Study 3 - Jesus Christ

Christians are followers of Christ ( he is the central character of our faith so it is important we understand who he is.

His full title is the Lord Jesus Christ, e.g. Ephesians 1:3.

Lord - applied in the Old Testament to God. This title is applied to Jesus in the N.T. and indicates his deity.

E.g. Psalm 97:5; Philippians 2:11; Luke 2:11 [See also Isaiah 45:22-24]

Jesus = Jehovah is salvation. Jesus = Saviour. Matthew 1:21

Christ = Messiah, anointed one. Daniel 9:25-26; Matthew 16:16

A summary of the Bible's teaching on the Lord Jesus is he has two natures, divine and human, which concur in one Person.

 The Bible teaches that Jesus is God, God the Son

Names and titles imply full deity

The O.T. title of LORD is applied to Jesus in the N.T.

e.g. Numbers 21:5-7; Isaiah 6:1-10; [Psalm 45:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5-6;1 Corinthians 10:9&21; John 12:37-41; Hebrews 1:8-9;1 Corinthians 1:30]

In Isaiah 9:6 clearly the Messiah is in view but addressed as God.

He is called God

John 1:1; Titus 2:13 [See also 1 John 5:20; Romans 9:5; Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 1:1-3; Colossians 2:9]

Attributes of God are applied to him

• First and Last (eternity) - Isaiah 44:6; Revelation 1:17-18, 22:13
• Pre-existence - John 1:1
• Creator - John 1:3 [Look up the rest later: Malachi 3:6 / Hebrews 13:8;
  Matthew 28:18; Mark 2:5-7; Acts 2:27 / Isaiah 43:14-15]

Works of God are ascribed to Christ

• Life giving - John 5:20-23; John 10:28
• Judgement - 2 Corinthians 5:10

 Worship is given to him

John 20:26-28 [Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 5:12; John 5:20-23]

When it comes to describing the deity of Christ, the creeds put it like this:

'Christ is consubstantial, of the same substance and essence of the Father, co-equal, co-eternal, begotten, not made.'

The Bible teaches Jesus is fully human

John 1:14; Hebrews 2:14

• He had a body like ours - Matthew 26:26-28
• He had a rational soul - Matthew 26:38
• He had human emotions - John 11:33-35
• He was born - Galatians 4:4

He differed in his humanity from us in that he was born of a virgin (Matthew 1:20-23). He was sinless (Hebrews 4:15). He was God the Son as well.

[Note: Jesus Christ was subordinate in his role as Saviour and mediator to his Father, 1 Corinthians 15:22-28]

Why did Christ need to be God?

Psalm 49:7-10.

The human problem of sin means we need divine Saviour to:

• Bring a sacrifice of sufficient value.
• Bear the wrath of God and redeem men.
• Be able to apply the fruits of his work to men.

Why did he also need to be human?

Man sinned, therefore the penalty had to be borne by a man.

Hebrews 2:14-17

Note: the formula worked out at the Council of Chalcedon AD451 is a good way of understanding the Biblical material:

Jesus Christ:

• Fully God. Equal with the Father, of the same substance.
• Fully man, having our mind, soul, flesh and blood.

The two natures concur (are together) in one person. They are not mixed together or changed by their relationship with each other, yet they are without division. Jesus Christ is one person, not two. When he acts, he acts as a single person.

Because Jesus Christ is who he is, he is a suitable and sufficient Saviour.

Hebrews 2:14-18, 7:23-28, 9:23-28

[Note there have been many false teachings concerning Christ seen in Church history and still present today, e.g. Arianism (which says that God created in his own image the only begotten son) ( J.W.'s hold this view. Many other '-isms' have also distorted the Bible's teaching concerning Christ.]