(during the combined Gospel Meeting of Shalom Church and Shalom Dover Reformed Baptist Church, Singapore)

 Who is Jesus? 耶稣是谁？

My friends, do you know WHO IS JESUS?

Not what you think or what others say but WHAT HE truly IS!

Please turn to the Bible, John chapter 1 which is printed here for you.

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2  He was in the beginning with God.

3  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7  He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.

8  He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9  The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

10  He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

11  He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

12  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

13  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

INTRODUCTION

We have just read from the Bible, the first 14 verses of chapter 1 in the gospel of John.

When you read it carefully, you'll find the answer to that question, "Who is Jesus?"

Verse 1 tells us that;

Jesus was that Word that existed in the beginning before all other things came into being!

Jesus was that Word that became flesh; that He took on the form of man, and came to dwell among us!  This is in verse 14.

The last part of verse 1 tells us; That Word was God! - Jesus is God!

He is the same God who directs the earth in its orbit and kept all other planetary bodies in its course!

He spoke and the world was created! This is what it meant in v3 & 10.

He is the One who keeps the sun burning, and feeds the little sparrows.

He upholds the universe, and hears every prayer uttered by His people.

At His command, the storm was stilled and water was turned into wine!

Every human must one day stand before Him and give an account to Him.

He shall pronounce judgment on everyone! - Eternal life on those who believe or eternal death unto those who reject Him!

Today, these words may sound like just empty threats to you!

But on that day, everyone will understand the full terror of that punishment!

Speaking of that future Judgment, the Bible says;

Many will cry out, 'calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, '

(Rev 6v16) 向山和岩石说：「倒在我们身上吧！把我们藏起来，躲避坐宝座者的面目和羔羊的忿怒；

But that is just wishful thinking!

For nothing can hide sinners from God who judges on that day!

By then, Everyone will realize what the Bible says is true; that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23) 世人都犯了罪，亏缺了神的荣耀；

As it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; (Rom 3:10)  就如经上所记：没有义人，连一个也没有。

Today, few people see themselves as God sees them.

But on that day, everyone will see themselves with the same transparency that God sees them!

Right into the deepest recesses of their own heart!

They will remember every bad thing they have ever committed; in words, thoughts or deeds!

At the same time they will recall God's commands:

"You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matt 19v18-19)

Mat 19:18  不可杀人；不可奸淫；不可偷盗；不可作假见证；Mat 19:19  当孝敬父母，又当爱人如己。」

Did you ever take anything that is not yours?

Did you ever say anything that is not true?

Did you love other people like you love yourself?

Every person ever lived will be guilty before the all-seeing eyes of God.

Every excuse will be silenced on their lips!

Then and only then, Jesus will judge both the living and the dead! (Acts 10v42)

审判活人、死人

This is the Jesus that your Christian friends want to introduce to you!

They have invited you here because they want you to know the way of escape!

They themselves have found one who can deliver them and Jesus is the One!

Do you know that;

The same Jesus who judges on the last day, is willing to be your Savior today!

For He said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." (Joh 5:24)  我实实在在的告诉你们，那听我话、又信差我来者的，就有永生；不至於定罪，是已经出死入生了。

To them who know Him and love Him today, He will become your Advocate, your Mediator and Savior on that Judgment Day!

But, How can I love Him when I hardly know Him? You might say.

If you have heard every word so far, you would know He is God, the Lord of all and the Judge to come.

You have broken the Laws of God and you will be sentenced on the Day of Judgment!

Yes! - But I have done many good things as well! Don't they count as anything at all?

I have helped others like the poor and the hungry, the sick and the weak.

I have been religious enough to honor as many gods as possible with my offerings of incense and fresh fruits!

I enter every temple and church to pay my respect whenever I can!

I know I am not perfect but I have done my best! My very best!

My friends, -- do you know what God said in the Bible?

"a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified." (Gal 2:16)   人称义不是因行律法，乃是因信耶稣基督，连我们也信了基督耶稣，使我们因信基督称义，不因行律法称义；因为凡有血气的，没有一人因行律法称义。

Even if you are to be judged by your own works, you would have committed far too many wrongs!

Most important of all, you have not kept, the laws of God, the Ten Commandments;  you have failed to worship ONLY the true and living God.

When you offer incense & joss-sticks to images and bow down to them; you become an idol-worshipper!

You do not know how serious your crime is until you read what God says in the Bible.

It says: "They have made me jealous with what is no god; they have provoked me to anger with their idols"  (Deut 32:21)  他们以那「不算为神」的触动我的愤恨，以虚无的神惹了我的怒气。

"I will destroy your high places and cut down your incense altars and cast your dead bodies upon the dead bodies of your idols, and my soul will abhor you."

(Lev 26:30)  我又要毁坏你们的邱坛，砍下你们的日像，把你们的尸首扔在你们偶像的身上；我的心也必厌恶你们。

You have offended the Holy God!

His ANGER will not cease unless your offence is adequately punished!

Therefore; God declares that, "They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,.. " (2Th 1:9)  他们要受刑罚，就是永远沉沦，离开主的面和他权能的荣光。

That would have been the fate of every sinner, has it not been for the love of God the Father.

It is written in the Bible, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (Joh 3:16)  「神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。

In equally clear words, the apostle John also says, "… that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world."  (1Jo 4:14)  父差子作世人的救主

When God's Son, the Savior of the world was born through a virgin, the angels

announced that His name is Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.

名叫耶稣，因他要将自己的百姓从罪恶里救出来

For the name Jesus means Savior!

How did Jesus save His people?

When John the Baptist saw Jesus he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (Joh1:29) 约翰看见耶稣，就说：「看哪，神的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的！

Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb that takes away the sins of His people!

Jesus Himself said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (Joh 10:11)  我是好牧人；好牧人为羊舍命。

Jesus will save His people by dying for His sheep!

Therefore, God's Son came to earth, took on human nature, and live life fully as a man.

For 33 years, He experienced all the joys and pains of man but without sinning at all!

Jesus then offers this perfect life to God the Father as a substitute for His guilty people, His condemned sheep.

He volunteered to take their place and bear the just & full punishment for their sin.

The sinless Son of God willingly suffered and died for them,  "the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God." (1 Pet 3v18)                                                因基督也曾一次为罪受苦，   "就是义的代替不义的，为要引我们到神面前。"

But the most important thing left is -- whether God the Father accepts what Jesus has done?

The Bible tells us Yes! God is fully satisfied with His payment!

God showed His complete satisfaction by raising Jesus from the dead!

Now! -- there exists this perfect payment for the sins of those whom He came to save?

On this basis God can offer a full and free pardon to sinners who otherwise are condemned!

But, how can this payment be effective for you?

You must stop trying to offer your own payment to God!

Remember, all your efforts and good works are NOT acceptable to God.

God has already accepted Jesus' death as the perfect & ONLY payment.

Therefore, all who want pardon from God must come on that basis alone!

God accepts only this basis.

God recognizes no other way.

Therefore,  Jesus can say, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

(Joh 14:6)  耶稣说「我就是道路、真理、生命；若不藉著我，没有人能到父那里去。

Remember,-- "… by works of the law no one will be justified." (Gal 2:16)   没有一人因行律法称义。

"… a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ,

人称义不是因行律法，乃是因信耶稣基督，

Faith in Jesus Christ means, trusting in Jesus alone to save you!

To repent is to hate your sins and to turn away from them.

The Bible says, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Rom 10:9  你若口里认耶稣为主，心里信神叫他从死里复活，就必得救。

For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Rom 10:10  因为人心里相信，就可以称义；口里承认，就可以得救。

For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."

Rom 10:11  经上说：「凡信他的人必不至於羞愧。」

God will honor what He has said.

But sadly, some people here are enslaved to their sins.

Their hearts take pleasure in unrighteousness. (2Th 2:12) 喜爱不义

Therefore, they will not believe and be saved!

To such people Jesus once said, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, (Joh 10:25)  耶稣说：「我已经告诉你们，你们不信。我奉我父之名所行的事可以为我作见证；

26  but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. (Joh 10:26)  只是你们不信，因为你们不是我的羊。

27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (Joh 10:27)  我的羊听我的声音，我也认识他们，他们也跟著我。

28  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (Joh 10:28)  我又赐给他们永生；他们永不灭亡，谁也不能从我手里把他们夺去。

Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice and they follow me!"

Are you His sheep?

How can you tell?

Jesus' sheep hear His voice and they follow Him!

Now you hear His voice but will you follow Him?

If you want to follow Him, please tell your Christian friend today!

My friends! Is Jesus calling you today? Amen!