RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-02-24	Who Is Jesus?
		It is common for people to ask the question, “Does God exist?.” Very few will ask whether Jesus Christ existed. It is generally accepted that Jesus was a man who walked on the earth about 2,000 years ago in the land of Israel. Where the debate comes in concerns the full identity of Jesus. Nearly every major religion teaches that Jesus was a prophet, a godly man, and a teacher. These descriptions of Jesus actually do not help much to explain who Jesus is. When someone says He was a godly man or a great moral teacher they run into a logical contradiction if that is the extent of their description. You see Jesus said things about Himself that go way beyond what a mere moral teacher would say. What Scripture says about Jesus is that He was God (Jn.1:1, 14). What Jesus said about Himself is that He was God. Not directly but in His deeds and teaching. Jesus pardons sin in His own name (Mt.9:1-3). Jesus applies to Himself the personal name of God, “I Am” (Jn.10:24-31). Many called Jesus by the title “Son of God” and He never rebukes them (Mt.14:33; Jn.1:49; 11:27). In fact Jesus approves of this title (Mt.16:16; Jn.6:69). Scriptures teaches He is the only Son of the Father (Jn.1:14, 18; 3:16, 18). Thomas called Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” (Jn.20:28). This list goes on and on. Now what Jesus said concerning Himself challenges us to see Him as more than a mere moral teacher (Jn.14:6). Joh 14:6  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Who would say something like this if He was a mere man? The only way to God is through Him! He is either man and God at the same time or He is a mad man or lunatic. He would not be a moral teacher at all unless it was true. He would be a false prophet if He was a mere man. When people say He was a good moral teacher but do not accept all His claims, they embrace a contradiction. He is God, Savior, and Lord of all, of He is a liar. You must choose! Unbelieving liberal theologians today will say Jesus did not say the words we read in Scripture. They would say He was a historical person who was nothing more than a good and moral teacher. One of many ways to God. The problem is that Jesus does NOT give man the option to believe that. If Jesus was not God, and only a mere man, His death on the cross would not have been sufficient to pay the penalty for the sins of the world (1Jn.2:2). Jesus had to be God so that He could pay our debt. Jesus had to be man so He could die. Jesus’ deity is why He is the only way of salvation. Jesus' deity is why He could proclaim, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn.14:6). You may believe lots of things about Jesus, but know this “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Ac.4:12). Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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