Bible Readings
- Psalm 110
- Hebrews 1
Introduction
My dear friends in the Lord Jesus Christ,
The topic of this sermon is “Who is the saviour, called Jesus Christ?” Who is Jesus Christ?
Is it possible that we live in a time of unparalleled Biblical illiteracy? We have unprecedented access to Bible translations, Bible programs, studies and information. About everyone has an electronic device in his or her pocket with at least one translation of the Scriptures on it. Yet, careful examination of the state of the church, more so in the western world, paints a shocking picture. Little wonder then that someone thought Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife! Most church-goers today do not know the Ten Commandments. And this is just basic Bible knowledge; it says nothing about true commitment to Christ in Christian living and service to his Kingdom.
Who is Jesus Christ?
How would you answer the question, Who is Jesus Christ?
A common answer in church circles to the question, Who is Jesus Christ?, goes like this, “He died for me on the cross.”
There are enormous problems with this response, not because of what is said, but because of what is not included in this answer.
First of all, this answer puts the focus on me—He died for me. He came to give me a hand. So, when I need Him for health, wealth, success, and getting out of trouble, He will help me. He came into my world for me; nothing about his Kingdom and Kingship and how He should be worshipped is even heard of in this response. Furthermore, because it is about me—individual me—we hear nothing about the rest of the people of Christ as his church of which all of us are members as one family.
To only state “He died for me on the cross” when you give an answer about who Jesus is, has gaping holes in it, and might expose the temperature of your spiritual life, and the level of your understanding of the gospel.
Secondly, Christ did not only come to die, He came to conquer everything which separates us from God—this includes sin, Satan, death and hell. It is therefore more accurate to say He come to die and conquer death through his sacrifice on the Cross and his resurrection.
But there’s more to it: He is seated at the right hand of the Father. He is the King of all kings. He is indeed God!
So, let’s get the Biblical answer on who Jesus Christ is. I trust that God will help all of us to know who his Son, Jesus Christ, is, so we can worship Him as Lord and King.
Let’s look to heaven through the lens of the Bible
To answer the question Who is Jesus Christ? We need to understand the Bible as the Word of God which is given to us to give us and understanding of who God is.
Go with me to Hebrews 1.
Jesus Christ is God’s word
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by his Son … (Hebrews 1:1–2, ESV)
In the days before Jesus took on flesh and was born as a human being God communicated with his people—He made his will clear—in different ways. Unless God revealed Himself none would know who He is, what He is, and what his will is.
In order for his people to know Him and to understand his Person and will, to know his plan of salvation after the fall of Adam and Eve, and to what all things lead and how all things will come to a final conclusion at the end of time, God used prophets and priests. The prophets declared God’s will and the priests interceded on behalf of the people with sacrifices and prayers. Some people saw visions, other dreamed dreams. In some cases God used major signs and miracles—like when Israel was rescued out of Egypt; just think of the plagues, God’s provision for his people in the desert, and Him giving them a land.
There was the great Moses, Aaron the high priest with others who sacrificed millions of animals to atone for the sin of the people; there were Elijah, David, Isaiah, John the Baptist and all the others. All pointed to someone better to come. God spoke through them.
But then there was Jesus Christ: God speaks through his Son. He is greater than Moses, more important than Aaron, greater than any king who lived before Him.
What we need to know about God, about his rescue plan, about the unfolding of history and how it will come to an end—is said in Jesus Christ. The Bible reveals God’s will in Jesus Christ. If you want to know about it, read it carefully and you will find all God’s promises are fulfilled in Christ. What does the future hold? When Christ returns all will be made knew, and then He will take us to his Father’s home and we will see his glory. He is the beginning and the last; He holds the keys of hell; He was dead, but now his lives. Of his the angels sing with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12, ESV)
Let’s put it this way: who is Jesus Christ? He is God’s Word made flesh.
John writes in John 1:1-2
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1–2, ESV)
Jesus Christ is God’s appointed King
Our text says:
[God] has spoken to us by his Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2–3, ESV)
Listen: “all things”. The Creator of the universe made Jesus his legal heir of all things which He created. The language here has something of a king who authorises and appoints a successor. It reflects the language of Psalm 110: Your thrown will last forever because I am your Father.
Who is Jesus Christ? He is eternal King! Can you see how inadequate it is to just say “He died for me”? The problem with Christians today is that they hardly understand anything about worshipping Christ as Lord and King. What does it mean? In essence nothing less that to love Him with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength. He who does not fall before Christ as his Lord in worship, will never understand anything of the Gospel.
Jesus Christ is the One through whom God created the universe
but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world. (Hebrews 1:2–3, ESV)
Paul writes in Colossians 1:
For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:15–17, ESV)
It’s one thing to hear the invitation to receive Christ as Lord and Saviour, waking down the isle and say a sinner’s prayer; it’s a completely different thing to worship Christ as the Creator who holds everything together: the sun who rose today, the Other who provided your breakfast this morning, the One who understands our bodies and knows how everything works.
Did you know that the average adult have about 1000,000kms of blood vessels in his body? Your heart beats about 115,000 times per day pumping about 6,500 litres, and on average 42,000,000 times per year. If you passed eighty years of age your heart would have beaten 3.3 billion times, pumping 200 million litres of blood. They say we could have 32.7 trillion cells in our bodies at anytime. Things get really astonishing when you think about DNA and the information stored in DNA. We have only spoken of one person. There are 7 billion of us on earth!
Do you get the picture? In Christ all things hold together – all 7 billion heartbeats. He knows the beginning from the end. Our text says He sustains all things. How? By his powerful word. How is that possible? Well, He is God!
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1:15, ESV)
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.
All things were made through Him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3, ESV)
God spoke, and creation happened. Christ was there. He is God’s Word!
Do you worship Him? Do you think perhaps you can use Him for your own agenda? Think again!
Jesus Christ is God’ appointed Saviour
Now we may get to the point of salvation:
After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:3, ESV)
Think about it: God’s appointed Word, His appointed King, His appointed heir, the One who was with God when He created, the One in whom all things hold together—He walked in obedience to God to Calvary’s Hill, taking the scourge of sin upon Him, and died forsaken by his Father. Why? He loved righteousness and hated wickedness (verse 9). He died in our place while we still his enemies. His blood became the purchase price by which He set sinners free by becoming their righteousness.
Conclusion
If you say you know Jesus Christ as the one who died for you, you have to say you worship him as your King; you have to say He is your God; you have to say you life is in his hand; you have to say you love Him; you have to say you have left you old life behind and you follow Him only.
Who is Jesus Christ? How do you know and worship Him as Lord?
Ultimate Standards 