JESUS THE CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD

PROCLAMATION

“Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and The Spirit descending on Him like a dove.  And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased.’ ”  Mark 1:10-11 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to Mark, who was not one of the twelve apostles.  Mark was a companion Simon Peter (1 Peter 5:13) and the cousin of Barnabas, (Colossians 4:10) a close associate of Paul.  The gospel according to Mark is presented differently than the gospel according to Matthew.  The gospel of Matthew was addressed primarily to the Jews and presented Jesus as The Messiah, The King of the Jews.  However, the gospel of Mark was addressed primarily to the Romans and presented Jesus as a good humble worker and The Servant of God.  Mark begins chapter one with a quote from the prophet Isaiah regarding a voice crying in the wilderness saying prepare for The Lord. (Isaiah 40:3 and Mark 1:2-3) There is no presentation of the genealogy of Jesus because the ancestry of a servant was not important to the Romans.  He presents John, the baptizer, then details the baptism of Jesus. (Mark 1:9-13)  Afterwards, Mark focused more on what Jesus did and not so much on what He said.

APPLICATION
Baptism is one of only two ordinances Christ left for us.  The other one is The Lord’s Supper, or The Holy Communion.  With respect to baptism, Jesus, The Christ, was sinless and did not need repentance.  He was baptized by John because it was appropriate to do it in order to fulfill all righteousness. (Matthew 3:15)  As Jesus came up out of the water God, The Father, spoke and identified Him as God, The Son, and sent God, The Holy Spirit, to Him as a visible sign in the form of a dove. (Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:10-11, Luke 3:21-22, and John 1:31-34)  Today our baptism by immersion in water is an outward sign to the world of our inner transformation.  The water does not save us or transform us.  The change which occurs in us due to the indwelling of The Holy Spirit of God within us after we believe, confess, repent, and accept Christ as our Savior.

GOD THE FATHER AND GOD THE SON AND GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE ONE GOD

Proclamation:

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, The Father, The Word, and The Holy Ghost, and these three are one.”  1 John 5:7 (KJV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle John, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to all who believed in Jesus, The Christ.  He begins this fifth chapter by stating that everyone who believes that Jesus is The Christ is born of God.  Everyone who loves God, The Father, also loves God, The Son. (1 John 5:1)  He said that they know that they love God and all the children of God because they keep His commands. (1 John 5:2-3)  Then he tells them that Jesus, The Christ, is The Son of God, and there are three in heaven who can bear witness to this fact, God, The Father, God, The Son, and God, The Holy Spirit.

Application:

There are three witnesses in heaven that can testify to the fact that Jesus, The Christ, is The Son of God, The Father, The Word, and The Holy Ghost.  The reference to “The Word” is a reference to Jesus, The Christ.  The apostle John establishes this fact in the gospel which bears his name.  He said, “In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God.” (John 1:1)  He went on to say, “And The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us …” (John 1:14)  He clearly referred to Jesus, The Christ, who left heaven and came to earth, put on human flesh, and walked on earth among men.  God, The Father, and God, The Son, and God, The Holy Spirit are one.  Christ Jesus said, “I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30)  We may not fully understand how this is possible, but it is not necessary for us to understand it.  We just need to have faith and believe it.  Remember, we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)  Without faith, it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)