WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."
(Acts 16:31)
(Acts 16:31)
Many recognize Jesus as a "good man", a "good teacher" and possibly a "good prophet." Jesus was all of these things, but He was also much more. The Bible records many things about Jesus, all of which are true. Because of all the great things recorded about Him, it would be unwise for us to not consider what the Bible says. If Jesus is what He claims to be then we have a responsibility to honestly consider the role He ought to play in our lives. If what is said about Jesus is true, the future of our souls will depend on how we respond to His words (John 12:48).
Jesus Has Been From The Beginning
In John 1:1 we are told that Jesus, also known as the Word, was is in the beginning, that He was with God in the beginning, and that He was in fact God. This goes far beyond the assumption that Christ was "just a man." True, while He was on this earth Jesus lived as a man, but He has always been and always will be God.
Jesus was not created in the beginning, as some have claimed. Rather, we are told in John 1:2, 3 that He is the one who made all things and that nothing was made that was not made through Him (Col. 1:16). If Jesus had been made or created, then this statement could not be true. Jesus was not created in the beginning, He was already there!
In John 8:57-59 Jesus described who He was to the Jews. He said that "before Abraham was, I AM." There are two significant points that the Jews understood when Jesus said this. 1. Because Jesus said, "I AM" rather than "I was," He was referring to Himself in the present tense, which meant that He was eternal. He did not have a beginning, but He IS and always will be. 2. The word Jesus used for "I AM" is the same word God used to refer to Himself when He spoke to Moses in Ex. 3:14. When Moses asked God what he would tell the people when they asked would had sent him, God said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent you.'" Thus, Jesus used the name of God to refer to Himself.
Only one who is equal with God can take on the title of God (c.f. Ex. 3:13, 14). Jesus is not past only, present only, or future only. He is all three; He is Constant. He is the "I AM." It a characteristic that can only be attributed to God. Therefore, it is said of Jesus in Col. 2:9, "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."
Jesus was not created in the beginning, as some have claimed. Rather, we are told in John 1:2, 3 that He is the one who made all things and that nothing was made that was not made through Him (Col. 1:16). If Jesus had been made or created, then this statement could not be true. Jesus was not created in the beginning, He was already there!
In John 8:57-59 Jesus described who He was to the Jews. He said that "before Abraham was, I AM." There are two significant points that the Jews understood when Jesus said this. 1. Because Jesus said, "I AM" rather than "I was," He was referring to Himself in the present tense, which meant that He was eternal. He did not have a beginning, but He IS and always will be. 2. The word Jesus used for "I AM" is the same word God used to refer to Himself when He spoke to Moses in Ex. 3:14. When Moses asked God what he would tell the people when they asked would had sent him, God said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent you.'" Thus, Jesus used the name of God to refer to Himself.
Only one who is equal with God can take on the title of God (c.f. Ex. 3:13, 14). Jesus is not past only, present only, or future only. He is all three; He is Constant. He is the "I AM." It a characteristic that can only be attributed to God. Therefore, it is said of Jesus in Col. 2:9, "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."
Jesus Is the Son of God
If Jesus is God, How could God be in heaven and on earth at the same time? In John 1:1-3 we learned that Jesus was God in the beginning and that through Him all things were created. In John 1:14 we are told that the Word (Jesus) became flesh-that God became flesh.
In the beginning the word was "with God." In order for one to be with another, there must be more than one; therefore, there was more than one person in the beginning. There was God the Father (John 1:14), God the Son (John 1:1), and God the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:2). All three were in the beginning according to the Bible. Of these three persons in the Godhead, one would become flesh. The One was Jesus, as we read in John 1:14. Because He was God, His name was Immanuel, which means "God with us" (Matt. 1:23).
Jesus became flesh the same way any person does: He was born from the womb of a woman. The difference with Jesus was that He was not conceived via the relations of a man and woman. Rather, as it was explained to Mary Jesus' mother, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). How God accomplished this we do not know. What we do know is that Jesus was in the form of God in heaven (Phil. 2:6), He gave up that form and, somehow, by the power of the Holy Spirit, His Spirit was placed in Mary's womb. From that point He took on the form of a human being (Phil. 2:7-8).
Therefore Jesus was both God (John 20:28) and the Son of God. This did not make Jesus any less God that He was before. Rather, when He referred to Himself as the Son of God, the Jews understood that He was making Himself equal with God (John 5:16-18). Thus, God was able to be both in heaven and on earth at the same time because God consists of more than one person. While God the Father was in heaven, God the Son was on earth They were still one God, just as a husband and a wife are one flesh (Gen. 2:24).
God announced Jesus as His Son on several occasions. It was prophesied of in Psalm. 2:7. It was announced to the virgin Marry in Luke 1:35. And it was proclaimed by God Himself to those at the Jordan River with John the Baptist in Matthew. 3:17. By His power and the work that was done through Him Jesus was manifested as the Son of God. Those who saw Jesus die admitted that He was the Son of God because of the power that they witnessed at His death in Matthew 27:54. Peter who spent about three years with Him confessed that He is the Son of God in Matthew 16:16.
In the beginning the word was "with God." In order for one to be with another, there must be more than one; therefore, there was more than one person in the beginning. There was God the Father (John 1:14), God the Son (John 1:1), and God the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:2). All three were in the beginning according to the Bible. Of these three persons in the Godhead, one would become flesh. The One was Jesus, as we read in John 1:14. Because He was God, His name was Immanuel, which means "God with us" (Matt. 1:23).
Jesus became flesh the same way any person does: He was born from the womb of a woman. The difference with Jesus was that He was not conceived via the relations of a man and woman. Rather, as it was explained to Mary Jesus' mother, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). How God accomplished this we do not know. What we do know is that Jesus was in the form of God in heaven (Phil. 2:6), He gave up that form and, somehow, by the power of the Holy Spirit, His Spirit was placed in Mary's womb. From that point He took on the form of a human being (Phil. 2:7-8).
Therefore Jesus was both God (John 20:28) and the Son of God. This did not make Jesus any less God that He was before. Rather, when He referred to Himself as the Son of God, the Jews understood that He was making Himself equal with God (John 5:16-18). Thus, God was able to be both in heaven and on earth at the same time because God consists of more than one person. While God the Father was in heaven, God the Son was on earth They were still one God, just as a husband and a wife are one flesh (Gen. 2:24).
God announced Jesus as His Son on several occasions. It was prophesied of in Psalm. 2:7. It was announced to the virgin Marry in Luke 1:35. And it was proclaimed by God Himself to those at the Jordan River with John the Baptist in Matthew. 3:17. By His power and the work that was done through Him Jesus was manifested as the Son of God. Those who saw Jesus die admitted that He was the Son of God because of the power that they witnessed at His death in Matthew 27:54. Peter who spent about three years with Him confessed that He is the Son of God in Matthew 16:16.
Jesus Is Our Savior
The Old Testament Prophesied the coming of a Savior who would "conquer His enemies," "take away death," and "bring freedom from sin." In Genesis 3:15, after Adam and Eve sinned, God promised the coming of One who would conquer Satan and the effects of sin. In Isaiah 59:20; 61:1-2 it was prophesied that the Savior would go to Jerusalem, preach good tidings, heal both physical and spiritual infirmities, and proclaim liberty from sin (cf. Matt. 9:6). In Isaiah 53:7-12 it was said that the Savior would then suffer affliction in order to remove sin from those who believed on Him.
All of these prophecies concerning the Savior, which God has promised from the beginning, were fulfilled in Christ Jesus. It was announced before His birth that He would be the savior of mankind (Matthew 1:21) and it was proclaimed at His death. And now, the message of salvation through Jesus Christ the Son of God is being spread to every corner of the world.
All of these prophecies concerning the Savior, which God has promised from the beginning, were fulfilled in Christ Jesus. It was announced before His birth that He would be the savior of mankind (Matthew 1:21) and it was proclaimed at His death. And now, the message of salvation through Jesus Christ the Son of God is being spread to every corner of the world.
Conclusion
Jesus is God, He is the Son of God, and He is the Savior of the world. Also, have been raised from the dead by the Power of God, Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18); He has been made King of kings and Lord of Lords (Acts 2:29-36; 1 Tim. 6:15). Therefore, only in Him can we have salvation from the condemnation of sin. "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
It is important for us to know and to believe in who Jesus is, because He is the only One who can save us from our sins. "For if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins" (John 8:24). The Bible proves who Jesus is. It is up to us to listen to what it has to say. If you are listening and if you believe in what the Bible says then you can be saved if you are willing to obey.
It is important for us to know and to believe in who Jesus is, because He is the only One who can save us from our sins. "For if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins" (John 8:24). The Bible proves who Jesus is. It is up to us to listen to what it has to say. If you are listening and if you believe in what the Bible says then you can be saved if you are willing to obey.
If you would like to learn more about what to do to be saved, you can read this article on "What Must I Do To Be Saved" or can you email us at info@avondalelchristians.com.
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