Category: Jesus

The book of Hebrews contains a series of contrasts designed to establish the supremacy of Jesus Christ, and His covenant with mankind. The first of these contrasts consists of a comparison between Christ and angels.

1. Verse 4 indicates that Jesus is superior to the angels because His Father granted an inheritance to Him as a Son.
2. Jesus is superior to the angels because He is, in fact, God’s only begotten Son (5)
3. Jesus is seen to be superior in that God declares we are to worship Him, where angels are not to be worshipped. Rather they serve as ministering servants (6-7). Jesus is, in fact, God, reigning on His throne in righteousness (8-9).
4. Jesus is superior because He is the Creator of the universe. While the universe is temporal, and will one day cease to exist, its Creator is eternal and incorruptible. (10-12).

The angels are ministering spirits, appointed by God to serve us. In contrast God has exalted the Christ, and appointing for Him a place at His right hand, reigning in Heaven. He is not a servant, He is our Lord! (13-14).

The first time the gospel was preached, in Acts 2, the text reveals what every man must acknowledge. Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior of mankind.

Audio

John 12 records the beginning of the final days of our Lord’s life. It also records the fickle nature of men. Men who initially received Him as the Son of David, worshipping Him upon his entry into Jerusalem – then later clamoring to kill Him on the cross.

Audio

Many New Testament verses clearly teach the value that Jesus Christ put on the church He purchased with His own blood. As we learn of that importance, the question remains – How much do we value that church?

Audio

Powerpoint Slides

John 4:25-26

At the end of Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman in John 4, the woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (who is called Christ). When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus’ response was His most direct self-affirmation to date in His early ministry, as He said, “I who speak to you am He.”

Other words and phrases had earlier been used, by Jesus and others, that intimated His position. The first example, of course, was the angel’s words to the virgin Mary, “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:31-33).

Continue reading ““I who speak to you am He”” →

This short verse contains one of the most sublime truths ever revealed to man, “the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.” As revealed in verses 1-3 of the text, the Word was (and is) God. As the prophet foretold, “‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us’” (Matthew 1:23).

Of course, many deny this truth. “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist” (2 John 7). John’s language condemns those who deny the humanity of the Son of God, “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God” (2 John 9).

He is God’s “only begotten.” His incarnation represents glad tidings of peace, and good will. His sinless life makes Him a sufficient sacrifice. His resurrection from the dead makes him the second Adam, bringing life. His ascension and glorification will culminate with the bowing of every knee, and the confession of what so many now deny. He is truly “full of grace and truth.”

John 12, in the account of Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem before his death, intimates the true nature of the Glorification of the Son of God.

Audio

Our text reveals the fulfillment of Malachi 4:5-6, which prophesied the coming of Elijah in preparation for Messiah. John’s preparatory work was finished, as signified by his imprisonment, and now Jesus of Nazareth began his ministry, “preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.”

John’s imprisonment by Herod led to his death by beheading (as seen in Mark 6:14-29). John himself foretold the transition in essence when he said in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Jesus ministry and teaching prefaced his kingdom, established after his death and resurrection (cf. Acts 2). At this time, he said, “the kingdom of God is at hand.”

There is a peculiar false doctrine that contends Jesus’ teaching in such places as Matthew 5-7 was not the gospel of the kingdom, rather a simple explanation of old covenant law. This passage shows the view to be incorrect. Jesus preached His own gospel, and His words must be heeded. As the Hebrew writer stated, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son…” (Hebrews 2:1-2a).

Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

The text of John 15 is used to sustain the assertion that Jesus Christ is preeminent, and that we are spiritually sustained only through Him.

Audio

John 4:16-24

Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well was astounding in both circumstance and content.

The Jews hated the Samaritans, and the feeling was mutual. The conflict had its origin in the divided kingdom, and the animosity only grew through the centuries until the time of our Lord. It is important to note that the Samaritans were the remnants of the northern Jews who had been taken into Assyrian captivity, and had intermarried with other races upon their return to Samaria. The mingling of races, combined with the Samaritans acceptance of pagan gods led to a mongrel race and religion.

Continue reading “True Worship” →

The Hebrew writer here shows the place of preeminence given to Jesus as God’s Son. In so doing, he establishes an order with God being first, angels second and man third.

In the beginning, the Word was God (cf. John 1:1). The Word then became flesh (cf. John 1:14), and this event is referred to by Paul as an experience where the Son of God was humbled, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8).

Paul continued in that passage, “Therefore God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name” (vs. 9). This passage in Hebrews agrees with that assessment.

Because of Jesus’ death, the payment for sin was paid. God ordained Jesus as Savior, and the proof of this choosing is found in the resurrection (cf. Acts 2:32-36). God has exalted Him. Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, ruling in the kingdom. He is above every name, both human and angelic. He is the Son of God. He has been crowned, and we are subject to Him alone.

Jesus’ statement, “I am the bread of life” was not easily received by His followers. Some who accepted that He was God, nevertheless rejected Him because His teaching and life did not suit their preconceptions.

Sermon Audio: Click Here .

In verse 7, Paul states again a common claim, that his appointment as a preacher and apostle was from God. Paul was not a usurper, God had chosen him to be a vessel to the Gentiles, to teach them His precious gospel (cf. Acts 9:15-16).

Verses 5 and 6 reveal an important fact about Jesus Christ. He alone is the Mediator between God and man. This mediation is a function of His person, and His redemptive work. Jesus is here affirmed to be a man — “the Man Christ Jesus.” He is also the One through which redemption comes, “who gave Himself a ransom for all.”

When Jesus came to earth as a man, he was tempted as we are, (cf. Hebrews 4:15), “yet without sin.” In His death, payment is made for our sin, and reconciliation with God is possible. It is because of this that the Hebrew writer wrote, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (4:16).

Why do we pray, “In Jesus name”? Because it is through Jesus we have access to the Father! He is our Mediator.

In John 10:7, Jesus said, “…I am the door of the sheep.” In verse 9, “…If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved.” The college age class studied this text last week. In reading it, four things come to mind.

1. Authority. Jesus is the one who is able to save us. Hence, we are to give our allegiance to Him, and submit to His will.
2. Exclusivity. Jesus is THE door. There is only one. The only way to salvation is through Him. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
3. Efficacy. Jesus has the ability to accomplish what he promises. He promised salvation, and delivered. He died on the cross, paying for our sins, and was raised from the dead, blazing the trail to eternal life.
4. Accountability. We have to enter the door. Something is required of us! “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9).