Who did God put in charge on earth? God is spirit and as such invisible. So who is going to visibly and audibly represent Him on earth? Man! Man is the representative of God on the earth. It must be someone like God, and it must be a man because of what it says in Genesis 1:26-27, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness; let them have dominion on the earth.” God’s highest creature was created last. What was said about man was said of no other creature God ever made. Adam represented God on the earth. Not an angel because they too are invisible and not the highest order of living beings. God never put angels in charge of anything on earth.
Adam was the original man who represented God. After God made man He rested. He has stopped creating. Then in Genesis chapter three, when man sinned, God again put on His work clothes and began His work of redemption, His new creation. Fallen man was the closest thing to God on earth to represent Him, but he was now sinful. A sinful man, a sinner, cannot adequately represent a holy God.
Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-9 describes the One in charge down here – it is Jesus Christ, the man who is the exact image of God on the earth. God the Father sent His only born Son to earth, born of a woman, fully man. Jesus Christ was God’s representative on earth, made as a man in His exact image. Who else could it be? Not the Pope! Not Mohammed! Not the Dalai Lama! Not Buddha! Jesus Christ is God’s man who truly and fully represents God on the earth. Jesus said this, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (Jn.14:9). Everything God is, Christ is. When you see Jesus Christ you have seen God. He represents God fully. “God was manifest in the flesh.” (1Tim.3:16) When you see what Jesus did, you see what God would do. When you hear Jesus speak, you are listening to God speak. Others spoke about Jesus; Jesus spoke for the Father.
A major theme in the Bible given to us in the book of John is stated by Jesus over and over as He claimed to be the one whom God sent. He is the only unique Son of God. Jesus said so in Jn.3:16. Note just some of the times in John that He declares to be the one whom God sent: 1:18,14; 3:16-17; 4:34; 5:37-38; 6:39,44,57; 10:36; 10:36; 12:49. And that’s just some of the verses where Jesus declares this. He was sent to fully represent God on the earth. Approaching our text Jesus is going to anticipate our saying, “You say you were sent from God and that you represent God on the earth. Prove it!” That’s where Mt.18:16 comes in, the principle that runs all the way through the Bible: “by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.”
Now read Jn.5:31-47 and you will see that:
I. The Six Witnesses that Jesus Represents God on the Earth:
1. Jesus Himself, v.31-32
2. John the Baptist, v.33-35
3. The Works of Jesus, v.36
4. The Father Himself, v.37-38
5. The Scriptures, v.39
6. Moses, v.45-47
II. Man is God’s representative on the earth; God gave him the charge of ruling the earth in His place.
III. Adam lost his job as God’s representative on earth, except for redeemed men like justified Abraham. Go
Stay Connected with Grace Church!
Dive deeper into sermon notes and see how Christ is moving in our community by visiting our website: https://sites.google.com/view/gracehouseclinton/sermons
If you feel led to support our ministry, you can give securely here: https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=674824c2-5d42-11ee-90fc-1260ab546d11
Thank you for being part of our ministry! #GraceChurch #FaithInAction #terrysimpson #terry #simpson #clintonar #sermons #pastor #ministry #discipleship
