To download a copy
of today’s lesson go to
TheGoodTeacher.com
and click on “Gospel Meetings”
Defend Your Faith
Lesson 4
Is Jesus the Divine Son of God?
Presented by Chris Reeves * Warfield Blvd. church of Christ * Gospel Meeting * October 23, 2011
“But sanctify the Lord God in your
hearts: and be ready always to give an
answer to every man that asketh you a
reason of the hope that is in you with
meekness and fear” – 1 Peter 3:15
Jesus Is the Divine Son of God
• Ready to give an answer (1 Peter 3:15)
• The importance of this question (John 8:24)
• Two facts and two alternatives
• The six practical lessons that come from this
question (John 1:1,14,18; Matthew 16:16-18;
Acts 4:11-12; Philippians 2:5ff; Hebrews 2:18;
Revelation 5:8-14).
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was 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.”
“No man hath seen God at any time, the only
begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the
Father, he hath declared him.”
- John 1:1,14,18
“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art
the Christ, the Son of the living God. And
Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed
art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and
blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my
Father which is in heaven. And I say also
unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this
rock I will build my church; and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it”
– Matthew 16:16-18
“This is the stone which was set at
nought of you builders, which is
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” – Acts 4:11-12
“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:
But made himself of no reputation, and took
upon him the form of a servant, and was
made in the likeness of men: And being
found in fashion as a man, he humbled
himself, and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the cross”
– Philippians 2:5-8
“For in that he himself hath suffered being
tempted, he is able to succour them that are
tempted” – Hebrews 2:18
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but
was in all points tempted like as we are, yet
without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto
the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need”
– Hebrews 4:15-16
“And when he had taken the book, the four
beasts and four and twenty elders fell
down before the Lamb, having every one
of them harps, and golden vials full of
odours, which are the prayers of saints …
And the four beasts said, Amen. And the
four and twenty elders fell down and
worshipped him that liveth for
ever and ever” – Revelation 5:8,14
Presenting Your Case for Jesus
• Biblical testimony
– He pre-existed as the Son of God (John 1:1; 8:58)
– He was born the Son of God (Matthew 1:18-25)
– He lived as the Son of God (Matthew 3:17; 17:5)
– He died as the Son of God (1 Peter 3:18)
– He was raised as the Son of God (Romans 1:4)
– He commissioned as the Son of God (Mt. 28:18-20)
– He ascended as the Son of God (Acts 2:36)
Presenting Your Case for Jesus
• Fulfilled prophetic testimony (Luke 24:44-46)
• Miraculous testimony (John 11:39-53; 12:9-10)
• Pauline testimony (Acts 9:1-19; 22:1-16; 26:1-23)
• External historical testimony (Jewish historians and
Roman historians, circumstantial evidence)
Presenting Your Case for Jesus
• Jesus was a liar (John 7:45-46)
“And some of them would have taken
him; but no man laid hands on him.
Then came the officers to the chief
priests and Pharisees; and they said
unto them, Why have ye not brought
him? The officers answered, Never
man spake like this man”
– John 7:44-46
Presenting Your Case for Jesus
• Jesus was a liar (John 7:45-46)
• Jesus was a lunatic (Matthew 7:28-29)
“And it came to pass, when Jesus had
ended these sayings, the people were
astonished at his doctrine: For he
taught them as one having authority,
and not as the scribes”
– Matthew 7:28-29
Presenting Your Case for Jesus
• Jesus was a liar (John 7:45-46)
• Jesus was a lunatic (Matthew 7:28)
• Jesus was Lord (Matthew 14:33; 27:54)
“Then they that were in the ship came and
worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art
the Son of God” – Matthew 14:33
“Now when the centurion, and they that were
with him, watching Jesus, saw the
earthquake, and those things that were
done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this
was the Son of God” – Matthew 27:54
Jesus Claims to Be the Son of God
( What Are the Choices? )
Liar
Lunatic
Lord
He knew
his claims
were false
He did
not know
his claims
were false
He knew
his claims
were true,
He is Lord
He was
deluded,
a lunatic,
and a fool
You can
accept him
or
reject him
He was a
liar, a hypocrite, and
a fool
Answering Objections to Jesus
Objection #1: Jesus was a well-known religious leader,
but just an ordinary man.
• The entire earthly life of Jesus from start to finish
was far from ordinary. This was demonstrated in this
lesson with evidence from the Bible, miracles, Paul,
and external sources.
Answering Objections to Jesus
Objection #2: Jesus only claimed to be the Son of God,
but he was not actually the Son of God. He was made
out to be (a lie) divine by his followers.
• If the Gospel writers lied, why did they do so to the
point of death? Why did thousands believe them to
the point of death? Why did they propagate their lies
so soon during the lifetime of the eyewitnesses?
• There are indeed religious movements based upon
liars and deceivers (Matthew 24:5,23-24). But,
Christianity lacks the characteristics of these false
movements (Acts 5:36-39).
“For before these days rose up Theudas,
boasting himself to be somebody; to whom
a number of men, about four hundred,
joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as
many as obeyed him, were scattered, and
brought to nought. After this man rose up
Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing,
and drew away much people after him: he
also perished; and all, even as many as
obeyed him, were dispersed” – Acts 5:36-37
Answering Objections to Jesus
Objection #3: I don’t have enough evidence to believe
that Jesus is the divine Son of God.
• This is held, but not for rational reasons. This is a
subjective opinion and it is not based upon objective
and logical truth.
• Often, the person is not against Christ per se, but
against Christians (the Lord’s church) and what they
stand for and teach.
Answering Objections to Jesus
Objection #3: I don’t have enough evidence to believe
that Jesus is the divine Son of God.
• The reluctance is often moral. To admit that Jesus is
the divine Son of God is to admit that he has
authority over my life; something many do not want.
Pride and worldliness keep many from accepting
Jesus, not a lack of evidence.
• Some people are afraid of the spiritual realm. Our
world of physical materialism hides the need for
something spiritual.
Answering Objections to Jesus
Objection #3: I don’t have enough evidence to believe
that Jesus is the divine Son of God.
• It is not intellectually fashionable to believe in Jesus
in our modern society. “Scholars” and “scientists” do
not accept Jesus, so I don’t either.
• To admit that Jesus is the divine Son of God is to
admit that he is above all other religions; something
many do not want in our “PC” culture of equality for
all religions.
Defend Your Faith
• Are we impressed with Jesus the Son of God
(Matthew 27:54)?
• Our eternal destiny is determined by our decision
about Jesus (John 3:16-18; 8:24; 12:48; 20:30-31;
1 Jn.3:8; 4:15; 5:5,10,12,13,20).
• We must not only accept the fact of Jesus’ deity, but
we must also confess Jesus as the Son of God and
obey him (John 11:27; Romans 10:9-10; 1 John 4:15).
• Do you have the will to believe today (John 7:17)?
“Jesus answered them, and said, My
doctrine is not mine, but his that sent
me. If any man will do his will, he shall
know of the doctrine, whether it be of
God, or whether I speak of myself”
– John 7:16-17