Who do you say that I am ? pt 2

last week we discussed, (or I pointed out for an attempt at discussion)

the idea that answering this question only begins with words.

In fact, it does not even begin there … answering it starts with what we believe about Him.

Not what we have heard

nor what we have underlined in our bibles or written down in our notes

what we believe.

what we hold true in our hearts about Jesus is the beginning of the answering process.

Matt 12:34, Luke 6:45 (Proverbs 15:7)

we then answer the question in two ways:

1. our words (usually the first but cannot be the only)
2. our deeds and actions (which in fact will prove our words true or false)

James 2:14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?

James 2:15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,

James 2:16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

James 2:18 But someone ¹may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

James 2:19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

James 2:20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

we examined the idea that proclaiming was as much a matter of lifestyle as words, or stickers and t-shirts

(and even went as far as pointing out that claiming something that we don’t prove true was hypocrisy)

that the best way to proclaim and prove our faith to be genuine was to tell His story (not our own)

So when I asked everyone here “what is your answer to His same question; Who do you say that I am?”

I was actually asking 

“what do you believe, do you hold that to that belief highly enough for it to have an effect upon you?”

“can those around you see what your answer to that question is without you using words?”

(or would those around you more likely discredit your words because of what they see you do and how you live?)

I include myself in this question but do not claim to answer it even well most of the time.

I struggle deeply with appearing “faithful” on the outside but doing things for the wrong motive

(tell story of old man I was walking past last sunday afternoon with bad back and struggling with trash bins)

christians talk about the notion of being His hands and feet (this is not in the bible verbatim)

it is a doctrine, a held belief … based upon verses

proper understanding of what the body of Christ is 

Rom 12, 1 Cor 12 Eph 4 

are not only metaphors explaining how individuals are to relate to one another but also how the members all are under the head (His representative, His emissary)

understanding the heart of the topic “unto the least of these” 

Matt 25:40-45

being His hands and feet is one of the hardest ways but noticeable ways to answer His question

John 13:35, Mark 12:31, Matt 22:39

How did you see Jesus this past week ?

How do you see Him at work in your life ?

How have you progressed ?

How did you fail ?

how can we encourage each other ? 

Help each other ?