Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Who is Jesus Christ?

This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.  
Mark 1:1 (NLT)

JESUS CHRIST! The Holy Scriptures call Him many names—the “the Anointed One,” “Messiah,” “Redeemer,” “Teacher,” and “Prophet.” The Gospel writers reveal Jesus Christ as a humbled Servant of God, who suffered, and who will come again. The Apostle Paul addressed Jesus Christ as “the Lord.” Hebrews describes Jesus Christ as God’s great and final High Priest, who makes the sacrifice and is the Sacrifice. Most important, Jesus Christ is the Word of God, God in the flesh, and the Son of the living God (Mark 1:1; John 20:30-31). He is best known as the Savior of the World (Matthew 1:21).

Jesus Christ is part of the Trinity. God is Creator and Ruler of the universe who exists externally as a Trinity of three persons—the God the Father, the God the Son (Jesus Christ), and the God the Holy Spirit. God the Father is the first person of the Trinity, who controls all things according to His will and perfect purpose. The Holy Spirit gives the power and guidance for right living, convicting humankind of sins and their need for Jesus Christ. The Trinity is a picture of the unique relationship of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and is one of the most important ideas of the Christian faith. The Holy Scriptures affirm the existence of the Trinity, including Jesus Christ’s final words in Matthew 28:19 (see also, e.g., Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3:22; Isaiah 6:8).

The Gospel writers reveal and prove that Jesus Christ is both fully human and fully God, who has existed before the creation of the world. The Holy Scriptures reveal that Jesus Christ came down from God the Father, emptied Himself, and became like a human to save all people from their sins. He was with God in the beginning as Creator and Sustainer of all things (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1). The New Testament writers Matthew and Luke established Jesus Christ as a descendant to King David, to Moses, to Abraham, and to Adam (Matthew 1:1-17; Matthew 2:1-6; Luke 3:34, 38).

Yet, Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry began humbly with His birth in Bethlehem, the “city of David.” Two Gospels, Matthew and Luke, tell of His mother Mary’s miraculous, virgin conception through the Holy Spirit. His coming was announced by angels. Shepherds heard, came, and wondered, and Magi came later to bring gifts. Seldom, if ever, did Jesus Christ apply to Himself the customary terms “Messiah” or “Son of God.”

Jesus Christ was the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11-16) “who went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). He was filled with love, gentleness, encouragement, justice, and truth (Isaiah 42:1-4; Matthew 12:18-21). During His earthly ministry, He healed all kinds of people, raised some from the dead, cast out evil spirits, and calmed a raging storm. Jesus Christ kept company with sinners, prostitutes, and tax collectors (Mark 2:17). His strength was shown by humility, suffering, and mercy.
 
Moreover, Jesus Christ taught on the importance of the absolute obedience, faithfulness, and love for God and the Kingdom of God. He taught people were to live on earth by His teachings on the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and walk in love for God and our neighbors (Matthew 22:34-40; John 14-16). To help people understand heavenly things, Jesus Christ often spoke in parables about the Kingdom of God.

Most important, Jesus Christ lived a sinless life. He willingly gave His life as a sacrifice for humankinds’ sin by dying on the Cross at Calvary. On the Cross, Jesus Christ carried humankind’s sins, weaknesses, sickness, disease, and sorrows. He was pierced, crushed, beaten, and whipped so that humanity can be whole and healthy in all aspects of life (see also Isaiah 57:18).

The Apostle Paul connected Jesus Christ’s death to the sacrificial system of the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, people offered animals as sacrifices for their sins to obtain forgiveness. Jesus Christ became humankind’s final Sacrifice as the sinless and spotless Lamb to eliminate sins of all people for those who believe (Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29; Revelation 5:6-14).

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