Jesus Café Ministries - Scripture Squad

The Scripture Squad responds...

From: Mark
I witnessed to my friend last night. His first words were, "you do not have to worry about me, me and the good lord are tight". He went on to say that he would have nothing to do with church, or organized religion, citing that reason so many use. " I know so many people who attend church, act high and mighty and then swear to high heaven when something goes wrong". He assiduously maintained that he was saved, but everything he said and done told a different story. For example, he was drunk at the time. He drinks every night. He uses the lord name in vain often etc.. He absolutely did not believe that Jesus is GOD in the flesh. He believed it was only important to have a good relationship with GOD, because he was "the man". My counter point at the time was words on deaf ears, however I did stir some thought I am sure. I would like to show biblically that Jesus is GOD, Can you help me.

Dear Mark,
The fact that Jesus Christ is God is one of the most important truths in all of the world. However, many people have a problem believing it. They may say that Jesus was a great teacher, a great man, or even a great religious figure but they stop short of accepting Him as God.

There are many Scripture references that testify to Jesus' deity, but we'll list only a few. John 10:30 Jesus said," I and the Father are one."

John 14:9 Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father."

Matt, 16:16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, (Messiah, Anointed One) the Son of the living God."

Romans 9:5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

Colossians 2:9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.

Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

Mark 1:24 The demons speaking to Jesus: "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-- the Holy One of God."

Acts 3:36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Some people have difficulty accepting that Jesus has always existed. (The pre-existent Christ) Colossians 1:16-18 For by him (Christ) all thing were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Others have a problem understanding the incarnate Christ. How could God become a man? If he did was he really a Spirit? If he was flesh and blood how could he be God? Philippians answers some of those questions. 2:5-8 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a Cross.

As far as your friends comments about reasons for not attending church, you could point out that his salvation is based only on his personal relationship with Jesus Christ and what Jesus did for him on the Cross. The Bible encourages us to spend time with Jesus. He said as written in John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains (abides) in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." As we spend more time with Jesus we will make new friends and want to spend time with them. A gathering of believers in Christ is the Christian church in its most basic sense. "Where two or more are gathered in My name." Jesus said. In Hebrews 10:25 we are urged to gather: "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

There are two thought provoking questions you can ask you friend that may help him realize his need for Jesus.

1. If you were to die tonight, do you know for certain where your soul would go? Why and on what basis?

2. If you were to stand before God and He were to ask you, "Why should I let you into My heaven?" what would you say? (Mark, we're assuming you know the answers to these questions.)

Your friend said it was only important to have a good relationship with God. Please point out that there is only one way to God as noted in John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

- The Scripture Squad :
TCCaleb, TCCaff, RuthCCC & DawnCCC