From time to time I am asked about a person. It usually goes like this, "Do you know…?" Now sometimes it is someone that I have heard of, but have never personally met. Other times it is someone I have never heard of or met. But occasionally it will be someone that I know very well. Regardless…the question is the same…do you know? This morning I want to ask that question with regard to Jesus Christ. Do you know Him? Not have you heard of Him, but do you really know Him? What does it mean to know Christ?
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (Philippians 3:10)
I. To know Christ is to know the TRUTH.
A. That may sound presumptuous.
1. I do not mean for it to sound that way.
2. Every religious group supposes that they have the truth.
3. But keep in mind…Christianity is not a religion!
4. That is the hard thing for many to understand.
5. Christianity is about a relationship with a person…the person of Jesus Christ!
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)
Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. (John 18:37)
B. Jesus is the TRUTH
1. When you know Christ…you know the TRUTH.
2. When an individual comes to know Jesus through simple faith…a transformation takes place.
3. Salvation is a result of our personal faith in the Gospel message…that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and then rose again on the third day!
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)
C. There is no other TRUTH.
1. Jesus Christ is exclusive!
2. That means He isn't just one of many Truth's…He is the one and only TRUTH!
3. Peter declared that there is none other name given among men whereby we must be saved!
4. John tells us He is the ONLY BEGOTTEN
5. He is the TRUTH and all others are part of the LIE.
6. To know Christ is to know the TRUTH.
II. To know Christ is to know ABOUT HIM.
A. Not a casual understanding.
1. Many people know of Him…
2. Many have heard His name…
3. When I say, know about Him…
4. I mean to know WHO He is!
B. Who is Jesus?
1. Know His Deity…He is God
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (Jn 1:1)
2. Know His Humanity…He is God who became flesh.
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. (John 1:14) [4]
3. Know His Crucifixion…He was willing to die for you and for me.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
4. Know His Resurrection…He died for us, but on the third day He rose from the dead!
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
5. Know His Glorification…He lives in glory with His Heavenly Father!
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (Ephesians 1:20-21)
III. To Know Christ is to SURRENDER our will to Him.
A. We live in a world that is 'Self' centered.
B. That attitude also manifests in the lives of believers!
C. What is in it for me?
1. I don't like this…
2. I don't like that…
3. I - I - I
D. That is not the spirit of Christ…that is the spirit of antichrist!
E. Paul clarifies what it means to surrender our will to the Lord.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
IV. To Know Christ is to be a part of His CHURCH family.
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:22-23)
A. The local NT Baptist church is NOT organized religion!
B. It is the heartbeat of Jesus Christ.
C. The Bible tells us that He loved the church and died for the church.
D. How sad that so many neglect the importance of the local church!
E. Why be a part of His church family?
1. For Identification
a. It identifies the doctrine we hold as Baptists.
b. We believe the Bible is God's perfect, pure, powerful, preserved word.
c. We believe in salvation by grace, not of works.
d. We believe that a child of God should be involved in serving the Lord and seeking to win the lost.
e. We believe that Jesus is coming soon.
2. For Instruction
(Eph 4:11-12) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; {12} For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
a. We come together for fellowship and for instruction in the Word of God.
b. That is God's plan for the local church.
c. Woe to a church that no longer teaches the Word of God to their people.
3. For Influence
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
a. We are to be an influence upon the lost
b. We are to be an influence upon those around us...neighbors…co-workers…
c. We are to be an influence on those who live around the world…MISSIONS!
4. For Involvement
Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
a. It is in the church where we worship and praise of the Savior
b. In the church believers are encouraged and ministered unto.
(Heb 10:25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
c. It is in the church where we are involved in evangelistic efforts to reach our community for Christ.
d. I've yet to meet a person concerned for reaching others who wasn't a faithful member of a local church.
e. As a matter of personal experience, I haven't met any Christian who really made much of an impact for the Lord who wasn't a faithful member of a local church.
To Know Christ is to :
Do you know Christ today? If not, would you come and allow us to take the Bible and show you how you can know Him today?
Christian, would you like to know Him better? That is why Grace Baptist Temple is here in this community.
Whatever the need, the invitation is for you.