The Right Jesus
Luke 9:18-20
There is an old adage that always seems to be relevant in any age. It goes something like this; “You’ve got to stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything”. Nowhere is this truer than in the Christian religion, and specifically in the study of Christology. Christianity stands on one person and one person alone, that person is Jesus Christ.
Dr. Curtis Crenshaw is more passionate about this doctrine than any person I know or whose works I have ever read. In fact he may be more zealous about the doctrine of the person of Christ than any theologian alive today. I am not saying that because he might read this sermon someday, I am saying that because I believe it to be true.
This is a quote from Dr. Crenshaw’s lectures he gave on the doctrine of Christ at Andrewes Hall in 2002; “….ones faith is only as good as the object of his faith, and the object only as good as the propositions about the object. If we preach the wrong Jesus, we do not preach the gospel at all. An impotent Jesus cannot save anyone; maybe even He needs saving.”
Understanding who Jesus is has always been the number one priority in Christianity. Without it there is no Trinity, no salvation, and no hope for mankind. Our Lord also knew how important it was for his disciples to know who he was. In our lesson today we will look at the truth that there is only one answer to the question, who is Jesus?
Turn with me if you would to Luke 9 beginning in the 18th verse:
Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" And they answered, "John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen." Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, "The Christ of God."
Now before we get into the main teaching today, there is some housekeeping that needs to get done. I have never taught on this passage, but I have heard it taught on before. Every sermon had the same emphasis, that being the faith of Peter. The fact is, that the reason Peter answered was because he was the spokesman for the group.
The question was asked of all the disciples, not just Peter. Luke tells us that “they answered” and then Jesus “said to them”. When Peter said, “the Christ of God” Jesus commanded all of them not to tell anyone. The point is this; we must not overlook the knowledge that had been bestowed upon all the disciples up to this point by the Triune God.
Whether it was a direct revelation from the Father, the working of the Holy Spirit, or Jesus’ own teachings, the truth had been revealed to all of the disciples. They could not continue to do the work that was set before them if they did not understand exactly who Jesus was. If they preached the wrong Jesus, the gospel would be fruitless. They had to get this part right or everything else would be worthless.
What happens when we don’t get it right? Arianism, Monophysitism, Docetism, Apollinarianism, Nestorianism, Ebionism, Monarchianism, Monothelitism and Kenosis are some of the heresies that result when we don’t get it right. Each one of these denies some truth about the person of Christ and although each of these lies has been dealt with in the past, they just don’t want to go away.
All of the cults today reflect some form of these heresies in there teachings. If they don’t get Jesus right, they can’t get anything right. That’s just the way it is. If that sounds harsh, oh well, better to live by the truth than die with a lie. Once again, “If we preach the wrong Jesus, we do not preach the gospel at all.”
You are all familiar with the Apostles, Nicene and Athanasian creeds, but it was the Council of Chalcedon that developed the most comprehensive teachings regarding the person of Christ. To quote Dr. Crenshaw; “Chalcedon is the most hated council of all, for it is the most explicit regarding the person of Christ.”
The document that came out of the council was quit lengthy and we obviously do not have the time to go into it in detail. There is however one paragraph that summarizes the council’s teachings concerning the person of Christ. I have handed out a copy of that paragraph, titled the “Definition of the faith”, and I believe it is important enough that we should look at it in detail. Please follow along as we peruse the statement.
“So, following the saintly fathers, we all with one voice teach the confession of one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; the same perfect in divinity and perfect in humanity, the same truly God and truly man, of a rational soul and a body; consubstantial with the Father as regards his divinity, and the same consubstantial with us as regards his humanity; like us in all respects except for sin; begotten before the ages from the Father as regards his divinity, and in the last days the same for us and for our salvation from Mary, the virgin God-bearer as regards his humanity; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only-begotten, acknowledged in two natures which undergo no confusion, no change, no division, no separation; at no point was the difference between the natures taken away through the union, but rather the property of both natures is preserved and comes together into a single person and a single subsistent being; he is not parted or divided into two persons, but is one and the same only-begotten Son, God, Word, Lord Jesus Christ, just as the prophets taught from the beginning about him, and as the Lord Jesus Christ himself instructed us, and as the creed of the fathers handed it down to us.”
The “we all” in the statement were the 600 bishops that were present at the council in October 451. The seriousness of the task they undertook was reflected in the statement that followed the definition; “Since we have formulated these things with all possible accuracy and attention, the sacred and universal synod decreed that no one is permitted to produce, or even to write down or compose, any other creed or to think or teach otherwise. As for those who dare either to compose another creed or even to promulgate or teach or hand down another creed…..if they be bishops or clerics, the bishops are to be deposed from the episcopacy and the clerics from the clergy; if they be monks or layfolk, they are to be anathematized.”
These men took their Christianity seriously. They were not worried about political correctness or hurt feelings. They spoke the truth unapologetically and called a heretic a heretic. The message was simple, if you did not completely believe what the bible taught concerning whom Jesus was, you were not a Christian, period.
The reformers had a similar attitude concerning the truths of Christianity. They did not challenge Chalcedon but embraced it. They taught that Christ was fully God and fully man, yet without sin. That He was one person but that there was no mixture of his divine and human natures. This Christ is the object of our faith, without Him, our faith is empty.
“Who do you say that I am” Jesus asked. “You’ve told me who the people think I am, but I want to know who you think I am. Are you going to go with the flow or go against the grain? I need to know.”
It was time to stand up and be counted. Peter spoke the truth on behalf of them all. You are, “The Christ of God.” The disciples knew that the Savior had come to deliver Israel. They still did not understand how He would accomplish that, but they at least knew that the Messiah was with them. They were not afraid to confess the identity of the anointed one.
Almost daily we read or hear about Christ being removed from the public square. This week was no exception. The Associated Press released the following statement:
“Complaints about religious content have led to a ban on flag-folding recitations by Veterans Administration employees and volunteers at all national cemeteries.
At thousands of military burials, VA volunteers have folded the American flag 13 times and recited the significance of each fold to survivors. The 11th fold glorifies “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” The 12th glorifies “God the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost.
Citing a need for uniformity, the national Cemetery Administration has prohibited unpaid VA volunteers as well as employees from conducting the recital at all 125 national cemeteries.”
When I read that article the first thing I thought of was Richard Rutts funeral. He was a marine and the father of Rev. Steve Rutt. His was the first military service I had ever attended. I will never forget the folding of the flag that was taken off the casket and how much the words meant to his widow and family.
Richard was never afraid to share the truth about who Jesus Christ was, but his country is now ashamed to even mention the second person of the Trinity at the military funerals of Christian men and women because someone might be offended. There was one complaint from a secular humanist that led to this insane decision. The government will stand up for the rights of anyone in this country, except Christians. That is the battle that is before us today.
Hendriksen wrote; “…..a true believer is one who is willing, whenever necessary, to fly in the face of popular opinion and openly to express a conviction that is contrary to that of the masses. In the best sense of the term, the believer is willing to stand up boldly in the interest of truth.”
Are we not called to proclaim the truth claims of God and the saving knowledge of His son Jesus Christ? St Paul said, “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 1 Corinthians 1:18-20
True Christians know what the truth is. It has been reveled to them by the Holy Spirit. It has been put into words so that we can communicate it. What one does with the truth is another thing. I would like for you all to place the “Definition of the Faith” from the Council of Chalcedon in your bible. Take it out once in a while and study it. If you know exactly who Jesus is, you will be able to discern when someone else has a false understanding of him. Only then will you be able to share the truth. Only then will they come to know, the right Jesus. Amen…………