The Bible tells us in 1 John 4:1-3 that Jesus is God incarnate (“in the flesh”); that means that God became one of us. Jesus is fully God and fully human. He is God the Son who is eternally one with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. He alone can forgive our sins and give salvation.

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. (Hebrews 1:1–3, NLT)

Many people believe that Jesus did live, that He was a brilliant teacher, and that He was a deeply spiritual person; however they deny that He is God. This is one choice that Jesus did not allow us to make about Himself. We must be careful to believe in the Jesus that he himself declared he was; a diluted Jesus is not the REAL JESUS.

Here are seven declarations of Jesus that demonstrates who He proclaimed to be:

1. Jesus Claimed To Be God

…the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy.” (Matthew 26:63–65, NLT)

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!”At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.” (John 8:58–59, NLT)

The Father and I are one.” Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?” They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.” (John 10:30–33, NLT)

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?” (John 14:8–9, NLT)

2. Jesus Claimed That He Came From Heaven - God's Eternal Dwelling Place

“For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.” (John 6:38, NLT)

“Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.” (John 16:28, NLT)

3. Jesus Claimed That He Was Sinless - God Alone Is Without Sin

“Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me?” (John 8:46, NLT)

4. Jesus Claimed to Forgave Sin

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5, NLT)

Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?” (Luke 7:48–49, NLT)

5. Jesus Claimed That He Was The Only Way To Heaven

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NLT)

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” (John 11:25, NLT)

6. Jesus Accepted Worship As God

Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. (Matthew 14:33, NLT)

“Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.” (John 9:38, NLT)

7. Jesus Performed Miracles

Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. (Matthew 4:23, NLT)

Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well. (Matthew 17:18, NLT)

While he was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. He told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.” But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.”… The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died. Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, “My child, get up!”And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.” (Luke 8:49–50, & 52-55 NLT)

“A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her.When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said.Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.”Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother.” (Luke 7:12–15, NLT)

Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” (John 11:43–44, NLT)

The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” Then they remembered that he had said this. (Luke 24:5–8, NLT)

Baptism is an important step for every believer.
For more information or to sign up for our next Baptism, email Pastor David at david.devel@northpc.org.

What is the meaning of baptism?
Why be baptized by immersion?
Who should be baptized?
When should I be baptized?
Can my family and friends be baptized together?
What should I wear when I’m baptized?
Will I have anything to say?

It illustrates Christ´s burial and resurrection.
…Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. (1 Corinthians 15:3–4, NLT)

For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. (Colossians 2:12, NLT)

It illustrates my new life as a Christian.
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!  (2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT)

For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. (Romans 6:4, NLT)

Baptism doesn´t make you a believer - it shows that you already are a believer. Baptism does not "save" you; only faith in Jesus can do that. Baptism is like a wedding ring - it´s the outward symbol of the commitment that you have already made in your heart.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. (Ephesians 2:8–9, NLT)