Apologetics Thursday: The Person and Deity of Jesus Christ (John 10:22-39)

Notes:

  1. Jesus claims messiahship (24-25a)
  • Cp. his word to John the Baptist’s followers in Matthew 11
  • He would make this explicitly clear when riding into Jerusalem, in direct, deliberate fulfillment of Zech. 9:9
  1. Jesus claims divine prerogative (28-29)
  • I give my sheep eternal life
  • They will never perish because no one can snatch them out of My hand
  1. Jesus claims equality with God (30)
  • I and the Father are one
  • “The” Father; Whom they would (and did) clearly understand to be referring to God
  1. Pharisees understand His claims to divinity (31-33)
  • A helpful evidence to verify this claim is His opponent’s reaction
  • It’s as though Jesus asked them just to make it clear that they understood His claim! 
  • Ultimately the charge of blasphemy would be the reason for Jesus’ crucifixion (from their perspective)
  1. Jesus further emphasizes His claim to Divinity (34-38)
  • Jesus is at least able to use the term that is used of Israel’s judges (Psalm 82:6)

He points to His words, and His works to demonstrate that He also transcends that meaning, and that as judges themselves, they should be able to judge this as being true

Who (or what) is the Antichrist

Who (or what) is the Antichrist?

He is a person Spirit of antichrist (1 John 4) 2 Thessalonians 2, Revelation 13, Daniel: most often spoken of in personal terms Not a system, or government, though he will head both

He is a counterfeit Christ Matthew 24:4-5, 23-24 Counterfeit religion Counterfeit resurrection Counterfeit Trinity Counterfeit peace He will rise out of a revived Roman Empire Daniel 7 10 horns, 7 heads  Like a Caesar

Will he be Jewish? Deuteronomy 18:15-19 He will let them rebuild their temple (part of the covenant in Daniel 9:25-27?) Ascends from the sea of gentile nations (Cp. Revelation 17:15)

He will be worshiped by the world 2 Thessalonians 2: Revelation 13: He will be empowered by Satan Revelation 12:, 13:2 A great deceiver (cp. 2 Corinthians 4:4)

He (and the false prophet) will require the world’s allegiance and participation in his one world government/NWO Revelation 13:16-18

He will unite the world in rebellion against God Revelation 19 Psalm 2