Sermon #1439

Title: “Who is He?”

Text: John 9:35-38

Reading: 1 John 5:1-13 and John 9:1-31

Subject: The Person and Work of Christ

Date: Sunday Morning -- December 3, 2000

Tape # W-12b

Introduction:

The Lord Jesus gave us a marvelous display of his rich mercy and grace, his tenderness and compassion, and his glorious divinity in forgiving the adulterous woman in John 8. He drove away her accusers. And when he was alone with the woman, he spoke peace and forgiveness to her heart.

Of course, the proud, self-righteous Pharisees were enraged by our Lord’s free mercy to a poor sinner. After this remarkable display of mercy and of self-righteousness, our Lord began to preach in the temple. The Son of God came to the temple of God at Jerusalem and declared himself to be God. He stated the matter so plainly that everyone in the place knew exactly what he said. They did not believe him, but they dead sure understood him.

· In verse 12, he said, “I am the light of the world.”

· In verse 16, he declared himself to be one with the Father.

· In verse 19, he plainly told the proud, religious, doctrinally orthodox Jews, the Pharisees, and their religious leaders that they flat did not know God, that their religion was a sham, a show, a pretense. – “Ye neither know me, nor my Father.”

· In verse 24, the Master declared to these lost religionists that unless they bowed to him, believed him, trusted him, they must forever perish under the wrath of God. – Hear me now. – No matter who or what you are, or think you are, harlot or nun, pimp or priest, pusher or preacher, if you do not trust the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, you will forever die in your sins! -- You must bow to him, or suffer his wrath forever! -- God help you now to trust his dear Son.

· In verses 28 and 29, the Son of God told these men that they would put him to death, and that the time would soon come, when they would know that he is, indeed, the immaculate, perfectly obedient Son of God.

· “As he spoke these words, many believed on him” (v. 30). – But many hardened their hearts.

Our Lord was relentless (vv. 31-45). He gave them no wiggle room. He kept pressing, probing their hearts, pricking their consciences, pushing the issue of faith. He told them they were not of God, but that they were of their father, the devil, and that all their highly prized “good works” were the works of the devil himself. Then, in verse 58, the man called Jesus, standing before this crowd of lost religionists, declared himself to be the eternal God. – “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, IAM!”

That was just too much. Read John 8:59-9:7.

(John 8:59) "Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by."

(John 9:1-7) "And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. [2] And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? [3] Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. [4] I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. [5] As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. [6] When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, [7] And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing."

You now the rest of the story. The Pharisees gave warning, and passed the word around, that if anyone acknowledged that the Lord Jesus was the Christ of God, they would be put out of the church. When the Pharisees began their inquisition, their was a division among the people. The blind man, who had been healed by the Savior, was forsaken by his own parents, for fear of the mean spirited church folks at the synagogue. At last, the man was put out of the synagogue, not for some bold, dogmatic doctrinal confession, but for simply declaring that Christ was, without question, a prophet of God.

He did not know much. So he couldn’t tell much. But he told what he knew. Look at verse 25.

(John 9:25) "He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see."

But the Master wasn’t done with him yet. Read John 9:35-38 with me.

(John 9:35-38) "Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? [36] He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? [37] And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. [38] And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him."

“Who is he?” – That is the question I want to answer for you this morning. Who is Jesus Christ?

Proposition: If you would be saved, you must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ; but if you would believe him, you must know who he is.

Give me you attention for a few minutes, and allow me to show you the answer to this question from the Word of God. – “Who is he?” – If we would know the answer to this question, the most important question you will ever consider, we must find the answer in the Book of God alone.

Outwardly, to the human eye, to all natural appearance and reason, he seemed to be an ordinary man, as he walked through this world. They called him “The Nazarene” and “The Carpenter.” Many even called him an evil man, a glutton and a winebibber. Isaiah told us that when he came into the world he would have no impressive form or comeliness to attract us to him, “no beauty that we should desire him.” He said, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

1. He was born to a poor, unknown, insignificant family.

2. Because there was no room for him in the inn, he was laid in a stable’s manger.

3. To escape the wrath of Herod, he was carried into Egypt, as the Scriptures said he must be.

4. He grew up in a small, out of the way town called Nazareth, and worked as a carpenter.

5. He began preaching when he was about thirty years old; but his ministry was attended by no one but a few poor, uneducated fishermen and insignificant women.

6. Everything he taught about himself, God, sin, righteousness, redemption, and salvation was rejected by all the religious leaders of the day.

7. Finally, even popular opinion turned against him and the Lord of glory was crucified like a common criminal upon a Roman cross.

8. When he died, he was taken down from the cross and buried in a borrowed tomb.

The religious people thought they were through with this man called Jesus. And, if he had only been an ordinary man, they would have been through with him. But this Man was no ordinary man. This Man was and is the Christ of God, the Son of the living God! After three days, the Father raised him up from the grave, seated him upon his own right hand, and declared him to be both Lord and Christ.

“What think ye of Christ?” Who is he? What did he do? Why did he do it? Where is he now? What is he doing? Simple as those questions are, they are the most important, most crucial questions you will ever face.

“Who is He?” Let me show you from the Scriptures seven answers to that question. May God the Holy Spirit speak to your heart as I preach, and reveal Christ in you by the power of his grace.

I. First, turn to Matthew 16:13-16, hear this. -- Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ.

(Matthew 16:13-16) "When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? [14] And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. [15] He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? [16] And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

He is the Christ, not a Christ, but the Christ, the very Christ of God. My conviction concerning him is so thorough and complete that I rest my soul upon him alone. I trust Jesus Christ alone for my everlasting salvation and my total acceptance with God.

· 1 Corinthians 1:30

· Colossians 2:9-10

(1 Corinthians 1:30) "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."

(Colossians 2:9-10) "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. [10] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power."

Throughout the Old Testament, from Adam to Malachi, there was the promise of a man who would be God’s Messiah, one who would come to the earth to redeem and save his people. He is called the Seed of woman, the Seed of Abraham, the Son of David, a Prophet like Moses, a Priest like Melchezdec, and the King of glory. “To him give all the prophets witness” (Acts 10:43).

A. This is what Peter declared. - “Thou art the Christ!”

B. This what is all the people were asking the Pharisees. - “Is not this the Christ?” (John 4:29).

C. This was the public claim of our Lord himself

· John 8:24 – “If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

· John 13:19 – “I am he.”

Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ of God, the Messiah, the Redeemer, the King, the Savior promised, prophesied, and portrayed in all the Old Testament Scriptures.

II. According to this Book, Jesus of Nazareth is himself very God of very God, the second Person of the holy Trinity, in all things one and equal with the Father and the Spirit.

Yes, he is a Man, bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh; but this Man is God. He is the God-man. “In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily!”

A. This is what all the Old Testament prophecies teach us.

· Isaiah 7:14

· Isaiah 9:6

(Isaiah 7:14) "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

(Isaiah 9:6) "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

B. This is what all the New Testament writers declare.

· John 1:14, 18

· Romans 9:5

· Hebrews 1:1-3, 8

· 1 John 5:7

(John 1:14-18) "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. [15] John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. [16] And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. [17] For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. [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."

(1 John 5:7) "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."

1. None but God could satisfy justice.

2. None but God could put away sin.

3. None but God can forgive sin.

Illustration: Thomas - “My Lord and my God!”

III. Third, Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of God, is the second Adam.

· 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 45-49

(1 Corinthians 15:21-22) "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. [22] For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

(1 Corinthians 15:45-49) "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. [46] Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. [47] The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. [48] As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. [49] And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly."

A. The teaching of the Scriptures with regard to Christ’s being the federal head and representative of God’s elect is plain and clear.

· Romans 5:12,18,19

(Romans 5:12) "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"

(Romans 5:18-19) "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. [19] For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."

B. Imputation and representation are vital aspects of gospel truth, so vital that to deny them is to deny the gospel.

This is not a fine, insignificant point of theological orthodoxy. This is vital. If we deny our fall and ruin by Adam, we must deny righteousness, redemption, and salvation by Christ. If we deny salvation by Christ alone, we must deny our fall in Adam. Both stand or fall together. Both are by imputation. The Bible reveals three great acts of imputation by our God.

1. Adam’s sin was imputed to all men (Rom. 5:12).

2. The sins of God’s elect were imputed to Christ (Isa. 53:6; 2 Cor. 5:21).

3. Christ’s righteousness is imputed to all who believe on him as their Savior and Lord (Rom. 4:21-5:1; 5:19).

IV. Fourth, this Man who is God, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, holds the fate and eternal destiny of all men in his hands.

· Matthew 28:18

· John 3:35

· John 5:21

· John 17:2

· Romans 14:9

· Philippians 2:9-11

(Matthew 28:18) "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."

(John 3:35) "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand."

(John 5:21) "For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will."

(John 17:2) "As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him."

(Romans 14:9) "For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living."

(Philippians 2:9-11) "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: [10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; [11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Somewhere along the road this religious generation has gotten everything turned around. The great question and concern is not “What will you do with Christ?”, but “What will Christ do with you?” Anyone who knows who Christ is knows that mercy, grace, salvation, and eternal life are his prerogative. We ought to cry, with the leper, “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean” (Matt. 8:2). We would be wise to recognize this and cry with the hymn writer,

“Pass me not, O gentle Savior,

Hear my humble cry:

While on others Thou art calling,

Do not pass me by!”

V. Fifth, according to the Book of God, all praise, honor, glory, and pre-eminence has been given to, and rightly belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ.

· Colossians 1:18-19

· John 5:23

· Philippians 2:5-9

· Hebrews 1:6

(John 5:23) "That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him."

(Philippians 2:5-9) "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: [6] Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. [9] Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:"

(Colossians 1:18-19) "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. [19] For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;"

(Hebrews 1:6) "And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him."

A. He is the Lord our Righteousness (Jer. 23:6)

B. He is the Lord our Substitute (2 Cor. 5:21).

C. He is the Lord our Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5).

D. He is the Lord our God (1 Tim. 3:16).

VI. Sixth, may God help you now to hear me, all (Jew or Gentile, Male or Female, Young or Old, Rich or Poor) who hear his voice of mercy, his word of grace and life in the gospel and believe in their hearts that Jesus is the Christ have eternal life.

Look with me in the Book of God, and see if this is so (1 John 5:1).

(1 John 5:1) "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him."

A. They have already passed from death unto life and shall not come into condemnation (John 5:24; Rom. 8:1-4).

(John 5:24) "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

(Romans 8:1-4) "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. [3] For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: [4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

B. They are free from the curse, penalty, condemnation, and dominion of the law (Gal. 3:13; Rom. 10:4).

(Galatians 3:13) "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."

(Romans 10:4) "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."

C. They have already been judged in Christ, punished in Christ, and raised up to glory in Christ, for they lived, died, and rose again with him (Gal. 2:20; Eph. 2:4-6).

(Galatians 2:20) "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

(Ephesians 2:4-6) "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) [6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:"

“I am not skilled to understand

What God hath willed, what God hath planned.

I only know at His right hand

Is one who is my Savior.”

I take Him at His word indeed,

(Christ died for sinners, this I read.),

For in my heart I find a need

Of Him to be my Savior.”

VII. Seventh, I know this too: -- If this Book is true, (And it is!), at the hour appointed by God before the world began, Jesus Christ shall come again.

· Revelation 1:7

(Revelation 1:7) "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen."

At the hour appointed by God we shall die. “It is appointed unto men once to die!” God has set the bounds of your habitation and mine. At the appointed hour and by the appointed means you and I will leave this world. You must soon die; and I must soon die. But that is not the end. Christ is coming again.

A. Everyone shall hear his voice (John 5:28).

B. There shall be a resurrection of the dead (John 5:29).

C. Every eye shall see him (Rev. 1:7).

D. This same Jesus, who is the Christ, the Son of the living God, shall judge us all in strict justice (John 5:22; Acts 17:31; 2 Cor. 5:10).

E. Everyone of us will spend eternity either in the bliss of his presence in heaven or in the terror of his wrath in hell.

· Every believer shall be gloriously transformed into the very likeness of the Son of God, perfectly conformed to his image (1 John 3:2).

· Every unbeliever shall be forever damned, forever tormented, and forever lost!

Application: How can I persuade you now to be reconciled to God? How can I persuade you to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? May God the Holy Spirit now give you life and faith in him. “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Cor. 5:1-21). Here are four things that ought to persuade you to come to Christ right now.

1. The Immortality of Your Soul (vv. 1-9).

2. The Certainty and Strictness of Divine Judgment (vv. 10-11).

3. The Love of God in Christ (vv. 12-16).

4. The Accomplishments of Christ (vv. 17-21).