Now it came about when all the people were baptized, that Jesus also was baptized. . . .
. . . and while praying heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove and a voice came out of heaven, "Thou art my beloved son, in thee I am well-pleased.
Christian Science: "Jesus is the human man and Christ is the divine idea." One sacrifice, however great, is insufficient to pay the debt of sin."
Jehovah's Witnesses: "Jesus Christ is not God. He was the first son that Jehovah God brought forth . . . His perfect life was laid down in death, but not for sin and in punishment."
Mormonism: "Jesus Christ by obedience and devotion attained to the pinnacle of intelligence which ranked him as a god, even in his pre-existent state."
The New Age: (which is nothing more than a rerun of Eastern mysticism): "The historical person, Jesus of Nazareth, is separated from the Christ consciousness which Jesus attained that is found within himself. Jesus is not the God-man, but one of a long line of "masters" along with Buddha and Krishna who had themselves realized divinity. Jesus of Nazareth then is no longer said to be the only begotten Son of God, the God-man, the Lord and Savior of the cosmos. He is merely one of the manifestations of God throughout the ages. Salvation comes by realizing that you are to "be still and know that you are God," and when you know that you are God you will begin to live Godhood."
And when he began his ministry, Jesus himself was about thirty years of age, being supposedly the son of Joseph, the son of Eli. . .
...the Gospels prove Jesus' legal and physical right to sit as Messiah on David's throne to fulfill the covenant God made with Abraham...It is significant to note that, when Jesus offered himself to Israel as the Messiah, his claim to Davidic descent was never challenged...In spite of all the problems that the two genealogies present, we must not lose sight of the fact that they present incontrovertible proof that Jesus is the son of Abraham, the Son of David, the One through whom God will bring the great covenants he made with Israel to their conclusion. He is the One who has the right to redeem and reign.
Thanks be to God that he was willing to send his Son into the world through the virgin birth to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). We who have placed our faith in him are included in his spiritual genealogy because of the love of God shown through Jesus Christ. John 1:13 tells us: "But as many as received Him to them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man but of God." Galatians 3:26-29 says, "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus . . . and if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise."
Copyright © 1989 Discovery Publishing, a ministry of Peninsula Bible Church. This data file is the sole property of Discovery Publishing, a ministry of Peninsula Bible Church. It may be copied only in its entirety for circulation freely without charge. All copies of this data file must contain the above copyright notice. This data file may not be copied in part, edited, revised, copied for resale or incorporated in any commercial publications, recordings, broadcasts, performances, displays or other products offered for sale, without the written permission of Discovery Publishing. Requests for permission should be made in writing and addressed to Discovery Publishing, 3505 Middlefield Rd. Palo Alto, CA. 94306-3695.