Let's begin tonight in the Gospel of John, chapter 14. The Gospel of John, chapter 14. Now we proclaim and certainly believe that the one who we worship, whose name is Jesus Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe This man is God. Not like God, not having some characteristics of God, not a great prophet of God, but God. Jesus Christ, we believe, is God. In fact, the only God who we will ever see when we leave this world and enter into glory will be the Lord Jesus Christ. The book of Revelation tells us this. Many other mainstream religions acknowledge that Christ was a great prophet, even the demon pedophile Mohammed and his religion of Islam acknowledges that Christ was a great prophet. But only Christianity, and just a small percentage of that, those under the umbrella of Christianity, believe that Christ is indeed God.

But we, the elect, we hang our very souls on this belief. Because if Christ is not God, we are eternally damned. There is no ifs, ands, or buts about it. That is a fact. If Christ is not God, we have no hope. So what do we base this belief on? This belief that we claim that this man called Jesus Christ is God Almighty. This man who was born of a woman, was he actually God in human flesh? Let's read the first 17 verses of John chapter 14. Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am, there you may be also. And whether I go, you know, and the way, you know, Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whether thou goest and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life.

No man cometh unto the father, but by me. If he had known me, you should have known my father also. And from henceforth, you know him and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us a father, and it suffices us. Jesus saith unto him, have I been so long with you? And yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the father. And how sayest thou then, show us the father?

Believest thou not that I am in the father and the father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself, but the father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the father and the father in me, or else believe me for the very work's sake. Verily I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do, shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my father. And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the father may be glorified in the son. If you shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. If you love me, keep my commandments.

And I will pray the father, and he shall send you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever. even the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him, but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you. Now, here in our text, in verse eight, we find Philip asking our Lord, show us a father and it will suffice us. To which the Lord replied, and this is the title of our message, He that has seen me has seen the Father.

Now, Christ told the Samaritan woman at the well that God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. And we know that a spirit cannot be seen. But the man, Christ Jesus, embodies every single attribute, every single characteristic of the God that we worship because he is God. There is no description that can be given of God that cannot be applied to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to look at several scriptures tonight that prove this man who we worship is indeed the very God of this universe. Now, first is the fact that only God can know the very thoughts of a man's mind and of his heart. David told us in Psalm 94 11, the Lord knoweth the thoughts of man.

And Jesus said in Matthew 12, 25, or the scripture tells us, and Jesus knew their thoughts. And Luke gives us an account in chapter six of the Lord Jesus entering into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, where there was a man with a withered hand. And verse seven says, and the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the Sabbath day that they might find an accusation against him. But it says, but he knew their thoughts. Turn over to Matthew with me for a minute. Matthew 9. Matthew 9. Verse 1, And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, laying on a bed. And Jesus, seeing their face, said unto the sick of the palsy, Be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee. And behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, this man blasphemeth. And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, says, wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

For whether it is easier to say thy sins be forgiven thee or to say arise and walk, this is the only place I know of in all of Scripture, that the Lord actually did a miracle to prove what he said to be true. For whether it is easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say, Arise and walk, but that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins, since saith he to the sick of the palsy, Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thy house.

Only God can know a man's thoughts. We clearly read that Jesus Christ was fully capable of doing this. He knew the thoughts of those around Him. Next, only God can overrule what we call the laws of nature. I hate that statement, the laws of nature or mother nature. Man will do anything rather than give glory to God. But only God can overrule these so-called laws of nature.

There are many instances of this in the Old Testament that we find. The parting of the Red Sea, the healing of those bitten by the fiery serpents by merely a look at the serpent of brass, the story of Balaam's ass talking, the burning bush that Moses saw that was not consumed, the three Hebrews in the burning fiery furnace in Babylon, they were not consumed. Daniel in the lion's den also took place in Babylon. Jonah, in the belly of the whale, manna falling from heaven, the rock that followed them through the wilderness, and the list goes on and on and on. Likewise, we read many times of our Lord Jesus Christ doing that which is impossible, overriding these so-called laws of nature.

Healing a leper with a mere touch of his hand, but not being infected himself. Walking on water in the Sea of Galilee, That's obviously impossible. Except for God. Next time you're in the bathtub, try that. You can walk on water. It's an impossibility. But Christ told us those things that are impossible with man are possible with God.

Healing the blind, raising the dead, including Lazarus who had been dead for four full days. casting out demons, turning water into wine, causing the deaf to hear. But the greatest of all these miracles that this God-man was able to perform was the ability to endure the wrath of an angry God and to pay a debt so unimaginable that it cannot be comprehended by a human mind. And three days later, to come out of the grave We have to understand how mutilated our Savior was. His face was marred, we're told, more than any man. But He came out of that grave healed of all wounds without any trace whatsoever of the massive damage that He had suffered. This is an impossibility except with God. The only scars that were left were in His feet, His hands, and His side. And all of these things were undeniable testimony to the fact that Jesus Christ was and is God Almighty.

Now Hebrews 1.3 tells us that Jesus Christ is the express image of the invisible God because He is God. The only God we will see in heaven's glory will be the Lord Jesus Christ.

He is the only object of worship of the glorified saints in heaven. He is praised by the saints as the lamb, the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Nowhere do we find the saints singing songs of glory and honor to the Holy Spirit, nor to the father. Their only song that they sing, which is called the new song in revelation is sung in praise of the man, Christ Jesus. The book of Revelation begins with these words. The revelation of Jesus Christ. Now the very word revelation means the showing or uncovering of something not previously seen or known. The unveiling of something secret. And when the Lord Jesus Christ walked this earth, He was veiled in human flesh.

Anyone that saw Him was not impressed by Him. the silly halo over his head that they have in the Catholic-inspired paintings that were done during the Renaissance. He looked like any other Jewish man of his day. He looked so much like his disciples, indistinguishable from them, that Judas had to make sure he kissed him so that they could get the right man when they came to arrest him in the garden. And yet, he makes this statement, he that has seen me has seen the Father.

Throughout the entire book of Revelation, we are giving that very thing a revealing, a showing of the true and the glorified Christ. He was veiled before. But his true glory and majesty was hidden as he walked this earth, but in heaven. We will be enabled to view him in all his splendor and all his power and all his magnificence and all his majesty. in His full glory because of the impediments of this flesh will be gone, we will have a new body capable of looking fully upon Him as we're unable to do in this life. And at that time, we will see Him as He truly is, God Almighty.

So we make this claim that Jesus Christ was and is God. But what do we base that statement on? You can say anything's true, but you have to have something to base that belief on. How is it we declare, plainly and without apology, that the Savior that we worship is indeed very God of very God? Our basis of everything that we believe is found in this book that you hold on your lap right now.

This book is our only hope. of eternal salvation. It doesn't contain the Word of God. It is the Word of God. It is a revelation of the triune God to mankind. We would know nothing of God. We would know nothing of heaven. We would know nothing of hell were it not for the revelation given us in this book.

So if anyone hears this message, and says, well, I really don't believe the Bible. I have nothing further to say to you. Perhaps God will one day grant you faith. I pray that you will not remain so obstinate toward God and His Word, because if you do, your eternal fate is too horrible to contemplate.

So then, does this book actually declare that Jesus Christ is God? Can we prove that from the pages of this book? Genesis 1-1 begins with these words. In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. Created. He brought into existence something that did not exist before.

There was nothing but a great void. What we call space was not filled with the trillions of galaxies and stars that it is at this present time. It was simply a void. So if there was no heaven and no earth before this took place, where did God dwell? Now this is, I have to admit, this is something that boggles my mind. I can't, I can't begin to even grasp trying to think about that. No universe, no earth. But there was a triune God. And we're not told this because there's no way to explain such a thing in such a way that a human mind can comprehend it.

But the Gospel of John begins with the same three words as a book of Genesis. In the beginning. Then it goes on to say, was the Word. Capital W. The Word. And the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. If the Word was with God, how is it also said that the Word was God?

Because Jesus Christ is one of three Persons of the Blessed Trinity. Distinct individual Persons. This is how the Word can be described here in the first chapter of the Gospel of John. This is how He can be said to be God. and at the same time be with God. To be one of three distinct persons of the Holy Trinity.

But we don't find out who this Word is in the book of John, the first chapter, until we read this in the 14th verse. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, of grace and truth. And we know that this Word who was made flesh is a God spoken of in Genesis 1-1 who created heaven and earth because John 1-3 tells us all things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. So the God that created this heavens and this earth in Genesis 1-1 is none other than Jesus Christ Himself.

Now another place in God's Word where we read about our Savior being proclaimed to be God is in Isaiah 9.6.

Now John 1.14 says the Word was made flesh.

That same event is described here in Isaiah 9.6.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulders, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Unto us a child is born. The God of this universe took upon Himself flesh and blood. He came into this world the very same way that every other child who has ever been born came into this world. He was made like unto His brethren, born of a woman, we're told. Now his birth was not miraculous by any means, but his conception certainly was, unlike any other conception in the history of the human race. This man that came forth, this child that came forth, was the very Son of God.

And this verse says, unto us a Son is given, in John 3.16 certainly, confirms that. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, a Son who was given to take away sin. This passage in Isaiah also says, and the government shall be on His shoulder. He is the eternal, sovereign ruler of this world. We know this from what He said in Matthew 28,

18. Mark read something similar. All power is given unto Me in heaven and earth, He told His disciples. And what Mark read, I have power to lay down my life and I have power to take it again. No one but God could do such a thing. Our Savior is the eternal sovereign ruler of this world. He directs all things and controls all things in exact accordance with the eternal purpose of God. This was promised in Ephesians 311, which says that all is done according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

And among the names that our Savior is called here in Isaiah 9, 6, are these, the mighty God, the everlasting Father. This is how our Lord could say to Thomas, he that has seen me has seen the Father. This is how he could proclaim to the Jews, I and my Father are one. Now, another name or another way that we know that our Lord Jesus Christ is God indeed, is that he used the same name to describe himself as God used when Moses asked him in the book of Exodus who he should tell the children of Israel sent him. And we find the answer in Exodus 3,

14. And God said unto Moses, I am that I am. And he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I am hath sent me unto you. Now, there are several places in the Gospels where Christ Jesus referred to himself in this very way. I am. And when he did, the Jews knew they knew their scriptures well enough. They knew exactly what he meant. Look with me over in John, chapter eight. If you're in the book of John chapter 8. John chapter 8, starting in verse 54. Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing.

It is my Father that honoreth me, of whom ye say that he is your God. Yet ye have not known him, but I know him, And if I should say I know him not, I shall be a liar, like unto you. But I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Then took they stones up, to cast at him. But Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. Then two chapters later, over in the book of John chapter 10, we read this, starting in verse 24. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you and you believe me not.

The works that I do in my father's name, they bear witness of me, but you believe not because you are not of my sheep. As I said unto you, my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish. Neither shall any man plucked him out of my hand. My father, which gave them me is greater than all. And no man is able to pluck him out of my father's hand. I and my father are one.

Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, many good works have I showed you in my father from my father. For which of those works do you stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, for good work, we stone thee not, but for blasphemy, because that thou being a man, Makest Thyself God. Here again, the Jews knew exactly, exactly what our Lord meant when He said this. When He said, I and my Father are one. Which is why they said, Thou being a man, makest Thyself God. But these Jews were solely mistaken. Jesus Christ didn't make Himself God. He was eternally God. Always has been. Always will be.

And when the mob came to arrest our Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane, He again referred Himself by the same name that Moses heard from the Lord in Exodus 3.14. I Am. If you're still in John, look over at chapter 18. John 18.

Verse 1, When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place, for Jesus oft times resorted thither with his disciples.

Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus, therefore, knowing that all things or knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

And they answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. He said unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with him. And as soon as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward and fell to the ground. Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he.

If therefore you seek me, let these go their way. Now, in the original text. There is no word he simply Jesus answered and said, I am. He was added by the translators. And he demonstrated his power of God by putting them in the dust. Now, I thought a lot about this. This must have been something to see. The Lord asked him, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. And he said, I am. And bam!

Instantly. They didn't just stumble and fall to the ground. I think it was more like a blast wave from a bomb hit them. And they didn't know what hit them. They found themselves on the ground. That had to be something to see. And that would explain why the man being arrested set the terms for his arrest. If you seek me, let these go their way. They knew that this man was allowing them to take him.

Now finally, the last thing that we find in God's Word that proves that Jesus Christ is God is this. In the book of Revelation, which describes what will take place in heaven itself, There is only a mention of any member of the Trinity being worshipped and extolled other than Christ twice. And some of the scholars I read debate that back and forth. It's not that important.

But 17 times in the book of Revelation, we find Christ referred to as the Lamb, capital L-A-M-B, the Lamb. Jesus Christ is the primary focus of all praise from His glorified saints. In chapter 5 of Revelation, verse 11, we read this, And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the beasts, and the elders, and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, this is their song, Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing and every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea and all them that are in them. Heard I say blessing and honor and glory and power be unto him that sitteth on the throne and unto the lamb forever and ever. The most astonishing thing that this world has ever witnessed is the incarnation of God in the person of Jesus Christ, robed in human flesh. This same God who spoke a universe into being that scientists tell us is billions of light years across. and supposedly ever-expanding.

I don't know how they know that. It's not that important. But this very God who did that became an infant, dependent upon the care of his parents to even stay alive. This one who is so majestic that the scriptures tell us a man cannot see him and live. became the poorest man that this world has ever seen. He never had a house as other men have. He provides dens for the foxes, we're told, nests for the fowls of the air, lairs for the beasts of the field, and yet the Scriptures tell us that he did not even have a place to lay his head. This is what Paul calls a great mystery, and indeed it is. How can one who is everywhere at once be contained in the space of a human body?

How can one who created every drop of water on the face of the earth said to have thirsted? How can he who is God indeed be said to have suffered hunger, fatigue, pain, and heartache? How can we read that before he raised his friend Lazarus from the dead that he wept bitterly? He wept not for Lazarus because he knew he was going to raise him, but he wept because he saw the grief of those around him who loved Lazarus, and he was moved with great compassion.

How can one who has all power in heaven and earth allow himself to be taken by sinful men to be tortured mocked, spit upon, and ultimately allow himself to be executed in one of the most horrific ways in the history of man. We have to ask, why not just let this mass of worthless maggots called the human race just perish in hell for all eternity?

The answer to all those questions is found in 1 John 4, Verse 8, because it says this, God is love. He doesn't just love. He is love. Love is as much one of His attributes as His holiness, His righteousness and omnipotence, His eternality, His goodness, His mercy, His longsuffering, His wisdom, His forbearance, and His grace. And thank God that there is an object on which that love is bestowed. It is called the elect of God, the bride of the Lord Jesus Christ, those whom Christ prayed for.

In the 17th chapter of John, starting in verse 22, where we read this, And the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one, I in them, thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and has loved them as Thou hast loved Me.

And how has the Father loved the Son? We're told in verse 24, which tells us this, For Thou lovest Me before the foundation of the world. This is why the Lord Jesus Christ, our God, did not let the entire human race perish in unbelief, because He loved some of that race in the same way that His Father loved Him from the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1-4 makes this extremely plain. According as He had chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. This man, this man who is God, loved us with an eternal love that is impossible to comprehend. loved us enough to come to this planet from wherever it is that the eternal God dwells and become that Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

His name shall be called Jesus, we're told, for He shall save His people from their sins. His name is Emmanuel, God Almighty with us. With us. This is how He could proclaim, He that has seen me has seen the Father. And let me close with the last two verses of the book of Jude. Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, to the only wise God who is our Savior, Be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.