Essential | Foundational Beliefs of Christianity (week 3)

The address unfolds as a clear, urgent clarification of who Jesus is and why it matters. It begins with a simple illustration about shared names and mortality, moving quickly to three non-negotiable convictions that shape Christian identity: the literal, physical resurrection; Jesus as the fulfillment of Israel’s long‑spoken messianic prophecies; and Jesus’ divine identity as God incarnate. Each point is argued with historical and scriptural evidence—creedal fragments from Paul, Old Testament predictions, Gospel narratives of miracles and divine self‑claims—and framed to show that these are not peripheral opinions but the hinge of Christian faith. The resurrection is presented not as pious hope but as the decisive fact that validates Jesus’ words, establishes new creation, and changes the stakes of human existence. The messianic argument emphasizes the precision and breadth of Old Testament forecasts, insisting that Jesus’ life fits an anticipation written centuries earlier. The claim that Jesus is fully God and fully man—the hypostatic union—is treated as a paradox like light’s dual nature: apparently contradictory, yet confirmed by the texts where Jesus forgives sins, commands nature, and uses the divine name. The sermon traces the reactions of first‑century witnesses—from worship and conviction to violent rejection—to show that Jesus’ claims provoked the only plausible responses: denial, vilification, or submission. Practical application follows: the confession “Jesus is Lord” is not a sentimental slogan but a politically and theologically loaded admission that reorders loyalties, even under persecution. The conclusion presses a personal decision articulated in Romans 10:9—believing in the resurrection and confessing Christ’s lordship—and prepares the congregation to remember Jesus through the Lord’s Supper. Throughout, the tone insists that these doctrines are intellectually grounded, spiritually urgent, and personally demanding: if Jesus rose, if he is the promised Messiah, and if he is Lord, then everything about life, worship, ethics, and hope must be realigned around him.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. The resurrection anchors Christian truth The bodily rising of Jesus is not decorative theology but the pivot on which justification, judgment, and hope turn. If the resurrection did not occur, the apostolic claim that Jesus conquered death collapses and the ethic and authority derived from him lose their footing. Conversely, a historical resurrection validates Jesus’ teaching, establishes a new creation beginning, and provides a present hope that reshapes how believers face suffering and mortality. This is the test Paul sets: without the resurrection, faith is futile. [34:38]
• 2. Jesus fulfills Israel’s messianic prophecies The Old Testament contains tightly specific expectations—birthplace, lineage, ministry, suffering—that the life of Jesus uniquely matches. This fulfillment argues less like coincidence and more like the deliberate unfolding of a covenantal promise, forcing readers to place Jesus within Israel’s story rather than outside or beside it. Recognizing Jesus as the long‑awaited anointed one reframes the entire narrative of redemption: God’s saving work is both rooted in history and oriented toward cosmic restoration. Such fulfillment calls for allegiance, not mere appreciation. [36:26]
• 3. Jesus is God in human flesh Scripture presents Jesus as both with God and as God—fully divine and fully human—a paradox that explains his authority to forgive sins, command nature, and claim preexistence. This hypostatic union resists reduction to moral exemplarism; the New Testament records responses of worship and charges of blasphemy because Jesus’ actions and words embody deity in a human life. Understanding this avoids sentimentalizing Jesus and instead confronts the gravity of his claims, which demand decisive response. [51:14]
• 4. Confess “Jesus is Lord” boldly To declare Jesus as Lord is to submit ultimate allegiance to a resurrected, sovereign ruler, a confession that carried lethal costs under Rome and theological offense in Judaism. Romans 10:9 ties this confession to salvation not as a mere ritual utterance but as the faithful alignment of heart and mouth with historical reality—the risen Christ’s sovereignty. Saying “Jesus is Lord” reorients political loyalties, daily decisions, and the posture of worship; it is a compact for living under God’s reign now. [59:35]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [28:45] - Name and mortality illustration
• [32:27] - Resurrection: a historical claim
• [35:45] - Jesus the prophesied Messiah
• [41:02] - God incarnate: the paradox explained
• [50:59] - “I am”: claims that provoked stones
• [59:35] - Call to confess: Jesus is Lord
• [71:36] - Lord’s Supper and benediction

Here is a Bible study guide based on the sermon:

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (ESV)
> Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

John 8:58-59 (ESV)
> Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus concealed himself and went out of the temple.

Romans 10:9 (ESV)
> because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Observation questions

1. The sermon highlights that if Christ has not been raised, our faith is futile. [34:38] What does this statement imply about the centrality of the resurrection to Christian belief?
2. The sermon mentions that Jesus fulfilled specific Old Testament prophecies regarding his birthplace, lineage, and ministry. [35:59] What are some of the specific prophecies that were discussed or alluded to?
3. The sermon explains that Jesus’ claim, "Before Abraham was, I am," led the Pharisees to pick up stones to stone him. [50:59] What was the significance of Jesus using the phrase "I am" in that context?
4. The sermon states that confessing "Jesus is Lord" was a politically and theologically loaded admission in the first century. [59:35] How did this confession carry "lethal costs" under Roman rule?

Interpretation questions

1. The sermon emphasizes that the resurrection is not just a pious hope but a decisive historical fact that validates Jesus' words and establishes new creation. [34:38] How does understanding the resurrection as a historical event, rather than just a spiritual concept, change the way we view Jesus' teachings and authority?
2. The sermon draws a parallel between the scientific paradox of light being both a wave and a particle and the paradox of Jesus being fully God and fully man. [44:03] How does this paradox of Jesus’ dual nature help explain his unique authority and claims?
3. The sermon suggests that the charges against Jesus were accurate because he claimed to be God, and he was executed for the truth of those claims, not for a lie. [54:03] What does this interpretation of Jesus' execution mean for how we understand his mission and the implications of his claims?
4. The sermon argues that the phrase "Jesus is Lord" was considered blasphemous by Jews and an act of rebellion by Romans. [59:54] How does this historical context help us understand the weight and significance of this confession today?

Application questions

1. The sermon stresses that the resurrection is the anchor of Christian truth, impacting justification, judgment, and hope. [34:38] In what specific ways can you actively remind yourself of the historical reality of the resurrection this week to strengthen your faith and hope, especially when facing difficult circumstances?
2. The sermon highlights that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah who fulfills Israel's prophecies. [35:59] How can a deeper understanding of Jesus as the fulfillment of these prophecies shape your perspective on God's ongoing work in history and your own place within it?
3. The sermon presents Jesus’ divine identity as God incarnate as a central, non-negotiable belief. [41:02] When you encounter skepticism or questions about Jesus’ divinity, how can you articulate this truth with both clarity and humility, drawing from the evidence presented?
4. The sermon calls us to confess "Jesus is Lord" boldly, recognizing that this confession reorders our loyalties and impacts our daily decisions. [59:35] What is one specific area of your life where you can more intentionally live out the reality of Jesus’ lordship this week, perhaps in a decision you need to make or a habit you need to adjust?
5. The sermon notes that the reactions to Jesus’ claims ranged from worship to violent rejection, showing that his claims demand a decisive response. [53:32] Reflect on your own journey: what has been your response to the claims of Jesus, and how can you continue to grow in submitting your heart, mind, and life to him as Lord?
6. The sermon concludes by emphasizing that Jesus is not just a teacher or savior, but Lord over every aspect of our being and creation. [01:02:36] In what practical ways can you acknowledge and live out Jesus’ sovereignty in your family, your work, or your personal relationships this week?