A Tale of Two Crosses

Pastor Koay Kheng Hin

Today I'm talking about the story of two crosses. We hear messages of one cross, that's the cross of Calvary but today I want to introduce to you the second cross.

I ended at the Garden of Gethsemane and it leads to Calvary and it's at the cross where Jesus was crucified. It is the preparation for that cross of Calvary. It symbolises a tree of shame where our sins are being nailed. It's a tree where Jesus bore our shame and God's wrath was poured onto that tree of shame.

When Jesus hung on the cross we find that it's the gateway through which every single one of us enter into sonship. 24 years ago I was led to that cross. When I came before that cross I had to make a decision. It applies to each and every one of us. We were led to that cross as an unbeliever.

At that time I was the child of the devil. It's very direct and what the Bible teaches. It's not a case of the devil on the left and God on the right and I'm  in the middle. It's not like that. It's not three kingdoms. In God there's only two kingdom.

24 years ago I'm not in God's kingdom. I was in the kingdom of the evil one. And the Bible described that I'm no son of God and not a child of God. But when I go through that cross I gained sonship and became a child of God.

After I go through that what happens? That's the other cross I want to talk about. When we find Jesus we find him in love. That day, you found what the Bible say is your first love. That's your first love encounter when you were first saved. That is what we actually experience when we become a Christian.

Romans say God demonstrates his love in that while we were yet sinners he died for us. A love relationship with Jesus. What's the other cross?

Luke 9:23-24

23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

This is the other cross. Not the cross of Calvary but our own cross. What's the difference between this two crosses. Calvary happened only once. But in this verse this cross is a cross that is daily. That's the first difference.

The second difference is the one who was taking up the cross of Calvary. You are asked to take up your own cross. It's a very important difference. The cross that we carry resembles the cross of Calvary but it is not the cross of Calvary. The cross of Calvary requires you to be nailed to the cross and die. It's not about you crucifying yourself. Some religious sect does that where they literally crucify themselves.

When I was preparing this message I asked myself if the people wants to hear this. We are generally in an emerging economy or a developed nation and is generally having a good life. When we have a message about a cross, do people really want to listen to this? I thought about preparing another message but I decided my message is not to preach what people want to hear. If I were to preach about prosperity without  a cross I think in some places I may have a bigger crowd. But if I preached a message on carrying the cross daily there may be few people that will ask me to preach.

But I'm to preach the full gospel of Christ and it's much more than prosperity or healing. Through the viewpoint of these two crosses. If we preached only the cross of Calvary we will have half the gospel and cannot grow into spiritual maturity. We call it liberal Christianity. We preach the capital "C" and not the small "c". The other extreme would be legalistic Christianity.

What's the difference? We would be preaching a diluted gospel and not one that would mature you and you will remain a spiritual baby. We all have children who are cute but if at 15 they still behave like a baby it's wrong.

If we preach the small "c" without the cross of Calvary then we become like a Pharisee and Christianity becomes a burden. I want to strike a balance. Let us have a loving Christianity.

The big "C" is a cross of love. And when we are asked to carry our "c" daily we are carrying a cross of love. It's a matter of direction. The Calvary cross is a cross of input. Your cross is a cross of output. Calvary cross is a cross of God's love poured out to you. Your cross is you pouring out that love to others. The cross that you carry resembles the cross of Calvary but it is not the cross of Calvary.

You are carrying it to people whom God brings to your midst. You are expressing the love of God. They will sense the love of God in you and through you. That is what's meant by carrying your cross daily.

It's a nice cross. A cross of love.

He must deny himself says verse 23. What does it mean? To remove self centeredness from us. This love is only possible on humbled ground. A self centred man only loves himself.

You must let go of that self centeredness and then follow Christ. From self centeredness we have willingness to lose our life.  From self centeredness to God centeredness. It is the cross of the glory of God. When you pick up the cross you are saying this is the day the Lord has made. Not for me to spend time to get rich or for people to honour me. It is a cross to say that today I want to glorify God with my life.

It ties in with where I stopped at the Garden of Gethsemane. He said not my will but your will be done.

I want to spend 5 minutes on God's will. There is your will and the will of God. The Bible says it's a concurrent thing. God's will is good and your will end like what happened at the Garden of Eden. Your will ends in self glory while the other ends with the glory given to God. When we talk about these two wills, it's about dancing with God. It's like tango where they cannot do their own thing. They have to synchronise. Everyday we as the children of God we are dancing with God like a tango. We hold his hand and he is the lead. When he pulls we go towards him. Then we live in the prescriptive will of God.

We see God as the lead dancer and surrendering and synchronising with him.

On the other hand if God pulls and you resists you will fall. And God wants to lift you up and you resists you will fall flat on your face.

It is a cross for the glory of God.

It is a cross of sacrifice. The cross is identified with suffering. When Jesus said to pick up the cross there will be a time of sacrifice and suffering. Love is a sacrifice so we can relate. The issue is the cross of suffering. People misunderstand this suffering. It's not about you falling sick or business not doing well. This suffering is related to persecution.

What does persecution means? When people became Christians on the first century they were thrown into prison because of their faith. Many Christians goes through their lives without being thrown into prison. What about being martyred for their faith? Even less.

You do not need to worry about that at this present moment. When the time comes the Lord will empower you to go through it.

It's a cross of love and for the glory of God. And it's a cross of sacrifice. What makes it an intimidating view, then it becomes burdensome. Meaning dilutes suffering. If love is the basis and not the law, you will joyfully carry that cross.

Do you know if your husband after hearing this message and decides to carry that cross of love and glory and sacrifice, by the time he walks out you will have a more wonderful husband.

If your wife makes this decision, when they walk out they will look much prettier today. It's an inner beauty.

If you walk past that cross of Calvary, carry your own cross you will be less easily offended, more patient, more sacrificial and live a life you are meant to live. The world is full of self centred people.

Mother Theresa said a life lived not for others is not a life. God created us to relate with him for his glory and we are supposed to relate to others for their blessings. This is what is meant by carrying the cross daily. If it's in love it will not be burdensome.

Like when a parent sacrifice for their children, they will say it's not burdensome because you love them. Love is something that enables us to rise above our circumstances because it becomes a joy. When love comes in then everything becomes light and with it an element of joy.

Carrying such a cross for God is only possible and make sense to you if you have a heavenly home. Verse 25 and 26 are about that heavenly glory.

We must hold this balance or we become so heavenly that we are of no earthly use. How does it impact us? When we met Jesus we met him in love. Our whole faith is love. The spiritual dynamics is actually love. We often try to break it down and define love. Philosophers also try that. Psychologists too. And scientists. They are the worst. They say it's a reaction of chemical compounds. Today I do not want to define love. But we can define love through action.

Let's look at Jesus. When I skimmed through the 24 chapters of Luke, I noticed that Jesus was always with people. He was with the Pharisees, he ate with people. Always with people. He's either with his disciples or with multitudes or with the Pharisees in their homes. Jesus Loves these people and he wants to be with them.

Let us not define the love of God but express it. We should be interested in people's lives. He was interested in the tax collector's life. The Samaritan woman's life. The prostitute's life. Even God himself weeps in the shortest verse of the Bible when Lazarus died. It's an expression of love, the heart of your Lord.

I believe God will anoint and empowers us and he will begin with the leaders. The first requirements is to be interested in people's lives. We as leaders can take some time to be interested in people's lives. Then we will start to realise who they are is more important than what they can do for us.

I've had Christians who say they love God but they cannot love people. Whether a person love God or not we cannot know because we cannot see a person's heart. But how much you love God can be seen from how you love people. The extend to which you love people is the extend to which you love God. I said leaders but it is meant for all of us.

When you love people, as much as it is sacrificial, you will be the first one to be blessed more than the person you bless. There will be a certain joy and fulfilment that will come to you. When we look at Jesus we see how much time he spent time with people.

Look at the apostle Paul. Concerning the Ephesian church.

Acts 20:26-27

26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

Acts 20:33-37

33 I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 34 Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. 35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him,

This is the picture that we have of the great apostle Paul. He has touched so many lives. When they thought they won't see him again, they wept.

As a leader whether as a CEO or a headmistress of a school or a pastor of a church, the mark of successful leadership is this. It's all about people. The day will come when you have to move on you will see who are there for you. The mark of successful spiritual leadership when you are leaving, it will be like in verse 27 where they wept. It's about identifying with people.

The word pastor is that of a shepherd. It's the pastoral care that a leader must give. This is the same church that Paul ministered to and this was their fault.

Revelation 2:4

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.

They were actually a strong church if you look at the verses before this. A classic example of a church who put their hands to the kingdom but have lost their first love.

Why I say this? We will do what verse 2 and 3 and put our hands to the plough but we want to keep verse 4 and not forsake our first love.

Philippians 1:21

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Empty Promises of Resurrection Sunday

Rev Allan Chan

The Crucifix – cruel death; torture; broken,

bruised; punishment; shame.

What is the DIFFERENCE?

I celebrate the empty cross.

It is FINISHED

John 19:17-30 (NIV)

17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”

22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,

“They divided my clothes among them

and cast lots for my garment.”

So this is what the soldiers did.

25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

The Death of Jesus

19:29, 30pp — Mt 27:48, 50; Mk 15:36, 37; Lk 23:36

28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

What was Finished?

Salvation plan of God which began in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:14 & 15):

The LORD God said to the serpent, “ I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."

God’s Final Sacrifice for Sin

Isaiah 59:16 – And He saw there was no man …then His own arm brought salvation..” 

Jn.1:29 – "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Heb. 9:22 – without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Heb.10:18-19 – Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer (need for) any offering for sin…we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus.

The Empty Cross Speaks of Fullness of God’s Promises

•  Forgiveness & Victory over sin
•  Reconciliation to right relationship with God
•  Restoration of position, status and authority
•  Abundant life now and…
•  Ruling with Christ forever.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

 - 2 Cor.8:9(NKJV)

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed

– 2 Peter 2:24

 For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus).

– 2 Cor.5:21 (NKJV)

Jesus EMPTIED Himself that we might be full.  “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

- John 10:10

We Celebrate an EMPTY  TOMB

Without an EMPTY TOMB

1 Corinthians 15:14-19

• Our faith is in vain;
• Our preaching is meaningless;
• We are still in our sins

•  There is NO SAVIOUR
•  There is NO SALVATION
•  There is NO HOPE for eternity.

He is not here:  for HE IS RISEN!

Matthew 28:1-6

•  Jesus was seen ALIVE for 40 days before He ascended to Heaven (Acts 1:3).
•  Mary Magdalene met Jesus (Mk.16:9).
•  The Disciples met and fellowshipped with Jesus (Lu.24:36; Jn.20:26; Jn.21:1-4).
•  500 people saw or met Jesus (1 Cor.15:3-8).

The EMPTY TOMB

•  EVIDENCE of the Resurrection of  Jesus Christ
•  PROMISE that we too will be raised to ETERNAL LIFE.
•  DEATH is defeated – no more fear.

RESURRECTION SUNDAY

A Celebration Of  EMPTINESS

•  World gives us promises full of emptiness.
•  But God gives us emptiness full of promises.

Notes taken from the PowerPoint presentation.

Is Divine Healing for Today?

 

Rev Allan Chan

HEALING IN THE BIBLE

In the Old Testament:

• Gen 20:17-18  “Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech” and his household for they had been barren.
• 1 Kings 17:17-24  Elijah raised widow’s son.
• 2 Kings 5:1-14  Naaman healed by Elisha.
• Numbers 21:19  Moses lifts the brazen serpent.

1 Kings 17:17-24  Elijah raised widow’s son.

Vs.21 -“Then he (Elijah) stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again.”  

Vs.22 - And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.

2 Kings 5:1-14  Naaman healed by Elisha.

Vs.9 - So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. 

Vss.10  - And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.”

Numbers 21:9  Moses lifts the brazen serpent.

So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

In the New Testament

(i) Jesus’ healing ministry & miracles

Mt. 4:23 “Jesus was teaching and proclaiming the gospel and

healing every kind of disease

and every kind of sickness

among the people.”

(ii) Apostles and early believers’ preaching was validated by signs and miracles.

Jesus promised: “..he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will also do..” (Jn.14:12).

So, “And they went out and preached everywhere while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.” (Mk.16:20).

Acts 8:6  “The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.”

Philip was:

• One of 7 deacons selected to serve widows and the poor;
• Not an apostle but a lay leader;
• Preached and did miracles in Samaria;
• Baptised Ethiopian eunuch.

(ii) Healing is integral to the Great Commission.

Mk. 16:15 – 20  “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel .. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will  pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 

Vs.20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.”

JESUS said:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.”  -  John 14:12

To God be the glory,

To God be the glory,

To God be the glory

For the things He has done.

With His blood He has saved us,

With His power He has raised us:

To God be the glory

For the things He has done.

Who Killed Jesus

Good Friday Healing & Miracle Rally

Rev Allan Chan

And why it matters that we know?

Introduction

John 18:1-8 (NIV)
Jesus Arrested
18:3-11pp — Mt 26:47-56; Mk 14:43-50; Lk 22:47-53
1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.
2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.
8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.”

• Who was really responsible for the arrest, unlawful trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ?
• Did Jesus have to die in such a cruel manner?
• Is anti-Semitism a justifiable movement?

JEWS as a People/Nation?

• Jesus upset Jewish leaders who plotted to kill Him (Jn.8:59; 10:31; 11:8; 11:53)
• Jesus was arrested by Sanhedrin (Mt. 26:3,4 & 47); brought Him to Romans to be killed (Mt. 27: 1 & 2)
• It was the Jewish religious leaders who were jealous, felt threatened, and instigated the people (Mt.27:20)
• Peter (Acts 2:22 & 23); & Paul blamed Jewish people (1 Thes.2:14-15)

Gentile ROMANS?

• Only Roman authority had power to sentence death (Jn.18:31)
• Roman soldiers scourged and mocked Jesus (Mt. 27: 1 & 2); nailed Him to the cross (Jn. 19:16 – 23)
• But, we can’t blame the whole Roman Empire for acts of Pilate & soldiers in Judea, much less all gentiles.

Annas & Caiaphas?

• High Priest was Caiaphas, but Annas was father-in-law (former corrupt High Priest) illegally questioned Jesus (Jn.18:12 - 24)
• They feared Jesus for reasons of political power, prestige and popularity (Jn.18:19)
• Their focus was on Jesus’ following, His disciples before His teachings.

Pontius PILATE?

• He was Roman Governor of Judea and allowed self-government by Jews, so long as imperial authority maintained and taxes collected (Jn.18:31; 19:4)
• He believed Jesus was innocent (Jn.19:4; Mt.2723) and could have set Him free, but wanted nothing to do with Jesus’ fate (Mt.27:19 & 24)
•  Pilate tried to absolve himself of the responsibility but yielded to mob demand and gave the order for crucifixion.

Answering Anti-Semitism

• Anti-Semitism based on Mt.27:25 “His blood be upon us and on our children”
• Interpreted as a multi-generational indictment on all Jews throughout time
•  In Acts 2:38 & 39, Peter used same words to offer salvation and Holy Spirit to all who would repent – he was referring to the  1st century generation then Peter added Vs. 39.
• Jews just as eligible for salvation thru Jesus as anyone else.

YOU  and  ME?!

• Rom.5:8 & 9 – “…while we were sinners, Christ died for us… justified by His blood”
• I Cor 15:3 – “Christ died for our sins”
• 2 Cor 5:15 – “He died for all…that we should live unto Him who died for us”
• Heb 2:9 – “…that Jesus should taste  death as a man for every man”
• 2 Cor 5:20 – He…became sin that we might be the righteousness of God.”

ABOVE ALL

GOD’S Sovereign Will

• Rev.13:8 – It was God’s plan from the start (Gen.3:15; Acts2:23: 2Tim.1:9; Tit.1:2)
• Mt.26:42; Jn.18:11, 37 – Jesus chose to submit to God’s will (Lu.22:42)
• Phil. 2:8 – Jesus was obedient unto death of the cross
• Jn.10:17 & 18; Mt.26:53 & 54 – Jesus had power to save Himself, but…
• “IT IS FINISHED”.

OUR  RESPONSE

• How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation (Heb. 2:3)
• You are bought with a price, you are not your own; so glorify God in body and spirit (1 Cor 6:20)
• We are God’s “workmanship”, created and called unto works He has ordained (Eph 2:10)
• Continue what Jesus began until completion (2 Cor 5:18 & 19)

These are notes compiled from the Powerpoint presentation by Rev Allan Chan.

Rev Allan Chan praying for those that needs healing or a miracle.

Is Jesus God?

 

Kenny Song at Harvest Revival Centre

Today is Palm Sunday and at our church this morning, the preacher spoke about Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people laid palms along his path, often used to greet royalty. They were waving them too, shouting Hosanna, Hosanna to the Son of David. 

But they were expecting a different Jesus. They were expecting the Messiah King, a military King who would come to deliver them. They had been under Roman rule for more than 90 years and they thought this Jesus  would finally come to free them. These same crowd, would a week later be shouting crucify him. They were expecting a different Jesus. 

I grew up as a devout Buddhist and because I was born 11 years after my brother, my dad had more time with me and I would follow him to the temple every 1st and 15th day of the lunar month, follow all his religious rituals and go "cheng beng" with him. My dad was a very religious person so I just followed being a filial son. He would also come out to Penang every time before my exams to see a particular medium to bless me and for me to take the burnt "hu" - burnt fish paper.

Of course, years later I would discover that this was not exactly Buddhism per se. But that was my experience growing up. 

With this background, I grew up with a very specific concept of god and the deities.

First, they are not all powerful, because my dad will sometimes tell me one god is more powerful than another and sometimes we switch allegiance when results were not favourable.

Second, each god had a specific portfolio. One to bless your business and studies, a different one for protection, a different one to ward off evil and so on.

Third, they don't always work together. So even when I wear a talisman, it had to be odd numbers so that they don't "fight" each other.

So, my concept of God was always transactional. I do this and I get that. Or I do this and bad omens won't happen. I do this and I earn favour. There was no relationship and definitely no concept of love with the deities.

So it was extremely difficult for me to understand an all powerful creator God when the gospel was shared to me, especially when that God came in the form of a man who was bloodied and died suffering on the cross. But I did accepted him as Lord and Saviour and lo and behold so did my whole household including my religious dad, non religious mom and all my siblings.

That testimony of my family's salvation will have to be for another sermon, another day.

So why am I introducing today's sermon this way? It is because Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday is next week, and it revolves around that one man I mentioned who died bloodied on the cross. Who exactly is Jesus? Is he just a prophet like Muhammad? Or a great teacher who did much good works?

Jehovah’s Witness will say he believes in Jesus. But to him, Jesus is “Michael the archangel, first creation of Jehovah-God, who came to earth as a man, died and rose as a spirit.

To the Mormons, Jesus is similar in that he is also an angel. A Spirit child of Elohim who is in the class of Spirit. He is the Spirit brother of the Lucifer who became the Devil.

To the Moonies, Christ failed in His earthly mission leaving Rev. Moon to finish the task.

How can Christians call him a God? The answer to this question is critical to our faith. If Jesus, the Son of God is not deity, then you and I are all here worshipping in vain and believers all over the world for all time would have followed a lost cause.

Do the Scriptures claim that Jesus possessed the unique characteristics of God? Has He existed eternally as the eternal Creator? Is He all-powerful (omnipotent), all-knowing (omniscient), and everywhere present (omnipresence). Is He unchanging (immutable)?

Certain characteristics are unique to God. No one but God - surely no created being - can possess them. Let us consider whether or not Jesus possesses these qualities. If He possesses the character which only Deity can possess, then this confirms that He possesses Deity. To claim He possesses these qualities when He is not Deity would be blasphemy.

Note that some passages already studied make general claims which necessarily imply that Jesus possesses the qualities of Deity. He possesses all the fullness of Deity (Colossians 2:9). He is the very image of the Father (Hebrews 1:3), and had the form of God (Philippians 2:6). He also wears the unique names of God. It follows that He must possess the characteristics of God.

Let us consider these qualities individually to see whether or not the Bible affirms that Jesus did possess them. Remember that, if Jesus ever possessed these qualities, then He has always possessed them and always will possess them (Hebrews 13:8). Deity cannot cease to be Deity and cannot lose the characteristics of Deity.

If we have time, I want to cover 5 aspects this morning about the characteristics of Christ.

1. Eternally Existent

Eternal existence is a unique characteristic of God.

Time is a concept that applies only to created beings. I used to love the science fiction - "The Time Machine". Later "Back to the Future" movie series. That's fiction. In real life, everything around us is bound by time. A beginning and an end. We are all bound to now. You cannot go back in time to undo nor can you go into the future to see. God has given all of us only the "now".

But Jehovah the true God has always existed and always will exist. He was not created. There was never a time when God did not exist. He is the everlasting Maker or Creator of all temporal, created things. The power of eternal existence is inherent in His nature (self-existence). He is the "living" God.

It is easier for us to comprehend that God is eternal. But what about Jesus, the Son of God?

Psalms 90:1-4

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place

throughout all generations.

2 Before the mountains were born

or you brought forth the whole world,

from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 You turn people back to dust,

saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”

4 A thousand years in your sight

are like a day that has just gone by,

or like a watch in the night.

Jehovah is "from everlasting to everlasting you are God"

Job 36:26

How great is God—beyond our understanding!

The number of his years is past finding out.

Do Jesus possesses the characteristic of eternal existence? Jesus is not a created being but existed eternally.

Isaiah 9:6

6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

He is called "Everlasting" Father

Psalms 102:24-27

24 So I said:

“Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations.

25 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

26 They will perish, but you remain;

they will all wear out like a garment.

Like clothing you will change them

and they will be discarded.

27 But you remain the same,

and your years will never end.

His "years are throughout all generations." The heavens and the earth are temporary so they will perish, but His "years will have no end."

How do we know this is talking about Jesus?

Hebrews 1:8,10-12 prove this was spoken to Jesus.

Hebrews 1:8, 10-12

8 But about the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;

a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

10 He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

11 They will perish, but you remain;

they will all wear out like a garment.

12 You will roll them up like a robe;

like a garment they will be changed.

But you remain the same,

and your years will never end.”

Many passages show that Jesus was not created but is the Creator of all created things.

John 1:1-3

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

This eternal existence of Jesus is a very important characteristics of a deity. 

2. All-powerful (Omnipotent)

Unlimited power over all created things is a unique characteristic of the true God.

Men and created beings may have some power over some other created things, but this power is limited. Only God's power is unlimited or absolute such that He has all power over all created things. Nothing is impossible for God. He has the power to do anything with His creatures that He chooses to do.

Matthew 19:26

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

And in my dictionary, what does ALL means? Everything and anything.

Jeremiah 32:17

“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

Note the connection between creation and unlimited power. God possesses all authority over all that He created. Because He made it, it belongs to Him, and He has the right to do all whatever He chooses with it.

There is however one thing that God cannot do. Anyone knows the answer?

Don't ask me the question - Could God create a rock so heavy He could not lift it?

This question is frequently asked by skeptics of God, the Bible, Christianity, etc. If God can create a rock that He cannot lift, then God is not omnipotent. If God cannot create a rock so heavy that He cannot lift it, then God is not omnipotent. 

So, the first part of the question is based on a false idea - that God being almighty means that He can do anything. In fact, the Bible itself lists things God cannot do - like lie or deny Himself (Hebrews 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:13; Titus 1:2). 

The other thing is God cannot make you love him simply because he gave you free will. The freedom of choice. If he did not, then we would be just like the animals God gave us dominion over. Ruled by instincts not by moral choice.

So the question of the rock is actually asking if God can make a contradiction - which He cannot. Because a rock is material which cannot be infinite while only God is infinite.

That's God.  Jesus possesses unlimited power because He made and owns all things.

Matthew 28:18 - Jesus possesses all authority in heaven and on earth.

Colossians 1:16

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

All things were created through Jesus and for Him. This is exactly the point we mentioned already regarding Deity. Jesus made everything, so all exists for His purposes and pleasure.

Note that unlimited power does not mean that God does everything He has power to do; rather, it means He has the power to do whatever He wills or chooses to do. For example, God still has power to destroy all men by means of a flood, but He voluntarily limits His power and does not exercise it because He has so chosen (Genesis 9:8-17).

Likewise, while on earth, Jesus still possessed all power because He was still God. But in order to fulfill His purpose here as a human servant (Philippians 2:6-8), He limited His use or exercise of His power, so He did not use it in any way that would conflict with His purpose as servant (Matthew 26:53,54).

Remember on the night Jesus was arrested and one of his companions drew sword and cut the soldier's ear? Jesus told him to put his sword back.

Matthew 26:53-54

53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

He was often said to completely conform to the will of the Father even as all humans should. After His resurrection, all His glory and privileges were given back to Him by the Father, so He again fully exercises all power which was His by right from the beginning.

3. All-Knowing (Omniscient)

Unlimited knowledge is a unique characteristic of Deity.

This characteristic is strongly tied to God's unlimited power. Because God has power to do everything He chooses to do, it follows that He has the power to know everything He chooses to know. God is unlimited in wisdom and knowledge in the same sense that He is unlimited in power. Unlimited power implies and results in unlimited knowledge.

Psalms 139:1-6

1 You have searched me, Lord,

and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue

you, Lord, know it completely.

5 You hem me in behind and before,

and you lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

Our finite mind cannot comprehend an infinite God. That is why I always believe you cannot reason a person into the kingdom of God. God saves. Not us. We are to just preach the gospel, share the good news. Conviction of the heart is by the Holy Spirit.

I mentioned that I grew up as a religious boy because of my father. God gave me a Christian classmate that Sat by me for three year sharing the gospel. But I was not moved and in fact argued with him.

At one time, I was supposed to play a badminton match but refused and pulled out of the competition because I found out the match would be played in a church badminton Hall! I was that against Christianity.

But one day, my sister from Singapore called up and told my father that she needs everyone in the family around as she has a very important news to share.

She flew up and told all of us she's become a Christian. My father almost fell off the chair. She's had an encounter with God on a Friday and she called us on a Saturday and flew up on a Sunday. Because she said she cannot risk not sharing with us by delaying. If anything happens to us, she would not see us in heaven. Her conviction was so strong.

She shared the same gospel I've heard umpteenth times. But it was different. God stirred my heart. And I made a very simple prayer. If there is a God, the creator God whom my sister mentioned, if he's real, I want to know him. And that's why I'm now here.

I'm glad someone planted the seed when I was in school. His words were never in vain.

You can never win an argument in order to win a person to Christ. God had to do the saving.

Psalms 147:4-5

4 He determines the number of the stars

and calls them each by name.

5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;

his understanding has no limit.

Note the connection between His power and His knowledge.

The ability to know everything He chooses to know and, in particular, to know what is in the hearts of men, is a unique characteristic of God.

Jesus possesses this unlimited wisdom and knowledge.

Colossians 2:2-3

2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

John 2:24-25

24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

Jesus had the ability to know what was in the hearts of all men without being told. Remember, he also knew that Judas would betray him when none of the disciples had any inkling.

Note that this was expressly stated to be a unique power of Deity, yet Jesus possessed this power and He exercised it even while on earth.

Again, this unlimited knowledge rests on the Divine power to do whatever God wills. God knows because He chooses to know. But we learned previously that God's power is exercised or not exercised according to His will. He knows things only when it suits His purpose to exercise His power to know them.

In this way, while He was on earth accomplishing His purposes as a servant, Jesus did not always exercise this unlimited power to know all things. Mark 13:32 lists one thing in particular that He did not know.

Mark 13:32

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

We conclude, based on the above passages, that it did not serve His purposes on earth to exercise His power to know this matter.

Yet Jesus possesses the Divine power to know all things that He chooses to know, just as He possesses Divine power to do all things that He chooses to do.

4. Everywhere Present (Omnipresent)

The ability to be everywhere at once is a unique characteristic of God.

Man is limited by a physical body, hence he can be only in one place at any one time. God, however, is spirit and can be everywhere in the universe at the same time. This power, however, is also related to His unlimited power to act and to know. God is present everywhere in the sense that everything everywhere is in His presence - He can see, know, and act in all places at once.

Psalms 139:7-12

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,”

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

Wherever man is, God is there seeing him and knowing what man is doing.

Acts 17:27 - Men everywhere can find God because He is not far from each of us.

That is why we say God is only a prayer away.

It is because of this unique characteristic of God that He is able to know all things that men do, to read the hearts of all men, and to hear and answer the prayers of all of His people wherever they are.

Jesus also possesses this unique characteristic of God.

Do you think it is possible for Jesus to be at two places at one time? Not if you are thinking of Jesus in the flesh that walked this earth 2,000 years ago. Yet, scripture tells us that Jesus today is ever present.

Matthew 18:20

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Matthew 28:20

and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

We have already seen that Jesus has all power and can know all things, including what is in the hearts of all men. This is the fundamental concept of being present everywhere.

While on the earth, Jesus limited His power by taking on a physical body, being physically present where that body was. Nevertheless, He possessed the power to be everywhere at once, a unique characteristic of God, in that He is able to see, know, and act upon events no matter where they are.

5. Unchanging (Immutable)

Immutability is also a unique characteristic of God.

I often quote this. The only constant is change. The world we live in change. People change. We change.

You know how young couples just see how perfect the person they fell in love with is? They can do no wrong. And they say I love you just the way you are. Never change. You are perfect.

Then what happened? They got married.

When they were courting, they hold hands at the mall everywhere they go. So romantic. After marriage the husband says, we still always hold hands. If I let go, she shops!

Fortunately I married a practical wife. When at the mall, we split. She goes where she wants and likewise me. Then we meet at an agreed time and place. And she don't window shop. To my wife I say…don't change.

Man's character is flawed, hence we must continually be changing our character to make it what it ought to be. But God's character is perfect - without flaw - therefore it never needs to change and never does change. We have already studied certain characteristics unique to God. These characteristics He has always possessed and always will possess.

Malachi 3:6 - I am the Lord, I do not change.

James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Numbers 23:19

God is not human, that he should lie,

not a human being, that he should change his mind.

Does he speak and then not act?

Does he promise and not fulfill?

To suit His eternal purpose, God has changed the laws and commands He has given to men, and He has at times changed what He does to suit His purposes. But His own character is what never changes. It follows that God can never lose His Divine characteristics. God cannot cease to be God and cannot cease to have the character of God.

Jesus possesses this characteristic of never changing.

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hence, Jesus also possesses this unique characteristic of Deity. He is not like men who change but like the Father who does not change.

Note again that, since Jesus possesses this particular characteristic, but in order to accomplish His purposes, God may voluntarily choose at times not to exercise or use certain abilities. Jesus did this while on earth in order to fulfill His role as a human servant.

Philippians 2:6-8

6 Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7 rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

Conclusion

Jesus possesses all the unique characteristics of God. Jesus possesses true Deity even as does the Father and the Holy Spirit. These three together constitute the Godhead, the one true and living God we worship

So even as we approach Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday next week, let's be mindful that this Jesus that died bloodied on the cross did not have his life taken away. He gave his life. And he laid down his life for you and me. The creator God making the ultimate sacrifice so that we may be reconciled back to God.

Love for us drove him to the cross and because Jesus is not just a man, he rose again on the third day and conquered death. No man no matter how great has done that. They all died.

We have a glorious hope because of that and I pray, you will see Jesus in a very different light after today.

I leave with you a quote I wrote some time back.

"‎Many great men have left their mark on this world, but only one man bore marks on His hands and feet for all men for all times. We salute all these great men, but we worship only one!"