WHO IS JESUS?

We have run anonymous surveys for almost eight years now (2005), specifically examining beliefs concerning God and a bit on creation and evolution. One of the most surprising results pertained to the following question: Is Jesus God? Around half of all people surveyed in most locations said "NO"! Some places were as low as 25% and, to be fair, a few locations where as high as 75%. Related questions faired as poorly, including; "Is Jesus Judge?" Well over half responded "no" to this question and up to 80% in some locations. Similar results were found for the item; "Is Jesus Creator?" A wide majority did agree that Jesus was a man, was born of a virgin, really lived (as a historical fact), and died on a cross. Slightly less believed that Jesus bodily rose from the dead after three days. Consider for a moment that the vast majority of respondents on our survey were regular church attenders, both teens and adults -- most having grown up in the church. How can so many not know these basic truths? We continue to provide Biblical answers to each of these questions during our time at each location. While many profess to be a follower of, or believer in, Jesus Christ, one might ask, "What Jesus are they following?" If the Jesus they are worshipping bears little resemblance to the scriptural and historical Jesus, we have cause for concern. The apostle Paul was concerned about this very matter in Corinth... For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. (2 Corinthians 11:4) Any gospel based on "another Jesus" is a different gospel and a cause for concern. But not only concern, it's a call for the message of the one true Jesus and the one true gospel to be clearly taught and preached. Yes, we need to be teaching doctrine (a word that seems to have fallen out of fashion in many churches today). Even those who responded correctly to the questions, often admit that they could not prove what they believed from scriptures. If we can't show people where the scriptures teach these truths, how do we expect others to believe? Just saying, "Take my word for it." isn't acceptable. Today, many people, teachers, and preachers, are saying "take my word" and are propagating outright heresy. People have to be taught to check out the truth from the source -- God himself. Sadly many have bought the lie that scriptures are something only the theologians, scholars, and church elite, can really understand. This is wrong. God gave His word for all the people to read and study. To answer the beginning question, in quick summary: Yes, Jesus is God. Jesus, himself, said so. Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." (John 8:58) And as the next verse tells us that the people of Jesus' day wanted to kill him for saying so. They knew that he was professing to be God, because they were aware of the old testament passage that Jesus was referring to. When God had revealed himself to Moses, at the burning bush, this is what He said. And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" (Exodus 3:14) Many other passages also testify to this truth, and no study of this topic is complete without a study of the tri-unity of God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Anyone worshipping a Jesus who was "just a man" is worshipping a false Jesus. God alone is Savior. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior (Isaiah 43:11). While God revealed himself in the Old Testament as being the only Savior, the New Testament additionally and very clearly calls Jesus the Savior. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:11-12) This, without question, shows that the New Testament claims Jesus to be God (the same one revealed in the Old Testament), for if He was not He would be a false savior. Once people get their understanding straight concerning the deity of Jesus, the other questions tend to fall in line. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) Was Jesus creator? ... as God, yes! (And the entire triune God was present at creation, check out Genesis 1:2, regarding the Holy Spirit, and the "us" of Genesis 1:26) He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 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. (Colossians 1:15-16) As for judgement, the apostles clearly testified that Jesus is judge. He (Jesus) commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. (Acts 10:42) Consider this additional passage where Jesus, himself, pointed out that He would be judge... "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. (Matthew 25:31-33) Once again, in light of an Old Testament passage, this shows that Jesus was claiming not only to be judge, but to be God! And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for God himself is judge. (Psalms 50:6) Learning the right answers to these questions is only a start -- a very good start as these answers are rooted in the Word of God. But knowing all the right answers won't save you -- even the demons could recite these truths -- you still need to believe. In whom do you believe?