The Sermon Depository

Lord Jesus Christ

The Lord Jesus Christ is the central theme of Holy Scripture. We shall consider His deity, His incarnation, His work and His offices.

I. HIS DEITY

In the Old Testament God said to Moses, “I AM THAT I AM.” This name was used frequently by Jesus to validate His deity. When he frequently used the name “I AM,” He was saying, “I am God.”

A. “I AM the bread which came down from heaven.” John 6:41.
B. “I AM the light of the world.” John 8:12.
C. “I AM the door.” John 10:7.
D. “I AM the good shepherd.” John 10:11.
E. “I AM the resurrection and the life.” John 11:25.
F. “I AM the way, the truth and the life.” John 14:6.
G. “I AM the true vine.” John 15:1.

The deity of Christ means that Christ is God. Scripture clearly teaches this important fact in the following ways.

A. The attributes of God are used in the Bible speaking of Christ.

(1) His pre-existence. Christ has no beginning. John 1:1-3; 17:5.
(2) His omnipresence. He is with His servants everywhere. Matthew 28:20.
(3) His omnipotence. He has unlimited power. Revelation 1:18.
(4) His omniscience. He has unlimited knowledge. John 21:17.
(5) His unchangeableness. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8.

B. The works of God were performed by Christ.

(1) He created all things. John 1:3.
(2) He upholds the universe. Colossians 1:17.
(3) He raised Himself from the dead. John 2:19.

C. The titles of God are given to Christ.

(1) God the Father addresses the Son as God. Hebrews 1:8.
(2) Men called Him God, and He did not refuse their worship. John 20:28.
(3) Demons recognized Him as God. Mark 1:24.
(4) He declared Himself to be God. John 10:30.

II. HIS INCARNATION
By the incarnation of Christ is meant His coming into the world as a man.

A. The coming of Christ was predicted in the Old Testament. Isaiah 7:14.

B. History records the birth of our Lord. His birth was different from all other births.

(1) He was conceived by the Holy Ghost. Luke 1: 35.
(2) He was born of a virgin. Matthew 1:23.
(3) He was truly man, possessing a body (Hebrews 10:5), soul (Matthew 26:38) and spirit (Luke 23:46).

C. Christ came in human form in order to:

(1) Reveal the Father. John 14:9.
(2) Put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Hebrews 9:26.
(3) Destroy the works of the devil. I John 3:8.

Note well: One of the foundational truths of the Christian faith is that
Jesus Christ is truly God and that He came into the world as a man by the miracle of virgin birth. Because of this birth he did not receive the Adamic or sin nature. Romans 5:12. As a man, He was absolutely sinless. His sinless life and His bodily resurrection from the dead confirm these truths.

III. HIS WORK

Under this heading, we shall discuss the Lord's death, resurrection and ascension. The Cross is the fundamental truth of the revealed Word of God. By the cross we do not mean the tree, but the Sacrifice upon that tree. From the Tabernacle in the wilderness through the Old Testament, The Word of God is filled with symbols of Christ and His crucifixion. He is the Passover Lamb of Exodus 12 and the Brazen Serpent of Numbers 21 and John 3:14-15. He is the Shepherd of Psalm 23 and the Smitten Shepherd of Zechariah 13:6-7. He is the Suffering Savior of Isaiah 53 and the King of Glory of Psalm 24:9-10.

A. His death.

(1) No one is saved by the life of Christ but through the death of Christ. John 3:14-18.
(2) It was part of God's eternal purpose. Hebrews 10:7.
(3) It was necessary to fulfill Old Testament prophecies. Isaiah 53:5.
(4) It was necessary to provide salvation for man. Ephesians 1:7.
(5) The death of Christ was for others. He died as a substitute. I Corinthians 15:3.
(6) The death of Christ was sufficient. It completely meets God's claims because Christ endured and exhausted the judgment of God against sin. It completely meets man's need because it was the death of an Infinite Person and therefore its value is infinite.

B. His Resurrection

(1) The bodily resurrection of Christ was necessary to fulfill prophecy, to complete the work of the Cross, Romans 4:25, and to enable Christ to undertake His present work in heaven.
(2) Christ's resurrected body was real. It was not a spirit. Luke 24:39. It was the same body, which was crucified, because it had the print of the nails and the spear wound. John 20:27. Yet it was a changed body, with power to overcome physical limitations.
(3) After His resurrection, Christ appeared to certain of His followers at least ten times. More than five hundred reliable witnesses saw Him after He arose and testified that Jesus was in fact risen from the dead. I Corinthians 15:6-8.
(4) The resurrection of Christ is an important truth. If there had been no resurrection, there would be no Christian faith. This one event separates Christianity from all other religions. All religions point to the grave of their leader and “savior.” We do not have a dead God. We have a living Savior who triumphed over death and the grave and is alive for ever more. In the courts of the world, the testimony of eyewitnesses validate the evidence of the case. Personal opinions are of little value. With over 500 eyewitnesses testifying to having personally seen the resurrected Christ from the dead, it leaves no doubt to the validity of the event.

C. His ascension.

(1) At the end of His ministry on earth, Christ was carried up into heaven. Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9-11. His body was visible to those who were eyewitnesses as He ascended into heaven to fulfill His promise of John 14:2-3. He said, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also.” John 14:2-3.

(2) He ascended so that He might enter into His reward, John 17: 5, and continue His ministry for His people. The first chapter of Revelation is John’s testimonial of the enthroned Christ.

IV. HIS OFFICES

Christ is presented in Scripture as a Prophet, a Priest and a King.

A. As Prophet, He tells men what God has to say to them, and He reveals
God to men. John 1:18.

B. As Priest, He represents believers before God. Hebrews 4:14-16.

C. As King, He reigns today in the hearts of those who are loyal to Him. In the coming day, He will reign upon the earth for one thousand years. Revelation 20:2-3. Psalm 72 describes His reign on earth. Then throughout eternity the Lord Jesus will continue to be our King of Kings and Lord of Lords - forever.