The Uniqueness of Jesus

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The Uniqueness of Jesus
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Acts 3 12-18 4 8-13
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Jesus is unique in His claims - 2 in
particular
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Jesus is unique in His claims - 2 in
particular

• 1. He claimed to be the only way to God (not one
  of many!)
• John 146 I am the way, the truth and the
  life. No one comes to the Father except through
  Me.

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• 2. He claimed to be God
•  
• Directly - e.g John 1030-33
•  
• Indirectly - Forgiving peoples sins
  unilaterally (Mark 2 5-11)
• - Receiving worship from His followers
  (John 2028)

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• These claims set Jesus Christ apart from all
  other religious leaders in history!

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3 Logical Possibilities

• Liar - Claims were untrue and he knew it

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3 Logical Possibilities

• Liar - Claims were untrue and he knew it
• Lunatic - Claims were untrue and He didnt
  know it

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3 Logical Possibilities

• Liar - Claims were untrue and he knew it
• Lunatic - Claims were untrue and He didnt
  know it
• Lord - Claims were are true

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• What factual evidence is there to back up Jesus
  unique claims?
• Evidence that is logically consistent,
  historically accurate non contradictory.

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Look at 3 main areas which will also highlight
other facets of His uniqueness!
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Look at 3 main areas which will also highlight
other facets of His uniqueness!

• 1. His Supernatural Life Works

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• His Supernatural Life Works
• a) Jesus is unique in His fulfilment of Old
  Testament Prophecy ( Acts 318)gt 300 prophecies
  spoken over 500years including 29 in one single
  day!

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• His Supernatural Life Works
• a) Jesus is unique in His fulfilment of Old
  Testament Prophecy ( Acts 318)gt 300 prophecies
  spoken over 500years including 29 in one single
  day!
• b) Jesus was unique in His miraculous conception
  (Matthew 120-23 Luke 130-35)
•  
• Recorded accurately by a down to earth tax
  collector a doctor!

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• Ravi Zacharias comments Even the Koran attests
  to Jesus virgin birth and credits Him with the
  unique power to raise the dead, a most
  interesting notation often forgotten by muslims
  themselves.

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• c) His Life Works (Ministry Miracles)
•  
• Being with Jesus following Him was a thrilling
  incredible ride!
•  
• He lived a naturally supernatural life miracles
  were evident wherever He went.
•  
• Historical references other than the bible
  describe Jesus as a wonderworker.
•  

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• c) His Life Works (Ministry Miracles)
•   
• Historical references other than the bible
  describe Jesus as a wonderworker.
•  
• Josephus (Jewish historian born in AD 37) says
  Now there was about this time, Jesus, a wise
  man, if it be lawful to call Him a man, for He
  was a doer of wonderful works.
•  
• Flowed from a heart of Love Compassion towards
  all particularly to the infirm, the outcast,
  the oppressed the broken.

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2. His Superlative Character Teaching
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2. His Superlative Character Teaching

• Luke 23 Three Striking testimonies of people
  from different walks of life
• I find no basis for a charge against this man!
  (Pilate The Roman Governor)
•  
• Certainly this was a righteous man! (A battle
  hardened Roman Centurion)
•  
• This man has done nothing wrong. ( A Thief on
  the cross next to Jesus)

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• Jesus was totally pure / holy yet totally
  approachable!
• Utterly kind yet direct towards the hypocrite!
• Full of Joy yet never at someones expense!
• In the face of brutality, humiliation ridicule
  He forgave His enemies unreservedly.
• A man of TOTAL INTEGRITY MORAL PURITY He
  walked what He talked.

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• His teaching is widely acknowledged as the
  greatest ever in history.
• In 2000 years no one has ever improved on the
  moral teaching of Jesus Christ.
• He is unique in His sinless character
  incomparable teaching

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3. His Sacrificial Death Supreme Resurrection
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3. His Sacrificial Death Supreme Resurrection

• a) His Sacrificial Death
•  
• Jesus is unique in His achievement on the cross!
• ( Acts 412)
•  
• Jesus alone is the Saviour of the world no
  other religion claims to have a saviour!
•  
• On the cross He saves us from our fundamental
  problem SIN!

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• He breaks down the PARTITION of sin peace with
  God
• He delivers us from the addictive POWER of sin
  brings freedom
• He cleanses us from the POLLUTION of sin
  cleanses us of guilt

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• He cleanses us from the POLLUTION of sin
  cleanses us of guilt
• He takes all the PUNISHMENT for our sin saves
  us from judgement we deserve.
• He gives us a full free PARDON for our sins
  He forgives us totally
• He saves us from the PENALTY of sin eternal
  separation from God (Hell)

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• In exchange for our sin He freely gives us His
  perfect righteousness! Wow!!
•  
• If we confess our sins He is faithful just to
  forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all
  unrighteousness ( 1John 19)

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b) His Supreme Resurrection (Acts 315 410)
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b) His Supreme Resurrection (Acts 315 410)

• The greatest event in history!
•  
• Compelling Evidence for the resurrection of Jesus
  Christ
•  
• His absence from the tomb!
• His appearance to gt 500 followers over 40 days
• The Immediate Effect Acts beyond!
• Experience of countless millions of all cultures
  through history

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• Buddha, Hindu gurus of history, Mohammad all
  dead buried.
• Jesus Christ is knowable because He is ALIVE!

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When we look at the evidence we see Jesus Christ
was unique in every way 
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When we look at the evidence we see Jesus Christ
was unique in every way 

• from His complete deity to His perfect humanity
• from His fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy to
  His miraculous life
• from His sinless character to His incomparable
  teaching
• from His death as Saviour to His triumphant
  resurrection as Lord

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• And all these truths hold together in a logically
  consistent, historically accurate and non
  contradictory way.

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• How do you respond to Jesus Christ NOW?
•  
• Are you totally surrendered sold out To Him?
• Can you say with Thomas My Lord My God!
•  
• In your work place do others recognise that you
  have been with Jesus? !
•  
• Are you ablaze with the flame of His Spirit to
  make Him known in Edinburgh?