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to enrich your faith. Here's today's sermon.
Let's have our seat once again. Matthew 16. When
Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi,
he asked his disciples, who do men say I, the
son of Manam? So they said, some said John the
Baptist, some Elijah, others Jeremiah, or one
of the prophets. He said to them, but who do
you say I am? Simon Peter answered and said,
You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you,
Simon Bar -Jonah, for flesh and blood has not
revealed this to you, but my Father who is in
heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter,
and on this rock, I will build my church and
the gates of Hades shall not prevail against
it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom
of heaven. And whatever you bind on earth will
be bound in heaven. And whatever you lose on
earth will be loosed in heaven. Hallelujah. So
we see the question that Jesus Christ asked.
Who do men say? I, the son of man. Who do men
say? Who do men say I, the son of man, am? Specifically
what? The son of man. That word son of man is
very important. And we're going to study this
briefly. Who do men say I, the son of man, am?
So Jesus asks about the son of man. He called
himself what? The son of man. Who do men say
the son of man is? But let's look at Peter's
reply. Let's look at Peter's answer. But Peter
called him what? He called him the Christ. Simon
Peter answered, you are the Christ. So this son
of man, Peter said is what? Is Christ. Is the
Christ. And this Christ is what? Is he the son
of man? What did he say? He's the son of the
living God. So the man, the son of man that Jesus
asked about, Peter, by revelation, called him
what? He called him the Christ. Amen? The Christ,
the son of who? Of the living God. The Christ,
son of the living God. What does Christ mean?
Of course it means the Messiah, the anointed.
The anointed. The one that has been anointed
for a purpose. And the purpose is what? It's
redemption. So where will Peter get this understanding
about the Christ from? What is the source of
his revelation? What is the source of his information
about the Christ? Father, I don't know who will
see Jesus who will say that flesh and blood has
not what? Has not revealed his truth to you.
But who? But my father who is in heaven. So Peter's
revelation about the Christ, about the son of
man, is from the scriptures. The Bible didn't
report to us that suddenly Peter went into a
trance. Right? He went into a supernatural experience.
The Bible didn't tell us that Peter just fell
on the ground. And then something, you know,
happened. You know, there was a cloud and smoke.
And then, you know, he had a voice. No, no, no,
no, no, no. Peter responded that you are the
Christ. The son of the living God. So it was
not an angelic visitation he had. Or sort of
an experience that is spooky in nature. But Peter's
confession is what? Is faith. Peter's confession
is faith in what the scripture has said about
the Messiah. About who the Christ is. This is
what is called revelation. agreeing with what
the scripture has said, seeing from the perspective
of scriptural prophecies, the prophecies that
have been said about the Christ. He believed
this prophecy. And this is the revelation that
Peter had. Now, this is not the only place we
see this confession. In John chapter 1, Chapter
1. Let's go back to John chapter 1. We see a
similar situation where. A similar confession
was made. John chapter 1 verse 43. Where Philip
and Nathaniel were. John chapter 1 verse 43 to
45. The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee.
And he found Philip. and said to him, follow
me. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of
Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathaniel and
said to him, we have found him. Wait a minute.
They have what? They have found him. So it means
that they were looking for a him. They were expecting
someone. Because without expectation, they will
not say we are found. They were expecting someone.
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, we have
found him of whom Moses in the law and also the
prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth. The son of
who? The son of Joseph. The son of Joseph revealing
His what? His biological what? His biological
family. Let me use the word biological family.
Human family. The son of Joseph. And Nathaniel
said to him, can anything good come out of Nazareth?
Philip said to him, come and see. Come and see.
So we see here that there was an expectation.
And their expectation is from what? It's from
the prophecies of scripture. It's from what the
prophets have written. It's from what Moses have
written. It's from what the prophets have written
concerning the Christ. Concerning the Christ.
We have found him of whom Moses in the law and
also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the
son of Joseph. And Nathanael said to him, can
anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said
to him, come and see. So Jesus saw Nathanael
coming towards him and said of him, behold an
Israelite indeed whom is no deceit. Amen. So
the revelation of Peter is what? Is a revelation
of scripture. Peter's confession. Is from the
writings of Moses. Is from his understanding
of what? Of the writings of the prophets. Peter
confessed the son of the living God. The son
of the living God. The Christ from God. Meaning
that he is from heaven. The son of the living
God. Meaning that. Jesus. Is the Christ. And
what the prophets have said about the Christ.
Is a word. That he is a son of God. What the
prophets have written in their prophecies. In
their teachings. In their ministry. Is that word.
That the Christ. Will be called the son of God.
The Christ. Will be the son of God. And what
Bible verse is in the prophets, in the Psalms,
where Peter believed that the Messiah would be
called the Son of God? How did he come to the
conclusion that Jesus is the Son of God? Remember
what Jesus asked, number one, Jesus asked about
what? About who men say the Son of Man is. But
Peter, Say he is the son of God. So how did Peter
come to this conclusion about Jesus, the son
of God? Psalms 2 verse 7. Psalms 2 verse 7. In
the prophecy of David, he says, I will declare
the degree. The Lord has said to me, you are
my son. Today, I have what? I have begotten you.
We can see properly, referenced by other writers
in the New Testament. For example, now, in Paul's
sermon at Antioch in Acts chapter 13, verse 33.
I just want to show to us, you know, some of
the instances. In the writings of the prophets,
where there is a revelation that the Christ is
going to be called the Son of God. Hallelujah.
And in Acts 13, verse 33, we see where Paul was
preaching. He says, God has fulfilled this for
us, their children, in that he has raised up
Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm.
So he's calling Jesus, he's connecting Jesus
to who? To the prophecy that was written in the
Psalms. That Jesus is the son of God. That Jesus,
who they know as the son of Joseph, that Jesus,
whom they know as the son of who? Of Mary, as
it is written, you are my son, today I have begotten
you. We also see Hebrews chapter 1. Hebrews chapter
1. Making reference to that as well. Hebrews
chapter 1. Hebrews chapter 1 verse 1. God who
at various times and in various ways spoke in
the time past to the fathers by the prophets.
Has in these last days spoken to us by his son.
Whom he has appointed heir of all things through
whom also he made the worlds. 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 had by himself put out our sins. Sat
down at the right hand. Of the majesty on high.
Having become so much better than the angels.
As he has. By inheritance. Obtained a more excellent
name. Than they. For to which. Of the angels
said he ever. He ever say. You are my son. You
are my son. Today. I have begotten you. And again.
I will be to him a father and he shall be to
me a son. Emphasizing that the Messiah, the Christ
who is a man is also the son of God. Isaiah chapter
9 verse 6 we see also all these texts speaks
of the Messiah, speaks of the Christ. Isaiah
9 verse 6 says, For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given, and the government will
be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace. So, The information
or the revelation that Peter has is actually
an understanding of what of the writings of the
prophets. It's because he exercised faith in
what the prophets have written about the Messiah.
Because he believed in all that the prophets
have said about the Messiah. So why is Jesus
referred to as a son of God? And also the son
of man. Why is he the son of God at the same
time the son of man? Is it a confusion? Is it
a challenge with the identity of Jesus? We must
know him first as a son of man. We must also
know him as a son of God. We must know this identity
about Christ. That he is the son of God. And
also, The son of man. In several scriptures,
we will see that Jesus will often refer to himself
as the son of God. Jesus is often referred to
as the son of God. And this son of God is highlighting
his divine nature. It's showing that Jesus is
divine. Alright? Jesus, the son of God, the phrase
Jesus, the son of God, Reveals to us. That he
is what? He is divine. Meaning that he is of
a divine nature. Meaning that he is from God.
Meaning that he is God. It highlights his divine
origin. And relationship with God. The father.
The son of God. We see this in Matthew. Several
scriptures that call him the son of God. Matthew
chapter 3 was starting. Matthew chapter 3 was
starting. Then Jesus came from Galilee to John.
At baptism to be baptized by him. And John tried
to prevent him saying. I need to be baptized
by you. And to be baptized by you. And you are
coming to me. But Jesus answered and said to
him, permit me to do so now. For thus it is fitting
for us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he
allowed him. 16. When he had been baptized, Jesus
came up immediately from the water. And behold,
the heavens were opened to him. And he saw. Now
John saw this. Saw this picture. Saw this revelation.
He saw the spirit of God. descending like a dove,
alighting upon him. And this is the voice he
heard. And suddenly a voice came from heaven
saying, this is my son in whom I am well pleased.
So at the baptism we see Jesus, the son of who?
The son of God. The father confirming that this
is my son, that Jesus is the son of God. And
of course we see Peter's... Confession, Matthew
16, 16. John chapter 1, verse 34. John chapter
1, verse 34. John the Baptist. John chapter 1,
verse 34. Let's see. John 1, 34. And I have seen
and testified that this is what This is the son
of God. This is John's confession about Jesus.
John the Baptist. The baptizer. That this is
the son of God. Martha's confession. John chapter
11 verse 27. She said to him. Yes Lord. I have
believed you. I have believed that you are. the
Christ yes you are the Christ the son of God
who is to come into the world I believe you that
you are what that you are the Christ the son
of who son of God who is come into the world
the purpose of John's gospel John chapter 20
verse 31 this is not this is John Who wrote the
book of John? Not John the Baptist. Amen? John
20, verse 31. But these are written that you
may what? That you may believe. So the purpose
of writing the book of John is that you may believe
that Jesus is what? Is the Christ, the Son of
God. And that believing you may have life in
his name. Hallelujah. So, I want you to notice
something. That the confession of men about Jesus
is that he is the son of God. Hardly will you
see, except the Pharisees, that will refer to
Jesus Christ as the son of Joseph. Amen? Let
me repeat what I just said. Hardly will you see
any man referring to Jesus Christ as the son
of Joseph or, I mean, calling him the son of
man. Let me use the word, the terminology, son
of man. Son of man. Hardly will you see anyone
call Jesus son of man. But what we see littered
around scriptures, confessions and understanding
that Jesus Christ is what? Is the son of who?
The son of God. Now, Jesus referred himself to
as the son of man. And this emphasizes his humanity.
All right? Jesus is a son of God. By revelation,
we see he's a son of God. And Jesus is also what?
He's also the son of man. And Jesus being the
son of man emphasizes his humanity. And also
his role as the prophesied Messiah. The Messiah
was to be a man. Amen? The Messiah is to be what?
Is to be a man. Daniel chapter 7 verse 13 speaks
about this Messiah. Daniel chapter 7 verse 13
to 14. Look at Daniel's revelation. I was watching
in the night visions. And behold one like what?
Like the son of God. Like the son of man. Coming
with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the
ancient of days. And I brought him near before
him. Then to him was given dominion and glory
and the kingdom. That all peoples, nations and
languages should serve him. His dominion is an
everlasting dominion. Which shall not pass away.
And his kingdom. The one which shall not be destroyed.
Hallelujah. So what Daniel saw was what? Was
a son of man. Amen. In his vision he saw what?
He saw man. He saw a man. Hallelujah. He saw
a man. Meaning that they want to come and this
with other scriptures, we'll look at it, we'll
see prophecies that the Messiah is going to be
a man. Hallelujah. So Jesus is what? He's a son
of God. Jesus is what? He's a son of man. Matthew
8 20. Jesus, the son of man, where he calls himself
the son of man. Matthew 8, 20. And Jesus said
to him, foxes have holes and birds of the air
have nests. But the son of man has nowhere to
lay his head. It seems to me, oftentimes in scripture,
When Jesus Christ is speaking to the disciples,
he's speaking to people, he's teaching disciples,
he always refers himself as a son of man. Alright?
And when he talks to the Pharisees, he always
wants to confirm to them that he's a son of God.
I studied and I saw this consistency. Amen? Before
the people he wants to relate himself and show
them that he is a man that has come, that has
been prophesied and he should die for their sins.
And then to the rebellious because they see him
only as what? As a son of Joseph. He always wants
to show to them that he is the son of God. So,
Matthew 8, 20. Yes, we just read this. Matthew
12, verse 8. Matthew 12, verse 8. Matthew 12,
verse 8. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the
Sabbath. So, Jesus called himself the Son of
Man when he performed a miracle on the Sabbath
and then, you know, they complained, right? Matthew
20 verse 28. Matthew 20 verse 28. Son of man,
Jesus the son of man. Matthew 20 verse 28. Just
as the son of man did not come to be served,
but to serve and to give his life a ransom for
many. So the son of man came to serve and to
give his life a ransom for many. Matthew 26,
64. Jesus said to him, it is as you said. Nevertheless,
I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son
of Man sitting at the right hand of the power
and coming on the clouds of heaven. Clouds of
heaven. The Son of Man. John 1 .51. John 1 .51.
And he said to him, Most assuredly, I say to
you, hereafter you shall see heaven opened and
angels of God ascending and descending upon the
Son of Man. So there are many scriptures. We
see Jesus speaks this title about himself, the
Son of Man, about 80 to 90 times across the Gospels.
That's how much he kept emphasizing that he's
the Son of Man. That's how important it is. Only
two references will see where it is that in the
Bible that is a non -Jesus reference. That is
only two occasions in the scriptures will see
where Jesus was said to be the son of man. That
is not he himself that was professing. First
one is Stephen. In Acts 7, verse 56, where Stephen
referred to him as the son of man. Acts 7, verse
56. And said, look, I see the heavens open and
the son of man standing at the right hand of
God. Right? And also one in Revelation. Revelation
1, 13. And Revelation 14, 14. Give me Revelation
1, 13. Let's see. A non -Jesus reference of himself
as the son of man. Revelation 1, 13. And in the
midst of the seven lampstands, one like the son
of man, clothed with a garment down to the feet
and guided about the chest with a golden band.
And then 1414, his head and hair were white like
wool, as white as snow. And his eyes, 1414, sorry,
not 114, 1414. Then I look and behold a white
cloud on the... A white cloud and on the cloud
sat one like the son of man having on his head
a golden crown in his hand and a sharp sickle.
So John here referred to him in the revelation
of John actually as the son of man. And we see
Stephen also in Acts 7 verse 56 referring to
him. But majority, about 80 to 90 times, depending
on the translation you have, Jesus calls himself
what? He calls himself the son of man. How important
is this? How important is this revelation to
us? We who will be the ministers. Who are the
ministers rather? Who are the preachers of the
gospel? How important is this revelation to us?
We must see him as what? As a son of God. We
must see him as what? As a son of God. And also
what? A son of man. How is Jesus the son of man?
How is he the son of man? At the same time, the
son of God. Or sometimes we hear this debate.
Why should God have a son? Right? Does he have
a wife? Some of you have gone out for evangelism.
And some of the questions you encounter is how
can God have a wife? What you're saying is that
if he has a son, then he must have a wife. Which
means that what you people are believing is not
true. God cannot have a son. It's impossible
for God to have a son. So we must have better
answers for those caliber of people that we face.
We must have a good reply. As we go out to teach
by the power of the Holy Spirit. It's an important
question that we'll see, especially when we're
dealing with non -believers. Now, this brings
us to the concept of what? Of the Trinity. Alright?
Jesus, the Son of Man. Jesus, the Son of God.
And also the idea of God, the Father, right?
Having a son, and then we see another one added,
the Holy Spirit. And oftentimes, it seems as
though we have three different gods. Amen? And
if we confront the world, This is some of the
things that we'll confront. The humanity of Jesus.
Alright? If you say he is God, then he is not
a man. Then you've made him not to be a man.
But he was born somewhere in Bethlehem. So how
can you see that an Israelite, that we know his
father, we know his mother, we know history has
proved that He was on the face of the earth.
How can you say he is God? There is no way in
scriptures, unequivocally, the word they use,
that Jesus has said that he is the son of God.
So how are we claiming that he is the son of
God? And to add it to the confusion, even some
denominations in court, they say that he is a
what? He is a God. Of course, we can't call them
Christians. See, the fundamentals of the faith
must be understood by all of us here. Are we
together? Don't say, oh, you know, let me tell
you how they used to teach us this. When they
reached this place, they would tell us, you know,
it's a mystery we cannot understand. When they
mystify it, it's because they don't know how
to explain it. Alright? So I want you not to
just go out and say it's a mystery. Mystery is
something that has explanation in scriptures.
Are we together? Mystery, we'll see later, is
to unbelievers. But to us who are in Christ,
there is an explanation for everything in scripture.
God always wants to reveal himself to us. Are
we together? So you must know who God is. And
the way he reveals himself to us is through the
revelation of scripture. Hallelujah. So how about
the idea of Trinity? God the Father. God the
Son. God the Holy Spirit. Now it's important
for us to note that, you know, as Pastor Victor
said, there are others that pretend to be Christians.
They are not Christians, of course. We know it's
pretense. They deny that Jesus is God. They hold
that Jesus is just one of the prophets. And some
will debate that there are no... unequivocal
text in the Bible in which Jesus calls himself
God. Meaning that there's no text in which Jesus
comes and says, I am God. Worship me. Some of
you have looked at some debates. Show me from
the Bible where Jesus calls himself God. And
that's one of the debates the Muslims always
hold. They will tell you, show me in the Bible
in red letter words where Jesus calls himself
God. And then you'll be downfounded. How can
I tell this one now that Jesus is God? So I'm
all on the idea that what? That we Christians
worship three different gods. We worship God
the Father. We worship God the Son. And we also
worship what? God the Holy Spirit. And to add
it even, to make it even worse, some Christians
believe that right now, you know, once upon a
time, God was in church. Right? Then God handed
over the world to Jesus Christ, and Jesus was
in church. Now, Jesus has handed it over to the
Holy Spirit, so the Holy Spirit is the one that
is in church now. And some people have said,
I've heard this from a very respectable man,
man of God. He says, And I tried to think about
it. It says that you can have a relationship
with Jesus alone. Alright? And have a relationship
with the Holy Spirit alone. And have a relationship
with God the Father alone. And I was wondering,
how is it possible? When you pray, you can pray
to God. You can pray to the Holy Spirit. You
can pray to Jesus. And nowadays, they added,
you can pray to somebody that will talk to Jesus
for us. You know what I'm saying? The mother
of Jesus and some of the saints of old, they
added them as part of the, it's no longer trinity.
It's a system. It's a chain of command. Now,
it's essential that to note that in the Bible,
there's no word. We always tell you this. Even
when we're talking about the issue of rapture,
we started teaching you about rapture in the
sermon. We said in the Bible, there's no word.
You will not see the word rapture. It's a coin
word, right? But we'll have an idea of what it
means. But also, in the Bible, You will not see
the word Trinity in the Bible. Okay? You will
not see the word Trinity in the Bible. But it
does not mean that it does not exist. It is a
coin term to describe God the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit as expressed in the Scripture,
throughout the Scripture. So, The first thing
that I want us to establish, first and foremost,
concerning this idea of God the Father, God the
Son, God the Holy Spirit, is that God is what?
God is one. Amen? God is what? God is what? God
is one. We worship what? We worship one God.
Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 4. We worship one
God. Hear O Israel. The Lord our God is what?
Is one. Alright. So we don't worship three gods.
But we worship what? We worship one God. Then
the question is how comes Jesus is God? At the
same time, the Holy Spirit is equally God. How
do we explain this mystery in court? How do we
explain this mystery? This one God exists in
three persons. This one God as seen in Deuteronomy
chapter 6 verse 4 as explained by Moses and consistently
by the prophets. exists in what? In three persons.
God the Father is God. God the Son is also God.
And God the Holy Spirit is also God. Now, this
concept about the triune nature of God can only,
if you're sleeping, please wake up. If your neighbor
is sleeping, wake up. This triune nature of God
can only be explained through the context of
God's redemption work. Outside this, it will
be difficult for you to explain this. I've heard
people say, you know, think of water. They try
to use science to explain the trinity. Think
of water. Water can exist in what? Different
forms and different shapes. Water can exist in
liquid form. Water can exist in what? In solid
form, ice, right? Water can exist in what? Gaseous
form, vapor. All is water. So the water can evaporate
when there's heat, can solidify when the temperature
is what? It's minus something degrees. So they
try to use this scientific method to explain.
If I begin to, if I go to the lab, if water,
let me ask this question. Let's just do some
little chemistry. If water, right, you have water
in a cup. And then it solidifies, right? Or let's
start with liquid form, right? And then it evaporates.
Will you still have the same quantity in your
possession? Assuming that in the lab, you are
putting shit and then let it evaporate. And then
you condense it, right? And then you solidify
it by freezing it. Will you still have the same
water? So if you go scientifically, can we really
explain the Trinity and say it's the same? Same
quantity? Same properties? Of course. Not what?
I'm not a chemist. Help me, chemist. He said
not the same properties. So this is limited in
explaining what? You see, people are beginning
to draw a water cycle now. It's limited in explaining
the Trinity. Hallelujah. So you cannot go with
this knowledge to a scientist, seasoned scientist,
not the quack ones we have around, seasoned scientist,
not the ones that Google and use Chagibit. To
explain God, it will be not efficient to explain
God. So, We cannot explain God outside the way
scriptures has presented God. That's what I want
to say. Are we together? And it is in the context
of his redemptive work. This concept can be best
understood in the context of God's redemptive
work for humanity. Alright? It is in the context
of God's redemption walk that we can best see
the expression of God as the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit. All walking as one. Because
God is one. Now in Romans chapter 6 verse 23
says that the wages of sin is what? Is death.
The wages of sin is death. Sin is found in man.
But man becomes helpless in saving himself. Isn't
it? Only God can deal with the issue of man's
sin. God has to become a man so that he can die
for the forgiveness of the sins of man. Because
no man can save himself from sin. No human effort
can deliver man. The problem of sin is not a
problem that man can resolve by himself. The
condition that sin has brought to man is not
a condition that a man, I mean without God, right?
Man without God can restore. It's only God that
can restore that. Amen? And there is legality
around the idea because the wages of sin is what?
Is death. The penalty of sin is what? Is death.
So sin must be dealt with by law. Sin must be
atoned. Sin must be paid in full so that man
can be restored back to what? To God. Man can
be redeemed to God. Man can be restored to God.
Only God can do that by himself. And the only
way that can be done is when there is a what?
A death. Because the capital punishment for sin
is what? Is death. Amen? It's not like our governments
of today where the governor can just wake up
one day and say, okay, I choose to, I'm happy,
I just woke up on the right side of the bed,
I choose to cancel death penalty and release
these prisoners. No. In God's justice system,
the wages of sin is what? Is death. Someone sin,
right? Someone must die. That is God's judgment.
That is God's legal, that is God's justice system.
So, since this man is now helpless, no one can
save man. Then God decided to do what? To become
man. Amen? God decided to save man by what? By
becoming man. Because only God can deal with
the issue of man's sin. God has to become a man
so that he can die for the forgiveness of the
sin of man. Because God is a spirit. Amen? God
is spirit. And we know that spirit cannot die.
Alright? So, don't pray that demons should die.
They will not die. They don't die. Jesus did
not ask you to kill spirits. He said you should
cast them out. So spirits are eternal. Demons
are eternal. They are eternal beings. They don't
die. They don't have physical body like you and
me. Are we together? So we do what? We cast them
out. God is spirit. God cannot die. So the only
way by which God can fulfill the demands of the
law is by becoming a man and then dying. Then
he paid for the sin that man has committed. And
fulfilling that load, what the Lord demands,
gives legality for man to have a relationship
with God. For man to be redeemed because redemption
has a price and the price is life. Hallelujah.
So a man Must die because of sin. But since spirit
cannot die. God has to take on the form of man.
To fulfill the legal requirement for sin. So
in the four gospels. We will see God almighty.
God almighty. Becoming a man through the process.
The process of what? The process of incarnation.
Incarnation means the divine taking over humanity.
Amen. So, we cannot say Jesus was what? Was born,
right? Because he existed before even Mary. By
revelation, we will see what? We will see his
appearance in the flesh. Amen? We will see his
appearance in the flesh. What we call the incarnation.
Becoming a man. And he used Mary as a legal entry
into the earth. Okay? So Mary becomes a legal
entry. A point of entry into the earth. So when
he was born in human flesh he grew up as a normal
human because when you decide to say that he
was not a normal human being then the requirements
of the law have not been met. So Jesus Christ
grew up as a normal human being, just like you
and I. Having similar limitations like men. What
are the limitations? A man is limited by what?
By time. Alright? You don't have 24 hours. So
he was under 24 hours as we are. He was limited
by what? By distance. He cannot be in Nigeria
and be in Israel at the same time. So he was
limited by space and distance. While he was on
earth, he was even limited by knowledge. That
is why he had to learn the scriptures himself.
Amen? He grew in what? In wisdom. Luke 2 .52.
The Bible will say he grew in what? In wisdom.
He grew in stature and in favor with God and
with men. He grew in wisdom. Wisdom simply means
that he grew in education. We see oftentimes
Jesus in the temple learning scriptures, right?
Learning scriptures, asking questions and answering
questions. Let's look at Luke 52. So he was just
a normal child. circumcised like any other Jewish
kid, presented at a temple like any other Jewish
kid. Verse 41, chapter 2, verse 41, Luke 2, verse
41. His parents went to Jerusalem every year
at the feast of the Passover. And when he was
12 years old, they went up to Jerusalem according
to the custom of the feast. When they had finished
the days as they returned, the boy Jesus lingered
behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and his mother
did not know it. But supposing him to have been
in the company, they went a day's journey. And
sought him among their relatives and acquaintances.
So when they did not find him. They returned
to Jerusalem seeking him. Now it was that after
three days. They found him in the temple. What
was he doing in the temple? Sitting where? In
the midst of what? Of the teachers. Doing what?
Listening. Both listening to them. And what?
And asking questions. Jesus was not only listening.
He was listening and taking notes. And then he
was asking questions. Why was he asking questions?
At this point, to know. Hallelujah. To know.
So when they saw him, they were amazed. No, verse
47. And all who heard him were astonished. At
his understanding. And answers. He was a smart
kid. So when they saw him. They were amazed.
And his mother said to him. Son. Why have you
done this to us? Look. Your father and I have
sought out. I have sought you anxiously. And
he said to them. Why did you seek me? Did you
not know? That I must be. About my father's business.
But they did not understand. The statement which
he spoke to them. Then he went down with them.
Came to Nazareth. And was subject to them. That
means that he was. Under their authority. His
father and his mother. And all this. And then
his mother. Kept all these things in her heart.
And then we see Jesus Christ increase in wisdom,
in stature, and in favor with God and with men.
And let's even see in Mark chapter 6 where he
has other siblings. Mark chapter 6 verse 1 to
6. Then he went out from there and came to his
own country and his disciples followed him. And
when the Sabbath had come, he began to teach
in the synagogue. This is when he started ministry.
Many hearing him were astonished, saying, where
did this man get these things? And what wisdom
is this which is given to him that such mighty
works are performed by his hands? Is this not
the carpenter, which means that he had a normal
job? Huh? His father was a carpenter. He didn't
come down from heaven with a divine carpentry
skills. We can trace it to his father. Alright?
Which means that he learned how to work with
his hands. Is this not the carpenter? The son
of Mary and brother of who? James, Jesus has
siblings. James, Joseph, Judas, not Iscariot.
And Simon, of course, not Simon Peter. And not
his sisters here, which means that he has sisters
too. His sisters here with us. So they were offended
because they know him naturally. Right? They
know him. They know he can trace his family.
He can trace his siblings. They can trace his
origin, his human origin. Verse 4. But Jesus
said to them, a prophet is not without honor
except in his own country, among his own relatives
and his own house. Of course, these words were
predicted in the Old Testament. So, while on
earth, Jesus lived a perfect life without sin.
So in our expression, in our understanding of
his humanity, we will see that Jesus Christ was
a man. A complete man. We are trying to prove
that he was a man. All we've done is that we've
proved his humanity. Okay? We've proved his humanity.
But then in his humanity, He lived a perfect
life without sin. Alright? So in his humanity,
we must always put this as an important note
that he lived a perfect life without sin. Hebrews
chapter 4 verse 15 gives us this word. Hebrews
4 verse 15. For we do not have a high priest
who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses. How
can he sympathize with our weaknesses? That means
that he must have associated himself with us.
That means that he must have come to our level
and understand our humanity. He identifies with
us in his humanity. And him identifying with
us in his humanity, gives us the legal ground
to identify with him in his resurrection. Amen?
So, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize
with our weaknesses, but as in all points, tempted.
Of course, we can see his temptation. When he
was tempted by the serpent. At all points he
was tempted. As we are. Yet. Without what? Without
sin. So Jesus in his humanity. Did not sin. Amen.
He did not sin. He did not sin. He was sinless.
Because it takes. A perfect man. To die for our
sins. He was sinless. 1 Peter chapter 2 verse
22. 1 Peter 2 verse 22. It says who committed
no sin. No was deceit found in his mouth. Peter
here. Was making reference. To the prophecies
about Jesus Christ. Say who when he was reviled.
That means that when they spoke. Evil against
him. Right. Some of us. Our ear does not want
to hear any evil. Communication about us. We
have a reputation to keep. But look at him. Who
when he was reviled. Did not revile in return.
When he suffered, he did not threaten. He did
not threaten them with police. He did not threaten
them with legal actions. He didn't threaten them
with calling down fire or cutting the ear off.
As we see in Peter, he was not violent in nature,
but committed himself to him who judges righteously.
Who himself bore our sins in his own body on
the tree that we haven't died to sins might live
for righteousness by whose stripes you were healed.
So he was perfect. 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse
21. 2 Corinthians 5 verse 21. For he met him
who know no sin. Who is this person who knows
no sin? Jesus Christ. He has no association with
sin. So in explaining his humanity, we must trace
the idea of his perfection. Because he is not
a sinner. He has never sinned. For he made him
who knew no sin to be sin for us. Because in
the mind of the ungodly, If he said Jesus or
God became man, what you are saying is that man,
that God sinned. Amen? So we must be able to
what? Defend the character as scripture has expressed.
He knew no sin. He knew no sins. Give me the
text again. 521, 2 Corinthians 521. For he met
him who knew no sin to be what? To be sin. So
Jesus did not commit sin, but he became sin for
us. How did he become sin for us? Because our
transgressions were placed upon him. Alright?
Our sin as that of a lamb, alright, were placed
upon him. In the sacrifices that Moses instituted,
we will see that a lamb will be brought and then
they will put their hand on their head and they
will confess all the sins of the people on the
lamb. And they will do what? And they either
kill it or they release it into the wilderness
to go and die. Pointing to Jesus Christ, taking
away the sin of the people into the wilderness,
into where? you know, to go and then die. So
he knew no sin. He was a perfect being. But in
his perfection, he took our sins, he became sin.
That we might become what? That we might become
righteous. The righteousness of God in who? In
Christ. We have now become, we are not just righteous,
but we are what? We are actually we display the
righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. 1 John
3 verse 5. 1 John 3 verse 5. And you know that
he was manifested to take away our sins. And
in him, what? There is no sin. In who? In Jesus
Christ, there is no sin. So, when we say that
Jesus is God becoming man, we are not saying
that he sinned like any other man. No. In his
humanity, sin was not found in him. Amen? Even
the priest in the old... sacrifices we will see
before he goes to offer an offering. First of
all, he said that he offers an offering for himself,
right? He has to deal with his own sin first.
In fact, that is what makes his own sacrifice
and his own work not a permanent one. Because
he has to deal with his own sin because the high
priest has his own sins too. He has to offer
and purify himself. So that he can go into the
holies of holies and now what? Make atonement
for the people. And even in entering the holies
of holies, because of his imperfection, in case
he goes in there and his imperfection displays
and then something happens that he dies in there,
they tie a rope. Right? They tie a rope at his
back. So the high priest enters the holiest of
holies with a rope in case he makes a mistake
and then he falls down there and dies. Nobody
can enter there. Only the high priest. What will
they do? They will drag his dead body out because
he is not a perfect being. But we see a high
priest that is perfect in Jesus Christ. Hallelujah.
Who qualifies? to enter the holies of holies
and make atonement for us. We see a man in Jesus
Christ who embodies the perfection of God that
has the ability to redeem us completely. Not
like the one in the Old Testament sacrifices
where it is not a permanent one. Amen? So we
see in the works of Christ a permanent redemption.
A permanent atonement for the sins of men because
he is a perfect man. Amen? He is a perfect man.
Hallelujah. Glory to Jesus. So John gives us
an eyewitness account of this in Ephesians chapter
1. Even though, yes, he's giving us an eye -account
witness, but it's mixed with revelation. Amen?
John chapter 1, verse 1. Are we blessed? Yes,
this is how men are made. Hallelujah. When you
begin to feel tired, that's when the journey
gets tougher. That's when you are stretched.
Hallelujah. So, just know that this is a normal
way men are raised. Like soldiers, and they come
training. The training is not easy. But we know
that in the end, there is a result that will
come out, right? Men that are gallant. Men that
are sophisticated. Men that are equipped to face
the war front. Hallelujah. So, endure. Endure.
Don't give up. Don't say, ah, I'm tired. So,
I'll listen to the tape. No, listen now. We are
here. Alright? You know, we are not used to sitting
long. So I trust that God will help us that we'll
have the discipline of staying long in the world
so that our hearts will be transformed. Hallelujah.
John chapter 1, verse 1. We see John giving us
an account of what? Of this God becoming a man.
Of this God becoming a man. In the beginning.
Was the word. And the word was with God. And
the word was God. So Johnny here. Is explaining
to us. The divine. Nature of Jesus Christ. He
was in the beginning with God. All things were
made through him. The creation. And without him
nothing was made that was made. In him was life
and the life was a light of men. That's Genesis
1. And the light shines in the darkness and the
darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man
sent from God whose name was who? was John. So
John was writing and then mentioning John the
Baptist. He's not talking about himself here.
He's talking about John the Baptist. There was
a man and this man is who? You know, John the
beloved. He enjoys, he has a way of writing good
report about himself in his writings. If it was
him, he would have said that it is him here.
So it was very peculiar about who is here. We'll
see it later. This man came for a witness, to
bear witness of the light that all through him
might believe. He was not the light, that light.
Remember, he denied that he was not the Christ,
right? But he was the one crying in the wilderness.
So he was not that light but was sent to bear
witness of that light. That was the true light
which gives light to every man coming into the
world. He was in the world and the world was
made through him and the world did not know him.
He came to his own, that is the people of Israel,
and his own did not receive him. But as many
as received him, some Jewish people inclusive,
to them he gave the right to become what? The
children of God to those who believe in his name.
Who are born not of blood, Nor of the will of
the flesh. Nor of the will of man. But of God.
Then he went further to say. And the word. Which
was in the beginning. Became what? Became flesh.
And dwelled among us. And we beheld his glory.
The glory as of the only begotten of the father.
Full of grace and truth. John bore witness of
him. And cried out saying. This was he of whom
I said. He who comes after me. Is preferred before
me. For he was before me. And of his fullness.
We have all received. Grace for grace. For the
law was given through Moses, but grace and truth
came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God
at any time. The only begotten son who is in
the bosom, who is in the bosom of the father,
he has declared him. Hallelujah. So the word
bosom shows the union of the father and the son.
From the beginning. The father and the son is
one in union. One. Hallelujah. The father and
the son is one. Then we see in redemption Jesus
what? Coming in the form of man to do what? Die
for our sins. Hallelujah. So In Jesus Christ
dwells the fullness of God bodily, the Godhead
bodily. When he was on earth, he carries God.
God is in him, he is in God. There is a union
of God, the Father, and the Son. Colossians 2
verse 9. Colossians chapter 2 verse 9. For in
him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead. How?
Bodily, right? Bodily. God dwells in Christ bodily.
Hallelujah. So Paul will call this a mystery.
Okay? Paul will call this a mystery. 1 Timothy
3 .16 And without controversy, great is what?
The mystery of godliness. And he explained the
mystery. God was manifested in what? In the flesh.
Justified in the spirit. Seen by angels. Preached
among gentiles. Believed on in the world. And
received up in glory. Hallelujah. So his humanity
gave him the legal ground. To do the work of
redemption. Amen. His humanity. Gave him the
legal ground. To do the work of redemption. So
Jesus Christ while on earth. Who called God the
father. Called God father. He called God as a
father. Over 165 times. In the gospels. Let's
see some of the examples. Matthew 7 verse 21.
Not everyone who says to me. Lord, Lord shall
enter the kingdom of heaven. But he who does
the will of my father. My father in heaven. My
father in heaven. 11 verse 27. 11 verse 27. We
see where Jesus called God father. And the word
father is what? Source. Amen? The word father
means source. Where he is from. Source. All things
have been delivered to me by my father. And no
one knows his son except the father. Nor does
anyone know the Father except the Son. And the
one whom the Son wills to reveal him. So there's
a relationship, intricate relationship between
the Father and the Son. So there's no separation.
What we're trying to do is to show to you that
there's no separation between the Father and
the Son. Amen? When he was praying at Gethsemane,
Matthew 26, 39. Matthew 26, 39. He went a little
further and fell on his face and prayed saying,
oh my father, if this, if it is possible, let
this cup pass away from me. Nevertheless, not
as I will, but you. Nevertheless, not as I will,
but as you will. He called him father. John chapter
5, verse 17. John 5, 17. Jesus calling God father.
But Jesus answered them, my father has been walking
until now and I have been walking. The father
has been walking. Jesus has been walking. So
where has the father been walking? The father
has been walking through Jesus Christ. Hallelujah.
Let's look at verse 18. You see? So the Jews
understood what he said. And what did they do?
They sought all the more to kill him because
he not only broke the Sabbath, but also said
that God was his father, making himself what?
Equal. So they understood the meaning of what
he was saying. So they sought to kill him because
it is blasphemy. For them, for you to equate
yourself with God. This is blasphemy. That was
why Stephen died. Right? He called God his father.
Blasphemy. John 10, verse 30. John 10, verse
30. It's enormous evidence. We have to see. John
10, verse 30. I and my father are one. There's
no separation. There's a union of the father
and the son. I and my father are one. John 14,
6 and 7. John 14, 6 and 7. Jesus said to him,
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one
comes to the father except through me. Verse
7. If you had known me, you would have known
my father also. And from now on you know him
and have seen him. And from now on you know him
and have seen him. How did you know him? And
how have you seen him? Because you've seen me.
Because I and the father are one. Amen? So. Jesus
is an express image of the Father on earth. John
14. Let's read further. Let's read further down
to 11. Philip said to him, Lord, show us the
Father. And he's okay for us. This long grammar.
Just show us the father and we are okay. Jesus
said to him, have I been with you so long and
yet you have not known me, Philip? He who has
seen me, has what? Has seen the father. So how
can you say, show us the father? Do you not believe
that I am in the father and the father in me?
The word that I speak to you, I do not speak
on my own authority, but the Father who dwells
in me does the works. So, the idea of Jesus being
God is what must be believed. Amen? Believe me
that I am in the Father and the Father in me.
Or else, believe me, for the sake of the works
themselves. John 17, verse 1. The priestly prayer,
the Lord's prayer. John 17, verse 1. Jesus spoke
these words, lifted up his eyes to heaven and
said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify your
son. And your son may glorify you. Union between
God and God the son. Hallelujah. God the father
and God the son. An intricate relationship. A
union. So we can see that God the father and
God the son together. Walking. Alright. We also
see in scriptures where The three walk together
as one. We see Jesus Christ speaking about the
Holy Spirit in John chapter 14, verse 16. So,
we see his relationship with the Father, right?
One. And we see the Holy Spirit also. Let's look
at John chapter 14, verse 16. Remember the context
we are looking at is what? Is the context of
what? Redemption. You cannot explain this. Outside
redemption. Jesus has to become man. Why? Because
of sin. Primarily. That he will die. Right? And
that sin should be forgiven. Alright? What is
the result of the redemption? The result of the
redemption. That proves that we are forgiven.
Is what? Is the Holy Spirit. Where? In us. So,
Jesus will promise the Holy Spirit. John 14,
16, 17. And I will pray the Father and he will
give you another helper. Of course, Pastor, he
has explained this for us recently about this
helper. Right? And his teaching, he says, is
of the same kind. Right? Same. That he may abide
with you forever. The spirit of truth. Whom the
world cannot receive. Because. It neither sees
him. Nor knows him. But you know him. For he
dwells where? With you. Himself. And will be
where? In you. The Holy Ghost. Verse 26. Jump
to verse 26. But the helper, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name, he will
what? He will be sent in whose name? In my name.
What is his name? Huh? His accomplishment, right?
His death, his burial and resurrection. He will
teach you all things and bring to your remembrance.
All the things I have said to you. So the father
with his son walking together in the redemption
of man. In the redemption. In the redemption.
John 15, 26. John 15, 26. But when the helper
comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father.
Where is the Spirit coming from? Where is Jesus
from? From the Father. Where is the Spirit coming
from? Alright? One. Oneness. Union. Integrally.
Together. There is no division. But when the
helper comes, whom I shall send to you, what
will be the product of his? What will be the
condition for his coming? We've done this in
cell meeting. What is the condition for his coming?
Jesus what? Jesus going. Of course, he has to
die first and rise up from the dead. Then he
go. As long as he's on earth, the Holy Spirit
will not come. Alright? So it was necessary that
he goes. So he says, but when the helper comes,
whom I shall send to you from the Father, Not
from anywhere else. From the same source. From
where I came from. From the father. The spirit
of truth. Who proceeds from where? From the father.
He will testify of who? What is the testimony
of the spirit? Jesus. Amen. The testimony of
the spirit is what? Is Jesus. He will testify
of me. John 16 verse 7. Nevertheless, I tell
you the truth. It is to your advantage that I
go away. It is in your own good that I go away.
For if I do not go away, the helper will not
come to you. But if I depart, I will send him
to you. Jesus had to go because Jesus cannot
dwell in their hearts physically. Amen? Jesus,
because of his physical appearance, cannot dwell
in the hearts of everybody. But once he is gone,
the spirit can dwell all men. Hallelujah. So
it was important that he goes. That's it. And
when he has come, he will convict the world of
sin and of righteousness and judgment. Let's
go back to verse 13. Let's look at verse 13 and
14. Let's go back to verse 13 and 14. Yeah, I
mean further rather. However, when he, the spirit
of truth has come, he will do what? He will guide
you into all the truth. For he will not speak
on his own authority. Jesus says that the works
I do, right? Or the things I say, the teachings,
I don't do them on my own authority. But who
does them in me? The Father. Alright? Now, when
the Spirit comes, you see the relationship? The
spirit of truth has come. He will guide you into
all truth. For he will not speak on his own accord.
On his own authority. But whatever he hears.
He will what? He will speak. And he will tell
you things to come. He will glorify who? He will
glorify me. For he will take of what is mine.
And declare to you. Hallelujah. So the Holy Spirit
working together with Jesus, working together
with God the Father for one purpose. And what
is the purpose? Redemption of man. Amen? Redemption
of man. Redemption of man. There are some scriptures,
as I said earlier on, where we see Jesus It's
in the picture. God the Father in the picture.
The Holy Spirit in the picture. Confirming what
Jesus is doing. Let's look at one. Matthew 3,
16 -17. Matthew 3, 16 -17. When he had been baptized,
Jesus came up immediately from the water and
behold, amen, the heavens were opened, were opened
to him. And he saw the spirit of God descending,
that is John, right? Descending like a dove and
alighting, alighting upon him. So we see Jesus
in the picture, right? And we see the spirit.
And suddenly. A voice from heaven. Whose voice?
Saying. This is my what? My beloved son. In whom
I am well pleased. So we see the father. We see
the son. We see the spirit. For one purpose.
Redemption of man. Amen. Redemption of. And let's
look at the last one. 14. Chapter 14. John 14,
16, 17. We saw it earlier on. Let's look at it
again. John 14, 16, 17. You will see where the
spirit. And I will pray the father. Right? Where
will the spirit come from? He will pray who?
He will pray the father. Right? And he will give
you another helper that he may abide with you
forever. So Jesus asking from the Father for
who? For the Spirit. Amen? For what purpose?
For our sake. Hallelujah. For our sake. So outside
the context of the redemption, it becomes difficult
to understand. Why should God be? In fact, if
there was no redemption, would there be need
for Jesus to come? There would be no need for
Jesus. If not for redemption, would there? Okay,
let's say creation. I mean, we see the spirit
coming because of what? Because of us. Dwelling
because of us. So the revelation of God as the
son, the revelation of God as the spirit, right,
is for our sake. It's for our redemption. And
without redemption, then there will be no need.
There will be no need. So the father, we can
see there is the father in the Godhead. We can
see the son in the Godhead. And also the Holy
Spirit in the Godhead. All working as one. All
working as one. Not doing different work. No.
All working as one. So God the Father creates.
See this in scripture. He creates. Right? And
we see God the Son redeeming after sin. Right?
He redeems. And we see God the Holy Spirit regenerating.
And that is what he's doing now in us. Amen?
Transforming us. Conforming us. Changing us.
Making us. Today, God the Father, this is very
important as we close this session. God the Father,
God the Son, live in the person who believes.
Is it true? God the Father, God the Son, God
the Holy Spirit does what? Lives in the one who
believes through the Holy Spirit. He says, I
will come and make an abode in him. Right? And
when you believe, you become the temple where
the Godhead lives. He dwells in us. Jesus is
in you. He's in me. The Holy Ghost is in you.
He's in me. The Godhead is in you. God the Father
is in you. He's in me. So this is the mystery
explained. And this is what the apostles have
been explaining and writing. And even in the
explanation of marriage, marriage was used to
try to explain this as a union of Christ and
the church. Right? How we have become one. How
we've come into union. How we've become one family.
We are part of this family. Amen? Let's rise
on our feet. Let's rise on our feet. Let's just
appreciate God for this walk that Jesus had to
come. God had to become man for you and for me.
God had to become man for you and for me. Imagine
the hostility he suffered. I'm not just talking
about the abuses. I'm not just talking about
The physical things he suffered. I'm talking
about how he humbled himself and take up the
form of man. Jesus, who is God, taking up the
form of man. That is humility. That is humbling.
So let's just open our mind and just appreciate
God and appreciate God. As we go for break, let
us appreciate God. Appreciate God for the work
we see he has done in Christ Jesus. He has revealed
himself to us through Christ Jesus. Through Jesus
Christ, we see God. We see the plan of God. We
see the will of God. We see the works of God
through what Christ has done. Thank you, Jesus,
that we have the revelation. Of God in Christ
Jesus. That we see Jesus. Dying and. And giving
us a spirit. Living in us. Thank you Father for
this truth. Help us Lord to know more about this.
Help us Lord to walk in this reality. Thank you,
Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. share
it with a friend. Till next time, be blessed.