Over the past few weeks we have been looking at the 7 churches in Revelation 2 and 3. We have learned a lot from these churches. Church is the most important organization we are a part of on the earth.
One lesson we learn from these 7 churches is that churches can be deceived.
A recent poll taken of evangelical Christians in the United States reveals some shocking things:
30% of evangelicals don’t believe that Jesus is God.
65% of evangelicals believe that Jesus was first and greatest being created by God.
According to the Bible, both of these statements are false.
The first way to avoid deception in the church is to avoid deception about Jesus. Jesus is the head of the church, he is the church’s cornerstone, and he is the church’s husband. We need to understand who Jesus is in order to understand church.
As we believe in Jesus as he is, we will experience him as he is. We don’t want to limit our experience of God through unbelief or through distorted perceptions of Jesus.
Here are some verses that show that Jesus is God.
- John 1:1
- Colossians 2:9-10
- 1 John 5:7
- Acts 20:28
- 2 Peter 1:1
- 1 Timothy 3:16
Because Jesus is God, he is eternal. He existed before the foundation of the world. He was not created. He has no beginning and no end.
What did Jesus do in the past?
In the beginning, Jesus created the world. Everything in the universe was created by Jesus. Jesus wrote all laws that govern physical and chemical interactions.
- John 1:3
- Col 1:16
Jesus is part of the Trinity. There are three persons in the Trinity, but there is only One God. These three Persons are One.
Jesus was involved in discussions with the Father and the Holy Spirit about Creation (Genesis 1,2) and about the scattering of languages at Babel (Genesis 11). The Bible uses plural “us” to describe these discussions within the Trinity.
John 8:56-58: Jesus said, “Before Abraham was I am.” Jesus is the eternal God, who is “I Am That I Am.”
Jesus appeared on the earth in the Old Testament.
Throughout the Old Testament, Jesus often appeared as the Angel of the Lord. The “angel of the Lord” refers to himself as God.
- Gen 17:1
- Gen 22:11-18
- Ex 3:2-6
- Judges 6:11,14
1 Corinthians 10:4 reveals that Jesus accompanied the Israelites through the wilderness.
Melchizedek is a mysterious person in the Old Testament who was probably Jesus, because the Bible says Melchizedek had no beginning or end.
- Hebrews 7:3
- Genesis 14:17-19
Although Jesus appeared throughout the Old Testament, he had not yet taken on human flesh and bones. Only when he was born of the virgin Mary did he take on flesh and bones and become a man. He did this so he could go to the cross and die in our place, for our sins. During his earthly ministry as a man he worked miracles and gave the teachings of the Kingdom of God. Then after his resurrection, he poured out the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is alive now.
Where is Jesus now?
Jesus is at the right hand of God.
- Mark 16:19
- Hebrews 1:3
The right hand is a place of authority and power. It is the place where someone represents someone else, and where someone acts for another. Jesus represents the Father to us, and Jesus acts in the world for the Father.
Jesus is among his people when they gather together in his name.
Jesus is inside us through his Holy Spirit.
Jesus can be in multiple places at once because he is God.
What is Jesus doing now?
- Heb 10:12-13 Waiting for enemies to be made his footstool
- Heb 1:3 Upholding the universe through the word of his power
- Matt 16:18 Building his church
What does Jesus do now for us?
Jesus intercedes for us.
- Heb 7:25
- Rom 8:34
Jesus is praying for us. When we go through challenges and need prayer, we know that the first person praying for us is Jesus. His prayers are very effective.
Jesus mediates for us.
- 1 Tim 2:5
A mediator resolves conflict between two parties. Sometimes we sin and do things that are contrary to God. This creates tension in our relationship with the Father. This conflict is resolved by Jesus. His mediation is perfect. We can come boldly to the Father because of Jesus, and the Father accepts us completely.
Jesus advocates for us.
- 1 John 2:1
An advocate represents us before a judge. The Father is the judge, and Jesus advocates for us before the Father. Jesus is a perfect advocate. This means we are perfectly accepted by the Father.
Jesus is with us all the time.
- Matt 28:20 Jesus is with us to the end of the age.
- Heb 13:5 Jesus will never leave us or forsake us.
Sometimes we feel that Jesus is not with us. This is a lie from Satan. Jesus is always with us. Sometimes we feel something is a little ‘off’ in our relationship with him. Jesus hasn’t left us during this time. Instead, this may be a sign that we need to change something in our lives (repent) so that we can be restored to intimate fellowship with him.
Jesus is our shepherd.
- John 10:11
Jesus leads us to abundant life, provides all that we need, and protects us from enemies. He leads us to green pastures and still waters. Sometimes a shepherd must lead the sheep through a challenging place in order to get to a green valley. As we keep following Jesus, he will lead us through the challenges to get to a place of blessing.
Jesus is our light.
- John 8:12
Light shows the way. When we don’t know where to go or what to do, we need Jesus to guide us. Light overcomes darkness. A cubic centimeter of light can overcome many cubic feet of darkness. Light causes growth and life.
Jesus is the Perfector of our Faith.
- Heb 12:2
Jesus began working in us, an will continue working in us. He causes us to grow spiritually. Like a sculptor works on a slab of marble to bring forth a statue, so the Lord works on us to bring us forth into his image. Sometimes this work feels painful, but it will ultimately cause us to be blessed.
Jesus works with us, confirming our ministry (sharing the gospel) with miracles.
– Mark 16:20
When we share the gospel or the word of God with someone, Jesus will work with us and confirm what we share to people by working in their hearts or in their circumstances. We step out in faith to speak the word of God, then Jesus works with us to establish his word in hearts and minds.
Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven.
- John 14:1-3
We are saved by grace through faith. This is a free gift. Then, according to our faithfulness to the Lord on the earth, Jesus is preparing our eternal home. Our rewards in heaven will be based on our level of faithfulness to the Lord in this life.
What will Jesus do in the future?
Jesus will judge the world.
- Matt 25:31-32
- 2 Cor 5:10
At the end of the age, all people will be gathered before Jesus’ throne and he will judge everyone.
Conclusion
Jesus is God.
Jesus is eternal.
Jesus is the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega.
Believing and experiencing all these wonderful blessings from Jesus today depends on us believing that Jesus is God. Only if he is God will he be able to do all of these wonderful things in our lives.
When we believe fundamental facts about Jesus, we will be free from many forms of deception. We will experience Jesus more and more in our lives. We need to read the Bible to understand more and more of what Jesus is doing in our lives. As we believe in what the Bible says about Jesus, we will experience more of his love and presence.
Lincoln House Churches 