Introduction to the Attributes of Jesus Christ Artwork

Radical Life Support

Rick is a non-traditionalist, rock-n-roll, evangelist who likes to stir things up. And Robin is a traditional, choir member, encourager who does not like to rock the boat. They come together to challenge and discuss how to live a radical life for Jesus.

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Radical Life Support

Introduction to the Attributes of Jesus Christ

November 13, 2020 • Rick and Robin Moe • Episode 61

Welcome to our new Radical Life Support series entitled the ABCs of the Attributes of Jesus. This series will be focusing on the attributes, character, names, and works of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the second member of the Divine Trinity and He is described as “the exact representation of God’s being” (Heb 1:3). Jesus is not merely an image or reflection of God. There is God the Father, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God and the Son Himself is God. It is very important to start with this view of Jesus.

Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, was born to a virgin, became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus came for a very specific reason as clearly stated in John 3:16 which says that, “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.” Jesus came and died on a cross for the sins of all mankind. He was buried and then 3 days later, He rose again defeating death. He ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. One day He will return to earth and those who put their trust in Him will live with Him forever in heaven. This is the basic tenant of the Christian faith. It begins and ends with Jesus as the central figure in and for all creation.

In our study on the ABCs of the attributes of God, our main theme came from a quote by A.W. Tozer, “What you think about God is the most important thing about you.” Now, with Jesus, what you think about Him has eternal consequences. Our quote for this series will be from Jesus Himself spoken to His disciples in Matt 16, Mark 8, and Luke 9: Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. Once when Jesus was praying in private and His disciples were with Him, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?" They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.” “But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."

The people of the day compared Jesus to good men, believing He was a good man. People even do that today. He was a good teacher they say; but that was not the right or complete description of Jesus. Peter accurately said He was the Christ, the long awaited anointed one. Stating Him as being divine, more than a mere man. When we talk about who Jesus was and is today, we must start at this point. It is a serious matter to get His identification correct. His true identity is of utmost and absolute importance for the world and each of us personally. It is a matter of eternal life or eternal death for those who would or would not believe in Him.

We don’t need to guess who Jesus is or make Him up. In our study, we are going to see in scripture what God says about Jesus and what Jesus says about Himself. It is plainly stated to either be believed or not. The bible is the source of true knowledge regarding who Jesus is. People’s opinion or our own understanding of who Jesus is or who we want Him to be will always be inaccurate. Do not rely on it and make sure whatever you believe about Jesus matches with scripture.

When you seek Him, the bible says you will find Him. That is a promise for anyone who is seeking with their whole heart. So, in these next weeks, let’s seek Him together. Let’s find out if we really know Him for who He is. We can’t afford to get it wrong. Ask yourself our theme question as if Jesus was asking you directly, “But what about you?” “Who do you say I am?”

Welcome listeners to our new Radical Life Support series entitled the ABCs of the Attributes of Jesus. In this series, we will be focusing on the attributes, character, names, and works of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the second member of the Divine Trinity and He is described as “the exact representation of God’s being” (Heb 1:3). Jesus is not merely an image or reflection of God. There is God the Father, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God and the Son Himself is God. It is very important to start with this view of Jesus.

Jesus who is God, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, was born to a virgin, became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus came for a very specific reason as clearly stated in John 3:16 which says that, “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.” Jesus came and died on a cross for the sins of all mankind. He was buried and then 3 days later, He rose again defeating death. He ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. One day He will return to earth and those who put their trust in Him will live with Him forever in heaven. This is the basic tenant of the Christian faith. It begins and ends with Jesus as the central figure in and for all creation.

In our study on the ABCs of the attributes of God, our main theme came from a quote by A.W. Tozer, “What you think about God is the most important thing about you.” I would now say that what you think about Jesus has eternal consequences. As we approach this series on the ABCs of Christ, our quote will be from Jesus Himself spoken to His disciples, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?”

As we study about Jesus, we will explore many passages in the gospels that talk about Jesus’s life that He lived on this earth in bodily form. Jesus asked this question in a story found in Matt 16, Mark 8, and Luke 9 in my NIV bible (that I will be referencing as the version for all of my bible verses unless otherwise stated) All of these passages begin with a subheading of Peter’s Confession of Christ. Each gospel author explains the conversation slightly differently. Each is talking to a different audience. Matthew, who was one of the 12 disciples, wrote primarily to a Jewish audience so a lot of OT verses and cultural references are included. Mark is said to have received his biography of Jesus from the disciple, Peter; and both Luke and Mark are writing to a Greek audience.

I find it helpful and fun, when a story is listed in more than one gospel, to combine all of the details of the gospel stories together. For me it creates a more detailed picture of events. So, in these passages we will break it down as follows:

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi,… Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way,… Once when Jesus was praying in private and His disciples were with Him,…

…He asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”…He asked them, “Who do people say I am?” …He asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, (Jeremiah or) one of the prophets (that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life).”

“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).” “The Christ of God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Then He warned His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ. Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about Him. Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. And He said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

Notice that the people of the day, Herod, and the crowds compared Him to good men, meaning they believed He was also a good man. People even do that today. He was a good teacher they say; but that was not the right or complete description of Jesus. Peter as the spokesman for the disciples accurately said He was the Christ, the long awaited anointed one, Messiah, and some risked saying what others considered blasphemy, to call Him the Son of the Living God. Stating Him as being divine, more than a mere man.

When we talk about who Jesus was and is today, we must start at this point. It is a very serious matter to get His identification correct. His true identity is of utmost and absolute importance for the world and for each of us personally. It is a matter of eternal life or eternal death for those who would or would not believe in Him, and in whom He claimed to be. The disciples believed in Him but many others like the Pharisees rejected His claims.

I recently listened to an interesting video (Jesus and Hell S2E6) by Martyn Iles of the Australian Christian Lobby, in it he says, “People appeal to a modern Jesus that they believe in today but with a slightly modified name. They do attest that they believe in Him. It is a name that people will say that sounds something like, “Jesus to me…” It is a very specific kind of Jesus. There is no such thing as “My Jesus” or “Jesus to me.” There is Jesus Christ and that is it. The question of who is Jesus is not one that we answer for ourselves…If you are believing in a “Jesus to me” then you aren’t believing in Jesus at all. You are believing in yourself, you are believing in your preferences, imaginations, your likes and dislikes. Your own morality and your sense of things.”

You see many people today define Jesus in terms of cultural or political correctness. They say, my Jesus wouldn’t or would do this or that. My Jesus would let everyone into heaven. The Jesus I believe in wouldn’t send anyone to hell. Jesus to me means all inclusive, all accepting.

[I want to share my Jesus Christ Superstar story] While living in London, England, I fell in love with musical theater and saved up to see a show once a month. One Easter, I decided Jesus Christ Superstar would be the perfect selection for the whole family. I had never seen the play before.

One scene in the play was very intense, the reenactment of Jesus being flogged with 39 lashes. After 15 snaps of the whip and the cries of the actor portraying Jesus, I wanted to run out of the theater because I couldn’t endure the pain of his suffering. It was very effective. But in contrast, my whole family was surprised to see Jesus being portrayed as angry at the crowds who came for healing, he said “go heal yourselves;” The play showed him annoyed with the disciples’ questions in the upper room; and the worst was watching the actor shaking His fist to heaven demanding God tell him what to do, “before I change my mind.”

I was flabbergasted and a bit outraged. In order to prove that the Jesus being portrayed in the play was not the Jesus I remembered from the scriptures, I did something I had not done in years. I dusted off my bible and read all four gospels in the NT in a row. Sure enough, I found a strong but loving Jesus that I always remembered. He had compassion on the crowds coming to Him for healing, it said He healed them all. He patiently consoled the disciples who were in grief at the last supper as He told them He was going to die; and He said in the Garden of Gethsemane as He poured out His soul to God, “not my will Father but thine be done.”

I read John, then Matthew, then Mark into the gospel of Luke. And when I read Luke 6:46, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord; but do not do what I say?” I was deeply convicted. Unfortunately for many years, I had lived a life of words but little action and supremely shallow heart conviction. That is how God’s word works, it shows Jesus as He really is and His words strike right at the core of your being to bring to light your sins and need for the Son of God, the Savior of the world. I didn’t find Jesus on that stage, I found Him in the Holy Bible, where He is undefiled and perfectly revealed.

When you seek Him, the bible says you will find Him. That is a promise for anyone who is seeking with their whole heart. So, in these next weeks, let’s seek Him together. Let’s find out if we really know Him for who He is. We can’t afford to get it wrong. Let’s study the bible. Let’s read the very words of Jesus. Let’s pray for revelation and insight and understanding. Let’s believe in Him and know Him better and praise Him and love Him for who He truly is. Ask yourself our theme question as if Jesus was asking you directly, “But what about you?” “Who do you say I am?”

Living a radical life for Jesus mean believing what the bible says about Jesus.