Introduction:  Jesus asked His disciples the questions, “Who do men say that I am?” and “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:13, 15).  These are questions that each of us must answer.  In fact, they are the most important questions in the world because Christianity is about the person and work of Christ.  Christianity is not ultimately a religious system, a list of rules, a set of doctrines, or even a plan of salvation.  At its core and essence, the Christian faith is about trusting and following the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.  The Apostle Paul wrote, “I know whom [not what] I have believed” (2 Timothy 1:12).  Paul also referred to Jesus as “Christ in you, the hope of glory” and said, “Him we preach” (Colossians 1:27-28).

I.  The Person of Christ (v. 1-5):

1. His Nature-Jesus is God.
2. The Characteristics of His Deity-He is:

A.  Eternal and Timeless.  John 1:1a says, “In the beginning was the Word.”  “Was” [en in Greek] is a verb in the imperfect tense which indicates continuing action in past time, which means that Jesus has no beginning.  He is the eternal God, “the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End…who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).  This means that He is all-knowing and all-powerful, and thus, in control.  He can be trusted.

B.  In an Intimate Relationship With God the Father.  The phrase, “and the Word was with God,” literally means they were “face to face” with one another.  Jesus said, “At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you” (John 14:20).  This explains our relationship with God and our need for relationships with others.

C.  Fully God.  The last phrase of verse 1 could literally be translated, “God was the Word.”  Colossians 2:9 says, “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”  Jesus is not a god, a lesser god, godlike, a part of God, partially God-but He is God, fully and completely.   Furthermore, this is not just abstract theology either because Colossians 2:10 tells us that we “are complete in Him who is the head of all principality and power.”

D.  The Uncreated Creator.  Colossians 1:16 says, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” [see also Acts 17:25-28].

E.  Life and Light.  Jesus is the only giver of physical, spiritual, and eternal life.

F.  God Incarnate who Humbled Himself to Come into the World (see Philippians 2:5-11).  Jesus is God who became a man!  He left the glory of heaven for the suffering of this earth!  Therefore, He can relate to us in our difficulties (Hebrews 4:14-16).

 

II.  The Purpose of His Coming (v. 6-13):  Jesus Christ, God Incarnate, came into the world in order to save us from our sins and make us children of God.  He is “our great God and Savior Jesus
Christ” (Titus 2:13).  Jesus could not have died for the sins of the world unless He is God because another person could give his life to save one of us physically (but obviously only one of us), but no human being can atone for another’s person’s sins.  Therefore, the person and work of Christ are inextricably woven together.

III.  The Personal Choice (v. 10-13):  The question of “Who is Jesus” is not an idle, intellectual exercise.  It is a decidedly personal choice that each of us must make.  The choice is to reject or receive Jesus.  We receive Jesus by faith in order to become a child of God.  That is the only way to be saved.  It is the work of God-not our works.  What is your choice?  Who do you believe that He is?  Have you received Him or are you rejecting Him?