The Purpose Of The Holy Spirit

John 16:7-15

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

 

He Shall Glorify Me

Introduction

“He shall glorify me” it says in verse 14 of John 16, being the words of Christ respecting the Spirit that he shall send when he departs to the father. 

We see the Lord speaking of it first in the previous chapter, referring of him in verse 26 as “the Comforter”, and again in this chapter we see the same designation in verse 7.

But the ultimate purpose of the Spirit of God is seen in the purpose statement of verse 14; “He shall glorify me”.

In these last of days there are so many that have completely misrepresented The Holy Spirit and given to him a level of significance above that of Christ. 

The Purpose of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ. To point to Jesus, to reveal the Christ, the Saviour of the world. It’s what the gospel is all about and we see the two extremes of those whose ONLY focus is The Spirit and others who ignore his purpose completely.

To the one we have an inordinate focus, opposite to that which the Spirit has, to the other we have no consideration of the Spirit, opposite to that which the Bible teaches.

“He shall glorify me”

He doesn’t draw attention to himself.

Compare that to the multitude of ministers today who do.

Rather than speak of Jesus, it’s all “I, I, I, I”. There was a brother who told me he counted almost 20 “I” Statements from a pastor in the first few minutes and walked out. 

That is an indicator of those who, UNLIKE the Spirit of God, draw attention to themselves and not Christ our Lord.

If they had the Spirit of God in them, their PRIMARY DESIRE should be to bring Glory to Christ! 

It is of interest to know that Satan is the one who loves to bring glory to himself, that is his PRIMARY DESIRE;

Turn to Isaiah 14

What we shall see in this passage that you all know describes the fall of Satan, is his ultimate desire, HIS VERY OWN PURPOSE STATEMENT is revealed in two verses;

Isaiah 14:12–14

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Is the purpose of Satan to lift up and help mankind?

Is the purpose of Satan to love and exalt man?

The purpose of Satan is to exalt himself, his love is for himself. The five “I Will’s” of the devil demonstrate the very purpose of his fallen existence and it astounds me how well we see him re-presented in the pulpits around the world today.

Pastors desiring to create a kingdom for themselves. It is plainly not the Holy Spirit working in them, for “he shall glorify me” said Jesus. If it were the Holy Spirit working in them, then they would glorify Jesus!

This is the work, the primary work of the Spirit of God. 

IT STANDS TO REASON there

The Earnest

Saved, Sealed, Secured, Settled.

Introduction

We move to the doctrine of the Holy Spirit for this next segment of the series and explaining that which we believe concerning him and that which the Bible teaches of him.

According to the doctrinal statement of the Church we have this written;

THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person; equal with God the Father and God the

Son and of the same nature and that he was active in creation. He convicts of sin, of

righteousness, and of judgement and bears witness to and exalts the Person of Christ.

He is the agent in the New birth through which the believer is spiritually baptised when

he believes. The Holy Spirit seals, empowers, guides, teaches, and sanctifies the

believer. We believe that the Holy Spirit enables every believer to serve God through the

ministry of spiritual gifts. However, we believe that the miraculous sign gifts such as

tongues and healings, as recorded in the New Testament, were Apostolic in nature and

have ceased to exist as distinct ministries of individuals. We believe that God can

intervene in human history in a miraculous way should he choose to do so, but we

believe that the occurrence of such interventions today are distinct from the

phenomena of the miraculous sign gifts evident in Apostolic times.

Mark 16:20 Matthew 28:19 Genesis 1:1-3 Luke 1:35 John 14:16-17 John 3:5-

6 John 1:33 John 14:26 Romans 8:14,16,26-27 1 Corinthians 13:8 John 16:8-

11 Hebrews 9:14 1 Corinthians 14:21-22 Ephesians 1:13-14 Hebrews 2:4

This morning we are going to be simply dealing with that first act of the Holy Spirit concerning those who have believed the Gospel and are born again; that is;

“The Holy Spirit Seals”

It is what we refer to as “Assurance”, or often also referred to Theologically as “The Doctrine of The Preservation Of The Saints”.

We are going to be concentrating on the passage of the text read this morning, but having our focus on verse 13 and 14 only.

Ephesians 1:13–14

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

We will indeed be speaking of the Holy Spirit and his work, but there simply can be no talk of the Spirit of God that excludes the Gospel. 

Indeed, what we find even in the text before us this morning is a full presentation of the doctrine of salvation that can truly be sup-raised in four simple words that form the subheading of the Sermon Title this morning, each word also becoming the title of each of the four points I will expand on as we go through the message title first;

The Assurance of The Holy Spirit

Saved, Sealed, Secured, Settled.

Perhaps it’s because the Gospel is so simple it is made so unnecessarily complicated by many people who simply cannot accept the simplicity of how a person can KNOW he has eternal life.

Perhaps its because of our understanding of the eternal severity of Hell that makes us all think escaping it must be a complex labyrinth of twists and turns, tunnels and tortures that we need to be instructed in and follow before we can have any assurance whatsoever that heaven is our home when we die. 

Surely, if hell was not such a bad place and if it were not permanent, if it had even the darkest shade of light or the slightest rest of torment, or the heat of the flame could be turned down just a degree and time committed be limited to all the sands of all the beaches in all the world going through an hourglass, even at a year per grain, we might think being saved from it should not be too difficult to do ourselves.

But it seems that knowing of the eternal, conscious torment of damnation, that we begin to think escaping it must be difficult a

Unbounded Prosperity

Isaiah 55:6–13

6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 

12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

There is the Gospel presented in this text that may often be missed in our casual reading.

From the seeking of God; to the wicked forsaking their way and returning to the Lord; and the Lord bringing an abundant life through his word, which we see as likened to the rain that bring life to the earth; to the total unbounded prosperity which fills the heart with joy for what God has provided.

In the end, the blessing is eternal and the glory is to the LORD alone,

and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. (V13)

In the first part of the message this morning, you will see the Lord providing you a limitation of opportunity to take advantage of.

6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 

It is THE TIME-BOUND OPPORTUNITY

In the second part of this message, you may find chastisement. Just as Isaiah, through the Lord, first chastises the people of Israel, so too should you find yourselves the subject of Gods focus in this text, but not without hope;

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

This we see is THE HEAVEN-BOUND REALITY, the eternal hope of that OPPORTUNITY that went before.

In the third point we will have our focus on the explanatory portion of the passage that reveals to you WHY you should take heed to the Lord and to understand HOW HIS WORD fulfils its work, primarily in the Everlasting Gospel.

In the final portion of the text, you will see the UNBOUNDED PROSPERITY to those who have attended to that which went before, for their own eternal joy.

The Time-bound Opportunity

Isaiah 55:6

6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 

We have all seen the countdown clocks on shopping sites on the internet, “Limited Time Only” specials hanging in windows of store fronts, End of Financial Year and Black Friday sales coming about annually to take advantage of, Boxing Day sales where multitudes of people run over themselves and risk both life and limb just to nab a big ticket item at cents on the dollar, so we are not ignorant that there is in reality opportunities to take advantage of “While Stocks Last”, a LIMITATION is imposed but not before the opportunity is presented.

The reality described above reveals the nature of Man for the temporal prosperity of life. But in this text, God reveals to man the opportunity for UNBOUNDED PROSPERITY in the riches of eternal life.

6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

The Return Of Christ

Introduction

Revelation 22:12–21

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 

20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

The single most anticipated event that has been looked forward to by Christians for 2000 years is what is spoken of in this passage in Revelation 22, THE RETURN OF CHRIST.

No single event has caused more comfort or consternation than the return of Christ.

No single event in the world ever has generated both greater expectation AND anxiety than the return of Christ.

And no single doctrine in the Bible has both the clarity and the paradoxical confusion than the Bible’s teaching of THE RETERN OF CHRIST. 

       Everything from the denial of his literal return, allegorising it all as if it is limited to him “ruling in our hearts”, to setting dates has been attended to historically and is still happening today by disingenuous, sensationalist ministers.

However, what is most evident of all, is that the time of his coming is nearer than when we first believed. 

The signs of the times we live in is so incredible to witness, that each and every one of us should be living in anticipation that our time to witness for Christ is short, the time to attend to that which is the very purpose of our lives, has an ever-closing window of opportunity.

We will address the topic in four parts this morning.

First, Jesus is coming for his Church: there are no signs required to be fulfilled before this incredible event occurs. Depending how many people in the world are actually born again, will determine how this event is manifest to the world when it occurs. If there be few that be saved, it would barely raise an eyebrow; if many are born again and alive when it occurs, there will be turmoil around the world and an excuse/explanation will be required to restore order.

Again, no sign is necessary for the immanent return of Jesus for his Church.

Second, Jesus is returning to execute his judgement on the kingdoms of this world. When the sinners are come to the full, and this evil world has its desired devil to rule over them, Jesus Christ will literally descend upon the mount of Olives and destroy the Devil with the brightness of his coming. It is a period know through History as The Apocalypse, The Great Unveiling. Satan will then be cast into the pit and bound for a thousand years, after which he is “loosed a little season” (Rev 20:3)

Third, Jesus is coming for his people. He was Crucified as ‘The King of the Jews’ before he had the chance to act as their king. Jesus will literally return for the remnant of Israel and set up his earthly government in Israel, in Jerusalem, on this earth for one thousand years. After which he will cr

The post Keeping Yourself From Idols appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.

The Resurrection Of Christ 

1 Corinthians 15:1–19

We have at this time given consideration to a number of issues related to Jesus Christ and we have largely presented him from the scriptures as the very subject of our faith. 

We have considered the Statement of Faith that we hold and given testimony that our faith is well founded as that which comes directly from the scriptures, to this we consent. 

But, there is one element that we have not given as much consideration regarding Jesus Christ, and that is that he is a real person of history!

Yes, we have alluded to him in the last message as a part of history, indeed we considered him and his death as the very pivot on which the door of history swings, all that is since his death is reflected in each of our birthdays, the dating system of the western world has its reference point in Christ. 

(Though this is something I believe may change under the antichrist who “think to change times and laws” (Dan 7:25) as he tries to Reset the world according to his image). 

But have we really given due consideration to Christ, and especially his resurrection with the light of history? 

Have we yet shown Christ as a true historical figure?

1 Corinthians 15 is one of the most important passages in the New Testament declaring the reality of all we believe. 

It is accounted by Theologians AND sceptical Scholars as a passage so fundamental to the Christian faith, not least of which because of WHO WROTE IT…Paul, the one-time enemy of Christ.

Within the passage we find;

The Declaration of an Oral Tradition via a memorised Creed specifically in verses 3-7.

That it testifies to those things as having their primary origins in The Scriptures, that is, The Old Testament Scriptures.

That it is reflected in SECULAR History by writings OUTSIDE the Bible.

-That its truthfulness was evident through the WITNESS of those both once sceptics and enemies AND the witness of those persecuted for that faith.

 

THE CREED

1 Corinthians 15:1–7

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

The early Church did not have access to a Bible as you and I do today. It was not a “Click” away and ready to be hand-delivered on our doorstep the following day. The Scriptures were all “Manuscripts”, copied by hand.

It was both tedious, time-consuming AND expensive. 

In the first few years before the New Testament came together, it was through memory that the doctrines that were taught would be retained and that through what is known as a “Creed”. 

We see in verse 2 that Paul mentions the keeping in mind of those things he taught them.

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

The manner of memory through which those things are taught is through “Creeds”.

What is a “Creed”?

In short, it is a relatively short statement of faith around a given topic. Some look to summarise the entire Christian doctrine in a single creed such as the famous “Apostles Creed” and “Nicene Creed”, but what we see in the scriptures are a handful of very short statements that are indeed Creeds passed on from one

THE DEATH OF CHRIST

There is an element of the death of Christ that should have us pause for lack of understanding; 

We have already spoken of Jesus being God manifest in the flesh, he is God, not “like God”, not ‘ a god’, but God himself. 

We have seen how Jesus himself testified to this in his own declarations; to the woman at the well, to Phillip who sought for the father, to the blind man seeking Christ, to the pharisees who questioned him. 

We witnessed the behaviour of the jews concerning him, desiring to stone him to death for he “being a man, makest thyself God” they said, this they did several times. The belief he committed blasphemy for claiming he is God was the very reason they put him on the cross, all this testified to his own claim.

We spoke of Jesus being Preeminent, before all things. 

We saw him Pre-eminent By Motion, that is, he was “specifically Promised” to come and to be both for and above all. 

We recognised him as Pre-eminent by Merrit, not just by a noble birth (born as a king), but he earned his preeminence in all that he did and said. 

We saw him Pre-eminent In Majesty, he was greater than all. The men of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonas, the Queen of the south came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, but Christ is greater, greater also than all the prophets that went before him.

And finally Pre-eminent In Might, Jesus and Jesus alone is the Saviour of the world, only Christ can rescue man from the punishment of his sin, none other are given such might, such power, Christ alone is pre-eminent.

Last time we also spoke of him as The Son of David,

We dealt with The Incarnation of Christ, how it was that a child would be born, a son would be given, who’s “name shall be called” even “The mighty God, The everlasting Father” (Isa 9:6). And so we asked the question “What Think Ye of Christ? Whose son is he?”. 

The challenge Jesus gave to the Pharisees was your challenge. 

Promised to come through a virgin birth; we looked at the ancient prophecies concerning him, and see indeed that this is Emanuel, which being interpreted is God with us (Matt 1:23).

We were astounded as to how the only two Gospel accounts that present a genealogy of Christ, were also the only ones that referred to him as “The Son of David”, but were strangely dramatically different in their respective genealogical record after they came to King David. 

Wonderfully the Lord led us to understand why, as we discovered that incredible blood curse pronounced on the line of David just before the final King of Judah (Jechonia) was taken into captivity, “write ye this man childless” said the passage of that final King, “for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah” (Jer 22:28-30). 

In this we witnessed the genius of the Lord, that though the Virgin birth, Jesus could be both of the LEGAL and ROYAL line of David through Solomon and down through his adoptive father Joseph, BUT ALSO of the BLOOD LINE of David through Nathan, the second son of Bathsheba down to Mary. 

Due to the Virgin Birth, we saw that Jesus is the ONLY PERSON in History that could indeed be both the Son of David, AND the RIGHTFUL king of Israel, and that ONLY through the Incarnation.

But now we do come to a challenge;

It is about the death of Christ, the death of God the Son, the death of he who is Pre-eminent, the death of the one born to be the King of Israel…. and it should indeed be a challenge, no rest should be given until we can understand WHY? 

Why ought Christ to die? This question should trouble us and so too should our response.

The people who followed Jesus were perplexed when he spoke of himself being “lifted up”, (‘Crucified’), who asked, 

John 12:34

34 …. We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? …”

There is no doubt that the suf

The Incarnation

The Son Of David

Introduction

There is a passage in the Bible in 1 Cor 1:22 which says;

22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

The Bible presents interestingly presents, not only two, but three types of people in the world when it comes to how they perceive something to be true.

Some seek after signs, (the Jews REQUIRED THEM) They look for evidence of proof usually from a divine or supernatural origin, (a lightning strike on command, a lifting of a natural law, an event that could not reasonably come about by chance alone). Sometimes it might be through a dream of a vision, something quite real and that fits a certain criteria in an individuals mind or circumstances. 

The Bible indicates that the jews were identified as such people. But it is not unique only to them, the last days deceptions will be filled with “lying signs and wonders, (2Thess 2:9) and, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Mt 24:24).

Some seek after a logical, comprehensive, consideration of the facts, able to be ascertained with the rational mind. The bible presents such people as those who seek after wisdom, the Greeks seek after wisdom: They are wanting ONLY to have a logical understanding of an issue or doctrine, that does not contradict, and do not give much credence to the “signs” the jews have as priority to knowledge. These are the “philosophers” of yesterday and today. Only ideas that makes sense are sensible. 

The Bible refers to these two groups as jews and Gentiles, or Jews and Greeks;

But there is a third group, this is a group that combines both the signs and wisdom, but add unto their considerations faith, particularly faith in God. 

They don’t profess to understand exactly how it comes together, but admit the truth of what they have learned because, by and large both signs and wisdom meet somewhat imperfectly, but it is confirmed by God as true.

Turn to 

Paul here speaking evidently to the greeks, the Gentile church at Corinth Greece.

1 Corinthians 1:17–24

17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

This morning we are going to speak about what is known in theology as The Incarnation, about Jesus Christ as “God manifest in the flesh” (1 Tim 3:16), about “the word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14), the perfect sign filled, wisdom filled and biblical truth that God became man, that when Jesus told Phillip, “he that hath seen me, hath seen the father” (Jn 14:9), Jesus was claiming that he is the fullness of God.

It is one of the most difficult concepts to grasp, and Jesus employs this truth to confound the Jews in the passage we read above.

The Title of the Message is, The Son Of David, (AKA . The Incarnation).

That God the Son, became The Son of God, The son of David and did so that you and I may become the children of God. Jesus became a man and will remain a man forever because you and I could never have been saved otherwise.

 

The Son Of David

The Incarnation

What Think Ye Of Christ?

Matthew 22:41–46

41 While the Pharise

Preeminence By Motion (Promised)

Hebrews 1:1–12

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 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; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 

4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? 6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. 7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

Two items are clearly presented to us at the beginning of the book of Hebrews, 

The first is that Jesus Christ is preeminent above all things, no angel, no glory, no saviour and no judgement is given to any, other than Christ. 

All is his and all will be his.

The second items we can notice is that he is both saviour and judge, preeminent above and over all. 

Verse 3 identifies him as the only one to purge our sins, verse 8 sees him with his ruling sceptre and verse 9 identifies him as a lover of righteousness and hater of sin (iniquity). He condemns the sinner, but has the power to pardon him.

Jesus Christ is the one who sits at “the right hand of the Majesty on high”, the one who is made “so much better than the angels”, and by inheritance “obtained a more excellent name than they” and  is the “heir of all things”.

This is the PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST, he is before all things in in him “all things consist”, so the question to you is, why go to man to look for hope? 

If Christ is all in all, if he is both Saviour, Redeemer and Counsellor, why go you to the weak and beggarly things of the world to find hope?

Every year there is a new book, a new personality, a herb and spice, new way in the world to find comfort and peace, hope and joy, and to them many go and find at best a temporary fix for their pain and trouble, but why do YOU GO THERE when you have CHRIST?

Beloved, the people of the world are even now understanding that hope is not going to be found in man. Where will you point them if Jesus is NOT preeminent in your life as he is testified to in the scriptures?

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

In verse 8, This is the father speaking to the “Son” and testifies Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

An incredible passage quoted from Psalm 45:6-7, a passage that simply must have sent the Jews around the twist trying to understand how it can be that the Son is preeminent with the father testifying to the everlasting nature of his Son’s throne.

There is nothing in this world that will not perish, not the foundations of the earth laid by Christ from the beginning, not even the heavens that are the work of his hands, “They shall perish; but thou remainest; an

Jesus Is God

Introduction

John 10:22–33

22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

“We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, without any essential change in his divine person became man by the miracle of the virgin birth, thus to

continue forever as both true God and true Man.

The claim that is made by Christians is that Jesus is GOD! 

He is the one who created all things, the one who created you and I, the very one who is the the brightness of the Glory of God and the express image of his person (Heb 1:3). It’s an astounding claim to make and yet there is no question that this is exactly how the Bible presents Jesus.

This morning my desire is to show you both that the Bible presents Jesus as God, but also for you to give consideration to what Jesus willingly left behind to become, forever, a man that he may save man from his sin. 

We will be spending some time in the Scriptures today because I want you to be able to see that this is not a notion people have created, but comes directly from the word of God. To make is easier I intend MOSLTY to have you turn to different passages in the Gospel of John, this will be more than enough to demonstrate the truth of the claim that the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is indeed God and ONE WITH GOD!

Makest Thyself God

John 10:32–33

32…… Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

It seems quite evident that the Jews understood the claim Jesus was making. How can it then be true that Jesus never claimed to be God? Have we forgotten why they crucified him?

Turn to

John 14:4–9

4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

We see in the passage before us that Jesus had no qualms about telling the world who he is. Though the words “I am God” were never recorded in the Bible as being uttered from his lips, it seems Jesus desired more to manifest the reality of himself as God rather than use those three words. Jesus did the work of the father, and apart from that incredible phrase in John 10:30, here he confirms in the clearest possible way that he and the father are one. 

he that hath seen me hath seen the Father

Jesus testified again a