WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.259 Now, we're going to spend some time together in the introductory words from Paul of 1 Corinthians, 00:00:12.939 --> 00:00:15.960 page 1144 of our church Bible. 00:00:17.240 --> 00:00:19.400 We're going to read verses 1 to 9. 00:00:20.339 --> 00:00:24.580 As we think together about that statement, we believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, 00:00:24.579 --> 00:00:34.439 our Lord, let's note together, even as we read, how often in which ways Paul describes Jesus, 00:00:35.159 --> 00:00:37.539 and we'll think together why that matters. 00:00:39.460 --> 00:00:41.619 1 Corinthians chapter 1 at verse 1. 00:00:41.700 --> 00:00:49.159 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God and our brother Sosthenes, 00:00:49.159 --> 00:00:57.339 to the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be His holy people, 00:00:58.039 --> 00:01:04.280 together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:11.000 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:01:11.979 --> 00:01:17.060 I always thank my God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus, 00:01:17.060 --> 00:01:23.340 for in Him you have been enriched in every way, with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge, 00:01:23.859 --> 00:01:28.040 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 00:01:28.879 --> 00:01:35.780 Therefore, you do not lack any spiritual gift, as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 00:01:36.579 --> 00:01:44.099 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:01:44.099 --> 00:01:53.640 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:01:54.560 --> 00:02:02.599 We're going to begin this week, as we did last week, with a question, perhaps a question that you have had asked 00:02:02.599 --> 00:02:08.299 or you've heard debates about, are all religions basically the same? 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:11.799 Don't all roads lead to God? 00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:15.860 Don't all roads lead up the same mountain? 00:02:16.860 --> 00:02:21.880 So you may have heard that from a secular context, people without any religious background 00:02:21.880 --> 00:02:26.080 imagining that all religions are basically the same. 00:02:26.980 --> 00:02:31.560 You sometimes find it from people from within religious backgrounds, 00:02:31.560 --> 00:02:38.120 trying to smooth over the differences that exist to create that idea that, 00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:42.020 well, so long as everyone is worshipping, we're all worshipping the same God. 00:02:42.980 --> 00:02:45.539 I want us to ask the question, does that make sense? 00:02:46.920 --> 00:02:51.120 And to ask the question another way, what would Jesus say if He was asked the question, 00:02:51.219 --> 00:02:53.099 are all religions basically the same? 00:02:53.099 --> 00:03:00.259 In John chapter 8 verse 42, Jesus said, if God were your Father, you would love Me. 00:03:00.740 --> 00:03:05.819 So there's a particular connection between the Father and the Son and how we should feel about the Father and the Son. 00:03:06.379 --> 00:03:11.560 John 14 verse 6 that we just read, I am the way, the truth and the life. 00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:15.039 No one comes to the Father except through Me. 00:03:16.199 --> 00:03:24.560 And to go through all the Gospels, we would find Jesus making many exclusive claims, exclusive demands to loyalty. 00:03:25.900 --> 00:03:29.659 And to read the New Testament, we begin to understand that without Jesus, 00:03:30.480 --> 00:03:33.599 the Bible says we're not worshipping the true God. 00:03:34.259 --> 00:03:36.319 Without Jesus, there is no Trinity. 00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:40.139 Without Jesus, there is no final revelation from God. 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:42.599 Without Jesus, there is no salvation. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:48.919 Without Jesus, there is no way back home to our God and Creator. 00:03:49.979 --> 00:03:58.419 So to listen to the whole testimony of the Bible is to understand that true worship must be Christ-centred. 00:03:58.419 --> 00:04:07.560 And so it's really important to be precise, especially about the person and the work of Jesus. 00:04:08.459 --> 00:04:11.939 Whenever you read, whenever we share the Apostles' Creed together, 00:04:12.019 --> 00:04:15.819 you maybe notice that there's so much of the Creed devoted to Jesus. 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:17.060 Why is that? 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:18.839 Because He is at the center. 00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:26.099 And there's so much confusion and misunderstanding that the Apostles' Creed helpfully clarifies for us. 00:04:26.100 --> 00:04:32.180 So when there are suggestions that good intentions is what matters, 00:04:33.080 --> 00:04:36.100 that being sincere as a worshipper is what it's all about, 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:44.060 we need to understand from Scripture that it's no value if we're not worshipping in and through the Lord Jesus. 00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:51.220 When other religions say, well, Jesus was a good man, or a great man, or a wise guru, 00:04:51.220 --> 00:04:55.360 even if someone says He was a chosen by God man, 00:04:56.180 --> 00:04:59.640 that is no help for salvation or for worship. 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:10.080 So the Jesus we must worship and proclaim is Jesus Christ, God's only Son and our Lord. 00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:15.500 And that's why we read from the book of 1 Corinthians. 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:22.919 Because I think we have a lot to learn today from this letter and from what was happening in the church. 00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:27.500 So imagine, so Corinth was a large city, a significant city. 00:05:28.180 --> 00:05:31.939 Imagine the church kind of around this size, maybe slightly larger. 00:05:31.939 --> 00:05:36.740 Imagine if we were the only Christians in this city. 00:05:38.719 --> 00:05:44.800 And in this city, we were surrounded by pagan worship everywhere. 00:05:45.639 --> 00:05:48.300 And in fact, until a few months ago, that had been our background. 00:05:50.339 --> 00:05:57.480 And the city was known for immorality, famous or infamous through the Roman Empire, 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:00.579 for its wild living. 00:06:00.579 --> 00:06:05.719 And in this city, there's competition and fighting, 00:06:05.879 --> 00:06:09.479 because everybody wants to be top dog and number one. 00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:19.219 And within this city, there's also the pressure of political rule claiming absolute loyalty on its citizens. 00:06:21.719 --> 00:06:23.120 Welcome to Corinth. 00:06:24.500 --> 00:06:28.659 But in some ways, welcome to Edinburgh. 00:06:28.660 --> 00:06:34.700 The challenge that Paul faces as he writes this letter to these young Christians in Corinth, 00:06:35.160 --> 00:06:40.680 is that while the gospel is intended to both break down boundaries because of grace, 00:06:40.740 --> 00:06:44.660 but to establish boundaries, because God set apart people who are called to be holy, 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:48.480 the boundaries between the church and the world is almost non-existent. 00:06:49.500 --> 00:06:51.920 Worldly values have been accepted. 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:56.960 And so Paul is writing to a church divided. 00:06:56.960 --> 00:07:02.500 See if you have time to read the letter of 1 Corinthians and read it through that lens of, 00:07:02.740 --> 00:07:05.220 here is a people who are divided. 00:07:06.080 --> 00:07:07.600 You'll see it coming everywhere. 00:07:07.900 --> 00:07:12.120 The first four chapters, we discover they're divided over leadership. 00:07:12.120 --> 00:07:14.720 I think Paul's the best. 00:07:14.780 --> 00:07:15.800 I think Peter's the best. 00:07:15.879 --> 00:07:17.139 We are of the Jesus party. 00:07:18.939 --> 00:07:22.459 They're a church divided over sexual ethics. 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:24.199 In chapter 5. 00:07:24.920 --> 00:07:29.420 In chapter 6, we understand they're divided because they're taking each other to courts of law. 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:34.259 They're divided over, what should we do about food offered to idols? 00:07:34.699 --> 00:07:35.240 Chapter 8. 00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:38.920 How should we practice public worship? 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:40.220 Chapter 11. 00:07:40.920 --> 00:07:44.199 How do we exercise our spiritual gifts? 00:07:44.660 --> 00:07:45.780 Chapters 12 and 13. 00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:51.819 They're even divided over how to understand the resurrection, as we discovered in chapter 15. 00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:56.879 And so Paul writes to this young church, this divided church, 00:07:57.139 --> 00:08:00.100 and he really gives them one answer to their division. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:02.439 And the answer is Jesus. 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:04.939 Takes them back to Jesus. 00:08:05.480 --> 00:08:08.340 To understand that he is everything. 00:08:09.400 --> 00:08:12.379 They're understanding the truth about who Jesus is, 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:18.759 and the difference that Jesus makes is what will create a Christ-centered worshiping community. 00:08:20.060 --> 00:08:22.079 That's where their holiness will come from. 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:25.060 That's where their unity will come from. 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:32.100 In the present, before the writing of Paul's letter, 00:08:32.100 --> 00:08:35.620 they're spotting the difference between the church and the world. 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:39.080 It was like doing those Where's Wally puzzles. 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:42.040 If you've done Where's Wally, you know you're looking really hard. 00:08:42.080 --> 00:08:44.080 It's really difficult to find Wally. 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:46.580 It's really hard to spot because they all look kind of similar. 00:08:48.100 --> 00:08:53.379 What Paul calls the church towards is the kind of difference that's night and day. 00:08:53.379 --> 00:08:58.899 And that can only happen as Christians are rooted in the gospel. 00:08:58.899 --> 00:09:06.480 And so what we're going to do is we're going to sort of focus in on Paul's introduction. 00:09:07.659 --> 00:09:09.340 And then we're going to sort of zoom out together. 00:09:09.439 --> 00:09:11.899 We're going to consider the titles that he uses for Jesus. 00:09:11.899 --> 00:09:15.959 And then we're going to pan from Corinth towards Edinburgh 00:09:15.959 --> 00:09:20.259 and think about why we also need the same truths that Paul was sharing in Corinth. 00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:26.220 The first thing to think about is the church's one foundation. 00:09:27.419 --> 00:09:33.500 Did you notice as we were reading these nine verses how often Jesus was mentioned? 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:38.980 Nine times in nine verses with a variety of titles. 00:09:38.980 --> 00:09:43.240 Let's read them again with that emphasis. 00:09:44.539 --> 00:09:49.399 It is verse one, Christ Jesus who called Paul. 00:09:50.060 --> 00:09:55.139 So they are to hear that the authority for this whole letter comes not from Paul, 00:09:55.899 --> 00:09:57.840 but it comes from Jesus Christ. 00:09:59.379 --> 00:10:05.240 Verse two, to the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus. 00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:09.399 It is Christ Jesus who has set this church apart for God, 00:10:09.539 --> 00:10:16.299 who has made the church holy and has set them apart that they would call on His name in true worship, 00:10:18.259 --> 00:10:22.340 uniting them with everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:10:24.680 --> 00:10:25.680 Verse three, 00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:32.019 grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:10:33.299 --> 00:10:37.199 This Jesus who gives grace and peace is co-equal with the Father. 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:43.939 That the undeserved love of God, right relationship with God, 00:10:44.019 --> 00:10:50.319 the flourishing of life from God comes from the Son as it comes from the Father. 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:52.840 It comes from the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:10:54.280 --> 00:10:55.040 Verse four, 00:10:55.520 --> 00:11:00.760 I always thank my God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus. 00:11:02.300 --> 00:11:04.180 Christ Jesus doesn't just give grace, 00:11:04.340 --> 00:11:08.080 He is God's gift of grace to the church. 00:11:08.860 --> 00:11:13.980 God's greatest gift is Himself in giving His Son to be our Savior, 00:11:13.980 --> 00:11:17.120 a gift to all who trust in Him. 00:11:20.100 --> 00:11:26.220 Christ Jesus in verse five is the source of all their spiritual riches. 00:11:27.340 --> 00:11:34.519 That they are able to teach the Bible and share the Bible and encourage one another in their faith 00:11:34.519 --> 00:11:40.279 is down not to themselves and their own greatness, but to Jesus and His grace. 00:11:40.279 --> 00:11:44.059 In verse six, 00:11:44.139 --> 00:11:48.299 we discover Jesus is the subject of Paul's teaching. 00:11:48.939 --> 00:11:53.240 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 00:11:54.319 --> 00:11:59.220 Remember, this was Paul who resolved to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 00:12:01.439 --> 00:12:03.299 Chapter one, verse 30, 00:12:04.339 --> 00:12:07.419 Christ Jesus who has become for us wisdom from God. 00:12:07.419 --> 00:12:10.279 That is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:11.679 Therefore, as it is written, 00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:13.559 let the one who boasts, 00:12:14.939 --> 00:12:15.879 boast in the Lord. 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:18.819 Paul's message, Jesus is everything. 00:12:20.219 --> 00:12:20.759 Verse seven, 00:12:20.860 --> 00:12:23.479 we discover Jesus is the basis for Christian hope. 00:12:23.959 --> 00:12:26.179 Therefore, you do not lack any spiritual gift 00:12:26.179 --> 00:12:28.079 as you eagerly wait 00:12:28.079 --> 00:12:30.679 for our Lord Jesus Christ 00:12:30.679 --> 00:12:32.519 to be revealed. 00:12:32.519 --> 00:12:36.139 The same Lord Jesus Christ 00:12:36.139 --> 00:12:37.819 who gives spiritual gifts 00:12:37.819 --> 00:12:40.439 is the same Lord Jesus Christ 00:12:40.439 --> 00:12:41.980 who will return one day 00:12:41.980 --> 00:12:44.199 to finish the work of salvation, 00:12:44.600 --> 00:12:46.500 to establish God's kingdom, 00:12:46.620 --> 00:12:48.240 the kingdom of God 00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:49.600 on the earth, 00:12:49.659 --> 00:12:51.899 the earth as it is renewed. 00:12:54.379 --> 00:12:55.460 In verse eight, 00:12:55.539 --> 00:12:56.799 he reminds this church 00:12:56.799 --> 00:12:59.340 that Jesus is the key figure in history. 00:12:59.340 --> 00:13:01.379 He will keep you firm to the end 00:13:01.379 --> 00:13:02.560 so that you'll be blameless 00:13:02.560 --> 00:13:05.360 on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:06.580 The end of history, 00:13:06.680 --> 00:13:08.600 the beginning of the eternal reign of God 00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:10.879 is known as the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:13.759 And Jesus is the one who both 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:16.879 keeps and perfects His people 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:20.700 and returns as judge and king 00:13:20.700 --> 00:13:23.400 to bring His people in the end 00:13:23.400 --> 00:13:24.259 into His kingdom. 00:13:25.400 --> 00:13:26.100 Verse nine, 00:13:26.100 --> 00:13:27.320 God is faithful 00:13:27.320 --> 00:13:29.100 who has called you 00:13:29.100 --> 00:13:30.820 into fellowship with His Son, 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:32.379 Jesus Christ, 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:33.879 our Lord. 00:13:34.060 --> 00:13:35.879 It is God's Son. 00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:37.120 It is Jesus Christ, 00:13:37.240 --> 00:13:37.600 our Lord, 00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:39.180 who brings us fellowship 00:13:39.180 --> 00:13:40.700 with God. 00:13:42.379 --> 00:13:43.879 He is the subject of worship. 00:13:44.019 --> 00:13:46.440 He is the center of the church. 00:13:48.460 --> 00:13:51.259 First Corinthians is an amazing letter 00:13:51.259 --> 00:13:52.480 for so many ways. 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:55.120 One of the ways I think it's amazing 00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:56.620 is that Paul can be thankful 00:13:56.620 --> 00:13:57.320 for this church 00:13:57.320 --> 00:13:59.379 and see God's grace in this church 00:13:59.379 --> 00:14:01.379 where there's so much confusion 00:14:01.379 --> 00:14:02.980 and there's so much crazy stuff happening 00:14:02.980 --> 00:14:03.940 where if we were invited 00:14:03.940 --> 00:14:04.800 to write the letter, 00:14:04.899 --> 00:14:06.220 we would probably just tell them 00:14:06.220 --> 00:14:06.860 to stop it. 00:14:07.460 --> 00:14:07.639 Just, 00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:08.320 what are you doing? 00:14:09.420 --> 00:14:11.120 But Paul celebrates grace 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:13.580 and calls them back to the gospel. 00:14:14.060 --> 00:14:15.759 And Paul does another wonderful thing. 00:14:15.860 --> 00:14:17.899 He moves beyond the surface problems, 00:14:18.899 --> 00:14:20.000 divisions over leadership, 00:14:20.220 --> 00:14:21.440 divisions over public worship, 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:22.860 divisions in the law court, 00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:24.340 to go to the heart issue, 00:14:25.340 --> 00:14:26.480 to say to the church, 00:14:26.560 --> 00:14:27.580 and we hear it so clearly 00:14:27.580 --> 00:14:28.500 in this introduction, 00:14:28.680 --> 00:14:29.220 what we need 00:14:29.220 --> 00:14:30.500 is to center 00:14:30.500 --> 00:14:31.900 and to re-center 00:14:31.900 --> 00:14:33.820 on the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:14:34.940 --> 00:14:36.500 The gospel that unites, 00:14:36.820 --> 00:14:37.980 the gospel that gives life, 00:14:38.060 --> 00:14:39.180 the foundation that needs 00:14:39.180 --> 00:14:40.200 to be built on 00:14:40.200 --> 00:14:41.440 is the reality 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:42.820 that we are all one 00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:44.180 in Christ Jesus. 00:14:45.140 --> 00:14:46.300 What we boast about 00:14:46.300 --> 00:14:47.500 is not our intellect 00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:48.660 and skill and wisdom. 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:50.620 Our boast is to be in Jesus. 00:14:52.420 --> 00:14:53.840 How is the church to live, Paul? 00:14:54.220 --> 00:14:55.720 The church is to be holy 00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:57.560 in response to 00:14:57.560 --> 00:14:59.180 the call of Jesus. 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:01.560 He has set us apart 00:15:01.560 --> 00:15:02.500 by His grace. 00:15:04.420 --> 00:15:05.200 How are we supposed 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:06.880 to make our decisions, Paul? 00:15:07.340 --> 00:15:08.600 Your decisions are based 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:09.480 on what's going to give 00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:10.360 most honor 00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:11.820 to the Lord Jesus. 00:15:11.820 --> 00:15:14.980 So Paul is making 00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:16.000 really clear 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:17.500 to this young church 00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:19.140 that the foundation 00:15:19.140 --> 00:15:20.800 for their life of faith 00:15:20.800 --> 00:15:22.600 is Jesus Christ, 00:15:22.920 --> 00:15:23.560 the Lord. 00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:28.639 Now let's just slow down 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:29.179 a little bit 00:15:29.179 --> 00:15:31.219 and think about 00:15:31.219 --> 00:15:32.439 each of these titles 00:15:32.439 --> 00:15:33.359 that Paul uses 00:15:33.359 --> 00:15:34.559 on numerous times 00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:36.159 to ask ourselves 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:37.559 what are we to believe 00:15:37.559 --> 00:15:38.519 about Jesus? 00:15:39.959 --> 00:15:41.099 Maybe you've been struck 00:15:41.099 --> 00:15:42.179 if you've walked 00:15:42.179 --> 00:15:42.979 or driven past 00:15:42.979 --> 00:15:44.179 the mosque up the road, 00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:45.099 they have the big banner 00:15:45.099 --> 00:15:46.879 Muslims believe in Jesus too. 00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:48.779 It's a really interesting 00:15:48.779 --> 00:15:50.139 way to communicate 00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:51.759 with the city, I think. 00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:53.379 I imagine wanting 00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:54.299 to break barriers 00:15:54.299 --> 00:15:55.639 and create a talking point. 00:15:56.600 --> 00:15:57.259 But again, 00:15:57.319 --> 00:15:58.319 the question that we would 00:15:58.319 --> 00:15:59.600 need to ask, 00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:02.179 respectfully ask, 00:16:02.259 --> 00:16:04.519 is could they confess 00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:05.759 what we confess? 00:16:07.220 --> 00:16:08.179 Could they confess 00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:09.299 the Apostles' Creed? 00:16:11.019 --> 00:16:11.559 Could somebody 00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:12.679 from any other religion 00:16:12.679 --> 00:16:13.639 that has a high view 00:16:13.639 --> 00:16:14.319 of Jesus, 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:16.279 but not an ultimate view 00:16:16.279 --> 00:16:16.639 of Jesus, 00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:17.600 could they confess 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:18.240 what we confess? 00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:19.139 And the answer is no. 00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:21.519 What makes Christianity 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:23.139 unique is what 00:16:23.139 --> 00:16:24.399 the New Testament teaches 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:26.319 to explain and defend 00:16:26.319 --> 00:16:28.419 that Jesus is the Christ, 00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:29.399 God's anointed one, 00:16:29.659 --> 00:16:31.220 He is God's Son, 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:33.740 and He is the Lord. 00:16:36.460 --> 00:16:37.819 But that sign up the road 00:16:37.819 --> 00:16:38.460 reminds us 00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:39.699 that in the post-Christian 00:16:39.699 --> 00:16:41.080 and multicultural city 00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:41.699 and society 00:16:41.699 --> 00:16:42.779 that we live in, 00:16:43.779 --> 00:16:45.460 not dissimilar in some ways 00:16:45.460 --> 00:16:46.319 to Corinth, 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:47.960 we need to know 00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:50.580 precisely what we believe 00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:51.340 or better, 00:16:51.680 --> 00:16:53.379 who we believe in. 00:16:54.180 --> 00:16:55.180 And we need to be ready 00:16:55.180 --> 00:16:56.500 to hold on to 00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:58.180 what makes us different, 00:16:58.420 --> 00:16:59.980 even if there is pressure 00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:00.640 from culture 00:17:00.640 --> 00:17:01.800 to try and flatten out 00:17:01.800 --> 00:17:02.460 the differences. 00:17:03.180 --> 00:17:04.640 And we need to graciously 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:05.559 look for ways 00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:06.519 to both defend 00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:07.960 and share 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:09.279 what we believe 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.019 about Jesus. 00:17:10.019 --> 00:17:12.319 So let's begin 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:14.480 with that. 00:17:14.639 --> 00:17:15.539 We believe 00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:17.559 in Jesus. 00:17:18.460 --> 00:17:19.200 Whenever we hear 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:19.900 the name Jesus, 00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:20.720 it reminds us 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:22.279 that He is a real figure 00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:23.259 in history. 00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:24.639 This is the Jesus 00:17:24.639 --> 00:17:25.279 who was born 00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:26.019 in Bethlehem, 00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:26.980 who was raised 00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:27.579 in Nazareth, 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:28.400 who worked 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.460 with His Father 00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:31.059 as a carpenter, 00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:31.980 and then became 00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:33.039 a traveling preacher, 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:33.859 the Jesus 00:17:33.859 --> 00:17:34.839 who was executed 00:17:34.839 --> 00:17:36.200 by the Roman authorities 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:37.339 sometime around 00:17:37.339 --> 00:17:38.399 30 AD. 00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:40.079 This is the Jesus 00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:41.240 whose life was recorded 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:42.319 in the history 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:44.220 of the Gospels. 00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:47.579 Not unbiased accounts, 00:17:47.699 --> 00:17:48.599 but deliberately 00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:49.799 saying, 00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:51.000 this is what we have 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:51.779 come to discover 00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:52.619 about Jesus. 00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:53.480 And they wanted 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:54.220 to persuade 00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:55.039 and to convert 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:56.199 through these 00:17:56.199 --> 00:17:57.659 redemptive histories, 00:17:58.139 --> 00:17:58.720 showing Jesus 00:17:58.720 --> 00:17:59.339 at the center 00:17:59.339 --> 00:18:00.619 of the story of salvation. 00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:03.839 The figure in history 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:04.639 also recorded 00:18:04.639 --> 00:18:06.039 in non-Christian sources, 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:08.240 Jewish and Roman. 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:10.019 Historians make reference 00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:10.659 to the life, 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:11.240 the death, 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:13.159 and also 00:18:13.159 --> 00:18:14.240 that His followers 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:15.539 believed in His resurrection. 00:18:18.019 --> 00:18:18.839 And of course, 00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:20.119 there is eyewitness testimony. 00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:21.579 Paul was one 00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:22.180 who saw 00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:23.379 the risen Lord Jesus 00:18:23.379 --> 00:18:24.440 and was taught 00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:24.980 by Him. 00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:28.659 The apostles 00:18:28.659 --> 00:18:29.379 who wrote 00:18:29.379 --> 00:18:30.359 the Gospels 00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:31.599 bearing witness 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:32.319 to His ministry 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:32.980 and His miracles, 00:18:33.619 --> 00:18:34.799 His claims to be God, 00:18:34.899 --> 00:18:35.339 His death 00:18:35.339 --> 00:18:36.000 on the cross, 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:37.299 His resurrection 00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:38.599 and ascension. 00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:39.599 The Jesus 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:41.119 that we believe in 00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:43.480 is a historical figure. 00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:45.000 And we have 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:45.579 accurate, 00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:46.359 eyewitness, 00:18:46.539 --> 00:18:48.139 reliable testimony 00:18:48.139 --> 00:18:49.639 in the New Testament 00:18:49.639 --> 00:18:51.039 to give us confidence 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:53.199 in that figure. 00:18:55.980 --> 00:18:56.659 Secondly, 00:18:57.139 --> 00:19:00.419 we believe in Jesus Christ. 00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:05.120 sometimes those two words 00:19:05.120 --> 00:19:05.660 come together 00:19:05.660 --> 00:19:06.279 so often 00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:07.019 that we might 00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:08.820 kind of just skip over, 00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:10.360 maybe even get confused 00:19:10.360 --> 00:19:10.660 and think, 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:10.840 well, 00:19:10.860 --> 00:19:12.220 is this just a descriptor 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:12.900 of who He is? 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:14.080 It's not a surname, 00:19:14.259 --> 00:19:15.340 but rather it's a title 00:19:15.340 --> 00:19:17.060 or a job description. 00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:19.060 And it's a job description 00:19:19.060 --> 00:19:20.060 that is loaded 00:19:20.060 --> 00:19:22.680 with information. 00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:25.779 So boys and girls, 00:19:25.940 --> 00:19:28.220 if I was to talk to you 00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:29.140 about a teacher 00:19:29.140 --> 00:19:30.480 and the job of a teacher, 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:31.880 you'd probably have 00:19:31.880 --> 00:19:32.820 lots of ideas 00:19:32.820 --> 00:19:34.539 about what a teacher does 00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:35.759 because you've been 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:36.320 in a classroom 00:19:36.320 --> 00:19:37.140 and you know 00:19:37.140 --> 00:19:38.360 they teach you numbers 00:19:38.360 --> 00:19:39.140 and they teach you 00:19:39.140 --> 00:19:40.480 how to write 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:41.200 and to spell 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:42.340 and they teach you geography 00:19:42.340 --> 00:19:43.539 and all kinds of information 00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:44.400 on different subjects. 00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:44.980 They correct, 00:19:45.120 --> 00:19:45.600 they control, 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:46.480 they do all kinds of things. 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:51.200 When it comes to the Christ 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:52.259 or the Messiah, 00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:55.079 we find His job description 00:19:55.079 --> 00:19:56.900 throughout the Old Testament. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:58.660 Christ or Messiah 00:19:58.660 --> 00:20:00.200 means the anointed one, 00:20:00.360 --> 00:20:01.539 anointed by God, 00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:03.160 given a task. 00:20:03.620 --> 00:20:05.240 And the remarkable thing 00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:06.599 about the Lord Jesus 00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:08.620 is that all these various strands 00:20:08.620 --> 00:20:09.240 that we find 00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:10.220 in the Old Testament, 00:20:10.360 --> 00:20:11.259 all these hopes 00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:12.019 and longings 00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:12.620 and promises 00:20:12.620 --> 00:20:14.200 come together 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:16.420 in this one man. 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:18.140 Jesus the Christ. 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:21.460 Let's mention, 00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:23.559 just for our own benefit, 00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:25.960 six expectations 00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:28.640 for God's Christ. 00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:30.819 Firstly, 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:31.920 that He is anointed 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:32.519 in the sense 00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:35.579 that He is God's prophet, 00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:38.860 someone who speaks for God. 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:41.099 John's Gospel begins 00:20:41.099 --> 00:20:42.380 describing Jesus 00:20:42.380 --> 00:20:44.839 as God's Word. 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:48.059 And when God the Father 00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:49.339 sends Jesus the Son 00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:50.299 into the world, 00:20:50.900 --> 00:20:52.099 He is God's final 00:20:52.099 --> 00:20:54.099 and decisive revelation 00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:55.660 to the world. 00:20:56.860 --> 00:20:57.620 And Jesus, 00:20:57.860 --> 00:20:59.180 the Word who became flesh, 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:01.860 fully reveals God's will 00:21:01.860 --> 00:21:03.039 for our salvation. 00:21:04.140 --> 00:21:05.599 Jesus speaks for God 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:07.079 because He is God. 00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:07.940 So, He is anointed 00:21:07.940 --> 00:21:08.759 as prophet. 00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:11.359 But the New Testament 00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:12.440 also recognizes 00:21:12.440 --> 00:21:16.000 Jesus is our true priest 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:17.400 or high priest. 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:18.400 So, in the Old Testament, 00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:19.740 we meet the priests 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:20.579 and they represent 00:21:20.579 --> 00:21:22.259 the people before God. 00:21:23.099 --> 00:21:23.960 Principally, perhaps, 00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:24.660 we think of them 00:21:24.660 --> 00:21:26.079 offering sacrifices. 00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:28.599 And as we read the Gospels 00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:29.519 and as we read 00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:30.680 the New Testament letters, 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:31.839 we recognize 00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:33.440 Jesus is understood 00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:36.500 both as the priest 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:38.440 who represents 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:40.180 us before God 00:21:40.180 --> 00:21:41.440 and the one 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:42.779 who offers Himself 00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:44.340 as the perfect sacrifice. 00:21:45.660 --> 00:21:47.480 And in Hebrews chapter 7 to 10, 00:21:47.559 --> 00:21:48.080 we're reminded 00:21:48.080 --> 00:21:49.360 that Jesus in heaven 00:21:49.360 --> 00:21:50.160 still functions 00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:51.299 as our great high priest. 00:21:51.360 --> 00:21:52.360 What's Jesus doing now? 00:21:53.320 --> 00:21:54.680 He's interceding for us 00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:55.700 and He's sending 00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:56.740 the Spirit to us 00:21:56.740 --> 00:21:57.820 and He's speaking 00:21:57.820 --> 00:21:58.620 through His Word. 00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:01.340 And then Jesus is anointed 00:22:01.340 --> 00:22:01.900 in the sense 00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:03.080 that He is God's King 00:22:03.080 --> 00:22:06.519 with the authority of God 00:22:06.519 --> 00:22:08.220 to rule over us 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:09.780 by His Word, 00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:11.380 the Gospel Word, 00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:12.280 by the Spirit. 00:22:13.320 --> 00:22:14.060 And as a King, 00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:15.540 not only does He rule over us, 00:22:15.560 --> 00:22:16.400 He also defends 00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:17.460 and protects us 00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:19.300 so that when our faith 00:22:19.300 --> 00:22:19.920 is in Jesus, 00:22:20.040 --> 00:22:22.800 our salvation is secure. 00:22:24.560 --> 00:22:25.780 He is our great prophet, 00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:26.780 priest, and King. 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:28.840 But also we find 00:22:28.840 --> 00:22:30.500 within the Gospels 00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:32.220 reference to Jesus 00:22:32.220 --> 00:22:35.059 as the Son of David. 00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:37.519 At one place, 00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:39.000 it would be Luke chapter 18. 00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:40.140 We'll get there in a few weeks. 00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:41.500 Blind Bartimaeus. 00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:43.740 Remember Bartimaeus, 00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:44.519 he hears that Jesus 00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:46.019 is walking by 00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:48.000 and he cries out, 00:22:48.140 --> 00:22:49.180 Son of David, 00:22:49.880 --> 00:22:51.140 have mercy on me. 00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:52.920 The great hope 00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:54.140 of Old Testament Israel, 00:22:54.279 --> 00:22:55.380 2 Samuel 7, 00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:56.799 was that a king 00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:57.900 from the family line 00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:58.340 of David, 00:22:58.340 --> 00:22:59.160 would be established 00:22:59.160 --> 00:23:01.000 to rule and reign forever. 00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:02.200 Bartimaeus was blind, 00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:03.040 but he saw it. 00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:05.220 And Jesus, 00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:06.240 in His teaching, 00:23:06.620 --> 00:23:08.680 says that He is the king, 00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:11.120 but perhaps not the kind of king 00:23:11.120 --> 00:23:12.400 that the people expected. 00:23:13.280 --> 00:23:15.060 He would bring in 00:23:15.060 --> 00:23:16.160 the glory of God 00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:17.000 in His reign, 00:23:17.060 --> 00:23:17.900 but it would be the glory 00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:19.140 of a spiritual kingdom, 00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:20.320 not an earthly one. 00:23:21.300 --> 00:23:22.140 And His kingdom 00:23:22.140 --> 00:23:23.420 wouldn't come instantly. 00:23:23.580 --> 00:23:24.280 It would be both 00:23:24.280 --> 00:23:25.920 a kingdom that would come now 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:27.800 and there would be more to come. 00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:28.360 There's now 00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:29.220 and there's not yet. 00:23:29.779 --> 00:23:30.940 So He'd tell parables 00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:33.200 about the growth of the kingdom 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:34.460 from a mustard seed 00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:36.120 until it became a great tree. 00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:38.060 Or He'd tell parables 00:23:38.060 --> 00:23:39.180 about a king 00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:39.820 who goes away 00:23:39.820 --> 00:23:40.580 in a long journey 00:23:40.580 --> 00:23:41.420 and he delays 00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:42.259 on His return. 00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:44.580 So the kingdom is here, 00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:46.060 but we're still waiting 00:23:46.060 --> 00:23:47.300 Jesus' return 00:23:47.300 --> 00:23:48.100 when it will be brought 00:23:48.100 --> 00:23:49.039 in decisively. 00:23:49.180 --> 00:23:50.860 But Jesus is recognized 00:23:50.860 --> 00:23:52.180 throughout the New Testament 00:23:52.180 --> 00:23:53.960 as the son of David, 00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:55.620 the promised king 00:23:55.620 --> 00:23:56.980 and saviour. 00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:59.620 Jesus is also 00:23:59.620 --> 00:24:01.960 the son of man. 00:24:02.700 --> 00:24:03.799 That was His favourite title 00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.920 He used of Himself. 00:24:06.840 --> 00:24:08.259 As He would say to Zacchaeus, 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:08.980 again, we'll get there 00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:09.759 in a few weeks, 00:24:10.039 --> 00:24:11.019 the son of man came 00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:12.779 to seek and to save the lost. 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:14.519 Who is the son of man 00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:15.440 in the Old Testament? 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:18.240 He is this glorious figure. 00:24:18.340 --> 00:24:19.420 Daniel chapter 7, 00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:20.460 we meet Him 00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:21.779 in the throne room of heaven 00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:23.339 and God the Father 00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:24.220 gives Him glory 00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:25.019 and authority 00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:26.559 and eternal rule. 00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:28.059 And the amazing thing, 00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:29.180 as Jesus says, 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:30.460 He's the son of man 00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:31.420 and He claims 00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:32.700 that glory 00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:33.839 for Himself, 00:24:34.619 --> 00:24:35.660 He is also the one 00:24:35.660 --> 00:24:36.700 who comes near 00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:38.480 and shows compassion 00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:40.279 and suffers 00:24:40.279 --> 00:24:42.480 and substitutes Himself 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:44.220 and sacrifices 00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:45.079 for our forgiveness. 00:24:45.079 --> 00:24:47.619 And that takes us 00:24:47.619 --> 00:24:50.199 to another of those promises 00:24:50.199 --> 00:24:51.139 in the Old Testament 00:24:51.139 --> 00:24:52.319 that Jesus is 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:54.039 the suffering servant. 00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:56.240 Perhaps this is where 00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:58.500 the people in Jesus' day 00:24:58.500 --> 00:25:00.059 often got Him wrong. 00:25:00.879 --> 00:25:02.799 They were big on the glory part 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:05.119 but struggled to see 00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:06.960 how suffering could be good news. 00:25:08.639 --> 00:25:09.699 He is the servant 00:25:09.699 --> 00:25:11.240 who brings this great hope 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:13.419 of rescue and salvation, 00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:17.360 not by force of might 00:25:17.360 --> 00:25:19.400 but by the way 00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:20.480 of humble sacrifice. 00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:23.240 And so Jesus turned 00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:25.039 expectations upside down. 00:25:27.300 --> 00:25:29.560 Jesus is the Christ, 00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:31.240 the Anointed One 00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:33.920 and His work for us 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:35.960 is good news. 00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:39.420 He is also 00:25:39.420 --> 00:25:42.300 God's only Son. 00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:43.919 He is Jesus, 00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:45.059 He is Christ, 00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:46.099 He is God's 00:25:46.099 --> 00:25:47.899 only Son. 00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:50.099 We thought about that 00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:50.879 last week 00:25:50.879 --> 00:25:51.839 when we thought about God 00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:53.839 and the Father Almighty, 00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:55.799 that God is the Father 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.460 of believers 00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:57.339 by adoption. 00:25:58.159 --> 00:25:58.940 That's such a wonderful, 00:25:59.159 --> 00:25:59.879 precious truth. 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:02.019 That He loves us 00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:02.700 and invites us 00:26:02.700 --> 00:26:03.480 into His family. 00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:06.240 But uniquely, 00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:07.759 He is the Father 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:08.519 of His Son 00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:09.659 from all eternity. 00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:12.580 the testimony 00:26:12.580 --> 00:26:13.779 that the Father gives. 00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.380 We heard it 00:26:15.380 --> 00:26:16.740 as Jesus was baptized. 00:26:17.100 --> 00:26:17.900 This is my Son 00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:18.740 and I love Him. 00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:20.440 Or we can think about 00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:21.000 the testimony 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:21.900 of John 3, 00:26:22.120 --> 00:26:23.279 16. 00:26:24.620 --> 00:26:26.320 For God so loved 00:26:26.320 --> 00:26:26.779 the world 00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:27.420 that He gave 00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:28.100 His one 00:26:28.100 --> 00:26:29.440 and only Son 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:30.880 that whoever 00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:31.720 believes in Him 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:32.820 shall not perish 00:26:32.820 --> 00:26:34.180 but have 00:26:34.180 --> 00:26:35.660 eternal life. 00:26:35.660 --> 00:26:36.380 life. 00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:38.360 And we discover 00:26:38.360 --> 00:26:39.340 this mystery 00:26:39.340 --> 00:26:40.759 within the teaching 00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:42.160 of the New Testament. 00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:43.400 Something that's 00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:44.660 perhaps impossible 00:26:44.660 --> 00:26:45.540 for us to wrap 00:26:45.540 --> 00:26:46.519 our minds around. 00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.940 That Jesus is 00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:49.840 the eternally begotten 00:26:49.840 --> 00:26:50.980 Son of the Father. 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:53.420 That Jesus is always 00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:54.640 Son to His Father 00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:55.779 and the Father 00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.480 is always 00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:57.000 the Father 00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:57.920 to His Son. 00:26:58.560 --> 00:26:59.620 There is no beginning 00:26:59.620 --> 00:27:00.680 to Jesus. 00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:02.480 He is eternally 00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:03.100 the Son. 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.640 How does that work? 00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:07.620 We may never know. 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:10.040 But we do need 00:27:10.040 --> 00:27:10.660 to know 00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:11.640 that Christ 00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:13.620 is the Son of God. 00:27:14.600 --> 00:27:15.440 And that's clear 00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:16.520 in Scripture. 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:17.560 He's not just 00:27:17.560 --> 00:27:18.240 a good man. 00:27:19.660 --> 00:27:20.259 Absolutely He was 00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:20.800 a good man 00:27:20.800 --> 00:27:21.360 but He was more 00:27:21.360 --> 00:27:21.840 than that. 00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:24.140 Not just a God 00:27:24.140 --> 00:27:25.220 inspired man. 00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:26.700 He is God man. 00:27:28.360 --> 00:27:29.580 He's not just 00:27:29.580 --> 00:27:31.440 our moral example. 00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:33.340 Not just our 00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:34.279 great teacher 00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:34.959 to follow. 00:27:35.659 --> 00:27:36.159 He is the one 00:27:36.159 --> 00:27:37.039 who saves us 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:37.659 as God. 00:27:38.179 --> 00:27:38.699 The one 00:27:38.699 --> 00:27:40.259 we worship. 00:27:42.919 --> 00:27:43.740 And that takes us 00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:45.579 to the last title 00:27:45.579 --> 00:27:48.399 that we hear 00:27:48.399 --> 00:27:49.959 a number of times 00:27:49.959 --> 00:27:50.959 in 1 Corinthians 00:27:50.959 --> 00:27:52.119 that He is 00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:53.059 the Lord 00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:54.539 Jesus Christ. 00:27:54.619 --> 00:27:55.359 He is our 00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:56.679 Lord. 00:27:58.179 --> 00:27:59.259 The word Lord 00:27:59.259 --> 00:28:01.160 when the Greek 00:28:01.160 --> 00:28:02.740 Old Testament 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:03.839 was being written. 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:05.140 It's the same word 00:28:05.140 --> 00:28:05.779 that's used 00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:07.379 for God 00:28:07.379 --> 00:28:09.220 in the Old Testament. 00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:12.440 To go back 00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:13.539 to John's Gospel 00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:15.240 he had a purpose 00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:15.680 statement 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:16.220 as he wrote 00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:16.940 that Gospel. 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:18.160 He wrote that 00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:18.839 we might believe 00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:19.319 that Jesus 00:28:19.319 --> 00:28:20.079 is the Messiah 00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:20.920 the Son of God 00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:21.940 and that by believing 00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:23.000 we might have life 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:24.319 in His name. 00:28:24.839 --> 00:28:25.819 And one of John's 00:28:25.819 --> 00:28:26.279 purposes 00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:27.319 as he writes 00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:27.879 is to show 00:28:27.879 --> 00:28:28.919 the uniqueness 00:28:28.919 --> 00:28:29.559 of Jesus. 00:28:29.720 --> 00:28:30.200 Remember those 00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:31.500 I am sayings 00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:32.799 where Jesus claims 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:34.159 the name of God 00:28:34.159 --> 00:28:35.000 and the authority 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:35.519 of God 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:37.200 so that when we hear 00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:38.759 Jesus say to us 00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:39.799 follow me 00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:41.679 we understand 00:28:41.679 --> 00:28:42.399 that this is 00:28:42.399 --> 00:28:43.079 the Lord 00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:44.099 who is speaking 00:28:44.099 --> 00:28:44.740 to us. 00:28:45.399 --> 00:28:46.679 Not a wise guru 00:28:46.679 --> 00:28:48.439 and not 00:28:48.439 --> 00:28:50.139 just a man 00:28:50.139 --> 00:28:51.700 this is the Lord 00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:53.000 who is speaking. 00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:57.079 And it's not surprising 00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:57.839 then that the first 00:28:57.839 --> 00:28:58.539 confession 00:28:58.539 --> 00:29:00.059 of the church 00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:01.500 was 00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:02.160 Jesus 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:03.059 is 00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:03.759 Lord. 00:29:05.140 --> 00:29:05.740 If we go back 00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:06.440 to Corinth 00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:07.720 that's set 00:29:07.720 --> 00:29:08.799 against the background 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:09.819 where they're beginning 00:29:09.819 --> 00:29:10.619 to hear 00:29:10.619 --> 00:29:11.880 the demands 00:29:11.880 --> 00:29:13.640 that they proclaim 00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:14.380 along with every 00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:15.039 other citizen 00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:15.759 Caesar 00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:16.740 is Lord. 00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:19.359 These competing 00:29:19.359 --> 00:29:20.900 loyalties 00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:23.500 perhaps we recognize 00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:24.680 competing claims 00:29:24.680 --> 00:29:25.300 for our own 00:29:25.300 --> 00:29:25.860 heart 00:29:25.860 --> 00:29:26.620 and loyalty 00:29:26.620 --> 00:29:27.460 and worship 00:29:27.460 --> 00:29:28.620 and ultimately 00:29:28.620 --> 00:29:30.080 for the early 00:29:30.080 --> 00:29:31.640 Christian martyrs 00:29:31.640 --> 00:29:33.080 it was as they 00:29:33.080 --> 00:29:33.740 testified 00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:34.800 that Jesus 00:29:34.800 --> 00:29:36.620 is Lord. 00:29:37.540 --> 00:29:38.120 That's where the 00:29:38.120 --> 00:29:39.019 pressure came. 00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:40.160 That's where the 00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:41.440 persecution came. 00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:44.400 Paul's message 00:29:44.400 --> 00:29:45.960 to the Corinthians 00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:47.460 surrounded by 00:29:47.460 --> 00:29:48.259 the pressures 00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:49.779 of the Roman Empire 00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:51.359 was to live 00:29:51.359 --> 00:29:52.460 with Jesus 00:29:52.460 --> 00:29:53.119 Christ 00:29:53.119 --> 00:29:54.859 as Lord. 00:29:57.500 --> 00:29:58.779 G.I. Packer 00:29:58.779 --> 00:29:59.299 to come much 00:29:59.299 --> 00:30:00.259 closer to our own 00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:00.559 day 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:02.019 says that if 00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:02.859 Jesus is God 00:30:02.859 --> 00:30:03.379 the Son 00:30:03.379 --> 00:30:05.099 and the anointed 00:30:05.099 --> 00:30:05.740 Saviour 00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:06.180 King 00:30:06.180 --> 00:30:08.180 he has a right 00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:09.059 to rule us 00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:10.819 and we have no 00:30:10.819 --> 00:30:11.740 right to resist 00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:12.079 him. 00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:15.259 It's the Lordship 00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:16.400 of Jesus 00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:18.420 and it reminds 00:30:18.420 --> 00:30:18.799 us 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:19.400 just as we 00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:19.779 close 00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:20.379 that what we 00:30:20.379 --> 00:30:20.920 believe 00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:21.859 about Jesus 00:30:21.859 --> 00:30:23.519 matters. 00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:25.619 It's not 00:30:25.619 --> 00:30:26.759 incidental. 00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:29.519 We don't want 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.000 to do 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:31.559 Jesus a disservice 00:30:31.559 --> 00:30:32.160 we don't want 00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:32.619 to do other 00:30:32.619 --> 00:30:33.700 people a disservice 00:30:33.700 --> 00:30:34.819 by trying to 00:30:34.819 --> 00:30:35.579 airbrush out 00:30:35.579 --> 00:30:36.559 the differences 00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:37.559 and to suggest 00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:37.900 that well 00:30:37.900 --> 00:30:38.400 we're kind of 00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:39.059 all the same 00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:39.379 if we're 00:30:39.379 --> 00:30:39.799 worshipping 00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:40.619 some way. 00:30:40.619 --> 00:30:43.699 If we are 00:30:43.699 --> 00:30:44.199 to take 00:30:44.199 --> 00:30:44.659 Jesus 00:30:44.659 --> 00:30:45.779 on his own 00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:46.579 terms 00:30:46.579 --> 00:30:48.079 thinking about 00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:48.659 what C.S. 00:30:48.739 --> 00:30:50.000 Lewis said 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:50.639 borrowing from 00:30:50.639 --> 00:30:51.359 Rabbi Duncan 00:30:51.359 --> 00:30:51.839 who used to 00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:52.279 teach in the 00:30:52.279 --> 00:30:52.639 Free Church 00:30:52.639 --> 00:30:53.179 College 00:30:53.179 --> 00:30:54.159 if we take 00:30:54.159 --> 00:30:54.879 Jesus and his 00:30:54.879 --> 00:30:55.779 claims seriously 00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:56.539 we are left 00:30:56.539 --> 00:30:57.039 to conclude 00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:57.639 either he's 00:30:57.639 --> 00:30:58.199 a liar 00:30:58.199 --> 00:30:59.519 or he's 00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:00.159 a lunatic 00:31:00.159 --> 00:31:01.619 or he is 00:31:01.619 --> 00:31:02.039 indeed the 00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:02.500 Lord. 00:31:03.799 --> 00:31:04.119 That's what 00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:04.959 Paul wrote 00:31:04.959 --> 00:31:05.859 to the church 00:31:05.859 --> 00:31:06.419 in Corinth 00:31:06.419 --> 00:31:07.299 Jesus 00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:08.239 is 00:31:08.239 --> 00:31:08.959 Lord 00:31:08.960 --> 00:31:10.860 therefore 00:31:10.860 --> 00:31:11.819 as God's 00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:12.059 people 00:31:12.059 --> 00:31:12.460 we should 00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:12.840 live 00:31:12.840 --> 00:31:13.539 in 00:31:13.539 --> 00:31:14.319 him 00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:16.180 uniting 00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:16.539 around 00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.059 him 00:31:17.059 --> 00:31:17.900 as 00:31:17.900 --> 00:31:18.259 our 00:31:18.259 --> 00:31:18.880 centre 00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:19.680 lifting 00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:20.220 him 00:31:20.220 --> 00:31:20.779 up 00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:21.059 and 00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:21.380 not 00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:22.059 ourselves 00:31:22.059 --> 00:31:22.759 living 00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:23.360 holy 00:31:23.360 --> 00:31:23.840 lives 00:31:23.840 --> 00:31:24.140 for the 00:31:24.140 --> 00:31:24.340 sake 00:31:24.340 --> 00:31:24.500 of 00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:24.779 his 00:31:24.779 --> 00:31:25.180 honour 00:31:25.180 --> 00:31:25.420 and 00:31:25.420 --> 00:31:25.680 not 00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:25.940 our 00:31:25.940 --> 00:31:26.279 own 00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:27.180 worshipping 00:31:27.180 --> 00:31:27.799 in ways 00:31:27.799 --> 00:31:28.039 that 00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:28.680 please 00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:29.640 him. 00:31:31.720 --> 00:31:32.360 We need 00:31:32.360 --> 00:31:32.759 that same 00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:33.400 message 00:31:33.400 --> 00:31:34.120 always 00:31:34.120 --> 00:31:35.660 that we 00:31:35.660 --> 00:31:35.940 would have 00:31:35.940 --> 00:31:36.420 that same 00:31:36.420 --> 00:31:37.140 controlling 00:31:37.140 --> 00:31:37.860 centre 00:31:37.859 --> 00:31:38.899 for our 00:31:38.899 --> 00:31:39.519 church 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:40.279 and for 00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:40.539 our 00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:41.179 individual 00:31:41.179 --> 00:31:42.219 Christian 00:31:42.219 --> 00:31:43.179 lives. 00:31:47.579 --> 00:31:48.379 And as 00:31:48.379 --> 00:31:48.740 we thought 00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.379 about a lot 00:31:49.379 --> 00:31:50.500 of truths 00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:51.419 about Jesus 00:31:51.419 --> 00:31:52.619 let's just 00:31:52.619 --> 00:31:53.259 close by 00:31:53.259 --> 00:31:53.799 reminding 00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:54.339 ourselves 00:31:54.339 --> 00:31:54.859 that more 00:31:54.859 --> 00:31:55.479 than simply 00:31:55.479 --> 00:31:56.299 knowing 00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:58.079 truths 00:31:58.079 --> 00:31:58.959 Jesus Christ 00:31:58.959 --> 00:31:59.479 is Lord 00:31:59.479 --> 00:32:00.799 we must 00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:01.679 trust him 00:32:01.679 --> 00:32:03.500 and be able 00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:03.859 to say 00:32:03.859 --> 00:32:04.299 that Jesus 00:32:04.299 --> 00:32:04.839 Christ is 00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:05.439 my Lord 00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:06.720 and be 00:32:06.720 --> 00:32:07.200 ready to 00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:07.759 submit to 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.059 him 00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:09.460 in worship 00:32:09.460 --> 00:32:10.200 and obedience 00:32:10.200 --> 00:32:11.519 and to 00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:11.940 live under 00:32:11.940 --> 00:32:12.620 his rule 00:32:12.620 --> 00:32:14.279 because he 00:32:14.279 --> 00:32:14.759 is God's 00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:15.080 son 00:32:15.080 --> 00:32:16.019 Jesus 00:32:16.019 --> 00:32:16.640 Christ 00:32:16.640 --> 00:32:17.559 our 00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:17.940 Lord. 00:32:18.820 --> 00:32:19.420 Let's pray 00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:19.779 together.