(Disclaimer: This transcript is auto-generated and may contain mistakes.)

My Zealand's bar, as thou hast died for me, O, may my love to thee, more warm and changeless, be a living far. Thou life's dark bees I tread, and griefs all round me spread, be thou my God. May darkness turn to thee, wipe sorrow's tears away, nor let me ever stray from thee outside. When life's dragons dream, when death's cold solvents dream, shall our hero, the Saviour there in love, fear and distrust removed, all bear me safe above a ransom's soul. The foundation of God's stand is sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his, and let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 2 Timothy 2.19 Great scripture there. And on the inside we have our service times, 10.30 a.m. for our morning service. Sunday evening service tonight, 3.30 p.m., we'll be in Joshua chapter 9. Our Thursday Bible study, 6.30 p.m., and we'll be in 1 Chronicles 19. I'll finish off chapter 19 this Thursday. And then sowing times is listed below. We'll have sowing today at 1 p.m. Just meet here in the auditorium or the sanctuary, whatever you want to call it, and we'll head out sowing. And it's a nice day today, so it's a good time to go, but make sure you wear your mittens and your earmuffs and your hats or whatever. We went out sowing yesterday. We had 12 salvations out in about two and a half, three hours, so it was very fruitful. Not the doors I knocked, of course, but me and Jesse got the dud doors. Everybody else is just catching fish after fish, but somebody's got to knock the bad doors. But we got our exercise program in yesterday, so that was nice. But it was a beautiful day outside, and it looks like it's going to be the same today. But it is very cold, so just make sure you bundle up when you're out there. It should be a little bit warmer than it was this morning, though, so that'll be nice. And if you're just going to meet on location, the map is already in the WhatsApp group. If you're a first-time visitor, thanks for being here this morning. We do have a couple gift packages on the way out. Just grab one of those bags on the way out next to the door, and we just want to thank you for being a first-time guest here. Also, the praise report, you can see the salvations, baptisms. We have none so far this year, but we're hoping to change that at some point. And the attendance from last week. We have a lot of people out sick. We have people at weddings. Adam Ritchie, one of our former church members, got married yesterday to Emily. And so if you didn't get a chance to see the wedding, it's on the Verity Rumble page, the only page you're allowed to have. Well, at least they're not allowed to be on YouTube, but it's streamed on there if you want to watch it. And so what else we got? The New Testament challenge, if you've been in that, stick with it. You're almost there to the finish line, and you should be halfway through it by now or over halfway through it. So there will be a special prize for each person that finishes. Just make sure to email me and let me know you finished. And then February 1st and 2nd will be the one-year anniversary for SFBC Indy. We have a special event coming up there. And there will be a soul winning time on Saturday. We're going to meet at the church building at 930. And then head out at 10 for soul winning from 10 to 1230. 1230, there will be a lunch provided. And I think it will be Chipotle. And then there will be a bowling from 2 to 5 p.m. We rented out a bowling alley. So anybody that wants to go to the bowling does need RSVP so we just know how many people we have. And then I'll be preaching an ordination sermon for Brother Justin Zong who will be ordained as the evangelist there. And in the afternoon we'll have Pastor Jim Weeb preaching. And I'll preach, we'll preach two short sermons instead of me preaching one super long one. Maybe just him preaching a shorter sermon and me preaching a regular sermon. I was kidding. Hopefully I'm kidding. I don't know. I'll preach as long as I want. I'm the pastor. So how about that? Anyway, May 15th. In between there, there's going to be Mother's Day and probably some other stuff. But oh yeah, the Sweetheart Banquet. February 15th is the Sweetheart Banquet for married couples only. And Pastor Weeb will be preaching at that. We're going to play the Not So Newlywed game. And we're going to have a Western theme. So feel free to dress up Western but make sure you stay classy, alright? And yeah, so we'll have a good time. We'll eat some good food and all that. And May 15th through 18th is the KJV Conference. We'll have Pastor Shelley, Pastor Mahina, Pastor Anderson. I'll be preaching there. We'll also have a lot of guests coming in from out of town. So if you want to help with the conference anyway, we definitely could use some help. So I think that's... Oh yeah, I added the Soul Winning... The Chicago Soul Winning Marathon is going to be June 28th. So anybody that wanted to go back to Chicago, the Indy Church is going to be running that. So it just says one date there. But I'm guessing that's probably going to be a weekend thing. So if you're wanting to do that, please get in touch with Brother Justin. And the Detroit Soul Winning Marathon, I think Brandon Pringle is running that. So if you're wanting to go to Detroit, he is putting on a Soul Winning Marathon there. It might be his pastor. I'm not exactly sure. I haven't looked at the details yet, but I just was going off of what Brother Justin gave me this thing of his events. There's other stuff, but I just didn't have room to put in there. So anyway, we're family integrated. That means the children and infants are welcome during the church services. Please utilize those rooms for your convenience. The other rules are on the page there if you want to look through them. And then the ties that have come in so far, how to give externally is also there. And then this week's birthdays are mine on Friday and Miss Jessica Harrington. Mrs. Jessica Harrington, she's not here, so there's no need to sing happy birthday. All right, let's move on with the service. I would have bailed you out if you didn't want to sing happy birthday. Next time is 174, my Jesus, I love thee. 174. On the first. My Jesus, I love thee. I know thou art mine. For thee, O the fullness of sin, I resign. My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou. If ever I love thee, my Jesus is now. I love thee because thou hast first offered me. And purchased thy pardon on Calvary's tree. I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow. If ever I love thee, my Jesus is now. I love thee in thy eye, will love thee in death. And praise thee as long as thou endest me. And say when the devil lies cold on thy brow. If ever I love thee, my Jesus is now. In mentions of glory and endless delight. I'll ever adore thee in heaven so bright. I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow. If ever I love thee, my Jesus is now. Amen. Good singing. This time we'll collect the offering. I'm a little shocked. I'm a little shocked. John 1, the Bible reads, In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness to bear witness of the light that all men through him might believe. He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light. That was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 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, which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 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. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake. He that cometh after me is preferred before me, for he was before me. And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed and denied not, but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou, that we may give an answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water, but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not, he it is who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose shoes latch it, I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara, beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me, for he was before me. And I knew him not, but that he should be made manifest to Israel. Therefore, am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not, but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see, the Spirit descending and remaining on him, the same as he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost. And I saw on bare record that this is the Son of God. Again the next day, after John stood, and two of his disciples, and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God. And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, which is to say, being interpreted, Master, where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother, Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiahs, which is being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jonah, thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation a stone. The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith unto him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile. Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the son of God, thou art the king of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believeth thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these. And he said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. Brother Eli, can you repeat the sermon? Amen. All right. Well, I'm preaching the second in my foundation series. Again, I'm not sure how many sermons I'm going to preach out of this, but last week I preached about the Trinity, and why am I preaching the foundation series? Because there's certain doctrines that are foundational to our faith, and if you don't believe these foundational doctrines, then you're in deep trouble because if you don't believe the Trinity, you're not saved. If you don't believe in the deity of Christ, you're not saved. If someone says that they believe in God but they don't believe that Jesus is God himself also, then how can they be saved if they don't believe the truth? So you would say, well, all you have to do is believe in Jesus. Yeah, but you have to believe in the right Jesus. It's not the long-haired hippie Jesus that wears a dress that you have to believe in. It's the Jesus of the Bible. And so my sermon this morning is the deity of Jesus Christ. And last week I proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that all three members of the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are God. But I want to specifically just zone in on the deity of Christ itself because a lot of people will go to the door and say, do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? They'll say yes. The Bible obviously says that. And they'll say, well, do you believe he is God? And some people will say no. They'll say, I just believe he's the Son of God, but he's not God. But the Bible does clearly teach that he is God. And like I said, it's a foundational truth. People do need to believe that. And we do believe that he was a man, of course, but we also believe he was God manifest in the flesh. He's the Son of God. He's the second person in the Godhead, the Trinity. And we don't believe that he was part man and part God, like he's 50-50 or something. But he's 100% man, yet 100% God also. You're like, well, how's that possible? Well, it's possible because his DNA, basically, is God and man at the same time. And through God, all things are possible. How's it possible? Well, through God, all things are possible. His Father is God. It's not possible for any of us to have their Father biologically to be God. Jesus Christ is the only begotten of the Father. But we can be sons of God through faith, daughters of God through faith, but we cannot have the essence or the deity of God himself through being begotten because Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. So, the Bible in Genesis 3 prophesies of a Messiah or Deliverer being born that would take away sin. He would crush the serpent's head. And, of course, this is talking about Jesus. He is the Christ, and that means Messiah. I'll show you that later on in the passage. But, number one this morning, Jesus is God because the Bible clearly states that he is. You know, people say, well, where does the Bible say that Jesus is God? Well, how about John 1-1, right where we're at? It says, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Well, that doesn't say it's Jesus. Well, Jesus is the Word of God, okay? He is the Word because look at verse number 14. It says, 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. Now, in this passage, John sees Jesus, and it says he saw Jesus, and he says, behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world. So, when he mentions Jesus as the one that it's talking about, Jesus is the context of who the Word of God is. The Word is Jesus Christ. He's the one that becomes flesh and dwells among them. So, and this is why the Jehovah's false witnesses had to change their false Bible versions to say in John 1-1 that he was a God. They put the word a, where it says Jesus, it says the Word was God. They said the Word was a God, and they put a small g, as in he's a God, like small g. That's the only Bible version that I know of that makes that say that. They had to do that because they don't believe that Jesus is God. They think he's Michael the archangel. Even though, in Hebrews, it clearly says that he never called any angel his son. But yet, people will say, oh, the Nephilim came and had marriages with human women, and then they had these giant babies or whatever, and they were these giants in the earth, and somehow, even though the flood destroyed them all, we still have them today somewhere. They're hiding. They're actually laying down, and that's what the mountains are and stuff, all this weird doctrine. But anyway, so the Jehovah's false witnesses, they adamantly deny that Jesus is God. But their own scriptures that they use to proclaim that they are the witnesses of Jehovah lie against what their beliefs are in the first place, and I'll show you that later also. But the Bible specifically says that Jesus is God. Let's look at a couple other verses here. Let's look at 1 Timothy 3.16. This is a doctrinal sermon, so we're gonna look at a lot of scripture here this morning. 1 Timothy 3.16, turn to 1 Timothy 3.16. They're like, where else does it say that Jesus is God? And these Muslim apologists will say, where did Jesus ever say he was the son of God? I'll show you that verse later also, but let's just look at some verses that clearly state that Jesus was God. 1 Timothy 3.16, it says, and without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh. Who is that talking about? It's talking about Jesus. God was manifest in the flesh. He appeared in the flesh. The word was made, in John 1.14, it says the word was made flesh. So we got two verses there. And now turn to Hebrews chapter 1, verse number 8. Hebrews chapter 1, verse number 8. There's so much scripture that I won't even have a chance to get to today that just mounds of evidence that Jesus Christ is God. But Hebrews 1.8, you're like, well, I don't understand how there's the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost. We'll see my sermon from last week. But also, it says great is the mystery of godliness. We're not going to be able to fully wrap our minds around it, I don't think, until we fully understand and we're able to see God face to face and we're able to go to heaven and be able to ask some of these questions probably, until we actually have the full mind of Christ. Maybe we'll never know. Maybe that's just a secret he's never going to tell us, I don't know. But I think that we will know at some point, but right now we don't have to understand, we just have to believe what the word of God says. Because the word of God is the sole authority in our lives. This is what we base all of our truth on. Now it's not the only truth we have in our lives, but it is the main source of truth. We know we can depend on this. We don't know we can depend on all of what science teaches us. Because science is real. Science is trustworthy to a certain extent until they start having their big bang theory. And their billions of years. And that we came from monkeys and all this other stuff. It's like, show me where that happens in science. Show me where the big bang actually happened. And then they'll say, well this telescope can go back all, no it can't. No it can't. That's garbage. Anyway, let's look at Hebrews chapter one verse eight, it says, But unto the Son, he saith, But unto the Son, he saith, Thy throne, O God. So, who's this talking here? The Father. But unto the Son, he's talking to the Son here and he says, Thy throne, O God. So who's, God the Father is calling the Son, God here. You see that? Under the throne, excuse me, But unto the Son, he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever. A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. So it sounds like he has a kingdom too, doesn't he? The Son. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity. Therefore, God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. So, the Holy Spirit was given to Christ without any limitations. So, that's what this is talking about at the end of the verse. But, here's God the Father calling God the Son, God. So, you know, you're like, well how does that work? Well, it just does. It's just him calling him, he's calling God the Son, God. So, it's just a clear scripture. Philippians chapter two, verse five. Philippians chapter two, verse five. Philippians chapter two, verse five. The Bible says, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. So, you know, the modern versions will say some weird stuff with this verse too. They'll say, thought it, I forget what they say, but they say some weird stuff with this verse. But it says, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. So, this is Jesus Christ saying, when he was in the form of God, he's saying he is equal with God, right? He said it's not robbery to be equal with God. But it says, but made him of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant. So, when Christ came, what form did he take? He took upon himself the form of a servant, and it says, and was made in the likeness of men. So, when he was born in Bethlehem's manger, he took on the form of a man, the man child, right? And he still had to be born. He was raised as a child and grew up as a young boy and became a teenager. And, you know, but he was born without sin. That's the difference. So, but he was in a form of, you know, he was, he's always been. He's always will be, but there was a time when he was born into our world as a man. It says, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. So, if he wasn't God, would God the Father just allow people to bow their knee to him? No, he wouldn't. Things in the earth, things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus Christ is Lord. Not a Lord, not a God with a small g. He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So, he is Lord, every knee should bow to him, his name is greater than all names given, and that is the name that we are supposed to call upon for salvation. We teach our soul winners when they pray, the sinner's prayer with somebody, when they call upon the name of the Lord, we say, when we help them pray, we say, Dear Jesus. We don't say, Dear Heavenly Father, not that he's not dear, not that he's not the Heavenly Father, but what's the name that they're supposed to be saved by? The name is Jesus. The name here says that every knee should bow, the name of Jesus is above all names. I'll show you that verse later on. So, the first point is that Jesus is God because the Bible says so. I showed you some clear verses there that the Bible says that Jesus is God. That God calls him that, the Bible calls him that, and John 1 says that. Now, let's look at our second point, let's look at John chapter 5, verse 18. John chapter 5, verse 18. The second point is, only God can judge me, and everyone else too. Only God can judge people to heaven or hell. Only God can judge people. People get that tattoo that says, only God can judge me, because people don't like to be judged by other people. But it's not really true, because if you get in a drunk driving crash, and you kill a bunch of people, or you don't kill people, maybe you just get pulled over and you can't walk the line or whatever, and you can't count from 1,000 to 1 backwards, which I don't think I could even do that sober, but anyway, I don't know, I probably could, but it'd be hard. But I'm just saying, if you get in trouble, a judge is going to judge you, and that judge is not God. But he's an instrument which God has put in place to judge you. So, I mean, you're still getting judged by God whether you like it or not, because Romans 13 says the powers that be are ordained by God. So, anyway, but as far as heaven and hell, though, God is the one that judges people when it comes to heaven or hell. And so, only God can judge me, but Jesus does judge people. Jesus is given the power to judge people. Look at John 5 18, it says, Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. Now skip down to verse 21, so He made Himself equal with God, didn't He? Which also is saying that He's God, right? But verse 21 says, For as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth whom He will. So, He saves whoever He will, right? Quickeneth means to make alive. It says, For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto who? The Son. So, can the Son of God judge people? Absolutely. That all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father. So, is it right to honor Jesus as they honor God the Father? Yeah. You know why? Because He's God. You know, if you don't have the Son, you don't have the Father. That's why when the Jews will say, Well, we don't believe in Jesus. Well, then you don't believe in God the Father either. If you don't believe in Jesus, then you don't have the Father. So, all these, you know, this Jewish religion is not a legitimate religion. It says, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live. So, He also judges those that get eternal life, and they will hear His voice. They're going to hear. Whose voice are they going to hear? Are they going to hear the voice of God the Father to say, Wake up? No, it says right here, they're going to hear the voice of the Son of God. It says, For as the Father hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself, and hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the grave shall hear His voice, and shall come forth, they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation. What that is talking about, it's not talking about who does good works and who does bad works. It's talking about doing good unto you believed on Christ or not. Okay, so don't get twisted on that. Now turn to Matthew chapter number 19. So, only God can judge whether people are saved or not saved. He's the one that has the power to resurrect life or to damn them to hell. Okay, and so the Bible clearly says that Jesus is the one whose voice people are going to hear when they come back to life. He's the one, you know, when we rise again, or those that are alive and remain, they're going to hear the Son of God's voice. And those that are going to go to hell, you know, Jesus Christ is going to be the one that judges them. It says He's given judgment. Alright, now look at Matthew 19 verse 16, it says, And behold, one came and said unto Him, Good Master. So He calls them, Good Master, what good things shall I do that I may have eternal life? And He said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one. That is God. Is Jesus good? Would anybody here dispute that Jesus was good? Did He break any commandments? Did He do anything wrong? Well then He's God. Right? I mean, people just try to dispute this point, but it's not like He's saying He's not God. He's just saying, Why callest thou me good? There's one good, and that's God. But, because He said, If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Did Jesus keep the commandments? Then yeah. So was Jesus always saved? He didn't have to get saved, He just was. He was saved because He was born without sin. He was God manifest in the flesh, and also He kept every commandment. That's why He was able to be the sacrifice for our sins. So point number three was, Is Jesus good? Well then He's God. So I think that's a valid point. Now, the next point is Jesus is fully God. He's fully God. He's not just partially God. He's not 33% God. He is fully God. Look at Colossians chapter 2 verse 9. Colossians chapter 2 verse 9. The Bible says, For in Him, talking about Jesus, dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. So in His body, the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in Him while He was on this earth. How's that possible? Well, let's look at some scriptures to back this up. Of course, He's the Son of God. Now look at John 14 verse number 8. John chapter 14 verse number 8. We will be kind of backtracking over scriptures and going back to ones that we've already gone to, but we're going to read different ones. But John chapter 14 verse 8, the Bible says, Philip said unto Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. So they're like, hey, we just want to see the Father. And Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet has thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father, and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father. Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself, but the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the work. So that's very important because it says, For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Here He's telling us that the Father dwelleth in me, and He doeth the works. So is the Father in Jesus? Yes He is. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, or else believe me for the very works sake. So He is in the Father, the Father is in Him. Now turn back to John chapter 1 where we originally began, John chapter 1. So Jesus is fully God, this is the point I'm making right now. The Bible says in Colossians 2, 9 that in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. John chapter 14 tells us that the Father is in Him, and He is in the Father. And then John chapter 1 verse 32 says, And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and abode upon Him. And I knew Him not, but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, the same as He which baptizes with the Holy Ghost. And I saw and bare record that this is the Son of God. So the Spirit of God descended upon Jesus and abode on Him and stayed with Him. And He said, upon whom you see that happening to, this is Him that baptizes with the Holy Ghost. And He saw and bare record that this was the Son of God. Now flip over to John chapter 3 verse 34, the Bible reads, For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God, for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. So he, from the time he got baptized, you know, he already has the Father's already in him, and then the Spirit of God is given to him, not by measure. So, and I already wrote you one that, you know, earlier in Hebrews that said that, you know, he's anointed more than his fellows. So he has the Holy Spirit, he has God the Father in him, and he's the Son. So Jesus is fully God, and when he was on this earth, and even now, he has the fullness of the Godhead bodily. So that means he's God, right? And the next one is Jesus accepts being worshiped by men and angels. In the Bible you'll see where if someone's not God, someone will try to bow down and worship them, and they'll say, hey, no, no, no, get up, I'm not God. Paul does this, and Barnabas, and certain angels, John in Revelation, some, whoever's showing him these things in Revelation says, hey, no, don't, don't worship me, stand up, don't bow down to me. But when this happens with Jesus, he never corrects anybody, he never tells someone to get up, he never says, no, I'm not God, don't worship me, he always allows people to worship him. Look at Matthew chapter two, and one thing I also want you to notice, and what the Catholic church should notice also, is that when the wise men came to bring gifts to Jesus, and they stopped by Herod's place, and they're like, hey, we're coming to worship him, and when they actually finally get to the spot, they don't worship Mary. Look at Matthew chapter two, verse one, it says, Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him and his mother Mary, is that what it says? No, it says, we're come to worship him. Now skip to verse 11, it says, And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshiped them both, is that what it says? No, it says, fell down and worshiped him. Put that in your pipe and smoke at Pope, Pope John, whoever you are, or whatever, Francis, you pedophile, cover-up freak. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. So, they fell down and worshiped him. So, this is saying that they actually got down on their hands and upon their faces and bowed down to a baby. You know why they did that? Because he's God. They knew he was the king of the Jews, they're not coming to just give obeisance like you would do a king. You know, people in kingdoms, you know, it's just a thing that you give obeisance to kings. You're not worshiping them, you're just acknowledging that they're royalty, I guess. So, yeah, it would probably seem weird in our culture to do that because we don't have kings here, we have presidents. But people highly respect presidents and, you know, senators and things like that. But for an American to bow down to a president, like get on our knees, would seem weird. It's just not in us. You know, and even like, you know, there's a lot of countries that don't have kings anymore, but there are some that do. And you don't look a king in the eyes, and you definitely don't, you know, look a... You know, if a king's standing and everybody else is in the room, you wait till the king sits down and then you can sit down. But like, one of the things that King James did right when he first did his council about the king, you know, when he actually gave the order to do the King James Bible, he was kind of just waiting to see if people would sit down before he did. And then as soon as, you know, he got up and he was just standing there and it kind of seemed like he was about to sit down. And then everybody just sat down before him. He's like, wait for me to sit down. He just like bit their heads off, you know. He just, you know, he was just testing them to see because they were testing him. They wanted to see if he was a weak leader or whatever. So, you know, these guys just thought they were high and mighty because they were clergy and he put them in their place. But anyway, Jesus obviously as a baby, he couldn't stop them from bowing down and worshiping him. But look at Mark chapter 8 verse 2, or I'm sorry, Matthew chapter 8. He had plenty of other chances. And believe me, I'm not even going to go to all of them. But there's plenty of verses that I'm not going to go to where even his disciples, the disciples' mother, John and James and their mom came and that's one of the things that the modern versions change. The new King James changes it to, I think, giving him obeisance or something. Or they just kind of give him a little bow or curtsy. But the Bible in the King James version says that they worshiped him. And what's wrong with that? He's Jesus. His disciples worship him in other places in the Bible too. But look at Matthew chapter 8 verse 2, it says, And behold, there came a leper, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. So you have a leper doing this. Matthew 9 18, we're going to go through this fast. Matthew 9 18, while he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead, but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. Matthew chapter 14 verse 22, this is a very famous story about Jesus walking on water. It says, Matthew chapter 14 22, it says, And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side. But while he sent the multitudes away, excuse me, while he sent the multitudes away, and when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray. So he leaves them there in the boat, they're going to the other side, it says, And when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves, for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went unto them walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit, and they cried out for fear. They think that he's a ghost or a spirit of some sort. But straightaway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid. And beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were coming to the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and, what did they do? Worshiped him, saying of a truth, Thou art the Son of God. So, you know, when it says they came, and a lot of times it'll say they worshiped him, and then they're saying something. They're saying of a truth, Thou art the Son of God. So sometimes I think that the worship that they're doing is they're saying something that's truthful, that they're giving him some sort of a godly attribute or giving him honor as God by saying something. I'm not saying that they're not bowing down to him, but when it doesn't say that they're bowing down to him, maybe they're not. I'm not sure. But they're definitely worshiping him by saying this statement here, of a truth, Thou art the Son of God. I mean, that is attributing godhood to him. So, now turn to John 935, John 935. Now people will go, if you want one to give to the Muslims, write this one down in your Bibles. When you're out soul-winning, give this one to the Muslims, because they'll say, When did Jesus ever say he was the Son of God? Well, how about this one, John 935. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, talking about the man that was born blind that Jesus healed. The Pharisees were mad and just kicked him out for saying, Will you believe on him, and all this other stuff. So, he's kicked out of the church, basically the synagogue, by the Pharisees. And it says, Jesus heard they had kicked him out, and he had found him. He says unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? So he asks him this question, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? And he answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. Is he saying that he's the Son of God? Yeah, that's exactly what he's saying. And he said, Lord, I believe, and he worshipped him. I mean, that's pretty clear, right? Well, it doesn't actually say, I am the Son of God. Look, someone doesn't have to, Jesus doesn't have to say, I am God. But how many times did he say, I am, and attribute some kind of godliness unto himself. Like, there's all these I am statements. I am the door of the sheepfold. I am, you know, the bread that came down from heaven. You know, he's saying that he's God multiple times. Because when he appeared to Moses in the burning bush, he said, I am. Tell him that I am, hast sent thee. So, I mean, he's not going to necessarily just say, I am God. Jesus just doesn't say that. But he does tell him, you know, hey, do you believe on the Son of God? He's just asking that question. And then he says, who is he? And he's like, it's me. I mean, that's what he's saying here, right? So there's your Muslim gotcha. They try to give these gotcha questions to you on their little apologetics things that they're doing. But that's a good one to go to. Now turn to John chapter 20. John chapter 20. And here's a real obvious one, too, where they'll, you know, someone calls him God. Someone worships him. And he doesn't stop him. Not one time so far in anything that I've showed you, does he ever stop him? Does he ever say, hey, no, I'm not God? No. They don't. And if he says, you know, in that one passage where it says that when he says he's the Son of God, that they're saying that he's saying that he's equal with God. That's why they wanted to kill him. And then he tells them over and over again that he's the Son of God, or he's talking about how he's the Son of God. He's saying he's God. He is saying he's equal with God. He's saying it's not robbery to be equal with God in Philippians chapter 2. Now John 20 verse 26 says, And after eight days, again his disciples were with him, or within, excuse me. So Thomas had already, he wasn't there the first time. And Thomas said, unless I can, you know, feel the nail prints in his hand and put my hand in his side, I'm not going to believe that he's risen from the dead, right? So it says, After eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them, then came Jesus, and the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands, and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, Yeah, here, let me see that hand. Yeah, here, let me thrust that. No, he doesn't say that, he says, My Lord and my God. That's what he says. Because all he has to do is just see him. And then he realizes how much of an idiot he's been probably, right? Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed. Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. That's us. That's the people in this room that believe in Jesus. We believe that he's the son of God. If we believe that statement that he said, you know, Jesus doesn't correct him there, does he? He says, hey, blessed, you know, you're blessed because you have not seen, and yet we have believed. Because that's what faith is all about. We believe the Bible, we believe that Jesus is the son of God. And it says that many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that believing you might have life through his name. So the book of John is written to us so that we believe what? That Jesus is the Christ. That he's the Messiah. That he's the one that God promised from the beginning that would take away our sins and the ungodliness from Jacob. And that he is the son of God. And that believing you might have life through his name. What does that mean? That you be saved. So this is a good verse to give to people that maybe aren't ready to hear the gospel yet. Or that are, you know, you just want to kind of break the ice with people. Yeah, you can know for sure because, you know, these things are written that you might believe. Hey, let me show you what the Bible says so that you can believe. Hebrews 1-6, I won't have you turn there, but Hebrews 1-6 says, and again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, and let all the angels of God worship him. So how is he an angel? How is he Michael the archangel if all the angels of God are supposed to worship him? What, the angels are supposed to worship another angel? The Jehovah's Witnesses are not saved. And they don't believe that Jesus was in a bone and flesh body. They don't believe that he resurrected back into the body that he died in. And unless you believe that, you aren't saved. He didn't resurrect into some spirit body. Well, he did, but it's not a spirit body like they're saying. They're saying that he was just kind of some ghost like what they say. They thought that Jesus was a ghost and they got scared. They got frightened. But when he said, hey, I'm flesh and bone, handle me, touch me, let's eat some food together. He was in a body. Now it doesn't have blood. It's not the same type of body that we have now because it lives forever. But the Jehovah's Witnesses, they kind of have this big thing. Instead of pushing Easter, the resurrection, they push his death on the torture stake or whatever. But they don't believe in the resurrection into the body. So they just essentially just damn their whole congregations into hell by that doctrine. They try everything they can to make sure that their congregants don't go to heaven. They really do. They come up with some of the weirdest junk. They say that Jesus is not God. Then they say that Jesus didn't resurrect into his body. You have to believe in the resurrection as part of salvation. Then my next point is that Jesus is God because he created all things. Can you create things? You might be able to draw a picture. You might be able to build something. But you cannot create life. You cannot create universes. You cannot speak things and they just happen. Jesus can do that. So John 1-1, back in our text, our original text, let's turn back there. The Bible says, in John 1-2 it says, The same was in the beginning with God. What is this trying to help us to understand? It's trying to help us to understand in the beginning. What does that make you think of? In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. So it's referencing back to Genesis. So the same was in the beginning with God. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And God said, let there be light. So Jesus Christ is the word of God. God said, let there be light. So when God speaks, the word of God is Jesus. So it says, All things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made. So what is this saying? That the word of God, Jesus Christ, is the one that created things. Look at Hebrews chapter one. Hebrews chapter number one. So Hebrews chapter number one, we're only going to look at three verses on this, but I mean the Bible is very clear that Jesus is also the one that created all things. So Hebrews chapter one, the Bible says, God who at sundry times and in diverse manner spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets. So he used to speak by the prophets and it says, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his son whom he hath appointed heir of all things by whom also he made the worlds. So how did he make the worlds? By his son whom he's also spoken in these last days. Turn to Colossians 1 16, Colossians 1 16. And I really like these verses here. It makes it pretty clear and I think it's just cool. Especially verse 17, I've always liked this verse, but Colossians 1 16 says, for by him, talking about Jesus, were all things created that are in heaven, 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. And he is before all things. And by him all things consist. So that word consists, like if you think about, especially if you're a baker, you mix things up in a mixer or you whip it up or whatever, you have to have a proper consistency to make sure that that's gonna come out right or whatever. But all things consist or are held together, if you think of it that way. There's like something, everything consists by Jesus Christ. And he made everything visible and invisible. There's worlds within our world that we can't even see. We get sick by things called germs and bacteria, viruses, bacteria. Wouldn't it be nice if we could see those things? You could just see them coming for you and just like spray something. These flu viruses and all this stuff. I mean, it'd be nice if we could just see them coming and just do something about it, but we can't. But obviously it's not just talking about these microscopic things, but also talking about the spirit world, the things that are in the spirit that we can't see. He created all that stuff. And everything that we, even the systems of our universe, how the world works, how our bodies work, how he made our bodies to regenerate when we sleep and our muscles to repair after we tear them. Our bodies, we can still make use of them even though we've damaged them really badly. Our eyes blink and they're like windshield wipers that just, we can't help ourselves and everybody's blinking and we're like, ah. But I mean, it's just our bodies are amazing. And people are just like, oh yeah, we're just like these slugs. No, God made us very complex beings. And Jesus, the Bible's very clear that Jesus is the one. They created all things and all things were created by him and for him and by him all things consist. And yet the things that he's made curse his name and blaspheme his name and don't give him the glory. And people are like, oh, I don't believe in a God that would send people to hell. And it's just like, well, he doesn't, you know, he doesn't have to do what you say. He doesn't have to feel what you're, he doesn't have to accept your truth. You know, today's generation is just like, well, this is just my truth. This is just my truth and how I feel. Nobody cares, dude. Nobody cares what your truth is. There's just the truth. And whether that's your truth or not, it's insignificant. And everybody just has a social media platform. Everybody just, you know, can be Instagram stars or whatever and, you know, they think that their truth is more important than the truth. And, you know, what is the truth? Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. And no man can come to the Father but by him. So it's best to get on Team Jesus and figure out what he wants instead of figuring out what you want and how your feelings are and all this other stuff. And I don't understand this generation when it comes to all this feeling stuff. It's just like, dude, do some push-ups. You know, go do something manly. Because men should not be talking like that. Just get out of your feelings. You know, what, what, what? This, you know, I'm from the latch key generation. You know, I came home from school. I made my own Top Ramen or whatever it was I was supposed to have. I got myself ready for football practice. I did my homework. I played video games for an hour on my NES, Nintendo Entertainment System. I played Mike Tyson's Punch Out. Couldn't beat him for like 90 days. And, you know, but I was on a strict regimen. You know, I could only play video games for one hour. And I thought that was torture. Come on! You know, I'm sure all the kids do that. Come on, mom! I just want to play for a little bit longer! You know, every kid does that. But I just came home and, you know, that's just the way it was. But like, just work on a construction site for like a month, guys. You know, even if you're a white-collar worker, just go work on a construction site for like a month and that'll fix your little feeling problem. Because all your feelings will be gone by that time. It'll cure you of all that stuff. I'm not saying don't have feelings. I'm just saying that don't get so wrapped up on yourself all the time and how you feel. Because, in the end, all your little philosophies and all your little, you know, I feel this way or I feel that way, it doesn't matter. It's how does God feel about things? And you should just jump on His train and then figure out what He wants for your life. You're like, well, I don't care. I want to do what I want with my life. Well, there's a road that ends badly if you're gonna feel that way. Anyway, I'm off the track here, so I jumped off that. I got on a different train and jumped off the wrong track here. So let's go back to the sermon here. But Jesus created all things by Him and for Him. Let's look at the next point here. Jesus is God because only God can forgive sin. Jesus is God because only God can forgive sin. Now, you can sin against somebody and you can do something wrong to them and they can forgive you for that, but God is ultimately the one that we're accountable to. Regardless of that person forgave you or not, did God forgive you for it? Because we're accountable to God for our sin, ultimately. Look at Luke 5, Luke 5. Luke 5, Luke 5, verse 17. The Bible says, and it came to pass on a certain day as He was teaching that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by and were come out of every town of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. Behold, men brought into bed a man which was taken with a palsy and they sought means to bring him in and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went up upon the housetop and let him down through the tiling with his couch in the midst before Jesus. So Jesus is preaching. There's no way to get in the building. It's a packed house. So they just removed the roof tiles and just kind of like suspend him in there by his, they say his couch, but he's just like on this bed, right? He can't walk. He's got problems. And they just like, you know, bring him in the middle of the service. I mean, that's pretty crazy, right? I mean, he really wants to get healed and I don't blame him. I'm sure if Jesus was here in our time right now, there would be people lined up doing the same kind of stuff, right? For people that actually could heal them. So they bring him in the midst of Jesus and then when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. He forgives their sins. He forgives this man's sins. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone? Now, sometimes when people say things in the Bible, they might not be saying things that are true. So this is something you have to understand when you're studying or reading the Bible. But in this case, I do believe that they're right. They are right. Who can forgive sins but God alone? You know, I can't say, Yes, you are saved. You know, by saying, Your sins are forgiven. I can't do that. I can say, Well, God's grace can save you. I can point you in the way of salvation. I can tell you how to get saved, but I can't save you. As far as, it's not within my power to actually save somebody with my gospel. I can't save you by my power. And nobody else can either. Only Jesus' power can save you. Only the gospel can save you. But it says, Who can forgive sins but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answering said unto them, Why reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say, Rise up and walk. But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins. He said unto the sick of the palsy, I say unto thee, Arise and take up thy couch and go into thine house. And of course, He does, and they get all mad about it. You know, they're mad because Jesus heals somebody that's crippled, and it's just like a weird attitude to have. But this is the hyper-spiritual, pharisaical mindset that people have that they would give to us. And I would be happy if that happened. I mean, oh, you're healed during a church service? Like, what's wrong with you? I wouldn't be mad if it was actually legit. Now if some Pentecostal comes in here and tries to pretend like they got some person in a wheelchair to stand up and walk like they do in these Pentecostal meetings, and it's actually someone that's not really in a wheelchair, they're just pretending, which they do on TV all the time, then, you know, it's a bunch of garbage. But if it's Jesus, I'm gonna be like, yeah, cool. So is it possible for somebody else to forgive sin besides God? No. So what does that mean then? That Jesus is God. Because God is the only one that can forgive sins. Now David, when he sinned with Bathsheba and killed Uriah the Hittite in Psalm chapter 51, he makes a few statements in Psalm chapter 51. You don't have to turn there if you don't want, but I'll just read it for you. If you want to, you can. Psalm 51 verse one, the Bible says, O God, according to thy lovingkindness, according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Who does he go to? He doesn't go to anybody else, he goes to God. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin, for I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight. Is that true? He sinned against Uriah, he killed him. He had him killed. He sinned against the people. He sinned against his office as the king. He sinned against his wives. He committed adultery. And he got his child killed. What he did harmed his whole kingdom. Harmed a lot of people. But what's he saying? Against thee and thee only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight, that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity. And in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to no wisdom. Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Who did David know that he needed to go to to be forgiven? He went to God. Because God is the only one that can forgive sin. In Colossians 1-3 it says, Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness? And that translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Why are we able to be forgiven? Because of what Jesus did for us. How are we able to be forgiven of our sins? Well, Jesus told this man, you are forgiven of your sins. Jesus can forgive sins. He did it on earth. And we are saved by his blood through the redemption, the forgiveness of sins by Jesus Christ. It's through him that we are able to be saved and if he can do that, then he is God. Next point, Jesus has always been, so he is God. He always has been. He's always been here. And you're like, well, where did God come from? I don't know. The Bible doesn't say, but he's been here before the beginning. The Bible is very clear about that. Micah chapter 5, 2, if you want to turn there, Micah 5, 2. We're getting close to wrapping up here, so just hang in there for about 10 more minutes. Micah 5, 2, the Bible says, But thou, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, though thou be a little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me, that is, to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting. So the Bible is talking about, of course, Jesus Christ being born in Bethlehem. When Herod asks where Christ is going to be born, this scripture is actually quoted in the book of Matthew. And it says, so they knew where he was going to be born from, but when it says from old, from everlasting, this is a clue that it's not just some regular guy that's going to be the Messiah or this king. It's going to be someone that's old, from everlasting. What does everlasting mean? Forever. So he comes from eternity. But see, when we think of everlasting, we don't have a past that comes from eternity past. That's hard for us to fathom. We have an eternity future, but he is just, he doesn't have a beginning, he doesn't have an ending. He always just has been. So it's hard for us to kind of fathom that thought, but that's what the Bible says, right? And so before this world began, before the beginning, he always was. John 17 five teaches this also. John 17 five says, and now, oh Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee, before the world was. So what's he saying? Glorify me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. Before this world was, he had glory with God the Father. That's what it's saying. So our beginning, you know, there was something before the beginning. What was it? I don't know, but God was there. So Jesus has always been. He was with God in the beginning. He was with God before the beginning. That's what the Bible teaches. And so if he's always been, then he's God. Jesus is also God because only God can save. Only God can save mankind. Look at Genesis chapter 22. I will have you turn there. Genesis chapter 22. Really close to wrapping up here. Genesis chapter 22. Genesis chapter 22. I'm gonna try to go ultra fast here. So I mentioned that there was a prophecy of the woman that will bring forth the man child that will crush the serpent's head. Of course, this is the prophecy of Jesus Christ. But in Genesis chapter 22, Abraham is supposed to go sacrifice Isaac. He's told to do this. But of course, God was testing him to see whether he would actually do it or not. He wasn't ever gonna let him do it, but he just wanted to test him. Now, Genesis 22 seven says, And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father. And he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire in the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering? And Isaac is a picture of Jesus Christ being that sacrificial atonement for our sins. And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering. So both of them went together. Now, Isaac allowed himself to be bound and put on a stack of wood. Abraham was about to slay him and make him the burnt offering. And then that ram in the thicket was caught in the thicket, and they sacrificed the lamb instead after the angel stopped him from doing that. But that term there, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering. You know, obviously, after this you have the Passover where they're supposed to slay the lamb and put the blood on the doorpost, and God would pass over them. That's the picture of the lamb's blood saving them and redeeming them from their sins. So I believe that in John, go ahead and turn to John chapter one where we started, John chapter one where we started. I believe in Genesis 22 eight that when Abraham says God will provide himself a lamb for the burnt offering, I believe that this is prophetically speaking of this moment here in John chapter one where it says, The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him and saith, Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. And then again in verse 35, if you skip down there it says, Again the next day after John stood, the two of his disciples, and the two of his disciples, and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the lamb of God. So it's not an accident that John the Baptist is doing this. It's because of these, obviously he is the Passover lamb. This is also what it's talking about, but it does go back to Genesis chapter 22 I believe. And then it says, One of the two which heard John speak and followed him was Andrew Simon, Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon and saith unto him, We have found the messiahs which is being interpreted the Christ. So here we have, then they're saying that this Jesus, this same Jesus who is the lamb of God, they say we found the messiah. So we found the messiah. The one that is promised from the beginning in Genesis chapter number three, we found that guy. We found the one that's promised in Micah chapter five. We found this messiah that's been prophesied all throughout the Bible. They know he's coming. The woman at the well knows he's coming. And he says, I that speak to you am he. He tells her that. But it says that the Christ, the interpretation of messiah is the Christ. So when we say Jesus Christ, we're saying what? Jesus the messiah. Christ is not his last name. Okay? Jesus the Christ is Jesus the messiah. That's what it means. So when we say the lamb of God, that's what we're, it's referencing back to that God will provide himself the lamb. So Jesus Christ is God. God is providing himself as the lamb. And so God himself is providing himself as the lamb. Look at Isaiah chapter 43 verse 11. Now this is the famous little, this is where the Jehovah's Witnesses get their, you know, we're witnesses of Jehovah passage, but they'll say that Jesus, they'll say that Jesus is the savior, but then they say only Jehovah can save. Well, you gotta pick, you know, if Jesus is not God, then how is he, how can he be the savior? According to them. It doesn't make any sense. But look at Isaiah 43 verse 11. It says, I even I am the Lord. And that would be Jehovah, right? And beside me there is no savior. Is Jesus the savior in the New Testament or not? He says I'm the Lord, that beside me there is no savior. I have declared and have saved and I have showed when there was no strange God among you. Therefore, you're my witnesses, sayeth the Lord, that I am God. This is God saying, hey, you're my witnesses, sayeth the Lord, I am God. There is no savior besides me. And in the New Testament, Jesus Christ is the savior. Is Jesus God? Yes, he is, because this is what this passage is saying. Yea, before the day was, I am he. And there is none that can deliver out of my hand. I will work, and who shall let it? Thus saith the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, for your sake I have sent to Babylon and have brought down all their nobles and the Chaldeans whose cry is in their ships. I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. I mean, they're using these passages to prop up their thing that Jehovah, you know, is the, I believe that Jehovah is the savior, but Jesus is the savior. He's our savior. He's our savior in the New Testament. So like, they just contradict themselves. Jesus is God. Jesus is the savior. Acts 4, verse 10. Acts 4, verse 10. We're really close here. We're at the goal line. We're about to punch it in. We're on the five yard line, alright? Acts 4. Got three verses for you to turn to, and we're done. Acts 4, 10. And it's funny, I'll confront Jehovah's Witnesses with these passages, and they really don't have an answer. You know, they just go back to 144,000. It's just like they just rewind. 144,000. And then when you talk to them about that, they can't answer that either. They just, they're brainwashed, you know, by the Watchtower Society. But Acts 4, 10 says, Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which has become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Is there any other name? There's not another name. You're saved by the name of Jesus. That's what it says. There's none other name. There's no salvation in any other name. So like, again, for the Jehovah's Witnesses, they say only Jehovah can save you, right? In Isaiah chapter 43, what do they do with this verse? How do you explain that? There's none other name. If salvation's only from the Lord, which they say is Jehovah, which I agree, how do they explain verse 12 then? That Jesus is the only name you're saved by. Maybe because Jesus is God? I don't know. It's kind of a strange conundrum that they have, isn't it? Acts chapter 16, verse 30. Well, let this be something that us as soul winners need to understand too. Make sure that you're having them call upon the right name. You're like, well, I think it's Yahweh. It says Jesus Christ in my English Bible. So quit trying to Judaize people or don't get all weird with this stuff. Acts 16, 30. And brought them out and says, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. So, Jesus is the one that saves us in the New Testament. People have been calling upon the name of the Lord since Genesis chapter four. Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord. That's what the Bible says at the end of Genesis chapter four. Jesus is God because only God can save mankind. And if we're supposed to call upon the name of the Lord and his name is Jesus, then Jesus is God. Because only God can save people. It's pretty simple stuff, really. But, you know, people just want to believe weird stuff. They want to just call his name something that's not. I mean, there's just a lot of false doctrine out there today. We need to understand this doctrine. That's why I'm teaching it today. Last verse I'll have you go to and we're done. Revelation chapter one, verse seven. Jesus is coming back. He promised he was going to come back. It's not going to be a cloudless morning. When the dead in Christ rise, the Bible says that he's going to come with the clouds. And it's not going to be a secret rapture. The terms secret and rapture are not in the Bible. But the word rapture is not in the Bible. I'll give them that, okay. But when he comes again to receive us unto himself, there's going to be clouds and everybody's going to see him. Look at Revelation one, seven. Behold, he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him. It's not going to be a secret. And they also which pierced him and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending. Sayeth the Lord, which is, which was, which is to come. He's coming back, folks. And what does it say at the end there? The Almighty. And that term, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, are those red letters in your Bible if you have a red letter edition? Yes, so it's Jesus talking, isn't it? And at the end it says the Almighty. So Jesus Christ is the Almighty. He is God, folks. And, you know, these are things, you know, obviously, a lot of you know all this stuff, but we need to learn this stuff again. We need to understand this stuff again. These are things that need to be preached from time to time so that we can refresh our memory about this. But Jesus is coming back and, you know, people need to figure this out. People need to figure out that Jesus is God and believe in him before it's too late because he's not going to tarry forever. You know, Hebrews chapter 1 says, in these last days he's spoken by his son. That was over 2,000 years ago that says that those are the last days. We are living in the last days. Now, we're not in the last of the last days yet, but we are living in the last days. That's what Hebrews chapter 1 says, right? So we've been waiting for a long time, it seems like, but to God, one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day. Time means nothing to him. He lives outside of time. Time means something to us, but in the grand scheme of things it means nothing because we're going to live forever if we're saved. But hey, if you're not saved, then you need to get saved. Quit putting it off because he is coming back and he says he's going to come back as a thief in an hour which we think not. All these people want to set dates and say, oh yeah, we can set a date. Hey, we know he's coming back here. No, we don't. No man know it the day or the hour. We don't really know. He's going to come back in a day which we think not. So anyway, that's my sermon, The Deity of Christ, and it's a very important doctrine that we all need to know and learn. So let's pray. Lord, we thank you so much for the doctrine of the deity of Christ and we thank you for our Lord Jesus Christ who came to earth in the form of man, humbled himself, and took upon himself the form of a servant. And Lord, we thank you for the service that he gave and that he gave his life and his blood for us and lived a perfect life so that we could be saved. And I pray, Lord, that you'd help us to appreciate that free gift that we got. And Lord, if there would be somebody in here or just listening to the sound of my voice and they're not 100% sure they're saved, I pray, Lord, that they would make today the day that they'd get saved. And Lord, I pray that you would just help us to keep these things in our heart and remember the things that we learn and put them to application in our lives, in our soul winning, and teach them to our children and our grandchildren. For it's in Jesus' name we pray, amen. And that is a capital W on the last verse there. piano plays softly O mighty, Lord Jesus, our God, of all your goodness, daily, our helper, he up in the fall, the block of his revealing, for still our needs should grow, and seek to work us through, his craft and power only, the land with full of hay, the earth is not busy gone. Let me in, O round strength of fire, our striving would be losing, we're not the right man on the side, the man of the truth to see, lost as to the baby, Christ Jesus, it is he, Lord so may old his name, from age to age the same, and he must win the valley, and though this world with devil's hair, shall threaten to undo us, we will not be for God hath willed, his truth to triumph to us, for the hands of darkness will, he tremble not for him, his rage wicked in new, for though his cool is true, one little words of valor, the word above all earthly powers, no thanks to him almighty, the spirit and the hills arise, through him who with us side in, and woods and in head go, his word of life goes on, the body he may give, the truth of might and sin, his kingdom is forever. . . . . .