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I. INTRODUCTION
Have you really ever considered the incredible claims that the Bible makes about this man Jesus of Nazareth? What makes Him different from Buddha or Mohammed? Is He different or is He just one of many "good" religious men throughout history?
In this lesson you will discover what the Bible claims about this man so that you will be better prepared to make an objective decision of whether or not to be one of His followers.
II. JESUS WAS AN ACTUAL HISTORICAL FIGURE
A.Luke 3:1-2; 21
Jesus is placed in an actual historical setting along with Roman officials like Herod, Pontius Pilate, and Caesar. Can you think of any mythological or fairy tale characters who have actual historical settings? (like Cinderella...once upon a time in a far away
land)______________
III. JESUS EXISTED IN THE BEGINNING
A.John 1:1-2; 14-18
Did the "Word" exist in the beginning (Genesis 1:1)?____________
Who is the "Word" in this passage?_______________
If Jesus is the "Word" and the Word was in the beginning, does the Bible claim that Jesus (The Word) was in the beginning when the world began?_________
B.John 8:56-58
When Jesus made this statement, Abraham had been dead for over 1,000 years already.
Did Jesus claim that He was before Abraham?_______________
Can you think of any other religious leaders who claim to have existed from before the beginning of time and the creation?_____________
NOTE: Jesus either lied, or was a lunatic, or made a true statement. However, He can't be a good man and be a liar or a crazy man at the same time.
IV. JESUS IS THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE WHO
BECAME FLESH
A.John 1:1, 14
Does the Bible claim that Jesus (the Word) is God?_____________
Does the Bible claim that God (the Word) became flesh (a man)?___
B.John 5:18
Was it the Jews understanding that Jesus claimed to be God?_____
What was their reaction to His claim?_______________
C.John 10:30-33
What did the Jews want to do to Jesus for claiming to be God?_____
D.Hebrews 1:4-8
Did God ever call an angel His son?_______________
In verse 8, what does God the Father call Jesus? "Your throne O ___________will last for ever."
V. JESUS IS THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS GOD
A.Matthew 11:27
Does anyone know the Father except the Son?_______________
B.John 7:29
Why did Jesus claim that He knew the Father?_______________
C.John 8:23; 16:28
Did Jesus claim to be from another realm?_______________
VI. JESUS CAME TO REVEAL THE FATHER TO MANKIND
A.John 1:1-4; 14-18
Jesus (the Word) became flesh. From verse 18, He became a man to make ___________known.
B.Hebrews 1:1-3
Does this passage teach that Jesus is the EXACT replica of God?__________
C.John 14:7-9
Jesus said that he who has seen Him has seen whom?___________
VII. JESUS CREATED AND SUSTAINS THE UNIVERSE
A.Colossians 1:16-18
Does this passage teach that Jesus created both the visible and invisible things?____________
Does this passage teach that all things were created FOR Jesus?_______
Does this passage teach that Jesus holds all things together (consist)?________
B.Mark 1:27; 5:1-13
As the Creator of the spirit world, does Jesus have authority over demons?______________
What did the demons call Jesus? __________________________
C.Matthew 8:23-27
Does this passage teach that Jesus has authority over the physical elements?______________
VIII. JESUS' DEATH CAN PAY FOR ALL SIN
A.Romans 3:23; 6:23
How many people have sinned? _______________Have you?________(see 1 John 1:8)
What penalty does a single sin have?________________(death = capital punishment)
B.Assuming that you started knowingly sinning at age 10. Could you do three small sins a day?_______________
Over a period of one year, how many sins would you commit at three per day?_______________
How many sins have you committed since you were ten? (approximately)_____________
Would a Judge consider us criminals if we commit _______________crimes?
C.Ephesians 2:8-9
Can you earn your salvation by being good enough?_______________
How many good works would it take to make up for our past sins?______
D.Assume a person killed millions of people like Hitler did. A trial is held and the judge says "guilty, $50 fine. Next case please."
Did that judge do an injustice to the dignity of the law?____________
If God is a just God, can He overlook thousands of capital crimes that you have committed against His law without Himself becoming unjust? (Romans 1:18)_______________
E.Romans 5:8-10
Does this passage teach that Jesus died FOR sinners?_________
Did Jesus' death give us the opportunity for pardon for our crimes (sins)?_______________
NOTE: Justified means "just as if I'd never sinned", Reconciled means "to become friends again".
F.1 Timothy 2:5
A mediator is a "go between", a reconciler. How many mediators does God accept?________
Who is the one mediator? The _____________________________
If God only accepts one mediator, are Buddha, Mohammed, Mary, the Pope, the saints, Joseph Smith, or the apostles acceptable mediators according to this verse?______________ (see John 14:6, Acts 4:12)
IX. JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND IS ALIVE TODAY
A.Matthew 28:1-10, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
Do these passages claim that Jesus rose from the dead?_________
Was He seen by many people after He rose?_______________
Can you think of any other religious leaders who claim to rise from the dead?_____________
B.1 Corinthians 15:17-19
What would happen if Jesus really did not rise from the dead?_______________
(NOTE: We'll look at some evidences for the resurrection in
another study)
X. JESUS WILL BE THE JUDGE OF THE ENTIRE WORLD
A.John 12:48
Did Jesus say that those who reject Him and do not receive His word would be judged (condemned)?_______________
B.2 Corinthians 5:10
Does this passage teach that we must all stand before Christ's judgment throne?____________
C.Acts 10:42
Will both the living and the dead be judged?_______________
XI. CONCLUSION
A.As you can see, the Bible makes some incredible claims about Jesus. It claims that He is eternal (from before the beginning of time), that He is God in the flesh, that He created and holds the universe together, and that His death is able to pay for the sins of all men for all time. The Bible also claims that He will be the judge of the world and that every human being will stand before Him and give account of their lives and the sins for which they are guilty.
B.There are "terms of pardon" or certain conditions that must be met in order to receive the forgiveness of sin and the free gift of God. We will examine those terms of pardon in a later study.
C.The Bible claims that Jesus rose from the dead after having been dead for three days. This event, as you will see, is the crux of the matter. Did He really rise again, or is He like other religious leaders of the past still dead in the grave?
D.If He is still in the grave, then all of His claims, and the Bible's is false. If, however, there is sufficient evidence to show that He is alive and did rise from the dead, then His claims are true.
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