The Claims of Jesus

When Jesus asked His disciples who the people were saying He was, they replied:
John the Baptist
Elijah
Jeremiah
One of the Prophets

The people saw Jesus as a man, human.

Then when Jesus asked His disciples who they, after a year with Him, thought He was, Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

The world sees Jesus at best as a great:
Teacher
Leader
Philosopher

Followers of Jesus know Him as Lord and God.

The truth is that when you look at what Jesus claims about Himself, He does not give the option to see Him as just a good human being.

Based on what Jesus claimed He is:
A Liar
A Lunatic
or
The Lord

In John chapter eight Jesus makes three claims that if He is not God then He would be the biggest fraud in the history of the world.

Claim #1: Jesus is the Light of the World

John 8:12
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

The first property of light is that it illuminates. It shows us what is around us.

Darkness is simply the absence of light. But without light we get a distorted view of what is around us.

Satan uses darkness to distort what is right and true.

2 Corinthians 4:4
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

If we don’t have God’s light we can not see the truth of the Gospel, and we will stumble and fall.

1 John 1:5
This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.

We have to stay connected to God by obeying and following Him.

If we walk in the light not only will we see the truth, we will have been cleansed of our sin.

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is walking in the Light, Jesus.

Claim #2: Jesus is from above.

John 8:23
He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.”

We are of this world.
We are made up physically of the substance of this world.
We came into existence in this world.
We will die and our bodies return to the earth of this world.

Jesus proves that He is not of this world by His resurrection and ascension.

And even though we are of this world and are living in this world we don’t have to belong to this world.

In 1 Peter 2:11 we are called temporary residents. We need to see ourselves as pilgrims. We live here to serve Jesus, but our real home in not on this earth.

In the song Where I Belong by Building 429 the chorus expresses what is to be our attitude as we live out our life on this earth.
All I know is I’m not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is knowing that we are in the world but not of the world.

Claim #3: Jesus can set you free.

John 8:31-32
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:36
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Many people talk about freedom, but much of what the world sees as freedom is really chaos. They see freedom as no boundaries, no restraints, nothing to hinder them from doing what they want.

True freedom, the freedom Jesus offers. is freedom from sin and guilt and shame.
It is freedom to be our true selves, the people God created us and redeemed us to be.

Freedom based in this world is only temporary.
Freedom based in Jesus is eternal.
Freedom based in this world can lead to destruction.
Freedom based in Jesus will always lead to life.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is experiencing true freedom

If Jesus is the Light of the world,
If Jesus is from above,
If Jesus can set you free,
(And He Is)

Then Jesus is the One you and I are to yield our lives to.
Then Jesus is the One you and I are to submit our minds to.
Then Jesus is the One you and I are to surrender everything to.

With Jesus as My Light Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
                                                 Joe