Sermons

Jesus Christ - The Sinless One, The Alpha and Omega, The Great Shepherd, The Great High Priest, The Holy One, The King of Kings, The Lamb of God, The Lord of Lords, The Master, The Prince of Peace, The Righteous One. The Word of God - Our Restorer - Our Redeemer - Jesus Christ.

Could anyone question His authority? Could anyone question His divinity? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. There is a movement among some Christians including mainline Christians that question our Saviour’s divinity - A belief that our Saviour was somehow not equal with the Father in Heaven. A belief that He was the first created one. Where does this idea come from? Is it found in God’s Holy Word?

Let’s look up the text that is used to defend this idea. Colossians 1:14, 15, “In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.” When you read this portion of Scripture - on the surface - wouldn’t it seem that yes, indeed, Jesus Christ was created? For doesn’t the text say, “...the firstborn of every creature?” Friends, do you want to serve a created being? Is it your desire to surrender all to the created one?

Isn’t it wonderful to know that the God of heaven and earth has lovingly given us a true and sure guide that leads us into all Truth? The Word of God is our sure foundation! The problem arises when people take a passage of scripture to suit their preconceived ideas. They don’t accept the Bible counsel found in Isaiah 28:10, “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” Let us be reassured today that the Bible is and always will be our guide unto the Rock of our salvation - Jesus Christ!

Let’s continue to read on - Colossians 1:15-18, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 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: And He is before all things, and by him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church: Who is the beginning, the firstborn of the dead: that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

The word “firstborn” is taken from the Greek work “pro-tos” which means foremost (in time, place, order or importance). Your Saviour is the firstborn - He is foremost in all creation! Is He foremost in your life?

Oh friends, we don’t have to worry about whom we serve. Turn with me to Exodus 3:13-14. Moses is asking God what His name is so he can tell the Israelites who sent him. “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say unto me, What is his name? What shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”

The God of the universe is the Great I AM! Turn with me to John 8:58 where we find a comforting affirmation from our Saviour. Verse 58, “Jesus said unto them, Verily, Verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM!” Jesus Christ our Saviour is the Great I AM! There is no room for doubt! We serve the Great I AM! Once again, the truth is revealed in the context of scripture.

John establishes the deity of Jesus Christ by recording that Jesus specifically referred to Himself as "I AM" which is the title only of Jehovah God Himself. (John 6:35, 8:12, 8:58, 10:7, 9, 11, 14, 11:25, 14:6, ,15:1, 5)

Let us now look at John Chapter 1 and see what it tells us of who Jesus Christ is. Please note that the verb used is not "was" but "is" because He is our living Savior, who now stands at the right hand of God making intercession for all who will believe in Him and receive Him as their Lord and Savior.

John 1:1-3, 14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 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.”

There is not a stronger statement in the Bible than these four verses.

The Greek word for “Word” is "logos." The word refers to truth, revelation and the wisdom of God. It refers to the source of truth...the Person from which the truth comes. You cannot separate Jesus Christ from Truth because He is Truth - He is the Word of God. The "Logos" was with God and was God. This testifies that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are One God.

Verse 1 further says that "the Word was God." There is no article before "theos" in Greek grammar indicating that "God" is the predicate. The question that is often raised is not who is God but who is the "Word" because the "Word" is the subject. The sentence says the Word was God. This is an emphatic statement. Whoever is the Word is God!

In John 1:14 God tells us that the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory. Clearly this is a reference only to Jesus Christ.

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.” John makes the point that although no man has ever seen God Himself, we see Jesus and thus see God incarnate in flesh or in human form.

Jesus Christ is proclaimed to be the Creator. Note again John 1:3, "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." The verb "was made" means "came into being." It is significant because it literally means "it came into being out of nothing."

This single verse refutes every form of evolution. It is the Logos from which the Creation came. Hebrews 1:3, 10, "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; . . .And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands."

Another straight-forward proof text that proclaims Christ as the Creator.

And yet again, Colossians 1:-15-17, "Who is the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature: 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: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."

It is Jesus Christ who at this moment holds and powers the Universe. All things exist through Him. In Jesus Christ is Life, and the Life was the Light of Men. Life came from Jesus Christ.

Evolution teaches that life came from inert matter. In some primeval soup, the right minerals came together and life was begun. They tell us that it will be possible in time for man through science to figure out the method and proper ingredients and life will be made in a test tube. However, God says that life came from the LOGOS or Jesus Christ. Note it says "in Him was life."

Jesus Christ is also the Creator of Spiritual Life. John 1:4, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

In the Garden, God formed the earth and He formed man out of the earth. After forming the earth, the first thing created was light. God brought light to dispel the darkness. Jesus called Himself the Light of the World. John 8:12, "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 9:5, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." John 12:46, "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." Jesus made the contrast between darkness and light. This brings us to the next point.

Jesus Christ overcame the Darkness of Sin. John 1:5, “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” The light shined in the darkness and the darkness "comprehended" it not. The word is "kata-lamb-an-o" which means to "apprehend." In other words, darkness did not "lay hold of" or overcome, overwhelm or overpower the light. Jesus Christ overcame the sin of the world. John 1:9 explains that this was the true light that lighteth every man that comes into the world. “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” This stresses the contrast between true spiritual light of Jesus Christ and the false substitute that is offered by the Devil.

Men have from the beginning of sin tried to offer a substitute for the true light. Yet, all men's efforts are but feeble copies.

John 1:10-11, “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”

Romans 1:18-20, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”

Because of sin and man's love of sin, man has rejected God's truth. John 3:19, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

But there is indeed Good News! John 1:12-14, “ But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 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.”

No matter how much the world rejects Christ, He remains the Saviour! Jesus Christ came into the world and died for the sins of the world that He might offer grace to all who will believe and accept His offer of mercy. He is willing to give the power to become the sons of God to all that believe on His name!

It is clear that salvation is not earned or merited by any man. Man cannot save himself, and God knowing that came to earth, took human form and walked among us. He willingly went to the cross and took all our sins in His own body. God gave man a will, made him in His own image and took all man's failure's upon Himself and suffered for our disobedience.

There are two basis types of people in the world today. Those who reject Jesus Christ and refuse to place their belief and trust in Him and those who do believe. Those who welcome the Good News that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, to forgiven their sins and choose to serve Him - are granted eternal life.

Doesn’t it thrill your heart to be reassured that Jesus Christ is your Alpha and Omega? Wouldn’t you like to say to Jesus, “I want to commit or recommit my life to you Jesus. Yes, I want You to be my Alpha and Omega.” Amen!