OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to list of sermons Next 

Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ Alone

Wayne Rodgers

 

Introduction:

1.     A Ready Answer – 1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

2.     What does this mean?  Ready = prepared.  In other words, I should be prepared to give an answer.  Answer = a defense.

3.     Even though I may not always know every question asked of me; I should “prepare ourselves” to defend the truth.  That’s what this verse is teaching!

4.     Concerning defending Jesus Christ in Scripture, we see Him from cover to cover, and we are to see Him in every aspect of our lives, as well.

A.    Because there are those who would lead the focus away from Jesus Christ unto some other Savior, unto some other Creator, unto some other Law-Giver, the Apostle Paul stated of Christ: “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words…As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:” (Col. 2:3-4, 6)

B.     One might ask: “Why Jesus Christ?”  “Why Him alone?”

C.     Because, we see Jesus Christ in the Creation of the world and man, in the Salvation of mankind (a new creation), and also in our Adoration or worship of God.

Discussion:

I.                   Jesus Christ in Creation

A.    Christ was there at the beginning of time and creation

1.     John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  The same was in the beginning with God.  (3)  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

2.     John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

3.     John 1:18 “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

4.     Gen. 1-2, 3 – God spoke the world into existence… “God spoke…and it was good”

5.     Psalms 33:6 “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.”

B.     Concerning the opening record of the Bible (Gen. 1:1): “Heaven and earth have not existed from all eternity, but had a beginning; nor did they arise by emanation from an absolute substance, but were created by God. This sentence, which stands at the head of the records of revelation, is not a mere heading, nor a summary of the history of the creation, but a declaration of the primeval act of God, by which the universe was called into being.” (Keil & Delitzsch).

1.     Day ONE

a.     Earth, space, time, & light

2.     Day TWO

a.     Firmament or the expanse of the atmosphere

3.     Day THREE

a.     Dry land and plants

4.     Day FOUR

a.     Sun, Moon, & Stars

5.     Day FIVE

a.     Sea Creatures & Birds

6.     Day SIX

a.     Land Animals & Man

C.     During this great creation, it is said of Christ:  “He who was in the beginning, did not begin, when the beginning began” (Guy N. Woods).

1.     Colossians 1:16-17 “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  (17)  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

2.     This gives us a picture of Christ’s position: He is Lord of Heaven and earth, Lord of the universe and “to Him be glory for ever and ever” (Rom. 11:36).

3.     Hebrews 1:2 “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;”

 

II.                 Jesus Christ in Salvation (a new creation…spiritual)

A.    The apostles preached this message: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

B.     Not only in His Physical Creation, but also in His Spiritual Creation, Christ is Pre-eminent!

1.     Col. 1:15-29 (READ & EXEGETE)

2.     “In Him and Him alone do we have redemption; in Him and Him alone is God’s mercy able to rejoice against His justice; in Him and Him alone can we have a substitute offering who “paid it all”; in Him and Him alone do we (Jew and Gentile) have hope – freedom from guilt and despair!” Curtis A. Cates.

C.     The saved are translated into the kingdom of his dear Son.

1.     Colossians 1:13-14 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:  (14)  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”

2.     Colossians 1:22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:”

3.     Colossians 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

4.     Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

5.     Ephesians 1:7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

6.     Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

D.    The Saved are God’s New Creation in Christ Jesus – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…” (2 Cor. 5:17)

III.              Jesus Christ in Adoration (Worship)

A.    Worship defined by Easton as: “Homage rendered to God.”

1.     ISBE defines as: “Honor, reverence, homage, in thought, feeling, or act”

2.     Webster: “To adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration.”

B.     God is seeking true worshippers to worship Him “in spirit and in truth.”  - John 4:23-24 “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  (24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

1.     But how can the true worshipper pay his honor, reverence and adoration properly unto God?

2.     Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

C.     Our worship to God must then be done by the authority (in His name) of Jesus Christ.

1.     Praying – Acts 2:42; 1 Thes. 5:17; 1 Tim. 2:8

2.     Lord’s Supper – Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-29

3.     Giving as prospered – 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:6-8

4.     Singing – Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19

5.     Preaching of God’s Word – Acts 2:42; 2 Tim. 4:2

D.    No more can be added b/c we would have to go beyond the authority of Christ to do it!

 

Conclusion:

1.     While Christ is seen to be Pre-eminent throughout Scripture, the reason should be obvious!

A.    No one comes to the Father except through Christ (John 14:6).

B.     Because Christ is Eternal as part of the Godhead, we see His Creative and Redemptive works and how one can be pleasing as He kneels before God in worship, faithfully (Heb. 11:6; Rom. 10:17).

2.     Even the Father made clear that all should hear and obey His Son (Matt. 17:5; Heb. 5:8-9).

3.     God’s Plan For Saving Mankind:

A.    Hear God’s Word (Rom. 10:17)

B.     Faith In Jesus Christ (John 8:24)

C.     Repentance of a Sinful life (Luke 13:3, 5)

D.    Confession of Faith in Christ (Matt. 10:32-33)

E.     Baptism For The Remission of Sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21)

F.     Remain Faithful (Rev. 2:10; Matt. 10:22