"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds." (Titus 2:11-14).

The Great Divide in Thinking About Jesus.

C. S. Lewis has argued convincingly that Jesus could not have been "just a great prophet." He had to be what he said he was or else he was insane. Many years ago, people who claimed to be God were placed in mental hospitals. If Jesus claimed to be God, He either was God or He was mistaken. If he was insane or mistaken, He could not have been a great prophet. Jesus is recognized as the world's greatest teacher in the area of morals and spirituality; therefore, the world recognizes that he was not insane. If Jesus had been insane, during his own lifetime he would have been treated as one who was mentally ill. Instead, Jesus worked miracles of grace and healing to confirm his teaching. He was killed on a cross because he was a threat to the leaders of his day, not because he was insane. The Bible teaches that Jesus is God: the Second Person of the Trinity. This we believe. Therefore, we worship and obey Jesus as God. Historic, Biblical Christianity has taught for 2,000 years that Jesus is God and Savior.

What Jesus Said About Himself.

1. Jesus acted upon the basis that He had the authority to forgive people for ALL their sins. Only God has this authority. Matthew 9:2-7 - "And behold, they were bringing to Him a paralytic, lying on a bed; and Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, ‘Take courage, My son, your sins are forgiven.' And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, ‘This fellow blasphemes.' And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, ‘Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, "Your sins are forgiven," or to say, "Rise, and walk"? But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins - then He said to the paralytic- "Rise, take up your bed, and go home."' And he rose, and went home." Jesus forgave sins naturally; because He was God, this was His right.