• Introduction
    • Matthew 16:16 – “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
  • Defining “Son of God”
    • Equal with deity
      • NOT as “sons of God” in Noah’s day. Genesis 6:2
      • NOT as “children of God” as the Israelites.
      • NOT as “children of God” as saints in that church. Romans 8:14
      • BUT as deity, possessing the qualities others do not have.
    • Excellent testimony – enemies knew that “Son of God” meant deity. John 10:30-36; 19:7
  • What evidence was in Peter’s day causing one to say Jesus is the “Son of God”?
    • Prophecy and fulfillment
      • From the beginning. Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Galatians 4:4
      • Abraham’s seed. Genesis 22:18; Galatians 3:16. Isaac, Jacob, Judah, lineage of David.
      • Over 300 Bible prophecies made and fulfilled concerning Christ. Luke 24:44-45
      • It is impossible for that many statements to be made, hundreds of years before Jesus was born, and none fail without God guiding the prophets.
      • It convinced the enemy crowd on Pentecost. Acts 13:13-15, 27; 2:25-37
      • Stephen and Paul appealed to Old Testament to confirm sermons. Acts 7, 13
    • Testimony
      • God himself, Hebrews 1:1-2, 5; Matthew 3:17; 17:5
      • John the Baptist, John 1:29-34 (see also Matthew 3:17)
      • Apostles, II Peter 1:16-18; (see also Matthew 17:5); John 6:69; Acts 9:20
      • Enemies, Matthew 8:28-29; 27:50-54
      • Jesus himself, John 9:35-37
    • Miracles – friends and enemies testified that Jesus performed miracles
      • Purpose of miracles, John 5:16-23, 36; 10:37-38
      • Apostles would perform miracles, John 14:11-12; Mark 16:15-20
      • Enemies could not deny these testimonies, John 9:16, 29-33; Acts 2:22; 4:10, 13-17
    • Resurrection – Romans 1:1-4; John 20:24-29; I Corinthians 15:3-8
    • Unwritten evidence – John 20:29-31; 21:24-25
    • Infinite testimony from thousands. GOD DOES NOT ASK US TO BELIEVE A “STORY”. HE WANTS US TO BELIEVE IN A REAL PERSON AND REAL EVENTS.
  • Why should we arrive at the same conclusion?
    • These facts have never been refuted. Even secular history documents these facts.
    • Christ’s church still stands today as evidence. Matthew 16:16-19; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:8-12
    • What if Jesus was not the Son of God? No Rock à No Foundation à No spiritual building à No church. Yet the church is living today as proof of Jesus.
  • What should we do with this conclusion? Matthew 28:18-20
    • We either accept that Jesus is the Son of God and save our souls –OR—
    • Reject the testimony and be eternally lost. John 8:18-25
  • Conclusion: Hebrews 5:8-9