How do we know Jesus is God? Why is it important?
- What Jesus said: (I AM) John 8:58, (I and the Father are one) John 10:30
- What others said: Matt. 16:16-17 - peter confession, John 20:28 - Thomas confession
- His preexistence: John 1:1-3, Col 1:15-17
- Statements of his Deity: Heb. 1:1-3 - exact representation
- OT References: Psalm 110:1, Acts 2:34-36 “Lord said to my Lord”, Dan 7:13-14 one like the son of man (Matt. 17:9, transfig)
- Importance: Not just a good teacher, but only God could save us, forgive us sin, and resurrect.
How was Jesus Human? Why is it important?
- his humanity: Luke 2:40,52 - grew in stature
- importance and evidence: Heb. 2:9,14-18 - shared in our humanity so he could taste death for everyone. make atonement and become high Priest
Why was the virgin Birth important? What Biblical truths depend on it?
- fulfillment of prophecy (Isa. 7:14 -> Matt. 1:22-23) God with us
- didn’t receive curse from Adam (Rom. 5:12)
- He had to share our humanity to save us (Heb. 2:14-18)
How would you explain the fact that Jesus is both divine and human? If Jesus emptied himself, how could he still be God?
Phil 2:5-11 (7-8)
- laid aside “access to divine privileges” and picked up perfectly spirit filled human card
- seen in limit of knowledge of end times (mark 13:32) and limit of omnipresence in death of Lazarus (John 11:21)
Was Jesus able to sin?
NO!
- Heb. 4:15 - tempted like us but didn’t sin
- fully human so temptations were real
- fully God so he would not sin
Is Jesus role in the OT? What is his role?
While the man Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary the Divine Word has existed forever. He was involved in creation (John 1:1-3)
- he also appeared in cases like Joshua 5:14-15 “commander of the Lords army”
Why did Jesus come? What is his ministry today?
Why?
- Luke 19:10 - to seek and save the Lost
- John 3:17 - to save the world
- 1 John 3:5,8 - to take away sin and destroy the devil works
Today?
- 1 Pet. 3:22 - at the right hand of God, ruling over all things including angels, authorities and powers
- Heb. 4:14-16 - interceding for us
How do we know that Jesus died and rose again?
Proof of Resurrection 5 E’s:
- Empty Tomb - Matt. 28:12-13
- Eyewitness - 1 Cor. 15:3-6
- Enthusiastic transformation - almost every one of 12 died as a martyr
- Early proclamation - 1 Cor 15 written 20 years after the resurrection
- Encounters with Jesus - Luke 24 - Road to Emmaus, Acts 9 - Paul
Why did he have to die? Why did he have to rise?
Die?
- 1 John 3:5,8 - to take away sin and destroy devil works
- Heb. 2:9-11 - taste death for everyone (make atonement)
- Heb. 9:22 - without shedding blood there is no forgiveness
Resurrect?
- 1 Cor. 15:12-19 - if he wasn’t raised faith is useless and still in sins. No hope for us.
- Rom 1:4 - declared son of God thru resurrection
Unique?
- 2 Cor. 5:21 - only one to die for sin of others to make us righteous
