Real Life Radio

Jack Hibbs: But if I were your God and you only talked to me when you were in trouble, guess what I would do to you? Because I loved you, I would keep you in trouble. Why? Because I want to hear from you.

David J: This is Real Life. Welcome to Real Life Radio with Pastor Jack Hibbs. I'm David J, thanking you for joining us today as we listen, learn, and are challenged by God's Word, the Bible.

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On today's edition of Real Life Radio, Pastor Jack continues his series called The Life and Times of Jesus Christ and his message titled, Christ, the Son of God. Now, this is a series about who Jesus really is. Not the Jesus of popular opinion, but the Jesus of the Bible, God Himself, who stepped into our world. Here, we'll discover what it truly means to come to Him. You see, a lot of us think that we know who Jesus is, but if someone were to ask us about Him, would we really know what to say?

Many of us are not aware that Jesus really isn't less than God. He is fully God, sent down to this earth in human skin to make a way for a relationship with Him. So today, Pastor Jack teaches that Jesus is the only one who can truly relate to us and faithfully intercede for us. He knows our weaknesses and He understands every struggle that we face. So now, as He sits at the Father's right hand, He's always ready to hear from us when we come to Him in prayer. Before we get into the message, I had a chance to sit down with Pastor Jack and talk about it with Him. So, let's get into that.

Pastor Jack, you break this whole thing down into about four words. We've got to come to the Son, believe in Him, accept Him, and abide in Him. Why isn't it enough to just walk an aisle one time and then check the box that, hey, I'm a Christian?

Jack Hibbs: That's not Christianity. That would be self-deception, actually, to think, well, I raised my hand at church or I went forward at the crusade. If anyone ever responds, or maybe that's you friend listening right now and you're saying, well, that's my response, I'm okay with God because I checked the box. I got baptized. I'm good. Well, you better read your Bible again because you're not good. You are missing the key element.

When you come to faith in Jesus Christ, Jesus said in that moment you're born again. You're made new. That new life is exhibited by the fact that you have new passions, you have new lifestyles, and you have a hunger and a thirst for God that would never settle for checking a box. What you're really referring to is maybe the membership to a man-made religion that's down the street for convenience' sake. God will have nothing to do with that, to be frank. It's personal. It's always personal.

Christ the Son of God. Let's get into it. The Scriptures announced Christ and His coming. But to come to Christ is to first of all realize something. Before you make that decision, you must realize He's the only Son announced. He still is the only Son announced at this hour. I have good news for you, as we read in Hebrews chapter 1 a moment ago, He's the only one that's ever going to be announced.

Aren't you glad that you're on His side? A lot of people say, "I'm glad God's on my side." God isn't on your side. You're on His side, and there's a big difference. We have come to believe in Him, but you've got to come first. The sonship, He's the only one announced. As I mentioned earlier, that culture is very, very passionate about that. You might meet someone, maybe you have a precious Jewish friend, and they're so into that precious culture of theirs about the son.

By the way, if you are a lawyer this morning, an attorney at, say, family law, or if you're an estate attorney, you chances are you will never move your practice to Israel or where there's a strong Jewish presence because they don't believe in that garbage. When the son reaches the age of 30 in the house, all that the father has is transferred to the son, even though the father's the patriarch. The son runs it all. There's no dealing in courts about estate inheritance. No, that would put a lot of people out of business in America.

The father says, "Now that you're 30," by the way, they consider that youth. The father would say, "Now all that I have is transferred to you." The father had governorship over it all. Remember the old man whose son had gone wayward with his inheritance? That young man, we know in that prodigal son proverb, in that prodigal son scenario, every Jew would have realized that that boy who took off with his inheritance was about 30 years of age. You see how stupid that boy was? 30 years of age. "Give me my inheritance, Dad." And he hands it to him and he goes out and squanders it. Sonship.

But you would hear a Jewish woman, I heard and maybe you have too in things and travel or whatever, "This is my son, the lawyer," or "This is my son, the doctor." They're very proud to announce to you what the son does. It's important to them. God says, "This is my Son." He's the Son of God. Jesus Christ was announced by God. Note that. How do you know that Jesus is the Son of God? God said so.

Matthew chapter 3, God says so. "This is my beloved Son." We're going to look at a few things. I'm going to give you this verse. If you're paying attention, this is about the third time I've given this verse in four weeks. I'm hot on this verse. I love this one. Proverbs 30, verse 4. Proverbs 30, verse 4 says, "Who has ascended into heaven or descended? And who has gathered the winds in His fists and who has bound up the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth?" Who do you think He's talking about?

He says, "What is His name? And what is His Son's name, if you know?" In the Hebrew, the word or title "Son" is capitalized, speaking of deity. That's a great verse. Jesus the Son of God. I'm going to run through some verses real quick. The Son of God, Psalm chapter 2, verse 7. Powerful message. Psalm 2:7, "And we declare and decree the Lord, He has sent me. You are my Son, today I have begotten or glorified you or established you in the minds of men as my only one."

There's going to be people who knock on your door that represent a cult who say, "Oh, this word 'begotten' means he's less than God." Not true. Don't be duped by that. Acts chapter 13, verse 33. God has fulfilled this for us, His children, and that He has raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you."

You see the uniqueness. You can take that word begotten and even put it as unique. Unique. Because again, there are people knocking on your doors who will absolutely attack you on this word begotten. They'll tell you it means that Jesus is less than, and they're going to pull some verses out of context and deceive you. You're going to call the church and you're going to be all upset because now you have a bunch of doubts in your mind and you're confused. Know your Bible. He's the only one announced.

Not only is He the Son of God, He's referred to as the Son of David. This is extremely important. This all makes sense, I hope. If it doesn't, I quit and I'll go back to my old job. Son of David, Matthew chapter 1, verse 1. The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, or Jesus the Messiah, the Son of David. According to the flesh, Jesus is the Son of David. Jesus was born through Mary, the lineage that came through David.

God came to earth in the form of His Son. Jesus Christ the Son of God. Not Jesus Christ something less than God. Jesus Christ is fully God, yet He's a Son. He acquired, I can put it that way, or He assumed, I don't mean in a self-assigning way, He stepped into the rights of sonship. By the way, it was very humbling. So much so that this morning, at the right hand of God the Father, sits His Son. Jesus is the Son of God now and forever.

That has a lot to say regarding our redemption and our eternal security in Christ. The Son of David. He's also the Son of Abraham. The same verse goes on to say in Matthew 1:1, He's the Son of Abraham. The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, you know that, and the Son of Abraham. He's referred to as the Son of God, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.

All this has deep significance that we don't have time to go into now. But if you were a Jew, you want to hear the fact that Jesus is the Son of David. If you are witnessing to a Muslim or a non-believer, you want to be able to hear that Jesus is the Son of Abraham. That's important to a Muslim. "You mean to tell me Jesus is the Son of Abraham?" Yes. Then I want to hear more about this, a Muslim would say.

Jesus in Luke chapter 3, verse 23 is referred to as the Son of Joseph. This is an interesting concept because He's not exactly the Son of Joseph genetically, we know that DNA-wise. But He's the Son of David in His heirship. Jesus had to come from Mary, who was married to Joseph, which gave Him right to the throne.

Luke 3:23, "Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being, listen to what your Bible says, as was supposed, the Son of Joseph." Don't you love that? I love that. And Jesus began His ministry at about the age of thirty, who, as it was supposed, the Son of Joseph. I love that. Well, He was and He wasn't. If anything, He was adopted by Joseph. How about that?

He's also referred to in the Bible as the Son of Mary in a very interesting and one and only interesting context. Those of you who come from a Catholic background, hang on to your seats. I didn't write the Bible. You have to deal with this. The Son of Mary. I thought Mary was the mother of God. You're not going to find that in your Bible.

Listen carefully. Mark 6:3 and Matthew 13:55. "Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?" He had four brothers, did you know that? "And are not His sisters here with us?" Jesus had at least, this always generates mail, Jesus had at least two sisters, according to the Greek original scripture, and He had four brothers. By the way, a couple of them went on to be some of the authors of their epistles in the New Testament.

The word is "siblings," literally ones born into the family. Jesus was birthed by the Holy Spirit coming upon Mary outside of Joseph. The Bible says that Mary and Joseph did not have any sexual relations until Jesus was born. And afterwards, they must have had some activity because at least six kids were generated: four sons and at least two girls. Bible says so. Spare the mail. That's what the Bible says.

Son of Mary. Also, Son of Man. Luke tells us over and over again He is the Son of Man. Luke 9:21, "And He strictly warned and commanded the people, telling them to tell this to no one, saying, 'The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed and be raised up again on the third day.'" The Son of Man. Jesus said this concerning Himself, which is an act of God. "This is what's going to happen to me. And by the way, after it happens to me, on the third day, I'm going to rise from the dead." Isn't that awesome?

I can't tell you what tomorrow's going to be like with even all the help from the weatherman. Jesus says, "I'm going to tell you exactly what's going to happen." By the way, John tells us these things were written in advance that you might know that it's Him. That's wonderful. John 3:18, "He who believes in Him is not condemned." Do you believe in Him? We'll talk about that more in a moment. But he who does not believe is condemned already. You're walking in a state. I'm sorry I'm laughing, but this is kind of funny to me in my cartoon mind.

The word is condemned already. It means most of the poor duped world, they're walking. They're doing their thing. And whatever they're doing, suspended over them is a massive, massive axe ready to be laid to the root of their life. It's just hanging off their neck spiritually. He who does not believe in the Son of God is condemned already. The axe is coming down on the head of everyone who rejects Him. Isn't that radical? People are like, "Do you know who you're talking to? I own this whole thing." Do you realize, Mister, that there's an axe suspended right over the back of your neck? "Well, look at me. I'm the most beautiful beauty queen in the world. I don't need anybody but me." Lady, do you realize that there's an axe suspended over the back of your neck? The world just toodles along.

My only Son. John 3:18 goes on to say, "He is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." In Greek, listen to what God is saying. He says this in the original language: "You're condemned because you do not believe in the Son of Me." That's what it means. That's the original word. The Son of Me. The Son of who? God the Father. You're condemned if you do not believe in the Son of Me, says God.

By the way, the word is "monogenes" and it appears in another place. In Luke chapter 9, verse 37, the scripture says, "And it came to pass on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met Jesus, and behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, 'Master, I beseech you look upon my son, for he is my only son.'" Same word. He is the Son of Me.

Here's Jesus, who knows a little bit about being the Son of Me, God the Father. In front of Him is a man with a child that has gone perished there. And this earthly father says, "This is the Son of Me." And in that culture, that was a very touching thing. "This is my heir. This is my..." Do you see? That father's heart. Come on, dads, grandpas. That father's heart is, "This is my son. Jesus, I heard great things about you. Take my life and let him live." You know, have you ever felt like that?

Isn't that funny about being a parent? I think unless God tells you otherwise, I think everybody should be a parent either through adoption or through giving birth unless God says don't do it. There's something about learning more about Scripture and Christianity when you've got a son or a daughter when they're burning up with their fever and they're sick as a dog. You just say, "God, give it to me. Just give it to me." Jesus said concerning sin, "Give it to me. I'll take it." He's the only one announced.

The second thing that we see this morning is this. He is the only Son related. He's the only Son related both to God and to us. He's the only Son related. Hebrews chapter 4, verse 15, "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses." Do you have any weaknesses? Anybody? Raise your hand.

I am standing up here today by virtue of Advil. I can't believe how pathetic we be. Weak. Of course, this is talking about all types of weakness, but I'm just sitting here, my body is aching so badly because I was playing around too much, goofing off. And have I yet turned to Jesus and said, "Lord, my body aches"? No, I haven't done that. He's convicted me right now. You're looking at a man under conviction right now.

The scripture says in all points He was tempted as we are, yet without sin. The scripture says here in Hebrews 4:15 that He sympathizes with our weaknesses. Of course, it's spiritual weakness that we have. He's not spiritually weak, but He knows that our flesh is so weak. Our spirit's willing, but our flesh is weak. And even in our spiritual life, we are weak. And the Lord says, "I know how weak you are. I know that you're but dust and that you are being sanctified in this life."

We must come to the Son of God also because of this third announcement to us, and that He is the only Son in place. And what I mean by that is simply this, and off we go. He's the only Son in place. Who are you going to pray to? Mark that down. He's the only Son in place. You say, "What does that have to do with who we're going to pray to?" He's the only Son in place, meaning He's enthroned in a position to intercede for you and I right now. That means pray for us.

Hebrews chapter 9, verse 24, "For Christ has not entered the holy place made with human hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now appearing in the presence of God for us." Jesus is in place right now. Jesus the Son of God. He is there. He is representing us to God and God to us. He's in place.

When you pray, let me ask you, do you pray? "Well, I pray when something really heavy is going on." What about all the other time? Now think about it. If I were, and praise the Lord I'm not, but if I were your God and you only talked to me when you were in trouble, guess what I would do to you? Because I loved you, I would keep you in trouble. Why? Because I want to hear from you.

I want to hear from you. Isn't it an awesome thing when children crawl into the lap of Daddy or Papa or Grandpa and say, "Tell me about you being a little boy." They loved to hear that for years. Up until they got like 13, 14. "Tell me, tell me how it was." And they always loved. I would tell them about Saturday mornings, how we would at home. I would tell them about Christmas. I would tell them about when I would play with G.I. Joes or Matchbox cars or Tonka trucks. And they would go like this. We could go on all day. They would never say, "You know, can you stop telling me about this? I really need to go." They would never. I would say I need to stop now, I need to go.

They loved it because there was this relatability and the fact that we connected because I, like you, at one time was a child. God, Jesus Christ, is in heaven in place who knows everything about you and me. And you can come to Him and say, "Lord, I stubbed my toe." Look at little children when they do get hurt. They come up. Watch them. They fall down. It's so cool. You're watching them. They don't know you're watching them. They fall down. They get hurt. They get up. They look around. They look and they look again. A little bit of red showing. And then all of a sudden. And then they see you and it's... Have you ever seen a kid fall down when there's no parent around? They dust it off. They're having too much fun. Oh, but Mama may could have possibly seen. And boy, do they milk it.

Man, I need to be more like that with God. "Lord! He's being mean to me!" You know? We need to come to Him. We don't come to Him. He's in place for us. That's wonderful.

David J: Pastor and Bible teacher Jack Hibbs, here on Real Life Radio and his message called, Christ, the Son of God. Thanks so much for being with us today. You know, this message is part of Pastor Jack's series called The Life and Times of Jesus Christ. It's a series about the real Jesus of the Bible, God in the flesh, and why knowing Him more deeply really changes everything. And we'll continue on the next edition of Real Life Radio.

Jack Hibbs: Hey my friends, come with me on our Bold Faith Hawaii cruise, June 12th to the 19th, 2027. Listen, we're going to set sail for seven unforgettable days with myself, Dr. Frank Turek, and special worship with Gia Lucid. It's going to be a breathtaking trip. This is more than a vacation. It's a time of rest, renewal, fellowship, and spiritual strength in the Word of God, all centered around the Bible. You can reserve your spot by going to jackhibbs.com.

David J: Hey, thank you again so much for listening. And if you'd like to hear or see more of what we do here, you can always go to jackhibbs.com for all the latest on what's going on with this ministry. And please, if you're ever in the Southern California area, come see us at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills. We'd love to see you there in person. It has been so good to be with you today, and I pray you find yourself in the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. See you on the next episode.

This program is made possible by the generous contributions of you, our listeners. Visit us at jackhibbs.com. That's jackhibbs.com. Until next time, Pastor Jack and all of us here at Real Life Radio wish for you solid and steady growth in Christ and in His Word. We'll see you next time here on Real Life Radio.