Classic Christianity – Bob George (12-18-18)
Bob George shares from the synoptic gospels, helping people have confidence in God’s word for truth, for the things written down for us were through eyewitnesses of Jesus Christ. The writers of the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, were men who have been with and have seen Jesus. When someone ponders over God’s word, great news is made known to man through the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ did something for man he could never do for himself. Amazingly, man must simply believe in what Jesus said he came to do and has now been accomplished. Jesus came to save mankind from his sins and man must simply believe in what God said he came to do and did. From reading the account from Luke, what can we learn about simple faith, comparing and contrasting the response of Zechariah to an angel’s announcement of the birth of John the Baptist with the response of Mary to an angel’s announcement of the birth of Jesus Christ? What implication can be drawn to Mary’s faith to us today in regards to the gospel message of salvation in Jesus completed work? What role does man play in regard to salvation? Who does all the initiation and the work for man’s salvation? How can a man be truly blessed of God?
John 1:12-13
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
Those who simply believed in his name were born into God’s family and were given the right to become children of God. John is not talking about being born again by mom and dad but being born again spiritually.
John 1:14
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The word was God and became flesh. If God was going to save mankind and wanted us to know him, not just about him, then I have to go there and become one of them. So God came and took upon human body and we know him by the name of Jesus. This was the first time anyone has seen God. He became flesh and blood so I can talk with him, eat with him, sleep with, so I can know him. I am going to come down to be with you so you can know God.
So what does it mean to know someone? I know about George H. W. Bush. I know a lot of things about a lot of people but I do not know them because I have never met him face to face. Jesus wanted us to know God, not about him but to know Him. Since I have never met George H. W. Bush, can I really say I know him? I was not even born when John F. Kennedy died and so what do I really know about John F. Kennedy. Only those things that have been written down concerning him could I even begin to know what happened, or that he was even assassinated. What would be reliable information? Would it not be through reports of those who were with him and knew him?
In John 1:14, John is referring to those (“we”) who saw Jesus, who were eyewitnesses. They saw his glory. They testified that he is full of grace and truth. Why would anyone in this century talk about Jesus and supersede the eyewitnesses? In other words, how accurate could my report be of Jesus if I never saw him yet I am going to write about him? And if I wrote things without even having access to reports of those who were eyewitnesses? These men who said these things concerning Jesus are eyewitnesses.
How many of you were alive on Dec 7, 1941? What was the news on that day? Pearl Harbor, a day when Japan attacked the United States of America. You can write a book and say there was no Pearl Harbor. So, Mr General, you were alive when that happened. What do you say? I was not there but I knew people who were there. So if someone says that did not happen, what would you say? Would you not say he is a liar? I would believe the testimony of eyewitnesses over someone living centuries after such events occurred. Eyewitnesses are a tough testimony to refute. The bible is not an opinion but an eyewitness account of those who have been with and have seen Jesus, who claimed to be God.
John 1:15
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”)
So what is John saying “He who comes after me was before me”? Jesus was not born physically before John but John was born 6 months before Jesus. We know this from Luke’s detailed account of the birth of John the Baptist and the birth of Jesus Christ. So John is really testifying that he knew about Jesus pre-existence!
John 1:16-17
16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God but the one and only has shown what God is like. Now I know what God is like. I know what God is like because I know what Jesus is like. I know Jesus is perfect love.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 8:37-39
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I know this because I know Jesus who told me that.
As one looks at Luke’s account, more details are recorded. Doctor Luke did a thorough investigation of the things that happened, recording down those things from those who were eyewitnesses.
Luke 1:1-4
1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
This is the first generation people, who were there when all that was prophesied was fulfilled. We saw the one who fulfilled them. He wanted to record these and write them down accurately for you. Luke further investigated this story, and wrote them accurately down for you. Luke will give Theophilis the details so he can have full confidence in these things.
Luke provides details into the birth of John the Baptist and the birth of Jesus Christ. Notice the difference between the faith of Zechariah and the faith of Mary. Both heard news of a birth of a special child but their responses were different. Zechariah responded in doubt and Mary responded in faith.
The account of the birth of John the Baptist is in Luke 1:5-25
Zechariah and Elizabeth are both old in years and an angel of the Lord appears to them and announces that a special child will be born through them. This child will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before birth, should not drink fermented drink, will come in the power of Elijah, and will make ready a people to receive the Lord, and his name will be John. Luke provides details even mentioning the emotion of fear in Zechariah after hearing the message from an angel of the Lord. “How can I be sure?” he asked. He is an old man and so is his wife, so it is a reasonable response. But Zechariah acted in doubt and not faith. He essentially asked, “How can you produce a baby when I cannot produce one?” The angel replied, “Because you would not believe my words, you will be silent, unable to speak”.
The account of the birth of Jesus Christ is in Luke 1:26-38
God sent an angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to announce to Mary concerning the birth of a very special child, who will be given the name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. The angel even told her that she alone would bear a child without having sexual relations with Joseph. That is, Jesus will be born of a virgin in fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy (Isaiah 7:14), and indeed he would be called the Son of God, from the line of David (Psalm 132:11), in fulfillment of Messianic prophecy, a kingdom that will have no end (Isaiah 9:6-7). The angel spoke to her by saying, “Greetings you who are richly blessed”. It is not recorded that Mary is afraid, but troubled by what the angel said. The angel said to her, “The Lord is with you.” Mary replied, “What do you mean”? A wonderment is in her response, and not one of doubt. For who has ever heard of a baby being born without sexual relations. She was not doubting, but just wondering.”
Think about this. She, a young teenager, is away visiting her cousin Elizabeth and then has to come back and tell Joseph that she is going to bear a child! Will Joseph believe her report that the baby is to be born of the Holy Spirit, without having any sexual relations with any man?
The account of Mary’s visit with Elizabeth is in Luke 1:39-45
Elizabeth, pregnant with John the Baptist, is filled with the Holy Spirit upon hearing Mary’s greeting. The Holy Spirit is prophetically speaking through her, confirming that John the Baptist is filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth. For when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby leaped for joy. Elizabeth said, “blessed is the child you will bear. You are so blessed for believed what the Lord said to you will happen.”
What can be spiritually discerned from these accounts from Luke?
If you want to be blessed, you are not going to be blessed by what you do but by what you believe. God initiated all things for you. He did not consult with man. He did not consult at creation. He did not consult at salvation. He just did it. We are blessed when we simply believe what he said and what he did (recall John 1:12-13). Zechariah doubted the angel of the Lord but Mary believed. Zechariah was thinking in terms of what he needed to do, being an old man, and how to produce a child. Mary simply believed that what the angel said would happen would happen just as the angel told her.
So then what are the implications of believing in Jesus finished work today? Have you simply believed in what Jesus accomplished for you in his death, burial, and resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)? Having believed that unto salvation, what do I need?
2 Peter 1:3
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
I, as a child of God, born again spiritually, have already been given everything for life and godliness. So what do I need? I do not need anything. When you understand this truth, it will destroy the way you have been praying. You will spend more time praising God for what you have than asking him for what you already have. Asking God for something you already have is a repudiation of faith. I do not care who is teaching that or how big the church is that is teaching that, you are teaching a lie when you are asking God to forgive you for what you already have. That is not teaching people how to walk by faith. I do not care how many people are doing that. Does a popularity contest supersede the word of God? No! God wants us to walk by faith. You are blessed when believing what God says will happen. Self righteous people think they are going to be involved in the action.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
If walk by faith then believe God for what He said. Jesus said at the cross “it is finished”.
John 19:30
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Jesus accomplished what he needed to accomplish to give salvation for man. The only way you and I are to be pleasing to God is walking by faith in what God has promised and what God said has happened. If someone says “I do not believe in the virgin birth” then he does not believe in the bible. If someone says “I do not believe Jesus is God” then he is not a Christian.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus is man born of virgin, walked on the earth for approximately 33 years, walked in perfect love, fulfilling all the law that you and I could not fulfill. Having fulfilled all the law, he died for you and me. Taking away your sins forever. That sure sounds like giving a license to sin but it is not. Indeed, all sins were taken away at the cross. No man will ever go to hell because of his sins. Is that good news? That is great news! Is there any better news? Your sins have been taken away in the eyes of God. You should be jumping up and down with enthusiasm. Sins are what keep you fearful of death.
Hebrews 2:14-15
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Death has a hold on you if don’t understand that. Did Jesus go to the presence of God with all sins hanging on me? No! So do you go confess them and get rid of them? No. What if I forgot one? a bunch of them? With those kinds of questions you will have no peace with God, yet such things are taught everywhere. You will never have peace of God with that false theology. You are blessed to believe what Jesus said has happened, that the work He alone did is finished for securing my salvation in Him. I am a forgiven person is part of your identity. If you are not capable of being forgiven then there is no certainty of such an identity of being a forgiven person, for that means you may or may not have sins forgiven with that faulty thinking. For those who simply believe in Jesus work for you, your true identity is you are a forgiven person. You are born again as a child of God.
As a child of God, you can go boldly to the throne of grace.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
A summary of who Jesus is and what he accomplished for you and me is in the letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Colosse.
Colossians 1:12-19
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell;
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