Course:  Jesus the eternal Son of God

Section Two:  Jesus is God the Son.

Lesson Three (outline)

Lesson Title: Jesus claimed to be the Son of God.

 

Text: John 5:18

 

Introduction:  Jesus claimed to be God.

The Jews understood that Jesus made Himself equal with God.  (John 10:30-33)

 

Introductory Illustration:  Paul Little wrote 'As we face the claims of Christ, there are only four possibilities. He was either a liar, a lunatic, a legend, or the Truth'.[1] 

 

Main Points:

1.      Jesus said things that only God could say, Mark 2:5-12.. 

·         He forgave sins

·         He was accused of blasphemy because He claimed to have the power to forgive sins.  Mark 2:5-7. 

·         Only God can forgive sins.  The miracles were signs that bore witness that Jesus is God.  Mark 2 8-12

  

2.      Jesus accepted worshipped and encouraged people to worship Him

·         Blind man who Jesus healed came and worshipped Him, John 9:38

·         The children in the temple gave Him praise, Matthew 21:15-16.

·         Even when Jesus was a child He was worshipped.  Matthew 2:11

God's servants always rejected worship. If Jesus is not God then He should have reacted in the same way and prevented it.

·         Acts 14:14-18, Paul and Barnabas tore their clothes

·         Revelation 19:10, God's messenger refused to accept the worship of John.  He told him only to 'worship God'. 

 

3.      Jesus claimed to be the I AM

·         Jesus is called I AM many times in John's Gospel.  I AM THAT I AM (2 Moses 3:14)

·         I AM's in John's Gospel (John 6:48; 8:12; 8:58; 10:9; 10:11; 10:36; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1; 18:5-6) 

·         Jesus is Jehovah (YHWH).  Consider Psalm 23.

 

Summary:

We must conclude that either Jesus is the Son of God or He was a deceiver of the people.

1)      He claimed to have the power to do things that only God can do.  He claimed to have the power to forgive sins.

2)      He accepted worship.  Only God is to be worshipped (Matthew 4:10).

3)      He claimed to be the I AM.  The highest name associated with God.

 

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[1] Paul Little, Know Why You Believe, Victor Books:Illinois, 1980, p.34.