JANUARY 13 - Is It Still Worth Believing That Jesus Is the Son of God?

We live in a world where any belief or thought is liable to be questioned. We are a skeptical generation! This new message series - IS IT STILL WORTH BELIEVING? - will focus on some things you may have learned as a child - things that you wonder whether to continue believing or adopt some other way of thinking!

Message #1 in this series - Is It Still Worth Believing that Jesus is the Son of God?

The question is pretty basic - "Is Jesus really a supernatural being, or just an awesome human being?"

There are many books, articles, films and television programs that lead us to question the truth of who Jesus is.

In addition, there are so many aspects of the life of Jesus - we may tend to identify with one aspect alone:

• Some see Jesus as MIRACLE WORKER - the one who had power that most people don't have.

• Some see Jesus as TEACHER - the one who had insight that most people don't have.

• Some see Jesus as REVOLUTIONARY - the one who had an amazing vision for what society could become.

• Some see Jesus as SOURCE OF MERCY - the one who showed compassion that most people don't have.

All of these are "part of the picture." But any one aspect alone misses the big picture!


One of the best descriptions of basic doctrine about Jesus is found in Colossians 1:13-20. Take time to read the entire passage by clicking here.


Note the important things this passage has to say about who Jesus is:

• He is the "image of the invisible God" (Col. 1:15). Unlike any other human being, Jesus is "not created." You and I are God's handiwork. Jesus is not - he is God made visible for us.

• In Jesus "all things were created" (Col. 1:16). Christ was part of creation. The Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - existed before Day One of creation began.

• He is "the head of the body, the church" (Col. 1:18). We are not Christ's fan club. We are his body. Elsewhere in the Bible, the church is described as the "bride of Christ." There is an intimate connection of relationship.

• He is "the firstborn from the dead" (Col. 1:18). As the first to rise from the dead, his resurrection is our promise of victory over death.

Verses 19 and 20 are particularly important:

COLOSSIANS 1:19. In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.

Another translation says: "Everything of God finds its proper place in him."

Jesus did not simply have a double helping of goodness. Rather, everything about the nature of who God is becomes visible in the person of Jesus.

We can look at Jesus - read his words - see his actions - walk in relationship to him - and know the heart of God.


COLOSSIANS 1:20. Through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

This tells us that the Christ event is God's initiative to bring people back to himself. The life and death of Jesus is not about setting up some new set of requirements - it is not about making the hurdle higher - it is about demolishing those hurdles. The Jesus event is all about the heart of God coming to us.


Read also this statement of United Methodist doctrine about Jesus. It reaffirms the basic teachings we find in Colossians:

We believe in Jesus Christ, truly God and truly man,
in whom the divine and human natures
are perfectly and inseparably united.
He is the eternal Word made flesh,
the only begotten Son of the Father,
born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit.
As ministering Servant he lived, suffered and died on the cross.
He was buried, rose from the dead,
and ascended into heaven to be with the Father,
from whence he shall return.
He is eternal Savior and Mediator, who intercedes for us,
and by him all men will be judged.