of Christ is anything.
But a run-of-the-mill average Event. This is one of the greatest events in history. Savior of his people Matthew 121 who has that after I was done babbling in Isaiah 45. We will hear more from this babbler Matthew 121 do I see a hand?
Yes. Okay, why would the name Jesus therefore be important. Because it means Salvation it means he's going to save his people. It literally means Yahweh saves God saves. This is what he does. God is by nature.
He's many things but he is a saving God. Thirdly his title Christ, you know a lot of times we hear The Lord's name and Then we hear Christ. We hear Jesus and then Christ as if it's his last name. Like his dad's name was Joseph and it you know, he was part of the Christ family.
That's not what Christ means. It's not like Cooley or Johansson Bilton it is actually a title and it means the anointed one. Freiburg defines it this way one who has been anointed. Symbolizing appointment to a task as a title for Jesus designating him as the Messiah sent from God and Before we go to John 141.
Somebody please turn there, but I just want to say a word about anointed. I'll never forget the first time I taught a class called fundamentals of faith and You know this lady says Could you please explain the anointing and that I knew why she was asking.
You know because she'd heard a lot about her on TV that music was so anointed that preaching was so anointed. My shoes are so anointed and so I knew what she wanted and I just thought you know what? I'm just gonna take a little bit of time and study this and I said, can I get back to you?
So I went home and I did all the biblical study. I could on the anointing and it took about two minutes. Because basically anointing if you if you study what it means in the Bible it means what. What is the anointing in the Bible?
Well, the anointing basically is you get some olive oil you slap it on your hands. You put it on somebody's head and you pray over them. That's what the anointing is. So when somebody says that was anointed music, what does that mean?
It was slathered in olive oil. I don't I don't know what it means. It is one of the most misused Words in the entire Bible, but when we're talking about the anointed one, it means the one that God has chosen.
Now here's the important part. It would mean symbolically if we could think about it in Anthropomorphic. Yeah in God sort of manlike terms God in essence puts his hands on the Sun and anoints him with oil and says this is the one They used to anoint Kings in the Old Testament and this is the idea that Jesus Christ is anointed.
Jesus is the chosen one. So, let's read John 141 who has that? Eric. Okay, so he is the Messiah the chosen one the fulfillment. I mean they would know this the Jews would say what that he was the fulfillment of of the promises of God to Israel the chosen one and they would understand that many are still looking for the Messiah and The the frightening thing we had when Janet and I went to Israel in 2000.
Seems like a long time ago they had a rabbi come and talk to our group we were all from the master's seminary and came and talked to our group and He started talking about the Messiah and who they're waiting for and I just thought I mean as he spoke I got a little more and more terror talk to our group and He started talking about the Messiah and who they're waiting for and I just thought I mean as he spoke I got a little more and more terror of the temple.
He's going to bring peace. He's and I just thought We're in for some interesting times. But the idea of the anointed one is he's God's chosen. He's God set apart one. All right D. He is our great high priest pastor Mike did his blimp tour of Hebrews and We'll look at that just a little bit here.
He is our great high priest. Let's look at Hebrews. If you do a jet tour you go through it really fast if you do a blimp tour, it's a little slower and Hopefully it doesn't end like the Hindenburg, you know, it's nice slow.
Good look Hebrews 414 who has that. I have it. Anybody else, okay. Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
He is our great high priest. What's the significance of that that he is our great high priest? Present tense. Yes. He's he remains our high priest Bruce. He ever lives and pleads for me that's exactly right.
Let's move on. Christ is Sympathetic and empathetic. What's the difference between sympathy and empathy? Okay are both true of Christ. I think both are. It really was a trip of a lifetime and it was such a privilege because he went through it very good just like Ron was saying there Hebrews 415 and 16 just moving right along here for we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses.
But one who has been tempted in all things as we are yet without sin therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace so that we may receive mercy and Find grace to help in time of need.
He can sympathize with us. Why. Because he was tempted in all things just as we are. But he never sinned and you know amazing concept because we think of sin as maybe Doing the wrong thing, but how about thinking the wrong thing?
He never even thought the wrong thing. He is the source of eternal salvation. Hebrews 5 7 through 10. Somebody should have that 7 through 10. Dr. Bruce.
Keep going 7 through 10, okay.
Look at that. He became to all those who obey him the source of eternal salvation. The source of eternal salvation. Someone might say well see there you go that that's a proof of work salvation. Why isn't that a proof of work salvation?
Thank you. You can't obey him unless your nature has been changed by redemption. You need a new heart. You need new desires. You can't just choose to obey Christ. You must have a new nature. Okay, he is the source of eternal salvation number three.
He is the permanent priest ever interceding Hebrews 7 24 and 25 a couple pages over as we do a mock 6 jet tour through Hebrews Hebrews 7 24 and 25. But Jesus on the other hand. Because he continues forever.
Holds his priesthood permanently. Therefore he is able also to save forever. Those who draw near to God through him since he always lives to make intercession for them. So many trues in here. He saves forever.
Hmm, can he be saved and lose your salvation? Not according to that. Is there another way? But Jesus can you be saved as a Hindu as a Muslim as a Jehovah Witness as a Mormon as. You name it as Long as you're a good person, right?
Forever those who draw near to God through whichever means they choose. Verse 25 says oh wait through him. Since he always lives to make intercession in what way is he interceding for us always? What does that mean?
What's the picture? I just look at Bruce naturally because I know he knows the answer and I Heard something here John. He's praying for us. Exactly, right. Well, we're gonna get to that in just a minute.
So we won't go there. He's our great high priest. He's also our mediator first Timothy 2 5. And you know what I this is one of my favorite verses and I'm not here to back bash any Catholics this morning but I will say if anyone ever tells you that you should pray to anyone other than God through Christ.
I just I don't know how you get around this verse. I Mean you really have to do some tap-dancing to do anything on this first Timothy 2 5. Who has that? Stephen okay, and we have here a definition of what a mediator is a neutral and trusted person in the middle a go-between a Reconciler, so here's the picture.
Who would who would Christ be reconciling us to God? He's in the middle. God is angry. He doesn't like sin. He is angry with mankind. Christ is the mediator who reconciles an angry God with sinful man.
So you say well what is wrong? With Praying to Mary. What is wrong with praying to st. Jude? What is wrong with praying to. I don't know. How many saints are there? What is wrong with that? What is wrong with it?
It's not necessary, but it's even worse than that. Dallas. They're not God. Yeah, just kind of put those two together. You know, they're mortal and what are they doing right now are they sitting around going, you know I'm there on my presence because they've died now and so Mary can be all over the planet listening to six.
You know, however many people pray over. She's on a window in Springfield. Listen. Anyone who is saved and now in the presence of God is not concerned about what is happening on this earth. It is no longer their concern and There is one mediator.
There's only one who can reconcile us with the father. There is only one who can plead on our behalf. There is only one who died on our behalf and therefore is capable of doing this and that is Jesus Christ himself.
So this whole idea of you know, well you need to pray to Mary because how could the son turn down his mother. Let's see, I mean There is one God and one mediator also between God and men. I Mean the man Christ Jesus we can read that as many times as we want.
We can look for you know as many carrots as we want to kind of insert the Mary clause it's just not there one mediator. Bruce I Would be happy to take her as intercessor if I could find any verse that said that.
And what they do having read a little bit of Catholic apologists in my life as they turn to Luke and this is pretty much one of the major catch-all verses for all of Marian doctrine. Here it is, hey ready.
Luke chapter 1 Verse 30. Now sit down. Oh you are sitting down Gabriel the angel. The angel said to her do not be afraid Mary for you have found favor with God there it is. It explains it all it explains why she was born without sin.
Why she can intercede on our behalf with the son it explains everything right there. That's all you need. She has found favor with God. That's it. I'm not kidding. You can look it up this is what they say they go and they just they Extrapolate, you know, you have found favor in the sight of God and they just build they can write entire books on that.
It doesn't make it so. There is nothing in Scripture. There would anywhere indicate that any dead saint can do anything for us now nothing. On the other hand we have the clear Reading of Scripture in 1st Timothy 2 5 who says that Jesus is our mediator.
There is one mediator. Not one asterisk not one plus one. Maybe if it was like one prime mediator and a bunch of subcontractors, we don't have that One mediator the man Christ Jesus. I can't believe we're out of time.
Well All right, we'll have to continue this but we'll also beginning the next time we meet into the work of Christ. I Think all right. Let's see Charlie. Would you close us in prayer, please?