Introduction: There can be no doubt that Jesus Christ changed the world. Even our calendar dates from His birth. Yet, many have tried to deny that He was a real person. The Jews denied that He was their promised Messiah. For two thousand years men have offered every possible answer to the question "Who is Jesus Christ?" When we ask men who Christ is we get confusing speculation and no real answer. Even churches who identify themselves as being Christians give varying answers. However, when we ask God, by reading the word of God the Bible, there is no ambiguity. The Bible clear says who Jesus Christ is. Jesus Christ is unique and there is none that can compare to Him.

           Please Carefully read the following passage from Colossians 1:3-20

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

   3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: 7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

   9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

   12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:3-20)

I. The Bible says that Jesus Christ is God!

A. In verse 15 says that Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God. The question is "How can one be the image of one who is invisible? (v15) The answer is because Jesus Christ is God." The Bible gives us the answer:
1. Christ is God.
John. 1:1, 14. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

Matthew 1:23 "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

2. Christ had no beginning as he has no end. Rev. 21:6.
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."

The term Alpha and Omega is an expression of infinity.

3. Christ is God, yet He was made flesh, conceived by a young Jewish girl named Mary who was a virgin.
Luke 1:35 tells us that Mary was found with child of the Holy Spirit. "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."

Matt. 1:18 tells us that Joseph was not the father. "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost."

Joseph was told the child that was conceived in Mary was of the Holy Spirit. This means she was a virgin not only when Christ was conceived by was also born. The birth of Christ was a miracle.

4. Rev. 19:11-16, Passage speaks of Christ at the Second Coming and He is identified as God..... the Word is Christ.

5. It was God that came to earth and took the form of man.

a. John 4:24 tells us that God the Father is Spirit and those that worship Him must worship Him in "spirit and in truth." This means He does not have material body. We are worship of God who is a spirit with our spirits and in truth. This verse tells us that true worship comes from one's heart, and is in accord with the truth. It precludes true worship from being outward ritual that does not come from the heart and worship that is not based in doctrinal truth. This means the worship of those that have a false idea of Jesus Christ as to who He is, is not accepted by God.

b. John warns us to try the spirits.

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of Antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."

c. God exists outside of the material universe He created.

John 1:18 tells us that, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."

In Jesus Christ a person can see the character and attributes of God Himself. It is Jesus Christ that declares to the world who God is and what are His attributes.

B. "He was the first born of every creature." Col. 1:15.
1. This relates to Christ's Sonship. He was the only begotten son of the God” as John 3:16 says. It does not mean the first born of men. It means He was God's ONLY and FIRST born Son. No man was born as was Jesus Christ. He was God come to earth, and incarnate coming as a man. The Bible says Jesus was God's ONLY begotten Son, meaning there was no one like Him, because He was man and God.

2. "First born" refers to His priority as the heir of the Father.

3 Christ did not begin at Bethlehem when He was born. Verse 17 says he "is before all things and by him all things consist."

4. Jesus is equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. (see John 14:23, 10:30) In Isaiah 9:6, Jesus Christ is called by several names. He called, Wonderful, Counsellor, The Almighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

5. Reference to Jehovah God in the Old Testament are used of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.

Stone of stumbling Isa. 8:13-15 - 1 Peter 2:6-8
Creator Isaiah. 44:24 - Colossians 1:16
Only Savior Isaiah 43:11 - 2 Timothy. 1:10
King of kings Psalm 95:3 - 1 Timothy. 6:14-15
Alpha and Omega Isaiah. 44:6 - Revelation 1:7-18
Good Shepherd Isaiah 40:10-11 - John 10:11
Every knee bow Isaiah 45:23 - Philippians. 2:10-11
Judge Isaiah 24:20-21; Hebrews 12:23 - Colossians 1:17; John 5:22
Reigning Isaiah 24:23 - Matthew 25:31

C. There are false mysticals views of Who Christ was. One says that Christ was only one of a series of emulations from God.
Romans 1:21-23 explains why there are so many different ideas as to who is God.

"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things."

           This is why it is important for men to "try the spirits" because their are many false Christs who are in fact "Antichrists or against Christ. We must learn who the real Savior Jesus Christ is and not be deceived by false gods.

Islam says that Jesus was a great prophet, but was not God and only a man.

Jehovah's Witnesses teach Jesus was a mortal man and at His baptism the spirit of God came upon Him and He became the Son of God, but He was not God.

Mormons believe Jesus was the first son of their god and was physically conceived when their man-become-god had physical relations with Mary.

Others proclaim that Jesus was a great religious leader who showed the world the way to God by living sacrificially and that man can do what Jesus did and achieve immortality the same way.

Gnosticism and many Eastern religions believe Jesus is the reincarnation of some great person who lived earlier.

All these are false religions which are the inventions of sinful men who are in rebellion against God and His truth. They are the servants of satan and are liars as satan is the father of all liars.

D. You cannot be wrong on who Christ is and go to heaven. This is an important truth. Satan tries to deceive people by giving them confusing and false ideas about who Jesus is, but the fact is that only Jesus Christ can save. Only He died on the cross for the sins of mankind and only He is God and can offer forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of Antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world" (1 John 4:1-3)

The Bible makes is very clear about how a person is saved and goes to heaven. Acts 4:12 says "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

A person might believe with all their heart and soul in a false Jesus, but God will not honor that misplaced belief. The truth of who God is can be easily found in the Bible, God's word. Jesus Christ is the worthy One, He alone paid the penalty for our sins and only He can save. Those that worship a false god and false Christ are without excuse as Romans 1:18 states.

A. The Bible says He is the beginning of the first born from the dead. In other words He was the first who was resurrected from the dead. Therefore those who believe in Him also will be resurrected and taken to heaven. The basis for salvation is in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
1. Ephesians 2:1 addresses born again believers and says, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." This shows that salvation in Jesus Christ brings a new life. The unbeliever, who is person who has not believe God's word and by faith accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior is lost in their sins and traspasses. Colossians 1:23 says the same truth. To be dead means to be without life and because of sin man has no life before God.

2. Romans 3:10-18, explains the sinful and spiritual dead state of man.

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes."

This presents man was God sees him as lost in the deadness of sins, yet the Good News is that when a person believes in Jesus Christ they made ALIVE! That is what the phrase "born again" means. It means they are now alive in Jesus Christ, forgiven of their sins and heaven will be their home.

B. Because man was alienated from God, God incarnate in man, the man Jesus Christ came to reconcile Men to Himself by His Blood Shed on the Cross. (Col 1:20) That means we could not save ourselves because we as sinners were guilty of sin. But Jesus did for us what we could not do for ourselves, He died in our place and took the penalty of our sins on Himself. That shows the wonderful love of God for the sinner.

C. Man's natural act is to rebel against His authority. (Col. 1:21) Men to not like to admit they are lost or they are sinners. Yet, it is God who made us and made this universe. We are His creation and we are responsible to Him. He in His love for us has made the simply way we can overcome our sins and spiritual death. Man then must accept the reality of who God is and humble himself before his creator. It is a wonderful thing to be reconciled to our Savior and God. Not to be alignated from Him and to live in His favor. It is a wonderful thing to have God in our lives and let Him guide, direct and bless us. But God cannot bless or save unless we accept Him and put our faith in Him.