What Child is This? - Who is He?, Part 1

If Jesus had a business card. What would it say on who would it say he is nice guy, teacher, healer, or coworker King God.

Religious leader who is this Jesus. We celebrated Christmas and is it possible that were not celebrating the real Jesus is Christmastime find out today welcome to this Tuesday edition of Living on the Edge with gibbering Living on the Edge features the Bible teaching of Chip Ingram daily discipleship program paper and chips currently in a series. What child is this today brings a picture of Christ that does more than just tell you picture reveals why Jesus is like no other man in Georgia for his message is from the book of Colossians chapter 1 in those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree in a sentence that should be taken of the entire Roman world, and everyone went to his hometown to register. So Joseph went up with to the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem to the town of David, because he belonged to the house and the line of David. He went there to register with Mary, was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room in the end children all over America will dress up in bathrobes and tell the story on little wooden stages in tiny and small churches. Some churches will bring in animals and have live nativity scenes and literally have been thrown have thousands of cars and in the Midwest they will shiver in the cold as they pretend to be Mary with live animals and currently there is conflict on Council members among cities and places where they're still trying to figure out whether it's legal to have that nativity scene on government property. All those things happen when you hear the story about the little baby in the manger and the reason is because it raises the question and a lot of different opinions about who is that baby in the manger. Here's the conflict. Some would say he's a mythical character. Others a historical figure, is he a created being, or is he the creator himself was a born of just human parents or was he born of a virgin is Jesus, he would grow up to be a great teacher or is the author of truth was he subordinate to God. Did God create Jesus and he's called the son of God, sorta like a junior partner in the universe or is equal with God, is he a divine ideal as new agers would treat the Christ in all of us or is he one who bodily rose from the dead is a great religious teacher and leader is he the Lord of all.

In that day there was a lot of conflict about who this itinerant preacher was and who this baby was in today.

There's still a lot of conflict and so the apostle Paul would write to a group. There was a young church in colossi and he wants to explain very very clearly who exactly was the baby in the manger that grew up to be the rabbi named Jesus who we sit now 2000+ years and realize the entire history of the world was transformed when that little baby grew up. So here's what you do really take our second look at Christmas. But when you look at Christmas from heaven's perspective, we said we want three questions and demand answer the first one is, why did he come the second question is who is he, Colossians chapter 1 beginning in verse 15 and follow along. He says of this baby. Prior to even coming to the earth.

He writes he is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Speaking of Jesus for by him all things were created things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities all things were created by him and for him as far as time goes he was before all things and in him all things hold together, and he is the head of the body, the church. He's the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy for God was pleased to have all the fullness dwell in him and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth, or things in heaven by making peace through his blood shed on the cross. Now we talked last week about when the apostle Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit directed by God to speak truth.

He seems to have a unique ability to have a lot of commas and a lot of run-on sentences which at times make it's a little difficult to figure out what in the world he really say and and I like to suggest that there's maybe four questions that we ask of anyone to discover who they really are.

I had a meeting in Atlanta so I had to fly there just quickly and then come back to stop there a couple nights and on the way out when out of SFO and sat next to a guy named Frank and I realized that you know he was very open, very friendly. We just can't hit it off and I realize I I asking for basic questions.

I mean, I didn't know him so I asking so so where you from and pretty soon Frank because he had little bit of an accent and he said one from Switzerland actually grew up there with University of Zürich and then talked about he he works for a company here, but it's German based in and then you know I just said so likable like what you doing is when the chemist I said really I said will like words you do your training and talk about where he got his PhD in that and then I civil will, in your company. What kind of role you have, what exactly do you do because I'm in the research department in them.

I have to fly I make these presentations and you know we were both doing little bit of work and he had member and chemistry all this funny little things with all little charts look like octagon's, with all the letters he handles all of her sheet of paper is looking to wow that like it's like a whole another language is any good. Yeah it really is and then finally you know, we really got talking.

I did work and he did work in and then pretty soon I said so you know you can stick around America because he lived in France and other places in talking about his life and his company in talking a bit about his girlfriend. The been together about 15 years and said so what your future plans and said you know I'm not really sure but we been together 15 years something like maybe we should get married. I said that sounds like a good plan. Here's my only point when you want to find out someone's identity. We unconsciously just asked some very basic questions and I think it's interesting when you study very carefully.

Colossians chapter 1 verses 15 through 20. The apostle Paul answers those four questions and tells us exactly who Jesus is. So the first question I mean if Jesus Jesus. So where you from this Colossians church having all these people, these false teachers came in and they're saying this and they're saying it's okay so where is Jesus from the apostle Paul says let me tell you where he's from, is the image of the invisible God. He's the firstborn over creation ignored image here means we get our word icon that's exact word in Greek Hebrews chapter 1 verse three says the son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being. It's making the invisible visible. If you take a piece of clay soft clay or even Plato and then if you take a coin or something that had a lot of impressions on it and if you pushed it very hard into the plate over the clay and then you carefully lifted off what you have in the Plato or the clay is the exact image of the reality of the substance and he saying that's what Jesus is. He's not just a representative or reflection. He's the exact representation of God himself second.

Then he says he's the firstborn notices over all creation. And don't let the word firstborn.

There's a couple different Greek words and it gets a little bit technical. I won't go into it with the firstborn here is that I do not with time, but with rank and honor. It's like when Solomon talked David talked about his son Solomon. He called Solomon his firstborn will Solomon was in his firstborn son Solomon was the highest in rank in order of all of his sons because he was going to be the king and so he's called the firstborn. He's the highest he's the first he's the preeminent and so we learn the truth is that Jesus is the physical revelation of the invisible God. So where did you come from from all time and eternity. Jesus in the beginning was the word John says, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.

All things came into being through him, and nothing came into being, that wasn't created by him and then if you skip down to verse 14 of John chapter 1 he says, and the Word was made flesh, and literally it's the tabernacle door dwelt among us, and we beheld him as the only begotten from the father full of truth and grace.

And then it says Jesus or the word explained him the father full of truth and grace and I just love this picture you want to know where he came from who he is.

Jesus made the invisible God visible. In fact Jesus by his own lips would say if you've seen me, you seen what member the father what he said to his disciples coequal coexisting co-glory and worshiped. And so the response is this.

We can know God personally is interesting. I sat on the plane there and we we just got talking and he asked about my life is. He asked where you from and so what you do and you know we got talking for a while and then I don't know why just said talk about my past and I said Unitas, the whole God thing is a big turnoff. I had a really bad church experience and useful to follow these rules and unlike most the rules and the people and live the life and it was just like you to forget it and then I told him about you and I went to this camp and I really love basketball and only to the camp because a basketball and I never read the Bible and in this like older very uncool guy got up and would read a paragraph and explain it in the for the first time in my life. It made sense and no one preached at me but then I got around these guys and they lived it out and I could tell they love one another and I said you know I believed intellectually. God, I had no idea. I grew up in America telling Frank. I had no idea you could actually know him and I member turning to him and we were talking about you, so I said like there's like a big rock star you can know about them or listen to his music or the present United States you can know about it, but that's different than shaking someone's hand, looking him in the eye and having a relationship with them and I said what happened to me was I learned that I could know about God, but I could actually know him personally, and that kinda started a pretty interesting conversation with Frank before I got off the plane. I just had this little little nudge from God because this guy was just, I mean it was like God had prepared him and we were supposed to sit next to each other and then he was gonna ask me. So like, will how do you know him personally, and how does it work in and I we put everything up and you were descending in. Like you I have those little flutters inside like you know I don't want to be pushy, I don't to be preachy and the spirits going look what would the guy have to do help me. I said okay so I took the little you know sky magazine. I flipped through and I look for a page where there are some open space and I rip that out. I put that in a took the open space of folded in half because I could write on it and then I just drew little picture and a picture of one side with God on one side with man on it. In this chasm called sin, and I drool bridge on the cross. I just explained the gospel and he turned because now that is a very interesting way to understand how to have a relationship with God never seen before and you know you know what do you realize how many people do you realize how many people have no idea that the whole point of the baby in the manger was God wanted you to know that he came and took on human flesh and would grow up in here was the point that you could know him personally that your relatives could know him personally. The God would talk to you and speak to you and direct you and care about you and love you and those Colossian Christians were being taught a lot of wild things like that could never happen. There's all these steps you have to go through and worship of angels and there's all kind of days you have to follow and food you can eat in things you can't do and the apostle Paul says in on the note, this Jesus that baby in the manger keys the exact image and representation of the invisible God, please, the firstborn in highest and right before there was anything or anyone he wants you to know that he loves you. God loves you so much. He sent the second person of the Trinity to live this life so that you want to know how God thinks how he acts how he feels about poor people look at Jesus how he responds to people that are really repentant when they blow it how to respond to the woman at the well.

How does respond to arrogant religious people who think they got it together, look at Jesus with the Pharisees, you want to know what God is like. Just look at how Jesus speaks and talks and responds just read the Gospels second question when when you want to get to know someone assume it isn't simply, where you're from, but what you do and Jesus had a very interesting job description it says by him all things were created in your nose.

Just circle the word all and just let that sink in, not some not partial running by Jesus. What you do me like if we were doing like an interview.

Excuse me sir, I'm a reporter.

Could you tell me what you do I create everything will could you expand on everything for us running like well how about this like things that are in heaven, or things are on earth things that you can see are things you can't see what you mean by that.

What you can't see bacteria you can't cDNA I created that you can't see galaxies that are billions and billions and billions of light years away while got news for you. I created that to I created everything. In fact, if you go to the invisible world of angelic world of demonic world, thrones, dominions, powers, or authorities that they were being taught about all these angels and I'm I'm over all of that. You don't get to me through anything or anyone on all-powerful, I created all of that.

In fact, I existed before all things in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the word was God. All things were created by him and through him and you might just jot down Romans 11 verse 36, because who go on to say all things were created by him all things were created through him and the know say there created for him. You know what God's agenda is for us as a church and literally for every Christian all around the world. When we think about the baby in the manger. We go to little program. The kids have the bathrobes on when we see a live nativity scene when we read the paper in here about this government or that government and all the stuff that keeps coming back to the manger and little baby and who is he, God wants this year to something to click and move you out of the cute story or isn't it nice or I love that music or less here together the way manger no it's a great song but he wants you to know that he made all that there is that the eternal God of the universe was before all things in the Jesus that we warship didn't exist, first by coming into a baby, but he eternally existed as coequal with the father and the Holy Spirit and he chose to leave the glory of heaven and all angels being in very nature of God, and he would take on human flesh, so he could be fully God and fully man and live a perfect life to review what the fathers like and express his love for us and so notice he is before all things, and not only that he holds all things together mean I think I heard recently that I'm not exactly sure but the earth is going around the sonnet like 65, 66,000 miles an hour it's spinning like crazy. We got all these molecules we've got all these bodies we got all this gravitational pull some invisible quote glue is holding everything together by the word of his power from the Scripture says it's Jesus. The truth is, Jesus is the creator and sustainer of everything but talk about someone worthy of worship. Jesus is the creator and the sustainer of everything our response.

We can trust him completely fully about everything mean not. Let's just do the math on this if Jesus at this moment has created all that there is that powerful that all knowing that all wise and each moment of every day simply by his word and the nature of being God.

He holds all things together. You think he's powerful enough to hold your life together. Can he hold your life together when the report on the biopsy is cancer. Could that Jesus hold your life together when you get the deeper struggle in your marriage you've ever had. Maybe infidelity comes in, and someone makes a big mistake could he hold it together when you have a rebellious child and he could he hold it together when you lose your job or lose your house could hold together when the whole. Your future is uncertain in my going to get in the school might really get married.

And what about this what about this. Will we ever built, have children to meet Cody meet. Do you think he has the power to hold it together or do you just worship a nice little ideal away in a manger or Jesus you know isn't he sweet stuff. The Jesus of the Bible the Jesus of the Bible is the creator and the sustainer of the universe and what he asked of everyone when he walked upon the earth and what his word asked of everyone after he's gone. Is he has one agenda for your life and is in a question will you trust.

Jim will be right back just joining us, you're listening to Living on the Edge with shipping in today's message is he is from ship series. What child is this for most of us the Christmas story is familiar so there's a chance we forgotten the mystery and all Jesus leaving heaven to come to earth in this three-part series, you become aware of the significance of Christmas in a whole new light fixture basks three simple questions why did he come.

Who is he and what is he want the answers may actually lead you to make a few changes in the way you celebrate, so why not pick up a set of CDs or download the free MP3s and use them as a way to prepare you and those you love. For a fresh, exciting Christmas season to order just give us a call at 1-888-333-6003 or visit us online at http://livingontheedge.org will now hear strip as many of you know, in recent months. I just stepped down as the senior pastor of venture Christian church have been a senior pastor for 35 years and is a very very big and emotional step, but as I did three major pastors conferences in nine states last year. I will make my third trip to China in the last 12 months this year and I had an experience in the Middle East, where I saw needs and I saw God work that shook my life and a member sitting on the floor of my wife's office in our house and she looked at me and said ship.

We can't wait to step out like never before and do what God called us to do beyond the walls of one local church. We love the church. It's an awesome church you been there in 09+ years and I begin to think about all the things you think about when you have to make a big decision right.

I mean, you know my income is gonna change traveling overseas. It was pretty scary. A couple times where I was places and then I read Genesis 2214 recently back to have it on the little card that I memorized many years ago and it's where Abraham is bringing Isaac and he's going to offer the most precious thing to God and you know the story where he struggles and yet the knife goes up and the angel calls out and in verse 14 it says and the Lord provided and it says in the mount of the Lord as it said to this day it will be provided and as I was thinking, I realized I'd preach surrender to people for probably 30+ years and what I realized was it never ends, and that God always provides, but he provides after we surrender and stepping out and giving 100% of my energy, my focus my time to United States to pastors to China in the Middle East just meant I needed to go back up on the mountain and take my Isaac of comfort my Isaac of security. My Isaac of my personal fears and laid them there. And God says, and I will provide it. So as you think about this season and especially this matching what God might want you to do. I would encourage you to ponder what it looks like to surrender to really surrender and say Lord I will do what ever you want me to do with regard to Living on the Edge we are asking God for ambassadors and partners that are gonna say I'm all in. If there's ever a time in America in the world where we need a group of people to say I am all in. I don't know what it looks like. Of course, I'm afraid, but I'm going to be courageous and I'm going to step out and Lord what ever you show me I will do treason. I have taken that step here in the last few months and I simply want to invite you to take with us and back it up with your prayer, your financial support in the way you live your life every single day give you a few details about how you can give and how that can be double with our match today.

Pray seriously where you go to that mountain surrender and I think we'll see God do things that we never dreamed what were praying for the ministry that continues to happen through Living on the Edge and were praying that you will decide to partner with us financially while were in our 2018 year-end match, thanks to a handful of very generous friends of the ministry. Every gift we received during December will be doubled. 4400 or 4000 doubled dollar for dollar. Imagine what we could do together to send a gift.

Just visit us online at http://livingontheedge.org and click the donate button on our homepage or give us a call at 1-888-333-6003. That's 1-888-333-6003. Your generosity is greatly appreciated will now hear strip with some final thoughts as we close today's program. I have one singular thought to leave you with it.

It's a big one. Who are you trusting with your life and your future. If Jesus is the creator of the universe and the sustainer of the universe is he in charge of your life, or perhaps another way to look at it is, how is it going running life your way. How's that working for you. If Jesus is who he said he is. He wants to take the reins of your life, your future, your relationships, your schooling if you're in it and he want you to come and say Lord lead me, I surrender. I want to go all in. I want to follow you the greatest Christmas gift you could ever give to yourself is to say to him. My allegiance, my heart, my future is yours and then let me encourage you find some people to get help you get there. God bless you have a great Christmas season. Do you wish you could hear Living on the Edge what it fits into your schedule. You can for those of you who want to listen to Living on the Edge on the go. Just download the free shipping. Remap at Google play or the app store will until tomorrow.

This is Dave Drury saying thanks for listening. this Edition of Living on the Edge