The Biblical Viewpoint of the Judgment of the Unrighteous

There are three inescapable appointments in life. We can not escape death, we can not escape resurrection, and we can not escape judgment.

The scriptures is very clear about death. The Scripture teaches that while death is sure (Ecclesiastes 7:2; Hebrews 9:27), it is to the believer great gain (Philippians 1:21). Death, even, cannot separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). As death is considered the last enemy of humans (1 Corinthians 15:26), the death of believers is a reunion with the Lord (Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 5:25-27; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8). 

Everyone also has an appointment with resurrection and judgement. No one can escape these, as no one can, morbid as may seem, escape death. As our faith is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and as we believe in His resurrection (Philippians 3:10-11; 1 Corinthians 15:13-19), we have our hope for eternal life. Resurrection is a promise of Jesus Christ Himself (John 11:23-26). Beacuse resurrection is considered as an ultimate total transformation of the believer’s life (Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44), it becomes the believer’s yardstick or guiding principle of life (Acts 24:15-16).

The certainty of the God’s judgment was proclaimed by Paul when he wrote the believers about our standing before God’s judgment seat (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:8-10).

There was a story written about a young couple who just moved into a new neighborhood. One morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the washed laundry outside.'That laundry is not very clean', she said. 'She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap'. Her husband looked on, but remained silent. Every time her  neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.  About one month later, the woman was surprised to see nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: 'Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this? The husband said, 'Well, honey, I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.'

The way we live our life is mirrored by this story. What we usually see when we watch others depends on the purity of the window through which we look. As believers, we tend to look through impure windows of our lives when we too quickly judge others.

As humans have the tendency to quickly judge each other. Too painful in fact, to see that we do so even when we do not have the right to judge other. In judging our neighbor, our brother, our sister, or even our enemy, we are actually making ourselves as gods. But there is another kind of judgment that we all need to understand in life. There is a far more essential form of judgment by Jesus, and our form of our personal judgment and not even our incapacity to judge, all fall short of the judgment that Jesus Christ will administer. We call this the White Throne judgment, where the Righteous One, who is Jesus Christ, will judge both the righteous and the wicked with the justice of His holiness.

The judgement seat of Jesus Christ is both for those who believed in Him and those who rejected

Him.

As believers, we believe that we will all die (Hebrews 9:27-28). And we have realized that some of us already did. After this once-in-a-lifetime experience, the dead shall face the judgment of God. For those who have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9-10), this is even more of a promise of salvation from judgment. For the judgment of the believers is not the punishment of torment, but the commendation of an eternal reward (Matthew 25:46).  The believers will be judged separately, or differently from those who did not believe (Matthew 7:21-23).

There are two destinations for the souls of humans after they pass through the judgment seat of

Jesus Christ.

When Jesus Christ judges humans, He will separate the righteous and the redeem from the wicked and the disobedient (Matthew 25: 31-32).

After the souls of humans pass through the judgement seat of Jesus Christ, the souls go to their eternal destiny: heaven (John 14:2; John 3:5) or hell (Revelation 21:8: Matthew 25:46).

It has been told that one day, when then Vice President Calvin Coolidge was presiding over the Senate, one senator was so mad at another senator that he cursed at him saying "go straight to hell". The offended Senator complained to Coolidge, who as presiding officer, immediately looked up from the book that he had been reading through while listening to the heated debate. Slowly and confidently, Vice President Coolidge said, "I've been looking through the rule book,and you don't have to go to hell." (Crossroads, Issue No. 7, p. 16).

What does this story teach us? There is an eternal lesson in life that we can glean from the response of Vice President Calvin Coolidge. We can actually decide not to go to hell at all! Inversely, we can decide to go to heaven instead! Our eternal destiny is either reaped in heaven or spent in hell. We have the choice not to go to hell. We have the choice to go to Heaven.

It is heaven or hell (Matthew 25:46). There is no in-betweens. There is no scripture in the Bible that say that humans can stay in a temporary place to wait for heaven. There is no scripture in the Bible that say that humans can stay in a temporary place while their family members appeal for them on Earth in order to get to Heaven. Indeed, the Bible does not say something about the purgatory. But the Bible is clear in telling us that there is Heaven waiting for those who have faith in Jesus Christ and those who obey the will of God (John 3:36; Acts 4:12).

While heaven is prepared for those who believe in Jesus Christ (Luke 23:43; John 14:3), hell is prepare for those who (Mark 9:43: Revelation 21:8).

Hell is real as heaven is. Scriptures describe for us what hell is.

Hell is a blazing furnace, a furnace of fire (Matthew 13:41-42). The experience in hell is described as accompanied by “weeping and gnashing of teeth”. It is an eternal torment. To speak about hell is not to create a morbid, scary or bizarre feeling among us. This is the time for us to realize its reality as a warning, rather than experience its reality in hell itself.

Hell is an eternal fire, and everlasting fire (Matthew 25:41). It is prepared for the Devil and his angels. We can look at hell in an inspiring perspective. Hell was created not for us but for the Devil and his cohorts. But because of sin, we have become the children of the Devil. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. If Jesus Christ destroyed the work of the Devil then we should be redeemed from the works of the Devil (1 John 3:8).

Hell is an unquenchable fire (Mark 9:43). The fire in hell is unquenchable. The fire in hell is ablaze for eternity. This is the biblical description of hell as a consequence of the disobedience of the  will of God. Other religions teach that the body of humans will be eradicated or annihilated upon death. Since they believe that after death is the ultimate end of humankind, these religions teach the world that there is no hell at all.  

Hell is a tormenting fire (Luke 16:23-24). The fire of hell is not only and eternal, unquenchable fire, it is in fact tormenting (Matthew 13:40-42). Hell is a tormenting fire, but it is unquenchable. What the unbeliever can do in hell is merely weep and gnash their teeth. The unbeliever can not afford to do anymore than these.

Hell is an everlasting destruction (2 Thessalonians 1:9). It is an eternal punishment. It is an eternal destruction of man, since man will be shut off from the merciful presence of God.

Scriptures are very clear in identifying who will be judged for hell.

Scriptures tell us that the hypocrites and spiritual pretenders are bound for hell (Matthew 23:29-33). Jesus Christ denounced the hypocrisy of the people who worship God through teaching and observing the law of God but in reality they do not worship God but themselves. Extracted from the Moody’s Anecdotes is a feature that would illustrate the Biblical description of hypocrisy: Some years ago a remarkable picture was exhibited in London. As you looked at it from a distance, you seemed to see a monk engaged in prayer, his hands clasped, his head bowed. As you came nearer, however, and examined the painting more closely, you saw that in reality he was squeezing a lemon into a punch bowl! What a picture that is of the human heart! Superficially examined, it is thought to be the seat of all that is good and noble and pleasing in a man; whereas in reality, until regenerated by the Holy Ghost, it is the seat of all corruption (John 3:19).

Those who rejected Jesus Christ are bound for hell (John 3:36). The Bible tells of the plan of God for humankind. The plan is simple. God will send His only Son to redeem the world from sin. God planned that Jesus Christ will die for the sins of the world. Jesus Christ knows that the shedding of His blood will bring the world remission from sin. But the heart of humans is basically wicked that it can not received Jesus Christ. The heart of humans is outright depraved that it can not believe in the worthiest plan of God. The heart of humans is a heart of stone; it can not recognize the love of Jesus (Psalm 14:1). The judgment of God will come upon those who are selfish, indignant and disobedient, the doers of evil (Romans 2:8).

The sad thing is upon death, whether it brings fear or not, the judgment is inescapable

(Revelation 20:15). If we are without salvation, if we are without Jesus Christ in one’s life, if we are  without the real experience of redemption, our entity can never be found in the book of life. If we do not belong to the book of life, the we belong to the book of death. The judgement of hell awaits us if we miss this great offer of salvation (Revelation 21:8).

The judgement of the unrighteous is the result of the rejection of Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior.

Jesus Christ offered His life as a sacrifice for salvation. Jesus Christ would not offer relief for rejection. When He returns, he will judge both the righteous and the unrighteous. When will Jesus Christ receive His investment for salvation (1 Corinthians 6:1-2)? But mankind always finds excuse in putting off for tomorrow the salvation timely for the day.

There is a fable shared by William Barclay in The Gospel of Matthew published in 1975. This fable tells of three apprentice devils who were coming to this earth to finish their apprenticeship. They were talking to Satan, the chief of the devils, about their plans to tempt and to ruin humans. The first said, "I will tell them that there is no God." Satan said, "That will not delude many, for they know that there is a God." The second said, "I will tell men that there is no hell." Satan answered, "You will deceive no one that way; men know even now that there is a hell for sin." The third said, "I will tell men that there is no hurry." "Go," said Satan, "and you will ruin men by the thousands."

The most dangerous of all delusions is that there is plenty of time.

The only hope for unrighteous is the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus came into the world, He came as a Savior (John 3:17). When Jesus Christ resurrected into Heaven, He resurrected as the Son of God (John 11:25-26). When Jesus Christ returns into the world for the second time, He will no longer be a merciful Savior, but a righteous Judge (Revelations 19:11). Jesus Christ will be a righteous judge and rewarder of the faithful and believers. He will be a righteous judge and punisher of the unrighteous and unbelievers.

Who is Jesus Christ to you? Is He your Savior? Or is He your judge? Is Jesus Christ your personal Savior and Lord? Or is Jesus Christ your Judge and your Punisher?

The Lord reminds us that in Judgment nothing else beside our righteousness in Jesus will matter. It is only our salvation and righteousness in Jesus Christ that will determine our eternal destination.

Non-Christians often ask Christians, "But how can the God of love allow any of his creatures to suffer unending misery in hell?" The question actually should be, “How can He not? The fact that God is love makes hell necessary. "Hell," as E.L. Mascall once said, "is not compatible with God's love; it is a direct consequence of God’s love."E.L. Mascall stresses the fact that the very God who loves us is the one who respects our decisions. God loves us, but He does not force His love on us. To force love is to commit assault. God allows us to decide. God loves us, He encourages our response, He woos us, He pursues us, He urges us, but He does not force us, because He respects us. Going  to Hell is not about God’s hatred, it is about our own choice to spend our life in eternity there. It is not God’s choice at all.

To end, I wish to paraphrase John Hanna’s words when he said: “No one who is ever in hell will  be able to say to God in anger, "God, You put me here!" No one who is in heaven will ever be able to proudly say, "God, I put myself here!"

Jesus Christ is the Son of Man

Jesus Christ is the Son of Man

1 Timothy 2:5-6: For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.

Rosalind Goforth in The Christian Digest wrote about a story that came directly from Rev. Cunningham of South China: One day a well-dressed, intelligent looking man came to the Street Chapel. He sate and listened well for some time, then left. This was repeated three consecutive days. Then he rose and addressed the missionary, saying: “I have heard you speak three times and you always have the same text. Why don’t you change it?” Mr. Cunningham, somewhat surprised, asked, “What text?” “Jesus Chris,” was the reply. Aftera moment’s silence the missionary replied: “Sir, before answering your question, may I ask you: ‘What have you for dinner today?’”. “Rice”, replied the man. “What food had you yesterday?” Again came the reply---”Rice.” “And what do you expect to eat in the future?” “Rice, of course. Rice gives me strength. I could not do without it. Sir it is--” he hesitated as if for a strong word---”Sir, it is my very life!” The missionary raised his hand, and said: “That is just what I wanted from you. What you have just said  of rice, Jesus Christ is to our soul. Jesus Christ is the rice of life!”

Who called Jesus Christ as the Son of Man? Scriptures show that Jesus Christ referred to Himself as the Son of Man. While He walked on earth, no one else addressed Him by that title. He referred to Himself as the Son of Man when he announced that His hour to be glorified has come (John 12:23), introduced Himself as the Son of Man who has authority on earth to forgive sins (Matthew 3:6), taught about His sufferings, rejection, death, and resurrection (Matthew 8: 31), and proclaimed His position in the right hand of the Mighty Father (Mark 14:61-62).

The designation “Son of Man” occurs very often in the four Gospels, i.e, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. According to J. Rodman Williams, author of Renewal Theology, the phrase referring to Jesus Christ occurred 82 times and in in more than 40 occasions. Beyond the four Gospels, the expression referring to Jesus Christ is found only three times, when Stephen saw Jesus Christ before his death from stoning (Acts 7:56), when John saw the revelation of the end times (Revelation 1:13), and when John saw the coming judgment (Revelation 14:14).

When Jesus Christ referred to Himself as “the Son of Man”, He referred to Himself as a human. As all humans are children of humans (Mark 3:28 KJV), even so, Jesus Christ as “the Son of man” is a human. He is a member of the human race. Old Testament passages also provide evidence that the phrase “son of man” refers to a human (Psalm 8:4 KJV; Psalm 80:17 KJV; Isaiah 51:12 KJV; Ezekiel 2:1 KJV). These references simply reinforces that fact that Jesus Christ basically refer to His own reality as a human being.

We can see Jesus Christ as fully God and fully human. As fully human, Jesus Christ can be viewed in 5 perspectives.

Jesus Christ, the Representative Human

Jesus Christ first and foremost represents all mankind. He is not only the son of David, or the son of Abraham, He is also the son of Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45; 1 Corinthians 15:47). So, even as Adam represented the human race, so does Jesus Christ, the second Adam, represents all humanity.

As He was born of a human mother, grew up in Nazareth, ministered in Judea and Galilee, tried before the Sanhedrin, stood before Pilate, mocked and scourged, received the crown of thorns, and brought before the frenzied crowd, Jesus Christ is fully human. 

Being the last Adam, Jesus Christ is truly the first. For in Jesus Christ, God’s original pattern for human existence is represented. At every situation and every occasion, Jesus Christ demonstrated what it means to be a human. He demonstrated dignity (Colossians 1:15) and humility (Philippians 2:7), righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30) and compassion (Mark 6:34; Matthew 9:36; Luke 15:1-2), forthrightness (Matthew 23:33) and longsuffering (2 Peter 3:9), love for enemies (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27), and holiness in times of temptation (Matthew 4:10; Hebrews 4:15). In the humanhood of Jesus Christ is exemplified the manhood as God intended it to be. In Jesus Christ is the pattern or the model of genuine humanity. 

The New Testament did not actually describe the appearance of Jesus Christ. Is this strange? This is simply because Jesus Christ is a universal man, a representative of humankind. Often times, Jesus Christ is portrayed with slant eyes by the some people. Jesus Christ is portrayed as the black Nazarene. There are times, Jesus Christ is represented with blond hair. This a way the world perceived Jesus Christ as a universal man (Hebrews 2:17). Indeed, Jesus Christ took upon Himself the nature of humans, therefore He is the man for all men.

Jesus Christ, the Real Human

Jesus Christ is the Son of God and He is truly divine. Jesus Christ is also the Son of man and He is truly human (1 John 1:1). According to John the Beloved, this hearing, this seeing, and this touching of Jesus Christ in person is truly an evidence of Jesus’ human nature. Paul proclaimed Jesus Christ as a descendant of David (Romans 1:1-4). The author of Hebrews aptly described Jesus Christ’s humanity (Hebrews 5:7 (KJV). Paul shared with Timothy the manifestation of Godhead in Jesus Christ through the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16).

The biblical emphasis on Jesus Christ’s humanity is very important. First and foremost, we should understand the biblical truth that the Son of God had actually come in the flesh (2 John 7; Romans 8:3-4; Philippians 2:5-8:) In the book of Romans, Paul spoke about God sending His son Jesus Christ in the “likeness” of sinful nature (Romans 8:3). It is in this likeness to sinful nature that Jesus Christ identified Himself will all people that His flesh even seemed to be sinful. Yet it is in this human flesh that Jesus Christ was able to fulfil God’s role for Him. In His human flesh, he carried the sins of the world (1 Peter 2:24). As God does not identify with sin because He is God (James 1:13), a human flesh is needed to carry the sins of the world (2 Corinthians 5:19-21). Jesus Christ becoming fully human fulfills that requirement. If Jesus Christ were only fully God, then there would not sacrifice for sin, and no salvation from sin.

Measured by the humanity of Jesus Christ, all else will fall far short. There is no other who fulfil the plan of God for the salvation of mankind.

Jesus Christ, the Total Human

Jesus Christ is completely God, and he is also completely human. Every inch of Jesus is human (Hebrews 2:14). In every way, Jesus lived a fully human life. He was born of a woman (Galatians 4:4). He grew up from childhood to manhood, increasing in stature and wisdom and favor with God and man (Luke 2:52). He became hungry (Luke 4:2) and needed to eat (Luke 5:30). He became thirsty (John 19:28) and needed to drink (John 4:7). Jesus Christ became tired (John 4:6) and he also slept (Mark 4:38). Working first as carpenter (Mark 6:3), Jesus Christ claimed that He was constantly at work (John 9:4). Amazing as it is, He also paid taxes (Matthew 17:24-25)! Jesus Christ experienced joy (Luke 10:21) and sorrow (Matthew 26:37-38). He was also angry (Mark 3:5) and suffered grief (John 11:35). He experienced indignation (Mark 10:14), was astonished (Luke 7:9) and suffered from great pain and anguish (Matthew 27:46). As a human being, He cared so much for His mother (John 19:27).

The  most outstanding truth about the humanity of Jesus Christ though, is His experiencing temptation (Mark 1:13, Matthew 4:1, and Luke 4:1-2). He was not only tempted at the beginning of His ministry. He was also tempted in every way (Hebrews 4:15). These temptations of Jesus Christ are real. The fact that He is the Son of God does not change the other fact that He is also the Son of man. He was sorely tempted, He was tried and during His temptations, Jesus Christ also needed comfort and strength (Mark 1:13; Luke 22:42-43).

Jesus Christ, from birth to death, was a total man. In every dimension of His human nature: body, soul and spirit, He is human.

Jesus Christ, the Perfect Human

In Jesus Christ, the perfection of humanity was displayed (John 8:46-47; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5). These Scriptures, written plainly and without ambiguity, show us the fact that in a world of sin and evil, Jesus Christ lived a life of purity and righteousness. 

Most of the time, we fall short and we fail because we do not understand what it means to be sinless. John 8:29 and Mark 10:45 gives us the best picture of the perfect human. We know that love of God above all else, and love of neighbor as oneself are the two greatest commandments. These two greatest commandments were perfectly fulfilled in Jesus Christ alone. These are what God requires of us. These are the roadmaps to human perfection. If we can not do these, then we can never be like Jesus Christ.

How did Jesus attain this perfection? Is it something magical? Is it something divine and not human? we should remember that Jesus Christ is a real human being, a total human being (Philippians 2:6-8).  

Here is the secret to Jesus Christ’s perfection. Being humble to self is the expression of

the perfection of human. The perfection of Jesus Christ is a continuous experience, as He underwent many sufferings. He did not only suffer during His last days, He suffered from the very beginning of His ministry (Hebrews 5:7-10). Jesus Christ, being a perfect man has to learn obedience. With obedience, Jesus Christ remained faithful to the end.

The perfection of Jesus Christ pertain to His being sinless. There are important truths that we need to understand today about Jesus Christ sinlessness. First of all, Jesus Christ is fully human. He is sinless not because He is God, but because He chose not to (Hebrews 4:15). Notice that the Scripture says “yet He did not sin.” What if we change for a while that phrase. What if Paul wrote “yet He can not sin.” If Jesus Christ cannot sin, then we are convinced that He is fully God. If Jesus Christ did not sin, then we are convinced that His sinfulness is a matter of choice. And Jesus Christ chose not to sin. Secondly, the New Testament did not say anything about Jesus Christ being sinless because He was God and therefore can not sin. Mark 3:5 and Mark 11:15-16 described how Jesus Christ was angry. He was angry at various moments of His life. Why is anger dangerous? Jesus Christ knew that being angry does not produce the righteousness that God the Father desires (James 1:20). In fact, the Scripture speaks of anger as an evil worse than murder (Matthew 5:21-22). Anger is considered sin by the New Testament. Jesus Christ was angry. Yet He did not sin. He chose not to sin. Rather He choose to display the same anger that His Father displayed. Jesus Christ displayed the anger of righteousness of the righteous and holy One who can not tolerate sin.  It is not that Jesus Christ can not sin, but Jesus Christ, just like His God the Father, can not tolerate sin.

Here now is Jesus Christ who has the inability of perfect love to violate either God or humans. Jesus Christ is sinless because of His continuing victory over every kind of temptation. The fact that Jesus Christ never sinned is not portrayed as deriving from His divine nature, but as a continuing fact of His human life and action. In other words, sinlessness is Jesus Christ’s life, deeds, thoughts, and actions.

Jesus Christ, the Anointed Human

First, let us understand what the word “Christ” mean? The word comes the Greek ‘Christos’, which means anointed. It is equivalent to the Hebrew word ‘machiach’, which means the “anointed one of God”. Old Testament history  tells us that to be anointed, literally is to have sacred oil poured on one’s head, as a symbol of being chosen for a special task (1 Samuel 10:1). Priest (Exodus 40:15; Numbers 3:3) and kings (1 Samuel 9:16; 1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Kings 1:34) are anointed, and occasionally, prophets (1 kings 19:16). This is most often used to refer to a king, who received sacred oil during their coronation rather than a crown.

Jesus Christ, as a pure human, is God’s anointed. Is it therefore assumed that God the Father appointed Him as king of the world while He walked on Earth (Matthew 2:1-2; John 12:12-19)? If Jesus Christ were anointed as king of the world just like Saul being anointed by Samuel to be king of Israel, then why did Jesus Christ receive a crown of thorns, instead (Matthew 27:29; John 19:2)?

We can look at Jesus Christ as an anointed human in two ways. Firstly, Jesus Christ was God’s anointed as the Word made flesh in order to bring the message of God’s plan to the world (Luke 4:14-21). The parable of the wicked husbandmen in Luke 20, Mark 21, and Mark 12 illustrates this. Jesus Christ, Himself the Son of God, is anointed by God the Father as a human, to be bring the gospel of salvation to the world. Secondly, Jesus Christ was anointed by God to display the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:21). As humans are anointed with oil at the start of their calling, Jesus Christ received the anointing of the Holy Spirit when His works began. Thus the very beginning of Jesus Christ’s ministry, He was anointed by the Spirit of God (Acts 10:34-38).

Jesus Christ was anointed by the Holy Spirit for power to minister. This is not an anointing as a Son of God. This is an anointing by the Holy Spirit as a Son of Man (Acts 2:22). Peter attested to the fact that Jesus Christ ministered for 3 years as a human being with the power of the Holy Spirit! It was Jesus Christ, the human, who was anointed with the Holy Spirit, and in the power resulting from this anointing He brought about manifold and marvelous works of God.

As God, Jesus Christ also performed the miracles as the Son of God (Matthew 14:22-23). But in many instances, Jesus Christ as an anointed human performed God’s miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ moved constantly in the power of the Holy Spirit, and wherever Jesus Christ goes, He preaches the good news of salvation, brings healings, and deliverances.

What do you think of Jesus?

Jesus is a representative human who represented humanity to the throne of God. Jesus Christ is a real human so he can fulfil the plan of God for the salvation of mankind. In every dimension of Jesus Christ’s human nature: body, soul and spirit, He is totally human.

He is a perfect human as He chose not to sin. He is an anointed human because the power of the Holy Spirit was upon Him. 

Elim Evangel asked the questions to different people about Jesus Christ.

“Pharisees, with what would you reproach Jesus?” The Pharisee answered, “He eats with tax collectors and sinners.”

“And you, Caiaphas, what have you  to say of Jesus?” Caiaphas answered, “He is a blasphemer, because He said ‘Hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting in the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven.’”

“Pilate, what is you opinion?” Pilate answered, “I find no fault in this Man."

“And you, Judas, who have sold your Master for silver, do you have some fearful charge to hurl against Him?” Judas answered instead, “I have sinned, in that I have betrayed innocent Blood.”

“And you, centurion and soldiers, who led Him to the Cross, what have you to say against Him?” The centurion answered, “Truly, this is the Son of God.:

“And you, demons?”  The demons chorused, “He is the Son of God.”

“John the Baptist, what think you of Christ?” John the Baptist answered, “Behold the Lamb of God.”

“And you, John the apostle?” “He is the bright and morning Star.” 

“Peter, what say you of your Master?” Peter replied, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

“And you, Thomas, the doubter?” Thomas replied, “My Lord and My God!”

“Paul, you have persecuted Jesus Christ, what testify you against Him?” Paul answered, “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.”

“Angels of Heaven, what think you of Jesus?” Angels proclaim, “Unto you is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!”

“And Thou, Father in Heaven, who knowest all Things?” “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus Christ is the Son of God

D. M. Stearns was preaching in Philadelphia. At the close of the service a stranger came up to him and said, "I don't like the way you spoke about the cross. I think that instead of emphasizing the death of Christ, it would be far better to preach Jesus, the teacher and example." Stearns replied, "If I presented Christ in that way, would you be willing to follow Him?" "I certainly would," said the stranger without hesitation. "All right then," said the preacher, "let's take the first step. He did no sin. Can you claim that for yourself?" The man looked confused and somewhat surprised. "Why, no," he said. "I acknowledge that I do sin." Stearns replied, "Then your greatest need is to have a Savior, not an example!

The basic truth of the Christian faith is the fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Let us face the facts about this Christian claim.

First, there are supernatural declarations about the sonship of Jesus Christ. The angel proclaimed to Mary that the holy One who will be born from her will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35). The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus Christ when he was baptized by John the baptist and God the Father spoke from heaven, and proclaimed that Jesus Christ is His Son, with whom He is well pleased (Luke 3:21-22). Even the devil himself challenged Jesus Christ as the Son of God during his attempts of temptations (Luke 4:3, 9). The demons that Jesus Christ rebuked are wailing in recognition that He is the Son of God (Luke 4:41). Even Jesus Christ Himself know Himself as the Son of God in His parables (Luke 20:9-19) and during His trial before the elders (Luke 22:70).

There are also personal revelations about the sonship of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures. John the Baptist testified that Jesus Christ is God’s Chosen One (John 1:34). His disciples worshipped Him, claiming that indeed, He is the Son of God (Matthew 14:33). Simon Peter called Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:15-17). Paul claimed that God has revealed His Son, Jesus Christ, to him so he may preach Jesus Christ among the Gentiles (Galatians 1:16). John the Beloved wrote the he indeed knows that Jesus Christ is both the true God and the Son of God (1 John 5:20).

The knowledge of the sonship of Jesus Christ is also made true through the perception of faith. For whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony, and whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son (1 John 5:10). The Scriptures were written so that people may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing people may have life in His name (John 20:31:). And anyone who refuses Jesus Christ actually refuses both the testimonies of Him and the gift of eternal life (John 5:39-40). Ultimately, the blessings come to those who have not seen Jesus Christ yet believed in Him (John 20:27-29).

Jesus Christ is God’s unique Son.

Jesus Christ is not only God’s Son, He is God’s unique son. John 3:16 proclaims that Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son. God did not create any other Son or send any Son other than Jesus Christ Himself. Although it is true that the believers are also called sons of God by divine adoption (Galatians 3:26-27; Galatians 4:4-5; John 1:12-13). Yet there is only One begotten Son of God, and that is Jesus Christ. He is God’s unique Son. According to J. Rodman Williams, author of Renewal Theology, there is therefore a transcendence about Jesus Christ that goes beyond the highest of earthly designation. That means to say that we can place Jesus only on a level beyond this world. Jesus Christ is no ordinary human because He is the Son of God.

John 3:16 describe the manner by which God designated Jesus’ role in the world. This Scripture proclaim this very truth, that “He gave” His only begotten Son. It is plain to see that God can not give what He did not have. Jesus Christ therefore is the only Son from the Father. Jesus Christ is specifically, the pre-existing Son of God (John 1:3) and His personal bearer of His character and will (Hebrews 1:1-2). Hence, the Son of God, Jesus, who is also the Word in the Scripture (John 1:1), existed before all creation. This pre-existence of Jesus Christ should also be understood as eternal Exodus 3;14; John 8:58). There was never a time that Jesus Christ was not.

Jesus Christ as the Son of God is equal to the Father. His sonship, hence, does not imply subordination. Jesus Christ Himself called God His Father, making Himself equal with God (John 5:18; Philippians 2:6). Throughout the ministry of Jesus, this equality of Jesus Christ with the Father is apparent (John 5:21; John 6:40; John 6:44; John 6:54). Even so, the equality of Jesus with God the Father is illustrated in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19).

Jesus Christ as the Son of God is distinct from God the Father. John 1:1 strongly suggests a separate entity. Even while Jesus Christ existed with the Father from the very beginning (John 17:5; Revelations 22:13), Jesus Christ was separate entity from the Father (Luke 23:46). Therefore, the Son was eternally with the Father in His own uniqueness, distinctness, and personhood.

A preacher once met a member of a cult who challenged his views about the deity of Christ. "You say that Jesus Christ is coequal with the eternal Father, but He cannot be, for no son is ever as old as the one who has begotten him." The minister thought for a moment and then replied, "You yourself have just called God the eternal Father. Have you ever thought that statement through? Don't you realize that God can only be the eternal Father if He has an eternal Son? If you would rethink your position in the light of the Scriptures, you would see that eternal Fatherhood demands eternal Sonship!"

Jesus Christ was Chosen to fulfill God’s plan.

God the Father personally spoke from Heaven and proclaimed that Jesus Christ is His chosen (Luke 9:35). He was God’s elect and chosen one. The Old Testament records that God also called the nation of Israel as His chosen one (Exodus 4:22-23; Deuteronomy 7:6). God has chosen Israel out of many nations.

As God called the nation of Israel as His son for a special purpose, He called Jesus Christ His chosen one to fulfill His wonderful plan. This wonderful plan is simply to fulfill His great love for Israel (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). God chose Israel because He loves Israel. God also expects Israel to love Him and be obedient to Him. Jesus Christ was chosen to stand between the people that He loves and the justice of the holiness that He possesses. Thus, Jesus Christ lives and dies as a lamb of sacrifice for the payment of sin of God’s people.

Consider that Jesus Christ will be born on Earth not to live as a frail human but to live a holy life as the Son of God (Luke 1:35). There is a special purpose, a divine plan for Jesus Christ’s life of holiness. A blameless, sinless, selfless sacrifice is needed to pay the penalty of sins (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:22). God the Father knows that only His Son Jesus, His beloved One, His chosen One can obey Him to the point of death (Philippians 2:8).

As Israel whom God the Father loves so much and chooses to be a holy nation failed Him, God knows that His Son Jesus Christ will not fail Him. God wants His plan for salvation to be fulfilled for all humanity. God chose His very own Son to fulfill that plan.

Jesus Christ is the personal embodiment of God.

John 1:1 did not only proclaim that the Word was with God, but it also emphasized that the Word was God Himself.

There are three biblical evidences that bear witness to the deity of Jesus Christ.

Firstly, Jesus Christ’s words and actions bear witness to His being God. Jesus Christ pronounced forgiveness of sins in many instances (Mark 2:5; John 8:10-11: 10; Mark 2:9): Jesus controlled the forces of nature (Matthew 14: 31, 33; Matthew 14: 18-21). Jesus Christ Himself declared that He is not only the Son of God, he is God Himself (John 10:30, 33).

Secondly, the titles given to Jesus Christ are evidences of His being divine. John the Baptist referred to Jesus Christ as Lord in Matthew 3:3 in reference to Isaiah 40:3. Simon Peter called Jesus Christ as Lord (Luke 5:8). Andrew called Jesus Christ as the Messiah (John 1:41). The Samaritan believers claimed that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world (John 4:42). Simon Peter called Jesus Christ the Holy One of God (John 6:69). Even the impure spirit recognized Jesus Christ as the Holy One of God (Mark 1:24). Billy Sunday, in a sermon, "Wonderful," quoted in The Real Billy Sunday the following reason why Jesus Christ has so many names: “There are two hundred and fifty-six (256) names given in the Bible for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I suppose this was because He was infinitely beyond all that any one name could express”.

Thirdly, NT scriptures directly identify Jesus Christ as God Himself. Other than John 1:1, we can also find evidences that Jesus Christ is God (John 1:18; John 20:28; Romans 9:5; Philippians 2:5-7). Colossians 2:9 says in Christ the fullness of God is represented, thus he is fully divine. Jesus Christ is described in Titus 2:13 as our great God and Savior.

To believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God is the foundation of Christian faith. This belief is far more than a matter of affirmation of the mind. Duane Litfin, in "Serving a Glorified Christ," from Preaching Today, wrote about John MacArthur's encounter with a man who went around California talking about how Jesus regularly appeared to him. One time he was telling John that Jesus had appeared to him that morning while he was shaving. John MacArthur asked, "What did you do?" He said, "I just kept on shaving." And John said, "Then that wasn't Jesus."

Not all who affirm that Jesus Christ is God has faith. Even the Enemy and the demons affirm that Jesus Christ is God. Recognizing Jesus Christ as the Son of God is a matter of recognition and trust of the heart. In fact, believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God brings about a change in our lives.