- 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
- Equal with deity
- 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.
- Prophecy and fulfillment
- 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
JS
October 14, 2018
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