So we'll turn back to where our
brother just read, our brother pastor, John 8. Our text is going to be from
verse 23. to verse 32. The title of this message is
the Deity of Christ. You know, there's been no human
being, no man in the history of the world that's had more
controversy as to who he is and who Jesus of Nazareth was. And we're going to look at the
Word of God, which is absolute truth. And this is Christ speaking
Himself. And there's two things that God's
chosen people want to know more than anything in this world,
they really want to know Christ with all their heart, soul, and
mind. I mean, to really know him the
way a spouse, a husband, and a wife love each other, because
we are his wife. We're the bride of Christ. So
we really want to know Him. I mean heart, I'm talking about
heart knowledge, not head knowledge, but heart knowledge. And they
want to spend eternity at His feet. And I thank Him for that. You know, they want to know who
He is. They want to know what He has
done for them. They want to know what He's doing
now. And we want to know what He's
going to do for us, you know. My pastor said it begins with
Christ and it ends with Christ. It always has and it always will.
You know, to know all of this would be a never-ending message,
but this evening we're going to just touch on what the Holy
Scripture say as to who He is. We'll go ahead and read our text
now, if you will, look at verse 23 of chapter 8. It says, and he said unto them,
you are from beneath, I am from above. You are of this world,
I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you that
ye shall die in your sins, for if ye believe not that I am he,
you shall die in your sins. Then said they unto him, Who
art thou? And Jesus said unto them, Even
the same that I said unto you from the beginning, I have many
things to say and to judge of you, but he that sent me is true. And I speak to the world those
things which I have heard of him. They understood not that
he spoke to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, when
you have lifted up the Son of Man, then shall you know that
I am he, and that I do nothing of myself. But as my Father hath
taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me.
The Father hath not left me alone, for I do always those things
that please him. As he spoke these words, many
believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews
which believed on him, if you continue in my word, then are
ye my disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free. We're going to look at right
now, where did our Lord Christ, where did He speak these words?
If you will, look at verse two of the same chapter here, just
on the other page. It says, and early in the morning
He came again unto the temple, and all the people came unto
Him, and He sat down, and He taught them. You know, after
the manner of the teachers, He sat down and He taught them.
You know, the temple was a place of worship. It was a place that
the people come to worship God and to learn who he was. But
the problem was that religious leaders of that day, the strives
and the Pharisees, they thought that you had to keep the law
in order to be saved. Therefore, they was talking works
and grace. And our Lord was there to tell
the people about the truth. And we all know what the truth
is. The truth is our Lord Jesus Christ.
And they hated him for that. But it says here, if you will,
turn to 1 Timothy chapter 3. 1 Timothy chapter 3. Verse 16. You know, a lot of people think
that they've got the Lord all figured out, but that's not what
the Holy Scriptures say. It says, and without controversy,
great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifested in the flesh. He was justified in the spirit.
He was seen of angels. He was preached unto the Gentiles.
He believed on in the world, and he was received up into glory. You know, why was it necessary
for God to become a man? You know, God's word says in
Ephesians, according as he hath chosen us,
his elect in him, which is Christ, before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and without blame before him
in love. But God's word says that, as
by one man, sin entered into the world, and death passed upon
all men, for all have sinned. We've got to remember, all the
human race has come from the seed of Adam. But the scribes
and the Pharisees insisted that you had to keep the law to be
saved. Let's see what God's word says about that in Galatians
chapter 2. Christ is speaking grace along. And it says here in Galatians
2, verse 16, knowing that a man is not justified by the works
of the law, but by the faith of who? Jesus Christ. Even we
have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by
the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law. Listen
to this closely. For by the works of the law shall
no flesh be justified. God's word says that all have
sinned and come short of the glory of God. And the word of
God also says that the wages of sin is death. Therefore, you
know, God needed a sacrifice, one that was perfect, without
spot or blemish. He needed one that had no sin. He needed one that knew no sin.
So if you will, turn to Matthew chapter one. He needed the perfect sacrifice. And there was only one that could
fill those shoes. Says here in verse 18 of chapter 1 of Matthew. Now the birth of Jesus Christ
was only twice, when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph,
before they come together she was found with child of the Holy
Ghost. Then Joseph, her husband, being
a just man and not willing to make her a public example, was
minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these
things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in
a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take
unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her
is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his
people from their sins. Did you see that right there?
He said, He shall save His people. He didn't say all people. He
said, He shall save His people from their sins. Now all of this
was done that it might be spoken, which was spoken of the Lord
by the prophet, and that was the prophet Isaiah. Look at verse
23. About 700 years before this, The prophet said, Behold, a virgin
shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall
call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with
us. That's very plain to understand.
God's law was broken, and a holy God had to punish sin. So he
himself provided the perfect sacrifice. Let's go back to our
text. in John 8. Let's read verses
23 and 24. In verse 23 here, And he said unto
them, You are from beneath, I am from above. You are of this world,
I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that
you shall die in your sins, for if you believe not that I am
He, you shall die in your sins." Our Lord here, He's plainly telling
the people who He is and who they are. He's from above, He's
from heaven, and they are of this world. He says He is above. He's plainly telling them who
He is. He said, I am He. If you will, turn to Exodus chapter
3. Exodus chapter 3. Verses 13 and 14. And our Lord Christ just got
done saying, I am he. All right, look at 13, verse
13 of chapter 3. And Moses said unto God, Behold,
when I come unto the children of Israel, and say unto them,
The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you, and they shall
say to me, What is his name? What shall I say unto them? And
God said unto Moses, I am that I am. And he said, thus shall
thou say unto the children of Israel, I am have sent thee. This is a personal name of God
almighty. Now, if you would turn to Romans
chapter 11. Romans chapter 11, verse 33. It says, over death of the riches
both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God, how unsearchable are
his judgments and his ways past finding out. For who hath known
the mind of the Lord, take a good look at that word Lord, it's
small case, we're talking about the Lord Jesus Christ here. Or
who hath been his counselor, or who hath first given to him,
and it shall be recompensed unto him again. For of him, and to
him, and to him are all things, to whom be glory forever, amen. You know it says in the book
of Isaiah, my glory I will not give to another. It plainly states
in John 10, and this is Christ speaking, I and my Father are
one. The Word of God is plain when
it speaks of the deity of Christ Jesus our Lord. The Jehovah God
of the Old Testament is the Jehovah Jesus Christ of God of the New
Testament, the one and the same. God's Word says in the book of
Isaiah, I, even I, am the Lord, and beside me there is no savior. If you would turn to John 14. I thank God for His written word.
His written word and the incarnate word are the same. It says in
John 14, look at verse 6. Jesus said unto him, I am the
way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father
but by me. Our Lord says here that I am
the way. He is the only way. Acts 4.12. Plainly says, neither is there
salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby that we must be saved. It is impossible
to know God without knowing and believing what God's Word says,
who the Son is, because all divine blessings come from the Father
to the Son. In Ephesians, God's word says,
blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
have blessed us. He's already blessed us. Who
have blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.
How has he done that? In Christ. Christ says here,
I am the truth. Christ is truth himself. He is
the sum and the substance of all truth of the gospel. And being here, he says, I am
the life. I love what 1 John 5, 12, God's word says. He that
hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God
hath not life. That's plain, that's easy to
understand. It is the spear and the sinless
blood that Christ shed at Calvary that gives life to his people.
We'll go back to our text in John 8. Let's read verse 23 through 25
again. And he said unto them, you are
from beneath, I am from above. You are of this world, I am not
of this world. I said therefore unto you, that
you shall die in your sins, for if you believe not, that I am
he. he shall die in his sins. He's telling the people here
that if you believe not that I am, that I am the true God,
if you believe not the eternal son of God, the Messiah, the
God manifested in the flesh, the only savior for sinners,
and the one and only mediator between God and man, he says
you will die in your sins. To the true believer, the Lord
Jesus Christ, he is our life, he is our hope, and he is our
peace. And I thank God for him. We see
his blood shed for us at Calvary as cleansing from every sin.
He is truly our prophet, our priest, and our king. Alone. Christ and Christ alone. His word says in Hebrews, God
who said a hundred times and in diverse manners, spoken time
passing to the father by the last, by the prophets, half in
his last days though, spoken unto us by his son, listen to
this, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also
he made the world. He also says in Hebrews, who
being the speaking of Christ, who being the express, who being
the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his
person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when
he hath by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand
of the majesty on high. How does the Lord speak to us?
He speaks to us through his word. is the most precious thing that
we have in this life. He speaks to us through his word.
He speaks to us through preaching. He says here that he did the
work of redemption, of redeeming his people. How did he do it?
He done it all by himself. He needed no help from no man.
And he sat down. Why did he sit down? Because
the work of redemption was finished. He'd done it all on the cross.
God's people rest in the person, in the work, and in the shed
blood that he shed at Calvary. He's our substitute for our sins,
and he is also our Sabbath. Listen to what the father said
to the son in verse 8. But unto the son he said, Thy
throne, O God, is forever and ever. A scepter of righteousness
is a scepter of thy kingdom. Look at verse 25 of our text.
It says here, Then said they unto him, Who art thou? They
still didn't understand. And Jesus said unto them, Even
the same that I said unto you from the beginning. You know,
they asked Christ again, Who are you? Unless God opens the
heart of a person, God has to do it. It plainly says that no
man, Jesus said, no man can come to me except the Father growing.
You know, but God has to open the heart of a person. or if
they have no spiritual knowledge, they won't have no spiritual
life unless he does that. Christ Jesus said unto them,
even the same that I said from the beginning. The beginning
of what? You know, Christ had no beginning. He's always been,
and he always will be. The scripture plainly says that
Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever. When he talks about
the beginning right here, he's talking about the beginning of
time. He's talking about genesis. For man, you. In the beginning,
God created the heavens and the earth. He's talking about when
the seed of the woman that should break the serpent's head. You know, for man, it began in
Genesis and it ends in Revelation. But the work of redemption has
always been. The Bible speaks that God put
a people, chose a people before the foundation of the world and
placed them in Christ. The Lamb slain before the foundation
of the world. The Holy Bible says, in the beginning
was the Word. And the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh as
Jesus Christ of Nazareth. You know, let's read verse 26
here, and 27 in our text. He says, I have many things to
say in the judge of you, but he that sent me is true. And
I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. And
they understood not that he spoke to them of his father. Here in
verse 26, you know, he's saying to his disciples, I have many
things to say to you. But you can't buy them right
now. What's he talking about here? He's talking about redemption,
regeneration, sanctification, justification, eternal life.
You know God's sheep. We start out on the milk of the
word. Then as we grow in grace, God opens up our hearts and our
eyes, and we learn by revelation. It's not a head knowledge, it's
a heart knowledge. And we learn by revelation when
he opens up our heart and he reveals more and more to us as
we're able to hear it. You know, our Lord said in Matthew,
he said, learn of me and you shall find rest into your souls.
What man don't want that? To have the peace of God and
to have the peace of God. And I thank him for that, you
know. But let's read verse, You know, when he says to judge, when he's talking
about judging here, he's talking about all those that do not believe
in him. And there's many a people in this world. You know, in religion,
people talk about the Antichrist will come. You know, they've
been Antichrists in this world ever since Jesus walked earth.
And in verse 27 here, You know, the Lord God himself, he speaks
to them of spiritual things, but they didn't understand because
they were not one of his sheep. You know, this reveals the total
depravity of man. It doesn't matter how moral a
man is. It doesn't matter how religious
he is. In God's sight, his righteousness is his filthy rags. And then
now we read verse 28 and 29. Then said Jesus unto them, when
you have lifted up the Son of Man, ensure you know that I am
he, and that I do nothing of myself, but as my Father hath
taught me, I speak his things. And he that sent me is with me,
and the Father hath not left me alone, for I do always those
things that please him. Verse 28 here speaks of his crucifixion,
his resurrection, and his ascension. You know, when I read that, I
think about substitution and satisfaction. Christ, being on
the cross, God's holy law was satisfied, and God's holy justice
was satisfied. And all that are in Christ was
in Christ when he was on that cross, shedding that blood. And
I thank him for that. And all this happened, it said
that many would truly believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the
Messiah, the anointed one of God. He was a willing substitute. You know, he said, I have power
to lay down my life, and I have power to take it up again. And
then in verse 29, he said, but he that sent me is with me. I love what Joshua says, and
it always blesses my heart. He says, be not afraid, neither
be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with you wherever
you go. I thank God for his spirit that
lives within us, the spirit of Jesus. Jesus Christ is God, yet
he came from God. As was said before, God was in
Christ reconciling the world unto himself. It was God's mercy
and his love that put Christ on that cross. Most people think
that it was those evil men and those soldiers that put him on
that cross. But no, it was the Father that put him on that cross.
Look at Acts 4 if you will real quick. It was ordained for the foundation
of the world. In verse 26 of Acts 4, he says,
And the kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered
together against the Lord and against his Christ. for of a
truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hath anointed
both Herod and Pontius Pilate, that the Gentiles and the people
of Israel are gathered together, but listen to this right here,
for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel had determined
before to be done. And I thank God for that. Let's go back to our text. You know, we, I, I'll say I do
not have a clue how much God loves, how much God loves his
sheep. You know, when God spoke the
world into existence, all he had to do was speak. But to save
a lost soul, he had to come into this world in Christ Jesus. And
he had to die on the cross to save a sinner like me. And I thank him for that. Oh, how I thank him for that.
In verse 28 and 29 here, I'm going to read it again. Then said Jesus unto them, when
a son of man, when a son of man, when you know that I am he, that
I do nothing of myself, but as my father hath taught me, I speak
these things. And he that hath sent me is with
me. And the father hath not left me alone, for I do always those
things. that pleased him. And as he spoke
these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those
Jews, which believed on him, if you continue, if you continue, if you continue in my word, then
you are my disciples indeed. You know, it says that many believed.
Now, whether it was a head knowledge or a heart knowledge, you know,
we don't really know. But you know, something that
brings peace to a believer is to know, I know that I am not
kept by myself. I am kept by the power of God,
and I thank the Lord for that. For if I had to depend upon myself,
I'd fall a thousand times a day. You know, a true believer will
persevere until the end, but that's the only way, because
he said, I'll not lose a one of my sheep, not a one of them,
because we are kept by his power. I love what Jude 24 and 25 says. It says, now unto him that is
able to keep you from falling, to keep you from falling and
to present you faultless before his presence of his glory with
exceeding joy. Does the only wise God our Savior
be glory and majesty and dominion and power both now and ever. Amen. You know God's people will
persevere in the faith of Christ. It's a hard belief. We'll keep
coming to Him. We'll keep looking to Him. The
Bible says that we live and move and have our being in Him. It's
looking and trusting in Christ and Christ alone. And the reason
that we do that is because He loved us. We love Him, but He
first loved us. Now, thank you for that. And it's being devoted to Christ.
We'll keep looking to Him, you know. And, you know, a man that
continues through life believing Christ and loving Him and devoted
to Christ and continues to grow in grace and knowledge and to
love Him with all of his heart, that's a good sign. That's a
good sign that God has saved him. Verse 32 here, it says,
Ah, and you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.
What is truth? Jesus Christ is truth. That has
always been, it will always be. The truth will set you free. Free from what? Christ. Christ will set you free
from the curse of the law. He'll set you free from the condemnation
of sin. He'll set you free from false
religion. And that's terrible. He'll set
you free from legalism. He'll set you free from self-righteousness. and it'll cause you to look to
Christ. He is absolute sovereign in providence,
and that blesses my heart so much. I know he's sovereign in
salvation and creation, but I know that whatever happens to me in
this life is by the providence of God, and it's like that verse
in Romans, and we know all things work together for good to them
that love God, to them that are the call according to his purpose. It's all about him. It begins
with Christ, and it ends with Christ. And he is truly precious
to the believer. And I thank God for that. And
I pray that message may have been a blessing to some.