June 3-4, 2006, Selected

Who is this Jesus?
The Da Vinci Confusion
Mark Briggs

Matthew 16:13-16 (NIV)
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

The Testimony of Scripture

Colossians 1:19 - For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him.
Colossians 1:15 - He is the image of the invisible God.
Colossians 2:9 - For in Christ, all the fullness of the deity lives in bodily form.
2 Cor. 4:4 - The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Philippians 2:6 - Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.
Hebrews 1:3 - The son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things in his powerful word.
John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
John 1:14 - The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
1 John 5:20 - We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true - even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
John 14:9 - Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father."
John 10:30 - Jesus said, "I and the Father are one."

The Testimony of History

Ignatious (AD 105) - "God himself was manifested in human form."
Clement (AD 150) - "It is fitting that you should think of Jesus Christ as God."
Justin Martyr (AD 160) - "Being the first-begotten Word of God, is even God."
Tertullian (AD 200) - "Christ our God."
Irenaeus (AD 200) - "He is God, for the name Emmanuel indicates this."
(David Bercot, A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs, pages 93-100)

The Testimony of the Resurrection

Jesus staked his claim of deity entirely on his resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:13-14, 17 (NIV)
13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

Acts 2:22-24 (NIV)
22 "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him."

"The phenomena (surrounding 'The Da Vinci Code') is important because it shows that people are open to and searching for an alternative explanation of Christianity." Timothy Freke, historian

Why are people resistant to this Jesus?
- The church and Christians have left our world wanting.
- We want our spiritual void filled without a cost.

Sources - The Case for Christ - Lee Strobel; Coast Hills Church Podcast on iTunes - Ken Baugh; Cracking Da Vinci's Code - James Garlow; Evidence That Demands a Verdict, Volume 1 and 2 - Josh McDowell.