PART ONE: We Need To Know Him Better
WHY STUDY TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE LORD ?
WHY STUDY THIS ? DON’T ALL CHRISTIANS KNOW WHO JESUS IS ?
Yes, to varying degrees. Our study is designed to upgrade our knowledge of Him, and bring us to realize to a greater degree the amazing characteristics of the Person we call Savior and Lord.
IT BRINGS A GREATER REVELATION OF THE LORD.
Ephesians 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:
GRACE AND PEACE IS MULTIPLIED BY INCREASING OUR KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.
2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
WHO IS THE JESUS OF THE BIBLE ?
WHY EVEN ASK ?
In these Last Days, there will be a horrible attack upon the knowledge of Jesus (of the Bible) to make room for the new and more widely accepted view that someone else (the Antichrist) can meet the requirement more favorably. In the evolution toward that false doctrine, many heretical ideas are being proposed. For an example, someone was writing about the “non-violent Jesus.” He spoke of Jesus as the helpless Lamb. Of course, that is not true. But, it is one of the false concepts being floated on today’s ocean of heresies.
Many theories, and some cults have been formed as a result of non-Biblical information. Most cults have completely different views of who Jesus is than what the Bible teaches and what Bible-believing Christians throughout history have known. Some others have attempted to understand the Lord by studying only a limited number of Scriptures, leaving their views open to their own private interpretations and expectations.
From the beginning of this study, let me emphasize that there are so many things which are known about the Lord, but there are countless other things that are unknown about Him. For anyone to say that they have a full understanding of the Persona and Nature of the Lord Jesus would simply show how ignorant they are of Who He really is.
John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
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JESUS CAN BE PERSONALLY KNOWN.
The Bible is clear that whether a Believer is new or mature, he can know the Lord Jesus.
1 John 2:13-14 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
But, just as in physical life, a baby knows his father to a limited degree, and then as the child matures, he understands more about his father; in similar manner, the young Christian knows Jesus when he trusts Him as Savior and is born-again, but as he grows spiritually, he gets to know more and more about the Lord.
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WHAT MUST BE BELIEVED ABOUT JESUS IN ORDER FOR A PERSON TO BE READY FOR SALVATION ?
(Salvation comes, not merely through an intellectual understanding of these facts, but by applying those facts to the heart which reaches out to God in faith). What essential facts exist which a person coming to Christ should believe ?
1. BELIEVE THAT HE WANTS OUR FAITH, AND BELIEVE THAT HE WILL REWARD IT.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
2. BELIEVE THAT HE WANTS US TO REPENT OF OUR SINS.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3. BELIEVE THAT HE IS THE SON OF GOD.
John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.
1 John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
4. BELIEVE THAT HE IS THE MESSIAH.
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.
The word “Christ” means, “Messiah.” What does “Messiah” mean ? IF we do not understand this, we cannot fulfill this requirement.
FROM THESE SCRIPTURES, THE BIBLE INFORMS US THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS ABOUT JESUS WHICH WE SHOULD KNOW AND ACT UPON.
THE ROLE OF JESUS AS THE MESSIAH
MESSIAH= OLD TESTAMENT
As described in:
Daniel 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Strong’s #04899 חישׁמ mashiyach maw-shee’- akh
from 04886, Greek 3323 Μεσσιας; n m; {See TWOT on 1255 @@ “1255c”}
1) Anointed One
1a) the Messiah, Messianic prince
1b) the Everlasting King of Israel
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MESSIAH= NEW TESTAMENT
Strong’s #5547 Χριστος Christos khris-tos’
from 5548; TDNT-9:493,1322; {See TDNT 850} adj
Christ =” anointed One,” “Messiah.”
1) Christ, the Messiah
2) The Anointed One
5. BELIEVE THAT HE WAS SENT FROM THE FATHER.
John 12:44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on Me, but on him that sent Me.
WHAT WILL HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES WHICH DEAL WITH THE NATURE OF GOD ?
1. UNDERSTAND THAT THE ALMIGHTY HAS THREE PARTS TO HIMSELF, JUST AS WE ARE COMPOSED OF THREE PARTS. WE ARE STILL ONE PERSON, AND GOD IS ONE PERSON, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF PARTS WE/HE ARE MADE OF.
2. UNDERSTAND THAT MOST OF THE TIME WHEN THE BIBLE USES THE WORD “GOD” IT REFERS TO THE FATHER (i.e., THE SOUL, THE DECISION-MAKING INTELLIGENCE) OF GOD. Ephesians 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:
3. UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS (“JEHOVAH” in the Hebrew Old Testament) IS THE PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF THE ALMIGHTY, AND HE APPEARS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AS WELL AS THE NEW TESTAMENT.
4. THE ALMIGHTY MUST HAVE A PHYSICAL PART TO HIMSELF (JEHOVAH, OR JESUS), BECAUSE WE ARE PARTLY PHYSICAL, AND WERE MADE IN HIS IMAGE.