I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST
I Believe in Jesus Christ
John 1:1–5
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
We have been in a series of messages called “I Believe,” where we are looking at what we believe as a church—not simply our preferences, but the doctrines and truths that are rooted in the Word of God.
Preferences can vary. Some people prefer pews while others prefer chairs. Some prefer piano music, some guitar, some old hymns, some newer songs, and some prefer a blend of all of it.
There is nothing wrong with having preferences. But preferences cannot be the foundation of our faith.
There are some things that are not gray areas. There are some things God has clearly established in His Word as the foundation and framework for His work, His kingdom, His ministry, and His church.
We need to know what we believe—and more importantly, why we believe it.
If you're a young person and you say, “I don't really know what I believe,” then dig into these doctrines. Don't just say, “I believe in God.” Ask, Who is this God? Don't just say, “I believe the Bible.” Ask, What is the Bible? Where did it come from? Who gave it to us?
And don't simply say, “I believe in Jesus.”
Know Jesus.
Because the more we know Him, the more we will want to believe in Him, love Him, and know Him.
Today, I want us to think specifically about the Jesus of the Bible.
Jesus Christ Is the Foundation
We have a Christian church. We have Christian principles. We sing Christian songs. We preach Christian sermons. We have Christian activities.
But we must never allow Christianity to become nothing more than a collection of traditions and activities.
We must keep our focus on the person of Jesus Christ.
He is the Christ in Christian.
He is the Christ in our Christian songs.
He is the Christ in our Christian sermons.
He is the Christ in our Christian activities.
West End Baptist Church is built on the person of Jesus Christ.
When we talk about what West End Baptist Church believes and teaches, I don't want anybody to be confused:
We believe in Jesus Christ.
He is the foundation for what we do, and everything we do in this room and on this property should be built upon Him.
So let's dig a little deeper.
1. Jesus Christ Is Fully God
John 1:1 says:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John doesn't beat around the bush. He doesn't ease into it. He doesn't sugarcoat it.
He tells us that Jesus—the Word—was present at the beginning.
He was with God.
And He was God.
The Word mentioned here is none other than Jesus Christ.
This doctrine is paramount to everything we teach and believe at West End Baptist Church.
Why?
Because it took a Savior who was fully God to save us.
Jesus was not simply a good man who came to teach us how to live.
He wasn't merely a prophet.
He wasn't just another religious leader.
This was God coming to us.
A Savior who was anything less than fully God could never save mankind.
It took God Almighty.
It took a perfect sacrifice.
It took sinless blood.
It took a spotless Lamb.
And Jesus Christ—fully God—was the only One worthy and able to fulfill that task.
It took God to do for man what man could never do for himself.
2. Jesus Christ Is Fully Man
Now wait a minute.
We just said He was fully God.
How can He also be fully man?
John gives us the answer in verse 14:
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
The Word was God.
The Word was with God.
All things were made by Him.
And then the Word became flesh.
We know the Christmas story. We know that Jesus was born into this world.
But stop and think about what that really means.
Before Bethlehem, man could only think about the glory of God. Man saw God through types and pictures. There were times in the Old Testament when people could not even look upon God's glory.
Man wanted to know God.
Man wanted to touch God.
Man wanted to be near God.
And at Bethlehem, God became flesh.
God became man.
For the first time, man could behold His glory.
The God of Heaven could be held in the arms of a mother.
God put on flesh.
God put on human skin.
He lived nine months in the womb of a mother.
He humbled Himself to be fed and changed.
He humbled Himself to learn to crawl and walk.
Think about it.
The One who gave us life and taught us to walk was now being taught to walk.
He was fully man.
He lived approximately thirty-three years as a human being.
He became hungry.
He became thirsty.
He became sleepy.
He even wept.
And He was tempted.
Hebrews 4:15 says:
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
Jesus knows what it is like to walk where we walk.
He knows what temptation feels like.
Everything that could be put before your eyes was put before His eyes.
Everything that could be put before your ears was put before His ears.
Yet the Bible says He lived without sin.
That's why Hebrews 4:16 continues:
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Are you battling something?
Go to Jesus.
Are you fighting temptation?
Go to Jesus.
Are you hurting?
Go to Jesus.
Jesus has been here.
Jesus has walked where we walk.
Jesus knows what we're going through.
He is fully man.
And because He is fully man, He is close enough to know us.
Because He is fully God, He is holy enough to save us.
3. Jesus Came to Complete the Work
Why did Jesus come?
Was it for the miracles?
The miracles were amazing, but that wasn't the ultimate reason He came.
Was it for history?
Was it for fame?
Jesus was popular, but popularity wasn't His purpose.
He came to seek and to save that which was lost.
Philippians 2:8 says:
“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himsel
John 1:1–5
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
We have been in a series of messages called “I Believe,” where we are looking at what we believe as a church—not simply our preferences, but the doctrines and truths that are rooted in the Word of God.
Preferences can vary. Some people prefer pews while others prefer chairs. Some prefer piano music, some guitar, some old hymns, some newer songs, and some prefer a blend of all of it.
There is nothing wrong with having preferences. But preferences cannot be the foundation of our faith.
There are some things that are not gray areas. There are some things God has clearly established in His Word as the foundation and framework for His work, His kingdom, His ministry, and His church.
We need to know what we believe—and more importantly, why we believe it.
If you're a young person and you say, “I don't really know what I believe,” then dig into these doctrines. Don't just say, “I believe in God.” Ask, Who is this God? Don't just say, “I believe the Bible.” Ask, What is the Bible? Where did it come from? Who gave it to us?
And don't simply say, “I believe in Jesus.”
Know Jesus.
Because the more we know Him, the more we will want to believe in Him, love Him, and know Him.
Today, I want us to think specifically about the Jesus of the Bible.
Jesus Christ Is the Foundation
We have a Christian church. We have Christian principles. We sing Christian songs. We preach Christian sermons. We have Christian activities.
But we must never allow Christianity to become nothing more than a collection of traditions and activities.
We must keep our focus on the person of Jesus Christ.
He is the Christ in Christian.
He is the Christ in our Christian songs.
He is the Christ in our Christian sermons.
He is the Christ in our Christian activities.
West End Baptist Church is built on the person of Jesus Christ.
When we talk about what West End Baptist Church believes and teaches, I don't want anybody to be confused:
We believe in Jesus Christ.
He is the foundation for what we do, and everything we do in this room and on this property should be built upon Him.
So let's dig a little deeper.
1. Jesus Christ Is Fully God
John 1:1 says:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John doesn't beat around the bush. He doesn't ease into it. He doesn't sugarcoat it.
He tells us that Jesus—the Word—was present at the beginning.
He was with God.
And He was God.
The Word mentioned here is none other than Jesus Christ.
This doctrine is paramount to everything we teach and believe at West End Baptist Church.
Why?
Because it took a Savior who was fully God to save us.
Jesus was not simply a good man who came to teach us how to live.
He wasn't merely a prophet.
He wasn't just another religious leader.
This was God coming to us.
A Savior who was anything less than fully God could never save mankind.
It took God Almighty.
It took a perfect sacrifice.
It took sinless blood.
It took a spotless Lamb.
And Jesus Christ—fully God—was the only One worthy and able to fulfill that task.
It took God to do for man what man could never do for himself.
2. Jesus Christ Is Fully Man
Now wait a minute.
We just said He was fully God.
How can He also be fully man?
John gives us the answer in verse 14:
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
The Word was God.
The Word was with God.
All things were made by Him.
And then the Word became flesh.
We know the Christmas story. We know that Jesus was born into this world.
But stop and think about what that really means.
Before Bethlehem, man could only think about the glory of God. Man saw God through types and pictures. There were times in the Old Testament when people could not even look upon God's glory.
Man wanted to know God.
Man wanted to touch God.
Man wanted to be near God.
And at Bethlehem, God became flesh.
God became man.
For the first time, man could behold His glory.
The God of Heaven could be held in the arms of a mother.
God put on flesh.
God put on human skin.
He lived nine months in the womb of a mother.
He humbled Himself to be fed and changed.
He humbled Himself to learn to crawl and walk.
Think about it.
The One who gave us life and taught us to walk was now being taught to walk.
He was fully man.
He lived approximately thirty-three years as a human being.
He became hungry.
He became thirsty.
He became sleepy.
He even wept.
And He was tempted.
Hebrews 4:15 says:
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
Jesus knows what it is like to walk where we walk.
He knows what temptation feels like.
Everything that could be put before your eyes was put before His eyes.
Everything that could be put before your ears was put before His ears.
Yet the Bible says He lived without sin.
That's why Hebrews 4:16 continues:
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Are you battling something?
Go to Jesus.
Are you fighting temptation?
Go to Jesus.
Are you hurting?
Go to Jesus.
Jesus has been here.
Jesus has walked where we walk.
Jesus knows what we're going through.
He is fully man.
And because He is fully man, He is close enough to know us.
Because He is fully God, He is holy enough to save us.
3. Jesus Came to Complete the Work
Why did Jesus come?
Was it for the miracles?
The miracles were amazing, but that wasn't the ultimate reason He came.
Was it for history?
Was it for fame?
Jesus was popular, but popularity wasn't His purpose.
He came to seek and to save that which was lost.
Philippians 2:8 says:
“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himsel
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