Audio Version:

If you want to trust someone, what do you need to know about them before you trust them? Before we decide if we will accept Jesus as our savior, we need to ask a question:

Who is Jesus?

We can find the answer to this question by looking at the bible:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1 NIV

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 NIV

These two verses from John chapter 1 tell us that Jesus is the word by which God created all things. It also tells us that Jesus has been with God since the beginning and that He is God. It also tells us that Jesus is God the Father’s son.

Later in John 1, John the Baptist also confirms to us who Jesus is:

(29)  The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
(30)  This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’
(31)  I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
(32)  Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.
(33)  And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
(34)  I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

John 1:29-34 NIV

John called Jesus “the Lamb of God”, indicating that He was to be a sacrifice to atone for sin. John also said that Jesus “was before me”, verifying the statement in John 1:1 that Jesus was with God “in the beginning”. Finally, John testifies that Jesus is “God’s Chosen One” and that “the one who sent me” (God the Father) told him how he would know Him.

Jewish law requires that any claim is to be confirmed by two or more witnesses. Jesus actually provided five: John the Baptist, God the Father, His miracles, Moses & Scripture. We also know from the gospels that the disciples witnessed Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and His ascending to the Father. Many more followers also witnessed the risen Jesus.

So, back to our question: Who is Jesus?

Jesus is the son of God the Father.

Jesus is God, part of the trinity.

Jesus is the savior of man, the Messiah, the Christ.

The important question is this: How will you respond to the answer to the question “Who is Jesus”? Maybe you will decide that the bible is not true? Perhaps you will decide that the answers we have found here are not important?

One day, you will die and leave this earth. You will have to stand before God and give an account of your life.

(21)  But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
(22)  This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,
(23)  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
(24)  and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:21-24 NIV

This scripture from the book of Romans tells us that we are all sinners, because of this we will not be able to stand before God and will be sent to hell for our sins. It also tells us that if we accept Jesus, our faith in Him will grant us His righteousness. If we accept Jesus, we will be able to stand before God and spend eternity with Him. We will also be able to have a friendship with God here on this earth and He will sanctify us to make us useful for His purposes.

Adapted from a sermon preached in February 2023.