How True Are Christ's Claims?

1. The Ultimate Claim Christ Made:

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”” Matthew 16:15, 16, NIV.

Jesus claimed to be GOD Himself.

This is why the religious leaders of Jesus’ day set out to kill him…

“For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” John 5:18, NIV.

See also – John 8:56-59, 10:33, Mark 2:5-7, 14:61-64

2. The Central Issue: It isn’t Christ’s teachings, but it is Christ Himself we’ve got to deal with.

“…that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3:15, NIV.

“I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.”” John 8:24, NIV.

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;” John 11:25, NIV.

“I have come into the world as a light, so that no-one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” John 12:46, NIV.

Jesus urges us to believe in HIM, not just in His teachings.



DEAL WITH THIS:

If Jesus isn’t God then…
He is a lunatic
Or He is a liar!

If Jesus is God then…
He is Lord.


1. HOW CAN YOU KNOW IF THESE CLAIMS ARE TRUE?

I. MESSIANIC PROPHECIES

The Messiah would be…
- Born of Abraham – Genesis 22:18/Galatians 3:16
- Descendent of Isaac – Genesis 21:12/Luke 3:23-24
- Jacob – Numbers 24:17/Luke 3:23-24
- Judah – Genesis 49:10/Luke 3:23-24
- Jesse – Isaiah 11:1/Luke 3:23-24
- David – Jeremiah 23:5/Luke 3:23-34
- Born in Bethlehem – Micah 5:2/Matt. 2:1
- Preceded by a Messenger – Isa 40:3/Matt. 3:1
- Began ministry in Galilee – Isaiah 9:1/Matthew 4:2-7
- Teach in parables – Psalms 78:2/Matthew 13:34-35
- Performing many miracles – Isaiah 35:3-6/Matthew 9:35
- Enter Jerusalem on a donkey – Zech. 9:2/Matthew 21:2
- Forcibly cleaned out Temple – Psalms 69:9, Malachi 3:1/John 2:15-16

PROPHECY
1. Betrayed by a friend - Psalms 41:9 Matthew 26:49
2. Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver - Zech. 11:12 Matthew 26:15
3. Betrayal money cast on floor of temple - Zech. 11:13 Matthew 27:5
4. Betrayal money used to buy potter’s field - Zech. 11:13 Matthew 27:7
5. Forsaken and deserted by friends - Zech. 13:7 Mark 14:50
6. Accused by false witnesses - Psalms 35:11 Matthew 26:59-60
7. Silent before accusers - Isaiah 53:7 Matthew 27:12
8. Wounded and bruised - Isaiah 53:5 Matthew 27:26
9. Hated without cause - Psalms 69:4 John 15:25
10. Struck and spit on - Isaiah 50:6 Matthew 26:67
11. Mocked, ridiculed and rejected - Isaiah 53:3 Matthew 27:27-31, John 7:5, 48
12. Collapse from weakness - Psalms 109:24-25 Luke 23:26
13. Taunted with specific words - Psalms 22:6-8 Matthew 27:39-43
14. People with shake their heads at him - Psalms 109:25 Matthew 27:39
15. People will stare at him - Psalms 22:17 Luke 22:35
16. Executed among sinners - Isaiah 53:12 Matthew 27:38
17. Hands and feet pierced - Psalms 22:16 Luke 23:33
18. He will pray for his persecutors - Isaiah 53:12 Luke 23:34
19. Friends and family will stand far off - Psalms 38:11 Luke 23:49
20. Garments divided and gambled for - Psalms 22:18 John 19:23-24
21. He will thirst - Psalms 69:21 John 19:28
22. Given gall and vinegar to drink - Psalms 69:21 Matthew 27:34
23. He will commit himself to God - Psalms 31:5 Luke 23:46
24. Bones will not be broken - Psalms 34:20 John 19:33
25. His heart will rupture - Psalms 22:14 John 19:34
26. His side will be pierced - Zech 12:10 John 19:34
27. Buried in a rich man’s tomb - Isaiah 53:9 Matthew 27:57-60
28. Darkness will come over the land at midday - Amos 8:9 Matthew 27:45
29. He will die 483 years after declaration of Artaxerses to rebuild the temple in 444BC - Daniel 9:24


As a final testimony – He will rise from the dead on the third day after his death
Psalms 16:10/Acts 2:321

The Truth About Truth

WHAT IS TRUTH?

BEFORE we attempt to define ‘truth’ – let’s talk about the importance of truth.

TRUTH AND THE WORLD WE LIVE IN:
“The definition of new tolerance is that every individual’s beliefs, values, lifestyle, and perception of truth claims are equal… There is no hierarchy of truth. Your beliefs and my beliefs are equal.”
Thomas A. Helmbock
Executive Vice President/Lambda Chi Alpha

Dominant World View in Education, Media and Hollywood: Multi-Culturalism
• Truth is subjective
• All truth is equal
• Everyone needs to accept others and not judge them for who they are or for what they believe
• Celebrate diversity

WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT TRUTH

Jesus & Pilate:
33 Then Pilate went back inside and called for Jesus to be brought to him. "Are you the King of the Jews?" he asked him. 34 Jesus replied, "Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?" 35 "Am I a Jew?" Pilate asked. "Your own people and their leading priests brought you here. Why? What have you done?" 36 Then Jesus answered, "I am not an earthly king. If I were, my followers would have fought when I was arrested by the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world." 37 Pilate replied, "You are a king then?" "You say that I am a king, and you are right," Jesus said. "I was born for that purpose. And I came to bring truth to the world. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true." 38 "What is truth?" Pilate asked.” John 18:33-38

John 1:14
“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.” John 1:14

Truth – defined: “adherence to a standard or law”

John 18:37 – See above

The standard is Jesus.

TRUTH ISN’T A SET OF CONCEPTS, TRUTH IS A PERSON.

Colossians 1:16-17
“For by Him all things were created, {both} in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:16-17

God is the original – the standard:
“He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4

Truth isn’t a “What”, Truth is a “Who”
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
“So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free.” John 8:36

Understanding Jesus Christ as the absolute embodiment of truth means that:

• Truth isn’t subjectively created; truth is and comes from the objective, absolute person of Christ Himself. As John wrote: “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17

• Truth could not be relative and change from person to person, from community to community, because Jesus is the incarnation of the God who ‘never changes or casts shifting shadows’ (James 1:17). As the Scripture says: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

• All truth could not be equal because Jesus didn’t claim to be ‘A’ truth, one that is equal to all others. His claim was exclusive; he claimed to be the one and only truth, the only way to God. “I am THE way, THE truth, and THE life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6). Those are not the words of someone who is ‘one among many’ or someone who is ‘equal’ to all others; those are the words of one who has no equal. He is the incarnation of the one who said: “I am the Lord; there is no other God. I have prepared you, ever though you do not know me, so all the world from east to west will no there is no other God. I am the Lord, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:5-6

Truth is relational.
Each of us are invited into relationship – relationship with God through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

Christianity isn’t a set of rules and laws. Christianity is a relationship with God.

And when you come into relationship with God, you come into relationship with God’s people. “Now all of you together are Christ's body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:27