Knowing Jesus is the Lord Cognitively Isn't Enough

James 2:19 "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-- and shudder."

In today's world we easily dismiss our sin and say we're only human. God understands that I am a fallen person in a fallen world... Not surprisingly, this is a true statement. But, who is this message for? Is it those who make excuses for bad behavior or someone who has true faith that makes mistakes, but repents and continues on in their relationship with the Lord?

What is true faith? Most modern Christians would agree that we are saved by faith through Grace. But, that doesn't answer the question, what is faith?. According to James' statement above just knowing and believing in God isn't enough because even the demons believe and they are going to perish in hell. So we are not talking about simple cognitive belief. So, what did Jesus have to say about the type of faith that will save?

Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"

There are a few of things that we must not overlook here: First, calling Jesus, "Lord", would indicate that the people he was sending to hell had a basic belief in the deity of Jesus. Who else would recognise him as Lord but someone who calls themselves a Christian. Right? Second, we see that Christian service doesn't get us in with the Lord. I submit that true Christians must submit to the Lord in service, but that it is not this act alone that demonstrates true faith. So, recognizing and believing that Jesus is who he says he is isn't enough and all the Christian work in the world won't earn our salvation. We now know two things that are not necessarily faith. What is it that Jesus says is his objection with these people that he dismisses from his presence? HE NEVER KNEW THEM! This is a demand for an ongoing relationship and I believe it is one aspect of faith that is lacking from many Christian lives. Lastly, he points to OBEDIENCE to the will of God as being a qualifier for those that are going to heaven.

The very way that we live our lives is evidence of true faith or the lack thereof. It's not that being really good saves us, but obedience is one thing that he says we can look for in someone who has true faith. Obedience to God's will in all things is a trait of the saved person. Be careful here, I am not suggesting that you can save yourself by being really good. That is impossible. If you could save yourself Christ would not have needed to be so brutally murdered to save yours and my soul. But, true faith is a certain brand. God increases our faith through trial. We must continually choose to follow him and strive for obedience.

That brings back to the original question. What is true faith? True faith always involves a commitment made to God. It is a commitment that you will follow him the rest of your days. Have a consistant relationship with him on his terms. Though we will fall even when we have faith, faith makes up get up, not make excuses, repent and follow again. We seek obedient lives and not lives that lead us into the world. True faith WILL cause your life to stand out to those around you. You WON'T fit in with the world... you will stand out because you will be a light to the world (Matt 5:14-16). A light doesn't blend in so that you don't know it's there. It brightens the darkness around it and can be seen from miles away. Just like a lighthouse on a hill. It's light can be seen from miles away.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are called to be that light. We are called to obedience even when it isn't comfortable.

Is Jesus God?

The following is an actual email that I have sent to a Jewish born and raised non-practicing Jew who had questions regarding the divinity of Christ.

Ted,

Okay, I will show you what the Old Testament said about he deity of the Messiah. I will also show you that Jesus claimed to be the Messiah and that he believed that he was a deity. He repeatedly makes these claims in all of the gospels. Admittedly, John makes very blatant claims regarding his deity more so than the others. Yet, to those who understand what is being said the way the people of Jesus’ time understood him the others are equally convincing.

JESUS WAS WITH GOD AND WAS GOD FROM THE BEGINNING

Jesus is God and he became man. He has been forever and will be forevermore.

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

The Hebrew word for “God” used here is Elohim. It suggests a plural essence of God. Literally: plural of majesty.

Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’”

Elohim is also used here. The curious “Let us…” further proves the point that The Father is not alone in creation.

John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning."

“The Word” is Jesus. Jesus was with God and was God in the beginning.

John 8:57-59 “ …‘You are not yet fifty years old,’ the Jews said to him, ‘ and you have seen Abraham!’

‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered , ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’ At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple guards.”

“I AM” is what God claims of himself in the burning bush to Moses:

Genesis 3:14 “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

The Jews knew what he was saying and wanted to stone him right then and there.

John 6:62 “What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before.”

John 17:5 “…‘And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.’”

Notice that in the two preceding verses Jesus says that he used to live in heaven.


PROPHECY REGARDING THE DEITY OF THE MESSIAH

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders . And he will be call Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel.” (Immanuel literally means: God is with us. )

Daniel 7:9-14

“‘As I looked, ‘thrones were set in place and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.

‘Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)

‘In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

Micah 5:2

“ ‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Psalm 8:4-6

“…what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands, you put everything under his feet:…”

Psalm 110:1

“The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’”

Jesus challenges the Pharisees view of the Messiah found in Psalm 110:1

Matthew 22:41-45

“While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, ‘What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?’

‘The son of David,’ they replied.

He said to them, ‘How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him “Lord” ? For he says,

‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”

If then David calls him “Lord,” how can he be his son?’”

Jesus claimed to be the Messiah and to have the power of God as the Son of God. While the Jews of Jesus’ time expected the entire Messianic prophecy to be fulfilled entirely in the Messiah’s arrival Jesus said that he would complete his mission in his second coming. It is apparent that the Jews understood the divinity of the Messiah in the following passages.

The demons recognized Jesus as God.
Matthew 8:29 “ ‘What do you want with us, Son of God?’ they shouted. Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?’”

Peter recognized Jesus as God.
Matthew 16:13-16

“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’

They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’

‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’

Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’”

Jesus claims to be God.
Matthew 26:63-66

“But Jesus remained silent.

The high priest said to him, ‘I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.’

‘Yes, it is as you say,’ Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’

Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?’

‘He is worthy of death,’ they answered.”

Mark 2:5-11

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’

Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ‘Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’

Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, ‘Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up, take your mat and walk?” But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…’ He said to the paralytic, ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.’ He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’”

John 5:27 “And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.”

John 10:30

“ ‘…I and the Father are one.’

Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, ‘I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?’


‘We are not stoning you for any of these,’ replied the Jews, ‘but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.’”

John 10:38 “…‘But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.’”

John 14:6-7 “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.’”


In our previous conversations you have mentioned that you thought that we were all sons of God. Well, claiming to be the adopted son of God would be something that a person who has been redeemed by Christ’s death could claim. But, as adopted sons who don’t receive our birthright until we die. What Jesus was saying was very different. He was saying that he was the equal of God. The reaction of the high priest says a lot about how powerful Jesus’ statement was (read the Matthew 26:63-66 above). Additionally, Jesus said:

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

This verse doesn’t mention multiple sons it says clearly that Jesus is God’s only son. This statement shows that he is equal with God and that he has the power of God. His claim to deity was known by him and those around him. They may not have agreed with him but they knew what he was saying. They had him executed for it.

So far we have established that the Old Testament suggested the Messiah’s deity, that the people of Jesus’ time understood that the Messiah would be divine and that Jesus claimed to be the Messiah and the Son of God. Many further proofs exist about these three truths. Some that I quickly found follow:

2 Samuel 7:12-16 Says that the Messiah would come from the line of David and that his kingdom would last forever. God says he will be his father and that he will be his son. (Isaiah 11:1-3 says similar things)

Matthew 1:16 Jesus is referred to as Christ.

Matthew 3:11 John the Baptist says that Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit. Who has the power to give someone the Holy Spirit if not God?

Matthew 3:17 God himself speaks and says that Jesus is his Son.

Matthew 12:8 Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath. God is the Lord of the Sabbath.

Matthew 25:17-46 Jesus will sit in judgment of sinners.

Mark 1:1 Jesus is the Son of God

Mark 2:28 Jesus is the Son of Man and the Lord of the Sabbath

Mark 11:3 Jesus refers to himself as Lord. This is the same exact word as Lord used to describe God. Jesus is claiming to be God.

Luke 1:32-33 Jesus is the Son of the Most High God and will be given the throne of David.

Luke 2:11 Jesus is proclaimed by an angel to be the Christ (Messiah).

Luke 3:22 God claims Jesus as his Son.

Luke 4:16-21 Scripture fulfilled in your hearing. Jesus claims to be Messiah.

Luke 6:5 Son of man is also Lord of the Sabbath.

Luke 9:20 Peter confesses that Jesus is the Messiah.

Luke 22:66-71 Jesus claims he is the Messiah, the Son of God and that he will sit at the right hand of God (a place of equal position).

John 1:10 The world was made through Jesus

John 1:14 The Word- God became flesh

John 1:18 Jesus is referred to as God

John 1:34 John’s testimony that Jesus is the Son of God

John 3:35 Father places everything in Jesus’ hands

John 5:18 The Jews wanted Jesus dead for referring to himself as the Son of God

John 5:22-23 If we don’t honor Jesus we don’t honor God


I hope that this is helpful to you. Please let me know if you have further questions or challenges. I hope you and you family are well.

God Bless,
Sean

Pharisee's

Jesus challenged the leaders of Judaism while he walked the earth. He challenged the Pharisees and Sadducees (teachers of religious law and scribes) and they challenged him and ultimately killed him. There were many differences between these groups that I will not get into here. What I do want to address is their nature as a whole and why they were so offensive to our Savior.

As Christians it is easy for us to look at the Pharisees, Sadducees and the other Jewish leaders of Jesus' time and consider them immoral and corrupt. We simply assume that they were bad guys that had "it out" for Jesus. But, the evidence tells a different story.

The Pharisees and Sadducees were known for following the letter of the law. They strictly followed and enforced these laws and were considered priests. They wielded great power and were a huge influence on the Jews of their time. Most people would have thought of them as being upright and righteous men. Men that could be followed and respected. They would have exuded piety (looked very religious and devoted in their actions, personality and dress). They would have walked the walk of a priest. I am not saying that they were free from sin, but they followed certain ceremonies and offered sacrifices for their sin. This, in their minds, made them right with God. This type of thinking breeds pride.

These groups challenged Jesus because he upset their understanding of the law. He challenged their understanding of murder, adultery, oaths, hatred, vengeance, marriage and divorce. His ministry was to show that living by the letter of the law would not satisfy God without a heart devoted to him.

I intend to show that what was objectionable to Jesus (God) about the Pharisees was that they were full of pride and that they had no relationship with God. They simply followed the rules and insisted that everyone else do the same. There was no love or compassion for their fellow man or for God himself.

Here is an important point for us to understand: God does expect our obedience, but sin will enter our lives from time to time even when we do our best (this is why Jesus died for us). In fact, Paul describes this as a struggle between our sinful nature and our desire to be obedient. If that struggle isn't there we are not living in faith. Further, it is impossible to be saved without an ongoing relationship with God (Matt 15:1-9). The Bible clearly shows this over and over. We are saved by faith through grace. God's grace has always been there and always will be, but part of faith is a relationship with God. True faith can't exist without it.

What was it about Abraham that made him acceptable to God? He believed what God said. How about David? Same thing. Were these men free of sin? Not even close. But, what two things did they have in common. They both had faith in God and they had a relationship with him. Their relationship was demonstrated by their daily walk and talk with the Lord.

Jesus challenged the Pharisees and other religious leaders, why? Were they not obedient to the laws that God himself issued to the Jews? They were remarkably obedient to the laws as they understood them. Then what problem did Jesus find in them? Let us take a closer look at Jesus' statements. I will list some verses from the Gospel of Matthew that show some of Jesus' challenges to these two groups below:

John the Baptist called them out first.

Matthew 3:7-10. "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducee's coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: 'You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.' "

The Pharisees couldn't be saved by simply being born into salvation. They considered themselves to be acceptable because they were obedient Jews and not because of God's grace.

Jesus said: in Matt 5:20 "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." Okay so what is righteousness?

Definition: righteousness- "The establishment of a right relationship-- primarily between God and people, secondarily between people and themselves. Righteousness is the fulfillment of just expectations in any relationship, whether with God or other people..." (Tyndale Bible Dictionary 2001)

So no relationship with God would, by definition, disqualify them from being considered righteous. God's grace applies to those who belong to him.

Matt 6:5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full."

Matt 6:2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full."

Were their works wrong? Nope, the Bible instructs us to do these things. It is the attitude in which the works are done that is pleasing or displeasing to God. If we seek to please God over men, that pleases him. If we, on the other hand, desire a relationship with men and to be approved by them over God, we anger God and distance ourselves from him.

In Matt 9:1-8 Jesus heals a paralyzed man. When he does he forgives his sins. The teachers of the law accused him of blasphemy for saying that he could forgive sins. Jesus demonstrates his authority by telling them that he has the authority and then commanding the paralytic to stand and walk home. Jesus proclaims his authority as the Messiah in this passage.

Matt 9:10-11 "When Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked the disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners'?' On hearing this, Jesus said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.' "

Internal devotion leads to external obedience and it requires a relationship with God. External obedience doesn't lead to internal devotion nor require any such relationship. What is in our hearts matters most to God.

Matt 12 Demonstrates the Pharisees trying to enforce their understanding of the Jewish law of the Sabbath. Jesus responds by explaining that the law wasn't given to be so strictly followed that good isn't done (ie., healing). He further claims his authority over the Sabbath as the Messiah. The Pharisees, not liking the blows to their pride, plot to kill Jesus. Obedience to rules without the concept of love is not of God. Love is always our guide because God is Love.

In the story of Moses (Exodus 1:15-22) the midwives lie to the authorities to save the little babies lives. Lying is a sin, right? Of course, but because they did this out of love and respect for God, they were blessed by God instead of punished.

Matt 12:38-39 "Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, 'Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.' He answered, 'A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.' " (Also 16:1-4)

Why were the Pharisees being considered by Jesus as being wicked and adulterous? Are not our lives to have been given over to the Lord as a bride gives herself to her husband? Feeling like we are justifying ourselves and the resultant sense of pride from being able to accomplish great feats among men apart from God, alienates us from God and makes us adulterers. Adulterers cheat on their spouses. In essence Jesus is saying that these men's hearts were running around on God.

Perhaps the most important scripture to understand Jesus' objection with the Pharisees is Matt 15:1-9 "Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 'Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!' Jesus replied, 'And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, "Honor your father and mother" and "Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death." But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, "whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God, " he is not to honor his father with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain: their teachings are but rules taught by men." "

Honoring God internally and maintaining a relationship with him is mandatory for salvation. It is not an option or sign of maturity. It is absolutely required. Christianity that preaches anything else is in vain.

Matt 15:10-14 "Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him "unclean, " but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him "unclean." ' Then the disciples came to him and asked, 'Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?' He replied, 'Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit' "

Matt 16:5-12 Jesus warns his disciples to watch the doctrine and teachings of the Pharisees. He uses yeast as a symbol of their teachings. Yeast spreads fairly rapidly through the dough and is next to impossible to remove once it is there.

The Pharisees continually challenged Jesus' violation of their sense of the law. Jesus presented himself as the Messiah and let their pride follow it's course away from truth and righteousness just as it was prophesied in Isaiah. He challenged their pride head on and clearly stated that if your heart doesn't belong to God then your strict obedience is an act of pride and is therefore in vain.

God Bless,
Sean