Jan. 12, 2025

Series: Transformed   1-12-25

CAN JESUS BE TRUSTED?

(Romans 1:2-7)

Romans 1:1-2 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God--the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures. 

1. Do I Believe the Bible is _______________________? 

(Is it True, Accurate, Reliable, can it be Trusted?)

• Numerous eyewitnesses recorded the events as they unfolded. (More than 500 at One Time!)

• The historical record of the Bible is better documented than any other history record we have!

                   When Written   Earliest Copy       Time Span            # Copies

Plato         427-347 B.C.             900 A.D.                 1,200 yrs                       7

Aristotle   384-322 B.C.           1100 A.D.                 1,400 yrs.                     49

Homer(Iliad)900 B.C.              400 B.C.                500 yrs.                       643

N.T.           40-100 A.D.                 125 A.D.                 25 yrs.                    Over 24,000

            [Homer was the most widely read author in antiquity!]

OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES OF JESUS AND THEIR FULFILLMENT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT (see chart insert page)

John 5:39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me.

2. Do I Believe Jesus is who He __________________? 

Romans 1:1-3 Paul… set apart for the gospel of God—² the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures ³ regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, ⁴ and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God…

• The HYPOSTATIC UNION: 100% __________ 100% __________ 

PARALYTIC

Luke 5:21 ²¹ The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

The WOMAN at the WELL

John 4:25–26 ²⁵ The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” ²⁶ Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

JESUS & the DISCIPLES

John 18:4–7 ⁴ Jesus… asked them, “Who is it you want?” ⁵ “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. ⁶ When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. ⁷ Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.     

PETER

John 18:10–11 ¹⁰ Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) ¹¹ Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

3. Do I Believe Jesus _________ from the _________?  

Romans 1:4 (Jesus) through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

• Jesus is the only religious leader who claimed to rise from the dead!

• Numerous eyewitnesses recorded the events as they unfolded. 

                                (More than 500 at One Time!)

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4. Did Jesus come Only for the ____________?

Romans 1:5-6 ⁵ Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. ⁶ And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

5. Did Jesus Qualify to be a Good _______________? 

Romans 1:6 ⁶ And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

       * Jesus is also the only Religious Leader in history who claimed to 

       “be THE Truth” (standard)

       * Muhammad said “I point to the truth” 

       * Buddha at the end of his life said, “I am still searching for the truth” 

       * Hindu Scripture says, “Truth is very illusive, like reaching for a 

       butterfly, the moment you appear to find it, it flies away!”

6. Who do you __________ Jesus is?

Matthew 16:13-18 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." ¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon... ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter (Pétros), and on this rock (Pétra) I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

• Pétros; a masculine proper Noun meaning STONE. (Pétros is the masculine of the feminine Pétra.

• Pétra, a MASSIVE FOUNDATION ROCK or CLIFF. It’s a Piece or Fragment of a Massive Rock.

Question: On what “rock” did Jesus say He would build His church?

Romans 1:7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

• GRACE - undeserved favor that cannot be earned; it is something    that is freely given. 

No God, No ______________;

Know God, Know ______________!

THE REFORMATION 

(The Protestant Movement)

Martin Luther (a German Priest & Professor of theology) posted 95 THESES (a Series of Propositions for the Catholic Church to Debate) on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517.

THE 95 THESES included TWO CENTRAL BELIEFS: 

1. The Bible is our Only AUTHORITY. (Does the Pope have the power?)

“Sola Scriptura” is a Christian theological doctrine that states the Bible is the Sole Source of Authority for Christian Faith & Practice. The Latin phrase translates to "By Scripture Alone" or "The Bible Alone".

2. Humans can Only obtain Salvation through FAITH, not by good deeds. 

        (Canon 24 - The Canons and Degrees of the Council of Trent) “If anyone says that the justice received [justification] is not preserved and also not increased before God through good works, but that those works are merely the fruits and signs of justification obtained, but not the cause of its increase, let him be anathema.” 

        (Canon 9) “If anyone says that the sinner is justified by faith alone, meaning that nothing else is required to cooperate in order to obtain the grace of justification, let him be anathema.”                                                 

       (Canon 11) “If anyone says that men are justified either by the sole imputation of the justice of Christ or by the sole remission of sins... or also that the grace by which we are justified is only the good will of God, let him be anathema.” 

Matthew 16:13, 15 ¹³ Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" ¹⁵ "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 

It Doesn’t Matter who other people _________ Jesus is…

the Only Thing that’s MATTERS is “Who You _________ Jesus is?”