Christ is Precious — Part 2

"The Uniqueness of Christ"

Sermon delivered on January 31st, 2016

By: Pastor Greg Hocson

Scripture Text: 1 Peter 2:1-10

 

Introduction

Throughout history, men and women have been fascinated and in some cases obsessed by stones. There are those who are so captivated by it that they are willing to spend millions of dollar for a stone.

 

A good examples of a very expensive stone is the "Pink Star Diamond". It weighs 59.6 carats, about the size of a quail egg. It is the most expensive gemstone ever sold at an auction. This particular precious stone was sold at $83 million dollars. That's $1.4 million per carat or per 0.2 grams. One gram is roughly equal to 1 small paper clip.

 

Why are gemstones like diamonds so expensive? What makes diamond precious? What makes an object precious? For an object to be rightly called precious, it should have the following three qualities: rarity, beauty and usability.

 

There are stones that are rare but not beautiful, other stones are beautiful but not useful, and another stones may be useful but not beautiful. But all these qualities are found in our Lord Jesus Christ. He is rare, beautiful and valuable. These qualities are found in Him unto perfection. Christ is truly precious.

 

This morning, consider with me the Uniqueness of Jesus Christ.

 

Christ is absolutely unique

Rarity or uniqueness is what makes gemstone like diamonds expensive. They are not common. They are not like grains of sand. You don't find them everywhere. They are hard to find. To recover the relatively small amount of both gem quality and industrial diamonds is not easy, even with today's technology.  To produce just a one-carat polished diamond of gem quality they have to mined and processed approximately 250 tons (500,000 pounds) of ore.

 

But there is none as rare as our Lord Jesus Christ. He is absolutely unique. This is why Christ is precious. He is the only One. There is nothing else like Him in this world.

 

This morning, consider with me the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in His person, birth, teachings, life, death, and resurrection. 

 

1. The Uniqueness of His Person

The Bible makes the claim that Jesus Christ is both God and Man - two natures united in one. He was not half man and half God, but totally man and totally God united in one Person. There is no other religious leader has ever seriously made such a claim for no other could support it by their life.

 

He made bold claims to deity, such as:

John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

 

John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

 

No other Saviour

Never has been, never will be other Saviour. 

Isaiah 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

 

Isaiah 45:6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.

 

Isaiah 45:21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

 

Mark 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40: And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41: And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11: This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6: Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

 

I know this is a bold claim and if you make a bold claim as Jesus did, you have to back it up. And our Lord did back up His bold claim by His birth, His life, His teachings, His suffering, His death, and His resurrection.

 

He is God's unspeakable, indescribable and unfathomable gift to the world. He is the most unique Person of the universe. He is the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

Jesus' person was unique.

 

2. The Uniqueness of His Birth

His birth was the most unique birth in all of human history. He is the only One that was born of a virgin, that is, He was conceived and born without a human father.

 

The angel's announcement

Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31: And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32: He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

 

Mary's response

Luke 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35: And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

His conception and birth was the result of the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit, the Son of God Himself took up residency in a virgin's womb in embryonic form so that after a natural nine-month pregnancy, she gave birth to a son who was also God's Son.

 

"The Word was conceived in the womb of a woman, not after the manner of men, but by the singular, powerful, invisible, immediate operation of the Holy Ghost, whereby a virgin was, beyond the law of nature, enabled to conceive, and that which was conceived in her was originally and completely sanctified." - Pulpit Commentary

 

Jesus' birth was unique.

 

3. The Uniqueness of His Teaching

Skeptics and atheists say that Jesus Christ taught nothing unique that cannot be found in the other religions of the world. But the truth of the matter is, Jesus' message is radically different from that of every other religion. So much of the other religions of the world emphasize the external behaviors and acts. But if you read Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount", you will discover that, it is not enough to just act righteously - one must also think righteously.

 

Here are some examples of His unique teachings:

1. Anger

Being angry and calling someone names can land you in hell. 

Matthew 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

 

2. Lust

Looking with lust at a woman makes you guilty of adultery.

Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

 

3. Enemies

You are to love all people and pray for those who hate you.

Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44: But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

 

No wonder the people said after hearing our Lord teach, 

John 7:46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.

 

Who can measure up to the standards of God? None!

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

 

Jesus' teachings were unique.

 

4. The Uniqueness of His Life His sinlessness

There are many so-called prophets and teachers, such as Confucius, Lao-tze, Buddha, Muhammad, Felix Manalo, Joseph Smith, but none of them ever claimed being sinless.

 

But concerning Jesus Christ the Scriptures plainly teach His sinlessness.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

 

Jesus himself once challenged His accusers ...

John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?

No one was able to find him guilty of anything.

 

When the religious leaders tried our Lord, they could not find true witnesses, so they have to hire false witnesses to bring false accusations against Him, 

Matthew 26:59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness (evidence) against Jesus, to put him to death; 60: But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none (no evidence to accuse Him of to put Him to death). At the last came two false witnesses,

 

But the verdict of Pilate at His trial has been the verdict of history:

John 19:4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

 

Luke 23:4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

 

Jesus' life was unique.

1 Samuel 2:2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

 

5. The Uniqueness of His Death

There are many people who have given their lives for others. There are soldiers who died for the country they love, there are fire fighters who died in the act of rescuing, and there are policemen who have laid down their lives in an effort to protect the people. Their sacrifice is very real and noble but certainly not unique in the history of the world.

 

But the death of Jesus Christ was unique. It is matchless. It is unparalleled. It is only one of its kind.

 

We know that Christ died by crucifixion. His death is unique, not because He was crucified, (for there were many who died by crucifixion) but because it was prophesied in the Scriptures long before death by crucifixion was known in Palestine. 

Psalm 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

 

Another thing that makes the death of Christ unique is the people He died for.

Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7: For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

 

Jesus died for us when we were His enemies. He died for us when we were ungodly, when we have no thought of Him, no affection for Him. He died for those that had refuse to give Him affection, to give Him honor, to give Him loyalty. He gave up His life for those that have ignored Him. He gave up His life for those who have dishonored Him.

 

Still another thing that makes His death unique is in the manner in which He died. The way in which He actually died was miraculous.

John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18: No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Jesus said, "I lay down my lifeonly to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord."

 

At the very moment of His departure, He was not overcome by death. Rather, He voluntarily dismissed His spirit. Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost (gave up His spirit).

 

Jesus' death was unique.

 

6. The Uniqueness of His Resurrection

Confucius is dead and is buried in a grave in the city of Ch'uFu, Shandong, China. Buddha is dead and his ashes are buried throughout India. Muhammad is dead and is buried in Medina. Felix Manalo is dead and is buried in the Philippines. Joseph Smith is dead and is buried in Nauvoo, Illinois.

 

Jesus Christ DIED, was BURIED, but on the third day AROSE from the dead and there is only an EMPTY GRAVE left because HE LIVES!

Mark 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

 

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

 

There were also people who were resurrected as recorded in the Scriptures but none can be compared to Christ's resurrection. Christ's resurrection was unique because He raise Himself back to life and He lives forevermore.

 

Jesus' resurrection was unique.

 

 

 

Challenge

Brothers and sisters, today, I have attempted to show you one aspect of Christ's preciousness. He is precious because He is absolutely rare and unique. Now, the question is, is He precious to you? You will never see the preciousness of Christ, except by a personal faith in Him. May God the Holy Spirit open your eyes that you may see Christ's preciousness.

 

For those of us whose eyes and heart the Lord opened, as we consider the uniqueness of Christ, we also need to recognize this uniqueness demands our faithfulness, loyalty and commitment as believers. Treasuring Christ will be evidenced by our obedience, by our devotion to Him, His Words and His Kingdom.

 

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous ligt; 10: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

 

Amen!