Words that Divide, Words that Unite; Jesus (Matthew 16:13-17)
Gary McManus, 01/11/2015Part of the Words that Divide, Words that Unite series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
“Know thyself,”an ancient saying has a Bible
parallel: 1 Timothy 4:16
What we say we believe IS important.
We affirm our faith from the Bible every Sunday.
When someone wants to become a follower of Jesus,
we, the church, ask one question: who do you say
that Jesus is? The statement or confession we look
for is Peter’s from Matthew 16:16.
Why is this important? Recent events tell why.
The terrorists were not Christians.
We know this from what we affirm and believe.
There are words that separate us from others (groups)
And there are words of the Bible that UNITE us.
This season we talk about both.
To say Jesus is the Messiah/Christ is explained
in our Affirmation of Faith for today, Romans 1:1-6.
The Old Testament points to Jesus:
Luke 24:27, John 5:39, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 and more.
Chart:
Christianity Judaism Islam/Muslims Buddhism,
Hindu, etc
Jesus=Messiah Yes No No No
How separated are you? How separated are we by our faith?
Christianity 2.2 billion (at least in name/claim)
Islam 1.8 billion
Judaism 14 miliion
Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist 1.1 billion+
Hinduism 1 billion
Buddhism 376 million
. . .
We don’t notice that separation in this country because. . .
--the freedoms we have
--for 200 years, the Christian faith was about the only game in town
Today, things are much different in the U.S.
religious scene.
Martin Thielen’s book notes many answers to
the question of Jesus’ identity (John 7).
At Jesus’ trial, Jesus is asked, “Are you the Messiah?”
(Mark 14:61) Jesus was asked, “Are you the Son of God?”
(Luke 22:70) Jesus’ answers brought the trial to an end. . .
But Jesus had been opposed for his words before his trial. .
See John 6:58-68, John 8:37.40, 58
It IS what Jesus SAID (about himself)
that brought about his death.
Your faith SETS you APART from millions of people.
Their God is NOT your God.
Jesus prayed that His words would UNITE us.
(See John 17)
Why is what we believe important?
1Timothy 1:18 Timothy: you may fight the good fight,
19holding on to faith and a good conscience.
Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked
their faith. 20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander,
whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. Amen
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