October 5
Jer 4:19-6:15 | PS 77:1-20 | Prov 24:23-25 | Col 1:18-2:7
People often prefer to relegate what is truth to the realm of opinion, and in so doing create their own distorted and false narrative. We would not allow that personally, why we feel it is okay to create our own Jesus apart from what Scripture clearly states is creating a Jesus apart from what is truth. My personal history is not up for public opinion. I was born in Brooklyn, I had parents who are verifiable (Matthew and Alberta), I had 4 siblings, was married at age 20 to Laurene, etc. These are the facts surrounding who I am and if anyone chose to state something differently, they would simply be wrong. Who Jesus is, is no different. Scripture clearly states the facts surrounding Him, so let's stop arguing in the realm of opinion. Some like to argue that Jesus was a great man, but was not God. This sounds open minded and almost sounds like they are giving Jesus some respect. But, Scripture does not allow this as an option. Some will state that He was the most powerful angel, but not God. This is also a false narrative and is not backed up by the authority of Scripture. Some state that He should be respected as a prophet, but not God. Some say that He was a god, and simply want to add Him into the pantheon of their other gods, but Jesus didn't allow this as an option. Some claim that He neither existed or we cannot really know, but history clearly shows that he did indeed exist, and Scripture reveals the truth of His existence. So, just Who is Jesus?
Though this question would take too much time to answer in a short post, let's read Colossians 1:15-20 for a glimpse of who Jesus is, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and what are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross." Some like to take the word "firstborn" out of context. In Greek, the word is "prototokos" which doesn't speak of chronology or his being created first. It is a term of position or preeminence. Interestingly in Scripture, both Jacob (Exodus 4:22), and Ephraim (Jeremiah 31:9) were referred to as firstborn, yet both had older brothers. With over 300 prophecies from the Old Testament fulfilled during Jesus' first coming with razor sharp accuracy, denying Jesus as the promised Messiah would require one to simply disregard history, the entire New Testament, circumstantial evidence, etc. That Jesus was tried and crucified for the crime of blasphemy, equating Himself to God, debunks those who state that Jesus never actually said that He was God. That Jesus stated in John 14:6, that He was the only way, truth, and life and that there were no other roads to the Father eliminates simply taking an add-on approach to Jesus. The facts surrounding the cross and the resurrection are indisputable (The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel does an excellent job of showing this). But Paul was aware of the distortions to the truth that were already starting 2000 years ago. He wrote in Colossians 2:4, 8-10, "Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words...Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power."
I know that most like to take the middle road. Most prefer not to polarize to one side or another. Most prefer to keep all their options open to be safest. But Jesus does not work that way. Placing your trust is a choice. It is also an exclusive choice. It doesn't allow us to add Him on to other choices. It doesn't allow us to either deny His deity or His humanity. This is not just a choice, but the most important choice in your life. More important than who to marry, whether or not to have children, where to live, what treatment to choose for your disease. This choice will determine your eternal destiny. If you have a lot of "opinions" about Jesus, why not instead do what I did so many years ago. I debunked my opinions by comparing them against the truth of the Bible. I studied the Bible and tested it as to how it stood against archaeology, history, science, etc. and came to the conclusion that the Bible is not simply a source but “The Source". Once this was done, my opinions simply seemed so foolish against the indisputable facts presented from Scripture. I was and am left with no other option but to praise God, to worship Jesus as my Lord and Savior, to place my life in His hands, to trust Him completely with my eternal destiny. When we get away from the realm of opinion, there simply is no other choice.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: