Is Jesus Really God?

This is Darren Kuhn with the masculine journey podcast research the ancient paths to find ways that God brings light into a dark world and help set men free from the struggles that we all face on a day-to-day basis. Your chosen Truth Network podcast is starting in just a few seconds. Enjoy it, share it, but most of all, thank you for listening and for choosing The Truth Podcast Network. This is the Truth Network do you feel like you're on a religious treadmill to file Christianity is just a system of rules and regulations, I can do this but I can't do that.

Do you feel like your efforts to reach God. Find God, and please God do you feel like your faith is dead or alive today.

Pastor Russ Andrews will walk us through Scripture to answer these questions join us on finding purpose in glorifying God by helping men find their purpose for living. For more information and to connect with Russ Andrews and finding purpose could visit us online@findingpurpose.net connect with us on Facebook.

Now let's listen to Russ Andrews as he teaches us how to be a Christian without being religious.

I'm entitled to my message. If Jesus really God's own all of us tonight. Whether you been avoiding for 50 years, or whether you still severing all these things about Jesus you think about this question is Jesus really God I contended that is the question of the ages is the greatest question that everyone will have to consider in this lifetime. Exactly who was Jesus. So what does everyone have to think about who Jesus is. Well, think about the impact of this one man his head in this world with history. Do not date our calendars, BC, or a day based on the fact that Jesus enter time and space about 2000 years ago and nearly everyone in the world, most countries celebrate his birth around Christmas time. So no matter how much a man puts into not thinking about Jesus's name is difficult to avoid.

Would you agree with that. Alister McGrath in his book understanding Jesus writes the challenge posed posted every succeeding generation by the New Testament witness to Jesus is not so much what did he teach, but who is and what is his relevance for us. When Jesus was sent into the world. Notice that he was sent.

It was if God was saying here I am put me on the operating table openly examined me see for yourself, who am I eventually want to do and I would go to put Jesus on the operating table and examine him now in the Gospel of Luke as we are. Imagine we have an orderly and accurate account from which we should all be able to make a reasonable decision about this question is God really is, is Jesus really God in chapters 1 through four. We've already learned several truths upon which we can base our faith is a reasonable fight for us. We have met with acknowledge the validity fulfills prophecy particular as it relates to the supernatural birth of Jesus in this lesson. This is overwhelming proof that the Bible is trustworthy.

If it's written in the Bible you can believe it because it's God's word. Moreover, we have loose testimony for this virgin birth actually happened.

I have no doubt that he's certainly when he was doing this research interviewed Mary the birth mother Jesus.

So you really have to decide man first and foremost, if the virgin birth really happen if you have to give yourself you believe that if you don't I would argue that is a huge redline. By the way, the apostle the apostle's Creed says I believe in God the father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ his only son who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. No one should ever recite the apostles Creed. If you don't really believe it. If you don't really believe it, reciting it makes absolutely no difference in terms of your salvation you just going along with the crown and I'm convinced that's what happens in most churches who stick to that tradition of us on the apostles great. Most people reciting it in unison with everybody sit around them and not really given it much thought. If they really believe every word in the apostle's Creed which all come straight from the Bible, the virgin birth is a very critical truth in answering this question is Jesus really God wants is so important because the virgin birth preserves the truth that Jesus is both fully God and fully man. At the same time Jesus is when I was physically born in human body they received from Mary how his eternal and holy nature was always just from eternity past. Remember, he was sent into the world, he came into the world. Already holy when he was born. In other words, he did not receive a sinful nature, from Joseph for the simple reason that Joseph was not his father. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, God was his father. Thus Jesus has no sin nature you with me on that.

Hebrews 726 points to Jesus's holiness and declares such a high priest meets our need one who is holy and blameless, pure, set apart from sinners and exalted above the heavens Jesus man was born of the virgin Mary and I contended you have to believe that is a category item. If you ever want to see heaven begins with the virgin birth. Tonight were going to establish beyond a shadow of doubt, my golden light is to really make sure that you know and believe that Jesus is God said to do this we're going to make Jesus ask him if he will clear up several hurdles and the virgin birth is the first girl is clear that, but I want to examine for additional hurdles that Jesus was clear in order to be to be truly God and this brings us about a way to chapter 5 we see Jesus calling his first disciples, Peter, James and John. Three common fishermen. He's going to go on call nine more ordinary men to follow him and were going to see in the coming months that did his goal is to reveal himself to these 12 best to prove to them that he who is this. Once he departs. Think about it Christianity rest on their shoulders so his object when you get them to to Luke chapter 4 verse 51 incision.

Jesus turned south and he hits towards Jerusalem and so he is headed there because what is awaiting him across. He's only got he's going only have a little bit more time with his man and he's got to can prove to them beyond a shadow of doubt that he is God he is Emmanuel, God with us. So right here in Luke chapter 5 Jesus begins what is known as his Galilean ministry may not, and I would really aware of this but he spent the majority of his first three years around the Sea of Galilee, where he was performing miracles and he was teaching and he begins to head towards Jerusalem when you get to Luke chapter 10, which will begin next week. So in Luke chapters 5.

This is where we begin to put Jesus to this testimony will the laying on the operating table and examine him. See there.

There are certain things man that only God can do. Let me get it for them. And these are for pearls man that Jesus has to clear and I would argue that if he just clears one is God.

But I'm going to show tonight clears all four first. Only God.

This is an outline only God can forgive sins but you grew that only God has the power to raise the dead back to life.

Only God has power over creation over nature and only God possesses divine glory so as to look at each one of these in that order. First, only God can forgive sins there what you want to make sure that you are in Luke chapter 5 and I want us to read verses 17 through 26 together are you with me given verse 17, Luke is given is this orderly account in Luke writes one day Jesus was teaching and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick, some men came Karen a paralyzed man on the mat and try to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus and with these men could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the ground right in front of Jesus. Nikki don't imagine. Imagine you're in a room. Jesus is there. Rumors of going all over Galilee about this man who performs miracles in the house is packed and also there's a disturbance overhead and thereby looks up and they say these four men lowering their friend is paralyzed down by just think about someone's got ALS discussed the counter person that landed right there at the feet of Jesus and when Jesus saw the faith of those for look at it. He said when he saw their faith, he said friend, your sins are forgiven this in verse 21 the Pharisees and teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, they were speaking out when they were thinking this. Who is this fellow and their respective who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy who can forgive sins but God alone. They got that part right.

Verse 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so what is another subtle inference that this is God that we did with Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked why you thinking these things in your hearts, which is easier to say, your sins are forgiven, or to say given wall basis with great authority.

But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins silly look at a paralyzed man, they said I tell you, get up.

Thank you Matt and go home and noticed that he immediately stood up in front of them all, took what he been lying on and went home praising God.

Verse 26.

Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They will fit with always said we have seen remarkable things today. To guys.

I'm not the brightest man in the world right here we have an eyewitness account from Luke you decide if you trust a doctor, historian, to go around and run accurate and only account that we have and look.

Plus he was inspired by the Holy Spirit when he was running the gospel of Luke and he gives an account that this man literally was paralyzed and was healed. And we know that only God has power to heal the fact that Jesus healed this man proves he's both as both the power to heal.

Thus, he has the authority to forgive. So what does this mean for you and me to what it means for me if I want to be saved and that my sins are forgiven. I want to come to this one has the authority to forgive sins.

And that's why when I was a young but I mean really on.

I came to Jesus and asked him to forgive me for my sins. Just like a paralyzed man will set you free that you can wall is a new creation in Christ. God wants each one of us. I put forth in Jesus clear this course world and has the authority to forgive sins. Thus we must be God's only God can forgive sins is the second hurdle, only God has the power to raise the dead like to hear what you flip over to Luke chapter 7 we go look at verse 11 through 17. Soon afterward Jesus went to our town called Maine his disciples in a large crowd went along with him as he approached the town gave a dead person was being carried out.

The only son of his mother and she was a widow to she's lost her husband message lost her only son in a large crowd from the town was with her, give notice it when you want a young person dies the fields.

I just packed it was packed nor saw her, his heart went out to her and he said don't cry to a level that Jesus is compassion for us man anyone up and touch the coffin and those Karen.

It stood still and he said young man I say to you, get up in the Scripture testifies that the dead man sat up and began to talk and Jesus gave him back to his mother again.

They were all filled with all and praise God.

Then I said, there's a great prophet has appeared among us, God is come to help us this news about Jesus spread throughout Judea. As you can imagine in the surrounding country to this other wrong here. Well, it was a great prophet but he was more than a prophet is no prophet can give has the power to raise the dead back to life. Only God can raise the dead back to life.

Therefore Jesus must be God because he did it and you get to one another example, take your Bible and turn to John chapter 11 to John 11 Ngai Matthew Mark Luke John chapter 11 so we did it when we get to John chapter 11. Jesus is nearing the disease is getting very close to the crucifixion, Jemima John chapter 13 as the Last Supper and up against last week of his life. The right he was indefinitely a little town near Jerusalem because one of his dear friends, Lazarus is God and he's been lying in a in a tomb for four days that he is awfully very good Lazarus, two sisters, Mary and Martha are mourning the loss of their brother when Jesus finally shows up. You may you play with the store. He said they sent word to him three days earlier and he actually could come sooner, but he waited.

I think you want to make sure that everybody knew his name was David Seville be no doubt in verse 21. Martha says to Jesus, Lord, if you've been here, my brother would not of God but I know that even now God will give you whatever you you ask. And Jesus said to her, your brother will rise again. Martha answered his brother. When we would've we would've answered that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day and then Jesus said something her man in verse 25 that we should all listen to how the note. Great awards have ever come come out of his mouth. Verse 25 he said I am the resurrection and the life and she said I am that God's name from the Old Testament. I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

Do you believe this you believe this myth and this is a Jesus made his way over to the time where Lazarus was lying there in those days the teams were built into the side of a rocky cliff like invented to Jerusalem and saying the place where supposedly Jesus was very delicious in the side of a cliff is rocky and they dig out of place inside is little rhyme with stone table and Lazarus is behind that stone and Jesus is take the stone away and they say don't remove the stone is going to smell.

He's been dead for four days and Jesus as with great authority take the stone away once they've done that Jesus just says three words Lazarus, come out. Something was said he he said his name to be said. Come out everybody in the cemetery come out but he identified Lazarus did Lazarus come out and all of a sudden Lazarus is standing there, you can almost see him. He comes, yet he still wrapped up in his grave clothes like a cocoon is got a cloth.

There was space. Can you see if Stanley can you imagine what the premise of thought and there were Pharisees present the Jewish Pharisees after they witness this plotted all the more to kill Jesus.

In this it would gotta get rid of Lazarus to you imagine so many believe this. Do you believe this is a historical account that actually happened when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead after taking great credit for that.

The fact that I have got is given the but I've never doubted that story ever since I read the first time a teenager so you must decide first of all, man, if you truly believe the Bible and decide if you really believe in Jesus and I warn you that your eternal destiny hangs in the balance.

With that decision. Soliciting these first two hurdles and then we get to the third hurdle he's forgiven centers is raise the dead back to life in the third hurdle is this only God's power over creation turned back to Luke chapter 8 looking for verses here your truck along with me and I'm looking forward to next we will get to do one chapter Luke chapter 8 verse 22.

One day Jesus said to his disciples, let us go over to the other side of the lake so they got into a boat and set out as they sailed he fell asleep in the squall came down on the lake so that the boat was being swamped and they were in great danger disciples when welcome's and master master were going to drown when Jesus day, says the Scripture says and got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters. This is in the storm subsided and all was calm and look at those man and that bugs is where is your faith in fear and amazement they asked one another. Who is this commands even the winds and the water and they obey him.

This is Jesus you install going through a transition in your life is difficult to face is again a medical issue. You have a difficulty in your marriage you have in a different time finding the right job for your career that Jesus, getting your boat with you always have to say the word and he calm the storm in your life.

The notice here that disciples are still trying to figure out who Jesus is. This explains why Jesus met three years with them as he was supporting these 12 as he knew that the future church in the success of Christianity was harassed on the cell just wanted to point the shoulders still try to forget who Jesus is. Jesus, I contend, is Emmanuel, God with us. Now if these three hurdles on art enough.

I want to take a look at what I think sometimes we gloss over it is probably the most important hurdle of all that is this only God contains within himself divine glory. Look at Luke chapter 9 verse 28. Look at the account of the Transfiguration about eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went on a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face change his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning, two men, Moses and Elijah appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus and what were they talking about. They spoke about his departure. I'm sure they're talking about this upcoming arrest discouraging crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, soliciting their talking, Moses, Elijah and Jesus and Peter and his disciples. He and his companions, James and John. They fell asleep but now they are awakened and they says they saw his glory and the two men standing with him as the men were leaving Peterson, yet he opened his mouth to quickies and Masters good most of the year let us put three shelters up one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah and the city did notice talking about verse 34 while he was speaking a cloud appeared and cover them. They were afraid as they enter the cloud, and a voice came from the cloud, saying, this is my son, whom I have chosen listen to him submit his Jesus is transformed into his divine glory, the glory that he had before we enter this world and I would argue that the glory that he has right now in heaven. He sees glorious.

He's full of divine glory. He he exudes glory. That's why in John chapter 1. She's one in Revelation chapter 1, when he appears to John on the island of Patmos. John fell down is that he would did is no human being can look at the glory of God and live. Hebrews 13 confirms this truth, the son is the radiance of God's glory and catch this and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word hate the one of Hebrews is confirming that Jesus is the exact representation of God's being here. He really is. Emmanuelle God with us.

The question I want to answer before I go to one last passage is why did Jesus take this particular moment to reveal himself and his glory to Peter, James and John.

What I would argue for two reasons. First, Peter, James and John, all the three leaders of the 12. He wants to make sure that the three leaders understand who he is that he is God in the flesh.

He also wants to anchor their faith as it is, we been saying he's getting ahead towards Jerusalem and then going to witness him arrested and scourged and then they will see him hanging on the cross and their faith is going to be solely tested and he wanted to have this image of Jesus in his glory before they saw him hanging on the cross so he takes his time to take these three leaders up on this mountain and he reveals his glory to them in the disciples by way men never forgot what happened on that day. If I Peter in second Peter one verses 16 through 18.

He testifies to give this another hour and another eyewitness here from Peter. He says we did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of what his Majesty he received honor and glory from God the father when the voice came to him from the majestic glory, saying, this is my son who I love with him. I'm well pleased. Peter watch we ourselves heard this voice that came from the mountain when we were with him on the sacred mountain. And when God spoke to his son during the Transfiguration. He said this is my son, my chosen listen to him.

So let me ask you, are you listening does he have your attention. Do you really believe one last text. Okay to turn to John chapter 10 and I'm going to conclude with this in John chapter 10 Jesus in Jerusalem will be looking at verses 22 and following Jesus in Jerusalem is that during the feast of dedication and the Jews don't says that Jesus I'm in verse 24 Jews were first of these religious, Pharisees and Sadducees and scribes, and they gathered around him saying how long you keep us in suspense. If you are the Christ, tell us plainly and then Jesus answered, listen to what he says.

I did tell you but you don't believe the miracles I do my father's name, speak to me but you don't believe because you are not my sheep my sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can snatch them out of my hand. My father, who is given them to me, is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of my father's hand and the father are one said that this is the Jews. They picked up stones to try to kill him. They got a lot of ministers today thickly of the progressive liberal nature claim that Jesus never claimed to be God for this testing is right here, CS when a stoning you for any of these apologies before blasphemy because you a mere man claim to be God. You'll see that Jesus did claim to be God. In verse 37 he says do not believe me this opportunity will still try to get them to believe Celie love the Pharisees. They got under his skin, but he loved them as you do not believe me unless I do it. My father doesn't verse 37 but if I do it even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles that you may know and understand that the father is in me and I am in the father suggest is the bottom line yet, so if you believe we geez jump over five hurdles. Jesus was born of a virgin, he proves authority to forgive your sins and the man he put his part of creation by calming the storm erase multiple people back to life.

The did including his close friend Lazarus and revealed his divine glory is testified by both Lou and Peter so what what was the relevance for us today is what it is. If Jesus really is God the only way you'll ever get to heaven is if you come to him because he is God. In fact, in John 14 six Jesus said I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me. If you really knew me, you know my father's well from now. You do know him and have seen him so men. Jesus is God good my great believe in that.

And I rest my case on that. That's where I stand where you stand this for him if others like you for your word Lord. Your word is true. We know it's true to God because we have seen the evidence of fulfilled prophecy in the Lord, we know that your word is God brave that you literally have given it to us through these man who wrote the New Testament so that we might have accurate historical accounts that she performed his miracles and therefore we can believe, not just the miracles but we can believe in you saw private tonight if is a man here. Placed his trust in you. If he would do so before he falls asleep in my Jesus. We love you we need you.

We invite you being a Christian is not about being religious but about having a dynamic alive relationship with Jesus Christ you been listening to finding purpose with pastor Russ Sanders glorify God by helping men and their purpose for living. To discover more about finding your purpose in life by checking out the resources@writingpurpose.net will connect to finding purpose on Facebook pastor Russ would also like to extend a special invitation for you to join him in over 300 other local men to study God's word together every Tuesday night at 7 PM in downtown Raleigh. Find out more finding purpose.net. This is the Truth Network