August 9, 2009
Morning Service

Last Sunday we discussed testimony to the Word of God, our Bible, and testimony to Almighty God, Jehovah.

Today we want to discuss testimony to Jesus of Nazareth, the very Son of God.

 

If you are like me you probably can’t remember the first time you heard the name Jesus.  Probably from your parents, or in a Church classroom.  You might even have heard it blurted out in anger, or contempt.

 

We get most of our testimonies concerning Jesus from our Bible, but there are others that have testified to what a wonderful, powerful person He was.

 

Thomas Jefferson, our 3^rd President “considered Jesus' teaching to be "the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man".   Testfying to what a wonderful teacher He was.

 

The Church Fathersof the early centuries further defined Jesus' identity as fully God.

The Church Fathers:  The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, or Fathers of the Church are the early and influential theologians and writers in the Christian Church, particularly those of the first five centuries of Christian history.

 

I first got interested in these writings when I would use my concordance.  The writers there would mention these different names, so I thought if they can have access to these writings they must be available to everyone, so I found them, and have really enjoyed what they had to say.

 

Ancient and medieval thinkers, such as Augustine of Hippo, further defined Jesus' divine and human natures.

 

From the writings of Flavius Josephus:  a Jew and Roman citizen who worked under the patronage of the Flavians, wrote the Antiquities of the Jews in 93 C.E.. In these works, Jesus is mentioned twice. The one directly concerning Jesus has come to be known as the Testimonium Flavianum, which says:

• About this time came Jesus, a wise man, if indeed it is appropriate to call him a man. For he was a performer of paradoxical feats, a teacher of people who accept the unusual with pleasure, and he won over many of the Jews and also many Greeks. He was the Christ. When Pilate, upon the accusation of the first men amongst us, condemned him to be crucified, those who had formerly loved him did not cease to follow him, for he appeared to them on the third day, living again, as the divine prophets foretold, along with a myriad of other marvellous things concerning him. And the tribe of the Christians, so named after him, has not disappeared to this day.

THE LIST OF CHRISTIANS TESTIFYING TO JESUS OF NAZARETH BEING THE CHRIST IS INEXAUSTABLE.  THEY ARE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, ALL COUNTRIES, AND ALL DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS IN CHRISTENDOM.

 

SO SINCE WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BELIEVE THE BIBLE, LET’S LOOK AT THE TESTIMONIES CONCERNING JESUS IN IT!

• WE READILY RECOGNIZE THAT THE FOUR GOSPELS ARE ACCOUNTS OF JESUS’S LIFE, AND DEEDS.
• AND THAT THE BOOK OF ACTS TELLS OF THE EARLY ACTS OF THE CHURCH, AND THE APOSTLES.

 

IMPORTANT SCRIPTURES TO REMEMBER:

1.       Ecc 12:12  And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 

2.      Joh 20:30  And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:  Joh 20:31  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. 

3.      Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

4.      Heb 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

5.      Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

 

THE FOUR GOSPELS:

Mat 1:18-25  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.  (19)  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.  (20)  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.  (21)  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.  (22)  Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,  (23)  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.  (24)  Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:  (25)  And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

 

Mar 1:6-11  And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;  (7)  And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.  (8)  I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.  (9)  And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.  (10)  And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:  (11)  And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

 

Luk 1:30-33  And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.  (31)  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.  (32)  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:  (33)  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Luk 2:21  And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

AND IN LUKE WE HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF SIMEON:  Luk 2:26-32  And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  (27)  And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,  (28)  Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,  (29)  Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:  (30)  For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,  (31)  Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;  (32)  A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

 

Joh 1:1-14  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  The same was in the beginning with God.  (3)  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  (4)  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  (5)  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.  (6)  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  (7)  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.  (8)  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.  (9)  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.  (10)  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.  (11)  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.  (12)  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  (13)  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  (14)  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

 

PAUL’S TESTIMONY CONCERNING JESUS:

• Act 9:5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
• In chapter 22 Paul testifies again to an angry mob.
• Then in chapter 26 Paul gives his testimony concerning Jesus to King Agrippa:  Act 26:15  And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

 

Is having a testimony important?  You bet.  Do I get tired of hearing Paul’s, or anyone else’s?  Absolutely not.

Come back this evening and share your testimony in how you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.