Jesus Christ & The Work of Christ (3)

Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus—Israel’s promised Messiah—was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate. Article 4, EFCA Statement of Faith

Jesus Christ

His name was Jesus.

Matthew 1:21 NIV

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

He was the Christ.

This is the English transliteration of the Greek word, Χριστός (Christos), meaning Messiah or Anointed One.

John 1:41 NIV

The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).

Matthew 16:15–16 (NIV84) — “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

GOD INCARNATE

The Bible teaches that Jesus is God incarnate (literally, “enfleshed”), not just a “divine” person or one of the prophets.

John 1:14 NIV

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Philippians 2:6–11 (NIV84) — Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

FULLY GOD AND FULLY MAN

Jesus was fully God

being with God from eternity past (distinguishing Him from God the Father), and being God (fully God, not a lesser or Created being).

He created ALL things

so he could not be a created being.

Genesis 1:1 (NIV84) — In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.,

Genesis 1:26 (NIV84) — Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV84) — For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

John 1:1–3 NIV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Basics of Biblical Greek: Grammar (Exegetical Insight)

καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος

and God was the Word.

…and the Word was God

Basics of Biblical Greek: Grammar (Exegetical Insight)

καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν ὁ θεός

“and the Word was the God” (i.e., the Father; Sabellianism)

καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν θεός

“and the Word was a god” (Arianism)

καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος

“and the Word was God” (Orthodoxy).

Colossians 1:15 (NIV84) — He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Colossians 1:16 (NIV84) — For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

Colossians 2:9 (NIV84) — For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,

Hebrews 1:8 (NIV84) — But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.

Jesus was fully man

being born of a woman, and experiencing life like all men.

Matthew 1:25 (NIV84) — But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Luke 2:52 (NIV84) — And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Matthew 4:1–2 (NIV84) — Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.;

John 4:5–6 (NIV84) — So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.;

John 11:35 (NIV84) — Jesus wept.

John 19:28 (NIV84) — Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”

Hebrews 2:17 NIV

For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 4.15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”

1 John 4:2–3 NIV

This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

ONE PERSON IN TWO NATURES

Jesus is One person. He is not God in a person. But He is one person with two natures.

Romans 1:3–4 NIV

regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hebrews 2:14 (NIV84) — Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—

Q. Why did he have to be God and man?

Hebrews 2:17 (NIV84) — For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

Isaiah 43:11 (NIV84) — I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.

Matthew 1:21 (NIV84) — She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

ISRAEL’S PROMISED MESSIAH

The God who is incarnate in Jesus Christ is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the promised Messiah. This puts the story of Jesus Christ in its proper Old Testament context while also recognizing that the Messiah of Israel is the Savior of the world.

John 1:41 (NIV84) — The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).

John 4:25–26 (NIV84) — The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am he.”

Acts 2:36 (NIV84) — “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Acts 13:23 (NIV84) — “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.

Acts 13:32–39 NIV

“We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: “ ‘You are my son; today I have become your father.’ God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said, “ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ So it is also stated elsewhere: “ ‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’ “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.

Romans 1:2–3 (NIV84) — the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David,

2 Timothy 2:8 (NIV84) — Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,

John 1:29 (NIV84) — The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BORN OF A VIRGIN

The Scriptures clearly teach that Mary was a virgin when she become pregnant with Jesus.

Isaiah 7:14 (NIV84) — Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Matthew 1:18 NIV

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:34–35 (NIV84) — “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

Why is Jesus’ miraculous conception essential? How does this truth differ from the immaculate conception teaching of the Roman Catholic Church?

The Essential Lexham Dictionary of Church History Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Roman Catholic doctrine regarding Mary, the mother of Jesus. During the medieval era, the Roman Catholic Church wrestled through the theological conundrum of how Jesus could be born without the presence of original sin. Some theologians, such as Anselm (c. 1033–1109), intimated that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was free from original sin beginning at her conception. Pope Pius IX (1792–1878) formally affirmed this doctrine in the papal bull Ineffabilis Deus on December 8, 1854. The Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands issued the Declaration of Utrecht in 1889, rejecting the doctrine of the immaculate conception based on its contradiction with the Scriptures and historical church traditions.

HE LIVED A SINLESS LIFE

We believe Jesus lived a sinless life.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV84) — God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Hebrews 4:15–16 NIV

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

1 Peter 3:18 (NIV84) — For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,

1 John 3:5 (NIV84) — But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.

Why is it important that He lived a sinless life?

WAS CRUCIFIED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE

Matthew 16:21 (NIV84) — From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

John 19:33–34 (NIV84) — But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

1 Corinthians 15:3 NIV

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

Why is it important that he died?

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

HE AROSE BODILY FROM THE DEAD

According to 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Jesus was seen in His resurrected body at least six times by over 500 people.

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 NIV

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

Some religious groups speak of a spirit resurrection of Jesus from the grave. Why is the bodily resurrection so critical to our faith? (1 Corinthians 15:12-18)

1 Corinthians 15:12–18 NIV

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.

ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN AND SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER

Not only did Jesus rise from the dead, He also ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9) and sits at the “right hand” of God the Father (Hebrews 1:3).

Acts 1:9 (NIV84) — After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

Colossians 3:1 (NIV84) — Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Hebrews 1:3 NIV

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

What does being at the “right hand” mean, and why is this significant?

Position of honor, power, authority, blessings, comfort

HIGH PRIEST AND ADVOCATE

1 Timothy 2:5 (NIV84) — For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Hebrews 2:17 NIV

For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 4:14–15 (NIV84) — Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

Hebrews 8:1 (NIV84) — The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

1 John 2:1–2 NIV

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

What does it mean that Jesus is now our “High Priest”? Our “Advocate”?

Memory Verses:

John 1:14

The Work of Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation.

Article 5, EFCA Statement of Faith

Jesus came to meet our greatest need. We are sinners by nature and by our own choice. God is a holy God, that loves us, AND is just; He must punish sin. That punishment is death, separation from Him. However, God purposed before the creation of the world to redeem a people for Himself. It was God’s love that sent Jesus into the world to save us from the wrath of God.

John 3:16–18 (NIV84) — “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

JESUS, AS OUR REPRESENTATIVE AND SUBSTITUTE, SHED HIS BLOOD ON THE CROSS AS THE PERFECT, ALL-SUFFICIENT SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS

The death of Jesus is the central theme of Scripture (Hebrews 9; Luke 24:46).

It is:

the perfect atoning sacrifice

John 1:29 (NIV84) — The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Romans 3:25-26 “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”

Hebrews 10:11–14 NIV

Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Hebrews 10:19–22 (NIV84) — Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

a penal substitution for our sins

Romans 5:8 (NIV84) — But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Corinthians 15:3 (NIV84) — For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

1 Peter 2:24 (NIV84) — He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

a victory over Satan, sin and death

1 Corinthians 15:54–57 (NIV84) — When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 2:14–15 NIV

having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Hebrews 2:14–15 (NIV84) — Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

1 John 3:8 (NIV84) — He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.

an example of love and patient endurance in suffering for us to follow

1 Peter 2:21 NIV

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

Luke 9:23 (NIV84) — Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

More specifically, Jesus died:

to make a new covenant (Hebrews 9:15)

to share His eternal life with men (John 12:20-24).

as a ransom (Matthew 20:27).

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a redemption (Ephesians 1:7).

to reconcile men to God (Romans 5:10-11).

voluntarily (John 10:14-18)

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as a substitute in our place (1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21),

once and for all to pay the price of sin (Hebrews 10:10-14).

We believe Jesus’ death on the cross “as our representative and substitute” is the only means by which God’s wrath against sinners is turned away, an effect otherwise known as propitiation.

Romans 3:25 (NIV84) — God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—

Hebrews 2:17 NIV

For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

1 John 2:2 NIV

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 4:10 (NIV84) — This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

We affirm that Christ’s death on the cross is fully sufficient to save all those who trust in Him. Nothing must be and nothing can be added to complete that work.

Why did we need a “representative” and a “substitute” to die for our sins?

Priest and King, represents his people to God

Sacrificial lamb, substitutes himself for his sheep

Why is the reference to Christ shedding “His blood on the cross” important?

HIS ATONING DEATH AND VICTORIOUS RESURRECTION CONSTITUTE THE ONLY GROUND FOR SALVATION

Jesus Christ rose bodily from the grave (1 Corinthians 15:3-7, 12-14) to break the bonds of death (1 Corinthians 15:54-57), declare His deity (Romans 1:4), and become the firstfruits of the resurrection harvest (Romans 4:25). Not only was He raised for our justification (Romans 4:25), but the believer’s present experience of life is in vital union with the resurrected Christ (Romans 6:4).

Jesus Christ is only way to God.

Acts 4:12 NIV

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

John 14:6 (NIV84) — Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Galatians 1:6–9 (NIV84) — I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

How can we be saved?

Acts 16:30–31 NIV

He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

John 3:16 (NIV84) — “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NIV84) — For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Saving faith is more than mere intellectual assent

James 2:19 NIV

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

Saving faith is trusting Jesus alone for salvation

John 1:12 NIV

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

Can anything be added to what Christ has done to address our sin problem, viz. being under God’s wrath?

Memory Verses:

Isaiah 53:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5:21