As different images of Jesus continue to circulate throughout our culture, this week’s sermon series The Gospel of Luke, Part II: A Journey through Galilee magnifies the true identity of Jesus Christ. More than 2,000 years after Jesus posed the question to His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”, the same question lingers today posing both earthly and eternal implications.

Tyler’s Main Points

• The claims of Jesus are evidence that Jesus is the Christ of God.

• The miracles of Jesus are evidence that Jesus is the Christ of God.

• The testimonies of others are evidence that Jesus is the Christ of God.

Key Takeaways

• Many recognized Jesus as a great prophet and teacher, but not the promised Messiah.

• Today, there are still a variety of voices chiming in on the identity of Jesus. False caricatures of Christ include:
  Jesus is a myth.
  Jesus was real, but was a heretic or false teacher.
  Jesus was a prophet, but not God.
  Jesus was a good moral teacher.
  Jesus is our buddy who came to help us feel good and bless us with health, wealth, and prosperity.
  Jesus is irrelevant.

• The title “Christ” means “the anointed one or chosen one.” The promise of the Christ, who would deliver sinful humanity from the penalty of sin and the power of Satan, began in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3:15.

• Luke has ordered His Gospel account to lead us to this moment by providing an abundance of evidence and to push us to a decision to embrace Him as the Christ.

• You are not saved by what your parents believe. You must believe for yourself that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

• Jesus Christ accomplished salvation through crucifixion and resurrection as both the just and justifier (Rom. 3:26).

• The testimony of the apostles’ martyrdom, the expansion of the Church worldwide, and the testimony of countless Christians for the past 2,000+ years bolster the identity claims of Jesus as the Christ.

Discussion Questions/Application

Personal application:

• How does your life reflect your belief that Jesus is the Christ? What areas of your life are inconsistent with who Jesus claims to be as your Lord and Savior?

Discuss with your community group:

• Are there any aspects of Jesus’s identity you struggle to believe?

• If you found yourself in a conversation where someone declared, “Jesus was just a good teacher. He never claimed to be God,” how would you respond?

Passages Referenced

Luke 9:18-22; Genesis 3:15; Luke 2:49, 4:18-21, 5:22-24, 6:5, 7:22-23, 8:39; John 6:35; Luke 1:31-33, 2:10-11, 2:30-32, 3:16-17, 3:22, 4:34, 7:6-8, 7:16, 8:25, 8:28, 8:39; Matthew 16:16-17; Romans 3:26. Psalms 16:11.

Worship Set List

King of Glory, Firm Foundation (He Won’t), Christ is Enough, Abide, Is He Worthy