The Year of Healing | Salvation is Faith in the Divinity of Jesus Christ | Mark 12:35-37

Kairos TV is an online ministry of Pastor Kim Sam-sung, dedicated to strengthening the "Daily Family Worship" and "Weekly Small Group Worship" programs of all Christians worldwide. Sermon Series: The Gospel of Mark Salvation is Faith in the Divinity of Jesus Christ Mark 12:35-37 Jesus decided to ask religious leaders a question to confront them for their unwillingness to acknowledge Him as God and their refusal to love Him as both God and man. Is Jesus Christ truly God, or is He merely a man, His messenger? This question is crucial. If Jesus of Nazareth is not God, then anyone who worships Him and prays to Him commits the sin of idolatry. Deut. 6:4 The commandment of Moses forbids the worship of anyone but God. Exod. 20:3 Worshipping a created being instead of the Creator is a grave sin, punishable by death. Rom. 1:25 If Jesus is not God, then salvation for a sinner is impossible. Without faith in the divinity of Jesus Christ, there is no salvation. If we examine the New Testament, we see that it clearly describes Christ as God. But why isn't this revealed to all people? 1. Our faith must be built on the full revelation of God's word. God's word says that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 In Mark 12:35-37, Jesus says that the scribes, interpreting God's word, and specifically Psalm 110, have only a partial revelation of who the Messiah is, and this is what they teach the people. They say that the Messiah is the son of David. Mark 12:35-37. But what did David mean when he called the Messiah "Lord"? "The Lord said to my Lord"—the Lord (Yahweh) said to the Lord (Adonai). Both the word "Yahweh" and the word "Adonai" (translated as "to the Lord") used by David are well-known names of God in the Old Testament. David calls the Messiah "Lord" because he considers Him to be God; this was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit. In other words, David addresses the Messiah not as his son, but as his Lord, worthy to sit at the right hand of God. If the Messiah is the God of David, then the question arises: "How is He his son?" By asking this question, Jesus wanted the people to reflect on God's word for themselves: how can the Messiah be both the son of David and the God of David? The only possible solution is that the Messiah is both man and God (the God-man). It was precisely because Jesus equated Himself with God that the Jews condemned Him, considering this blasphemy. (Matthew 14:10) 26:63-66 God calls us to strengthen our faith in the full revelation of God's word and to preach the Gospel to all people in the power of the Holy Spirit. 1 Tim. 4:16 2. Who is Jesus Christ to you? The Israelites believed, according to God's word, that the Messiah was a descendant of King David, and that when He came, He would restore Israel to its former glory, as during the reigns of David and Solomon, and liberate the country from the occupiers. They waited for the Messiah to do everything they needed, but they were not ready to accept Him as Lord, to whom they must submit their lives. Even when God came in the flesh in Jesus Christ, the Israelites did not believe Him, rejected Him, crucified Him, and did not submit to the Lord! They didn't understand that Jesus came to save them not from external enemies, but from themselves, from those "enemies" that reside within: the lusts of the eyes, the lusts of the flesh, and the pride of life. Who is Jesus to you? 3. Jesus is God, come in the flesh to save everyone who believes in Him. What Jesus taught in the temple was a shocking, revolutionary statement. Jesus explained a familiar Old Testament text masterfully, logically, and clearly. Jesus proved that the Messiah would not only be a great descendant of David, but also God. Jesus didn't say, "I am the Messiah and God." But such a statement was unnecessary, because the events of the last week had clearly indicated this. Upon entering Jerusalem, crowds had greeted Jesus as the Son of David, and now He explained that the Son of David is God. But contrary to logic and common sense, the scribes and Pharisees denied the messiahship and divinity of Jesus, unwilling to acknowledge it and therefore making a conscious decision not to believe. The New Testament is replete with evidence that Jesus is God. 1 Tim. 3:16 All four Gospels describe Jesus forgiving sins and receiving worship. No one but God can forgive sins; no one but God can be the object of worship. Jesus is Lord! What is our response to what we have learned through God's word about Jesus—that He is Lord? Acts 2:29-39. When Jesus Christ is preached under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, that He is Lord, the hearts of the hearers are opened to salvation! So, salvation is faith in the divinity of Jesus Christ. 1. Your faith must be built on the full revelation of God's word. 2. Acknowledge Jesus as Lord and surrender your life to Him. 3. Our transformed lives are a testimony to the divinity of Jesus. Share this testimony!