Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. - Psalm 119:105

Bible Study Notes

Who is Jesus PI

By Dr. Richard J. Krejcir
Impressions from God's Word 53

Who is Jesus PI?

"Very truly I tell you," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" John 8:58

Key verses: John 1:1-14; 8:58; 10:30; 14:6; 20:28; 2 Peter 1:1

Key personalities:  God as the Trinity, Jesus, and the Disciples.

Timeline:  The God of Eternity; then, He entered the world as a Man, being fully God and fully Man, at a fixed point in time, about 4-6 B.C.

Do you know who Jesus is?  He is the face of God, the One who eternally lives and reveals to us the Father.  He is the one who gives you life and the Light of the World for your salvation!   He is the WORD!  We know God by knowing Christ, who is God.  We know Him by knowing His written Word that carries to us His living Word.  Are you living your life because of Who He is and what He has done for you?  Are you forever devoted to Christ as LORD?  Does your character reflect Who Christ is and what He is doing in you?  Do you believe in the eternal Christ?  Are you living up to what you believe with trust and hope?  If not, why not (1 Pet. 4:19)?

Key Happenings:  Jesus is the Eternal Creator God Who gives us Redemption!

Jesus is Eternal!  John Chapters 1 and 8

In the beginning, before all things were created or made, God the Personal, always-existing, eternally-loving, most Holy God.  He is the Word Who has always been and Who always will be.  He is the eternal One Who forever was, forever is, and forever will be.  He was with God, is with God, and will always, consistently be with God because He is the God everlasting.  He is and was and will be.  He was the beginning, He is the now, and will be the future, all with God, all as God. He is the only one God who created everything--all that there was, all that is, and all that will be.  He created it all.

The point is that if we have life by Him, then we accept Him.  We should then love Him with our love being demonstrated in how we follow His precepts.  He is still fully God and demonstrates this by His resurrection, which enables Him to conduct our salvation (Isa. 43:10-11; John 1:18; Rom. 16:27; 1 Thess. 3:4; 1 John 1:2).

Jesus IS God!  The Word was God.  Here, it basically means that Jesus Christ is God. There is only One God (monotheism), and He is the eternal God Who holds all things and Who holds us.  Jesus is the embodiment of God, the Law, and the revelation of the Scriptures.  This is the only human word that has ever been fathomed that comes closest to our understanding Who God is.

"Son of man."  This is the Messianic title of Christ, and it refers to Christ as Lord and King!  It also refers to God's bringing about the opportunity for people to repent for having caused Him grief.  Then, the Kingdom of Heaven will flourish (Dan. 7:13-14; Zech. 12:10; Rev. 1:7).  This is also a "Semitic" form as an indication for--or the identification with--humanity (Dan. 7:13-14; Mark 9:9, 12, 31; 10:33-34; 14:21, 41; Matt. 24:30-26:64; John 1:51; 8:12-30; Heb. 2:5-11; Rev. 1:13; 14:14).

This all means Christ is the eternal God and that we can trust Him!  

We can have real active faith in and hope in Him. There is a distinction of God to Christ--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three Persons, but with one essence; three manifestations and Personalities and roles, but One Godhead (Gen. 1:3; Ex. 34:12-22; Deut. 32:46-47; Psalm 19:8; 33:6; 119: 105, 130; Isa. 6:1-13; 44:6; Hos. 1:1; John 1:1-13, 17; 12:41; 17:5; Rom. 9:5; 1 Cor. 8:4; Phil. 2:6-8; Col. 2:9; Rev. 19:13).

Jesus gives us Life!  He is the Creator!  All that exists is from Him--our physical and spiritual lives, the world in which we live, the substances we need.  Everything and all things are from Christ.  One of our chief goals in the Christian faith is to commit to faith and practice our obedience with joy and passion!  This statement is also an affirmation to the Deity of Jesus Christ (Ex. 20:12; Deut. 5:16; 8:1; 11:9; Psalm 123; John 5:26; 6:57; 8:12; 9:5; 10:10, 28; 11:25; 14:6; 17:3; 20:31).

Jesus Fulfills the Law!  The Law is now fulfilled, but we are still called to trust and obey God and His written Word so we can be agents who ignite a dimly lit world, and who dispel sin by dispensing righteousness as a display in order for others to see God. Because we are filled with sin, He takes our place in life in pure perfection, to not just die for us, but also live for us, too (Psalm 119:105; Isa. 9:2; Matt. 14:6; John 8:12).

Jesus is the Light!  This refers to God's blessing of Israel first though the Patriarchs, to have God's face to shine upon you.  Jesus is the Source of light and life.  This blessing is offered to all of humanity.  Christ is what is never-ending and what is true. He made the world and all things.  Darkness corrupted everything.  Sin blinded people from the Truth so they needed His light to know God and to live.  We can now see the Light, the hope and love of God, accept His saving grace to become the children of God, and be reborn.  All of these gifts come only from God.  This also refers to the good news of Christ, the Gospel, and the true truth that God so loved the world, He came to save those who do not deserve or merit it (Ex. 13:21; 25:37; Lev. 24:2; Num. 6:24-26; Psalm 19:1-11; 27:1; 80:3-19; 119:105; Isa. 9:2; 42:6; 49:6; Ezek. 1:4-28; Matt. 11:11; John 3:16; 4:24; 6:32; 8:12; 9:5; 10:7-14; 11:25; 12:35-36; 14:6; Acts 19:1-3; Rom. 1:19-20; 2:12-16; Eph. 5:8-14; 1 John 1:5-).

The world did not recognize him/receive Him.  This refers to the people who are opposed to God.  Jesus' coming was the most incredible event of all time, yet He was not welcomed by most.  He was scoffed at, and then martyred.  The religious Jews were so wrapped up in their traditions and assumptions that they did not seek the One True God or really honor Him with faith and trust.  Thus, the world did not recognize God's Word, His call, His principles, or His Son (John 17:5, 14-15).

Grace is free and can never be implemented by human achievement, yet there is a call for us to receive it.  He gives us the faith, but we have to take it, work it, and grow it (Eph. 2:8-10).

He gave the right.  Only God gives us entrance into His presence and family, and this is by grace alone, the undeserved gift of God (Eph 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; John 2:29).

In Jesus Christ, we are His Children!  This refers to those who received Christ as Lord and Savior by the action of the Holy Spirit.  This is about our new life in Christ that removes us from the penalty of death into an intimate relationship with Him. This is not by birthright or ethnicity or by human will or works; rather, it is a gift of God we receive and build on.  God regenerates us.  He is the One who initiates and presents us with salvation.  He is Sovereign as well as pure, holy, and has the perfect, complete, holy means to know who one of the elect is; and His way is perfect.  Our way, if it were possible, would be extremely flawed and ineffective.  He is the only One who can save us.  It is only by His work and decree (John 3:1-21; 5:24; Rom. 6:4-6; 9:18; Eph. 2:1; 2:5; Col. 2:13; 3:1).

Jesus' Supremacy, The Sovereign Ruler!  This refers to His Lordship, Supremacy, Sovereign Ruler, and the Holiness of God and is the reference to Who He is, requiring our utmost and highest respect and our call to give Him praise for His glory. "To God alone be the glory" that life and all purpose is to give God glory (1 Kings 8:1-11; Matt. 17:1-8; John 17:5).

Jesus gives us Grace and Truth!  Grace and truth means the covenant that God has with humanity and His steadfast purpose to keep and fulfill it.  "Truth" refers to the reality and relevance of God for us now.  It also refers to the Law and God's patience with and mercy for His people who were not keeping it, bearing it, or respecting it.  Now Christ comes to fulfill the Law and bring us God's grace.

This is a key principle of our Christian faith that means we are holy in Christ; He sets us apart for a reason and a purpose.

Our life has meaning and value; therefore, Jesus wants that meaning for our lives to be infused by Him so that the purpose becomes to glorify Him, enjoy grace and fellowship in Him, and share it with others (Gen. 24:27; Ex. 34:6; Psalm 25:10; 26:3; 73:24-28; Prov. 16:6;John 17:21-23; Rom. 1:6-7; 11:36; 1 Cor. 10:11; Eph. 1:5-8; 2:7; 1 Thess. 3:11)

Christianity is not earned or presumed; it is not learned or reasoned.  It is not built or formed.  It is not inherited or purchased.  It is something that no price can ever lay hold of--except the price paid on our behalf by Christ!  Yet, once we have it, we can learn, learn, reason, inherit His character and eternal life, and continually build upon it.  For us to have real effectual faith, we have to receive Jesus Christ as our own.  We cannot receive Christ through our parents, our church or religion.  We are each called to Him for personal relationship by faith in Christ by the grace of God--faith that is genuine, relevant, and personal.  Our faith and knowledge in Christ must be received initially by each of us in such a way that only the Holy Ghost enables us to do.

The chief end and purpose of a child of God is to please God and enjoy Him, which Jesus demonstrates here.  

We are called to holiness, not just to love and trust our Lord, but because of gratitude for His grace and patience, we are called to pursue faith and exhibit loyalty, goodness, and love with thankfulness and submission.  Do not allow your life to be dim or you may slowly find yourself so far away from the Light you will be making bad choices and living in darkness and dismay without enjoyment because of your own apathy and/or pride (Psalm 73:25; 86:9; Isa. 60:21; Rom. 11:36; 1 Cor. 1:30; Gal. 5:21-23; Col. 1:27; 1 Pet. 1:5, 13-21)!

Jesus will set you free!  This is referring to the redemption we receive from Jesus that frees us not from political or social bondage, but gives us spiritual freedom that affects all of life and thinking.  When we commit to and follow through with Jesus' teaching, we hold to His truth, because He is the truth the embodiment of "real reality." "Set you free" means to setting a slave free, and how wondrous it would be for them.  Following truth will set you free from the bondage of bad thinking that leads to sin that leads to a bad or nonexistent relationship with God.  Without a commitment to the Truth of our Lord, we will stay in sin and dysfunction (Isa. 56:5; Ezek. 46:16-17; John 2:16; 14:6-10; 18:37; Eph. 1:13; Col. 1:1-8; 2 Tim. 2:15; James 1:18).

Key Takeaway:  Jesus is God!  Many people will not believe it, so what does Jesus do about it?  It is the same situations and responses we have today!

Keep in mind that we, by nature, are all children of wrath.  We are sinners, seeking our own pride, and are willfully disobedient.  In Christ, we have the choice and power to become children of God (John 1:12-13; Rom. 9:30-10:13; Eph. 2:2-3).

God is more interested in how we are than what we are.  He wants us to be good more than He cares what we do in vocation or living.  He wants character, faith, and fruit from our spiritual growth, not spiritual descent from our disobedience, lack of faith, pride, or relying on what is not true or fleeting, like relying on one's ancestry as these religious leaders were doing.

The Call to the Church?  Are you inventing or following Jesus?  Many churches are personality-driven, placing the focus on making God into their own image-inventing their own user-friendly Jesus. Thus, the Gospel is reduced and diluted into a mere personal narrative that has no real depth or impact.  This is most certainly not the Church.  Let us not do this; rather, let us surrender to His Lordship!

Questions to Ponder

  1. What gives you the most assurance in your life?
  2. How does these passages attest that Jesus is fully God? What does one need to do to make sure the Christ's light shines into his/her heart and puts out the darkness?
  3. What does being dependent upon Christ mean to you? Is there more than just dependence?
  4. What would a living union/relationship which Christ Himself look like in your life? How would a living relationship with Christ be made known to those around you?
  5. Do you realize Who Jesus Christ is? If so, has His transcendence transformed you?
  6. How is Jesus your life source and reason? How can He help you be a light in darkness?
  7. How is Jesus personal to you? What does it mean that He is the always existing, eternal, loving, most Holy God?
  8. How is Christ your Life? How does this affect how you live and the choices you make? How can this determine your longevity and effectiveness?
  9. What is your chief goal in the Christian faith? What does it need to be? How can you better commit your obedience to your faith and practice with joy and passion?
  10. What do you need to do to take your life more seriously? What is the application of your duty from this passage?
  11. We are to keep our eyes centered upon the Lord, and please Him as our chief ambition in life (Gal. 5:1; Col. 3:1-4). What steps do you need to take to make this more of a reality in your life?
  12. The question inlayed in these passage is what will you do now? How then shall you live? What are you going to do to play your faith forward?

© 2014 R. J. Krejcir, Ph.D. Into Thy Word Ministries www.intothyword.org

 

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