Christianity 101

September 22, 2024

Colossians 1:21-23 (NIV)

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

The Gospel made simple

Colossians 1:15–20 (NIV)

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Three words about who Jesus is:

1.  Image – Icon (manifestation or likeness)

2.  Firstborn – Supremacy of Rank (first in line, before all else)

3.  Fullness – Completeness (not lacking anything, sum of)

Who did Christ claim to be:

A.  Equal with God

John 5:18 (NIV)

18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

John 10:31–33 (NIV)

31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

John 14:6–9 (NIV)

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Other verses John 8:58-59; 12:45; 16:15 & 17:11-22

B.  The voice of God

Matthew 5:17 (NIV)

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Matthew 5:21–22 (NIV)

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister, will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Matthew 5:27–28 (NIV)

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’  28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.   

(Verse 31-32; 33-34; 38-39; 43-44)

Mark 13:31 (NIV)

31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Other verses John 6:63: 14:24; 8:51 & 14:23

“I tell you” over and over

C.  Authority over all things

Matthew 8:27 (NIV)

27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Matthew 28:18 (NIV)

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Mark 1:27 (NIV)

27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.”

John 5:27 (NIV)

27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

D. Able to judge you for eternity

Matthew 7:21–23 (NIV)

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Luke 12:8–9 (NIV)

8 “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. 9 But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God.

John 3:17 (NIV)

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Other verses John 5:22-27; 6:40; 8:12; 10:7-21; 14:6

E.  Able to forgive sins

Mark 2:5–11 (NIV)

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”

Two proofs:

1.  The early Church’s belief and response.

2.  Why was Jesus killed.

What did Christ claim to do:

He reconciled us – made right

The claims of Christ (The Gospel) demands that we make a choice!