WHOM SAY YOU THAT IAM
Matthew 16:13-16 (KJV)
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When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do
men say that I the Son of man am?
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And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or
one of the prophets.
15
He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
A. Who Is This Man Named Jesus
a. The question of who Jesus is will be one of the most important questions you will
face in this life.
b. The answer to this question holds the foundation of our Christian religion.
c. The answer to this question could fabricate the core of our present lives and
determine our very eternity.
d. Many conclusions have been drawn about His personhood, his ministry, and His
very life.
e. Jesus has been the topic of great discussion and great controversy every since
His miraculous conception here on earth.
f. His life was extremely unusual, to say the least.
g.
h.There was something very special about this itinerate preacher from Nazareth that
caused people to rear back in awe and wonder about His magnificent yet humble
presence.
I. Something about this man made an adulterous woman run and tell her whole city
to “Come and see a man…”
j. He exhibited such power that even His own disciples asked the question “What
manner a man is this?”
k. His preaching was so dynamic and authoritative that even His enemies said
“Never a man spoke like this man”,
l. People who came into His presence went away heal, delivered, enlightened,
encouraged, satisfied and changed.
m. The effects of His ministry have reached beyond the centuries affects the very
core of our lives today.
n. Anyone who has ever heard anything about Jesus must face the question of who
He is on a personal basis.
o. And this question is too important to ignore.
B. Whom Do Men Say That I Am
a. Christian Scientist
1) Jesus was just a man who demonstrated the Christ.
2) He was the offspring of Mary’s self-conscious communication with
God.
3) Jesus was only the true idea of God and Mary’s conception of Him
was only spiritual
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b. Spiritualist
1) Jesus was nothing more than a medium of a higher order.
2) Any perfect and just being are a Christ.
3) Jesus was not divine alone for we are all divine.
c. Jehovah’s Witnesses
1) Jesus was a created being and was created on October, 2 BC.
2) He was the created archangel Michael – the first creation of God.
3) Jesus died and is dead for evermore.
4) Jesus did not rise from the grave but suffered everlasting
destruction.
d.Theosophy
1) Jesus was just a great teacher like Buddha, Confucius, etc.
2) At an early age, Jesus was taken over by the spirit of a great teacher
who was dead.
3) In time all men will become the “Christ”.
e. Unitarian
1) Jesus was the reincarnation of Moses, Elijah or David, etc.
2) Jesus was not the Christ.
f. Bahai Faith
1) Jesus was only one of the many manifestations of God
2) He was only one of the many Christ.
3) His suffering was nothing more than any other prophet.
g. Mormons
1) Jesus was only one of the sons of God.
2) Jesus and Lucifer were brothers since Lucifer was also a son of
God.
3) Jesus and God the Father are flesh and blood humans just like we
are.
4) They were able to ascend unto godhood through the statutes of the
Mormon church.
h.Modern Theology
1) Jesus was a good and moral man who was mistaken by His
followers to be the Christ.
2) Jesus’ miracles were nothing more than legendary exaggerations
that could be explained by natural causes.
3) The birth, life, and death of Jesus were influenced by pagan fables.
C. Whom Say You That I Am
a.The question is a personal question.
1) Your pastor can not answer the question for you.
2) Your parents can not answer the question for you.
3) The answer can not be found on the World-Wide Web.
4) Google can not answer the question for you.
5) Medical science can not answer the question for you.
6) Even the miracles of modern science and technology cannot
answer the question for you
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7) It’s a personal question.
b. Peter’s answer “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God”.
1) What if Peter was wrong?
2) We can close up this church and go home.
3) We can throw away our Bibles.
4) The choir can disband and go home.
5) Preaching should stop preaching the Gospel
6) Jesus was a liar.
7) We are still in our sin and are eternally lost.
c. If Peter was right
1) You should run to Him and receive Him as your savior.
2) Salvation has come to the world.
3) Sing choir, sing!!!
4) Preach preacher, preach!!!
5) Dance children, dance!!!
6) Elijah Mohammad was wrong.
7) Jehovah’s Witnesses are wrong.
8) Mormons are wrong.
9) Theosophists are wrong.
10) Christian Scientist is wrong.
11) Witchcraft is wrong.
12) Modern Theology is wrong
13) Satanism is wrong
D. Who Did Jesus Say He was?
a. John’s gospel revealed Jesus as the “Son of God”.
b. John 8:56
“
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was
glad.
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Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou has
seen Abraham?
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Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before
Abraham was, I am.
c.Jesus used the Hebrew form of the verb “to be” (Akya)
d. Akya – The eternal one – The self-existing God.
e.To understand what angered the Jews you have to go back to the 3
rd
chapter of the
book of Exodus where God is speaking to Moses out of a burning bush.
f. Exodus 3:13-14
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And Moses said unto God, Behold when I come unto the
children of Israel and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me
unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
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And God said unto Moses, (Akya, Ashier, Akya) I AM THAT I AM: and he
said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
g. God’s name is unpronounceable in any earthly language, it has four consonants
and no vowels. (YHWH)
h. Only God can rightly be the “I AM”, so Jesus was God, the great “I Am”.
i. Jesus was saying that He was God.
E. Throughout The Gospel Jesus Expresses Himself as the “I Am”.
a. John 4:26-I Am the Messiah
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E. Who Did Jesus Say He Was ?
b. John 6:35-I Am the Bread Of Life
c. John 8:23-I Am from above
d. John 9:5-I Am the light of the world
e. John 10:7-I Am the Door
f. John 10:36-I Am the Son of God
g. John 11:25-I Am the resurrection and the life
h. John 13:13-I Am the Lord and Master
I. John 14:6-I Am the way, the truth ,and the life
j John 15:1-I Am the True Vine
k. Rev. 1:7-I Am the first and the last
l. Rev. 1:8-I Am alpha and omega
m. John 1:1-3
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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the
Word was God.
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The same was in the beginning with God.
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All things were made by him and without him was not ,any thing made that was
made.
John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us…
n. Jesus always was and always will be.
o. He was God from Genesis to Revelation:
1) Genesis-Creator
2) Exodus-Deliverer
3) Leviticus-High Priest
4) Deuteronomy-Law Giver
5) Joshua-Mighty Conqueror
6) Ezra & Nehemiah-Master Builder
7) Shepherd
8) Proverbs-Wisdom of God
9) Song of Solomon-Faithful Lover
10 Jeremiah-Fire shut up in my bones
11) Ezekiel-Wheel in the middle of a wheel
12) Daniel-Stone hewed out of the mountain
13) Matthew-Messiah of Israel
14) Mark-Tireless Servant
15) Luke-Son of man
16) John-Son of God
17) Acts-Holy Ghost Baptizer
18) Revelation-Alpha and Omega
F. Who Is He To You – Whom Say Ye?
a. Architect-Chief Cornerstone
b. Baker-Living Bread
c. Banker-Hidden Treasured
d. Builder-Sure Foundation
e. Doctor-Great Physician
f. Educator-Master Teacher
g. Florist-Lily of the Valley / Rose of Sharon
h. Geologist-Rock of Ages
I. Horticulturalist-True Vine
j. Lawyer-Wonderful Counselor
I. Reporter-Good News
l. Philosopher-Wisdom of God
m. Servant-Good Master
n. Student-Truth and the Light
o. Theologian-Author and Finisher of our Faith
p. Sinner-Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world
q. Christian -The Christ, The Son of the Living God,
Christians
Savior of my soul,
My Redeemer,
My deliverer,
My Lord,
My God
My Hope
My Everything
Bishop Richard A. Copeland 2015. All Rights Reserved. 803-290-2534