Listen to sermons at FreeGraceRadio.com

“Jesus is the Christ”

“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

(John 20:31)

We believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Messiah, promised by God in all the Old Testament prophets. Peter’s confession, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16), is the basis of all true Christianity, the foundation upon which the church of God is built, and vital revelation of the gospel of God. If Jesus of Nazareth is not the Christ, the Messiah promised in the Old Testament Scriptures, then...

· He is not the Son of God.

· His obedience to God is of no benefit to us.

· His birth is of no greater importance than the birth of any other great and noble man.

· His death upon the cross has no saving virtue.

· And we are yet in our sins.

Peter said, “We believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:69). Can you say the same? Are you really sure? There have been many others who have claimed to be Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of the world. Perhaps it would be good for us to ask of Jesus of Nazareth what John the Baptist asked of him — “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3). How can we know that Jesus is the Christ?

The man Gabriel appeared to Daniel, assuring him of the coming of Christ and of our Savior’s great accomplishments as our Savior at God’s appointed time (Daniel 9:20-24). By the accomplishment of these six great feats of grace, “Messiah the Prince” is identified. He who accomplished these things is the Christ, the Son of God, our Savior.

Transgression Finished

First, Gabriel told Daniel that when the Christ appeared, he would, by the sacrifice of himself, “finish the transgression.” That is precisely what our blessed Savior did when our transgressions were laid on him and borne by him, and he carried them all away in the stream of his precious blood when he made satisfaction for us. They shall never be seen or brought up again!

Sins End

Second, the Lord Jesus came here in our flesh to “make an end of sins.” Yes, our blessed Savior abolished the sins of his people forever when he paid to the full the price of our ransom, by the sacrifice of himself! — He made an end of all the sins of all his redeemed forever (1 John 3:5; Psalm 32:1; Romans 4:8; Numbers 23:21, 23). No charge can be brought against us. No, the curse of the law cannot reach us. No sentence of the law can be executed upon us. No punishment can be inflicted upon us. We are entirely and completely saved from all our sins and all the evil consequences of them forever!

Reconciliation for Iniquity

Third, the Son of God came into the world to save his people from their sins by making “reconciliation for iniquity,” by making blood atonement for it. By his precious blood, by the sacrifice of himself, by his sufferings and death, the law and justice of God were fully satisfied; full reparation was made for the injury done by sin (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). For all our iniquities, our dear Savior has made complete reconciliation!

Everlasting Righteousness

Fourth, our dear Savior came here “to bring in everlasting righteousness” for his elect, righteousness by which he magnified the law and made it honorable. He brought in this perfect righteousness for us by his perfect life of obedience to the law and will of God as our Representative, even his obedience unto death as our covenant Surety and Substitute. This is the righteousness he bestows upon his redeemed, the righteousness we have received by faith in him, that everlasting righteousness in which we stand and shall forever stand before the holy Lord God in the perfection of beauty! This righteousness is a robe of righteousness that will never wear out. Its virtue to justify will continue forever. It is perfect righteousness, the very righteousness of God; and it is ours in Christ Jesus!

Seal Up the Vision

Fifth, by his obedience unto death and his resurrection from the dead, our Lord Jesus Christ “sealed up the vision and prophecy.” That is to say, he fulfilled it all — All the Law — All the Prophets — All the Types — All the Promises — All the Old Testament!

Anoint the Most Holy

Sixth, Christ came here “to anoint the most holy.” Christ’s ransomed ones, God’s elect, his church (poor, ruined, wretched sinners like you and me), are here called “the most holy.” — Imagine that! Washed in the blood of Christ, clothed with his righteousness, and sanctified by his Spirit, we are in union with the Lamb of God, “the most Holy!”

“With His spotless garments on,

Holy as the Holy One!”

Rejoice, O my soul, rejoice, and give praise to God forever! — “We believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God!” Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph and Mary, who was crucified at Jerusalem two thousand years ago, is indeed the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Don Fortner

Pastor Fortner’s