Bible teaching about Jesus Christ

The Bible teaching about Jesus Christ of Nazareth is beyond startling – it is mind-boggling. He is unique in all history. There has never been anyone like Jesus Christ. My goal is to demonstrate His Deity, humanity, and the purpose of His coming to earth. Most of all, I want to show why He is important to you and me.

I suppose no human can fully explain Jesus, any more than a kitten can explain the intricate workings of the frontal lobes of the human brain. Many have tried to explain Jesus, and they have arrived at various conclusions, such as:

What Others Think

•A good, moral man.

•A prophet of the times.

•A great teacher and/or philosopher.

•A myth that was invented by the early church.

•A lunatic who thought he was God.

•A freedom fighter that took himself too seriously and was killed.

•A ghostlike spirit.

The Bible, in contrast, paints a completely different picture of Christ. What I am about to present to you is astonishing. Stay with me, and consider the Bible teaching about Christ.

Jesus Is God and Human

The New Testament teaches the Jesus Christ is God. It is that plain and simple. It says He was fully God, co-eternal and co-equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. It is that Trinity thing again. Jesus shares fully in one common nature with the other two Members of the Trinity.

Then, the Bible teaches that Christ took upon Himself human flesh through the virgin birth of Mary, and was, consequently, also fully human – though sinless all His life. His father was the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:26-35; Matthew 1:16, 18, 23; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22). 

Therefore, Christ is the God-man, yet only one Person, the second Person of the Trinity. Hang in there with me, and we will shortly see why that is so vitally important to us. Let me list for you some Bible indicators of His Person. One verse that summarizes what I have said thus far.

“In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1, 14).

The Deity of Jesus Christ

Below is a short inventory of Bible indicators that demonstrate Christ is God. You can look up the verses and read what they say.

1. Christ’s works and qualities were that of God.

•He is all powerful (Philippians 3:21).

•He is everywhere present (Matthew 18:20).

•He is all knowing (John 1:48; 18:4).

•He is unchangeable (Hebrews 13:8).

•He is life (John 1:4).

•He is the truth (John14:6).

In summary, Christ had power over nature, sickness, death, and life. He walked on water, healed the blind and handicapped, turned water into wine, raised others and Himself from the dead, forgave sins, and predicted future events. Who but God can do all that?

2. Jesus Christ made shocking personal claims. Here are a few.

•He claimed to be God (John 10:30).

•He never denied being God (John 20:28, 29).

•He admitted being God (John 20:28, 29).

•He claimed eternal existence (John 8:58).

•Others understood Him to make claim of Deity (John 10:33).

3. But, it even gets more startling when we look at the relationships that Jesus claimed.

•He demanded and accepted worship (John 5:23; 20:28, 29).

•He was called God by His titles (Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8).

•He is related equally to the Father (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

The Humanity of Christ

Next, let me introduce you to more biblical evidence that points to the Bible teaching about Christ regarding His humanity. 

1. The first thing to see is that Christ is unique.</b>

•He had a supernatural birth (Luke 1:34, 35).

•He was sinless and perfect (2 Corinthians 5:21).

•He veiled His glory as God (John 17:5).

•He limited His Divine qualities (Philippians 2:7).

•He had two separate, complete natures united into <b>one Person: fully God, fully man.

2. However, we can see that He had the likeness of a man. Note the following.

•He had a body, soul, and spirit (John 2:2; 12:27; Luke 23:46).

•He was called a man (1 Timothy 2:5).

•He developed, had physical needs, and lived as a man (Luke 2:40, 52).

•He had emotions of a man: anger, humor, love, contentment, grief, temptation, joy, and loneliness. 

I know. I have crammed a ton of information into this short article. In other places I spell out in more detail the Person of Christ, but this is enough for now to chew on and digest. As a bonus, I give you one final list of reasons He came. 

His Purpose: Why Did God Become a Man

•He came to reveal God (John 1:18).

•He came to set an example (1 Peter 2:21).

•He came to destroy the works of Satan (1 John 3:8).

•He came to become our high priest (Hebrews 10:1-10).

•He came to fulfill the Davidic Covenant (Luke 1:31-33).

•He came to be highly exalted (Philippians 2:9).

•He came to be a sacrifice for our sin (Hebrews 10:1-10).

This last bullet points to the overarching reason Christ came to earth and entered the human race. 

Sin is the greatest problem we human beings have. We have all sinned, and deserve judgment (Romans3:23). Motivated by love, God activated a solution. He made provision for our sin (John 3:16). Someone has to pay the eternal penalty for sin. We people cannot do that. However, since Christ is fully God, He has the necessary value to pay the eternal price for sin. 

Since He is fully sinless man, He is identified with the human race, and is qualified to become our substitute. That is what the crucifixion and resurrection of Easter is all about. He paid the price for our sin by His death, and gives us eternal life by His resurrection. 

Now you can see the importance of who Jesus Christ really is. We can have hope for the future, and follow His example in this life. Now you can see why His story is really mind-boggling and astonishing. But, don’t stop here. Continue on in your sincere study of the wonderful world of the Bible. 

All the best to you, and may God richly bless your study.

Dr. Willis Newman

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. Who did the Jewish Apostle, Thomas, think Jesus is? ________ (John 20:28).

2. Why do you suppose Thomas would make such a claim?

3. Who is the only Person qualified to be worshipped? _____________ (Revelation 22:8, 9).

4. When Thomas worshipped Jesus, what was Jesus’ response? Why do you suppose He responded that way?

5. What did the enemies of Christ think He claimed to be? ___________ (John 5:18; 10:33). Why do you suppose they thought that?

6. According to the article above, what is the biggest problem we humans have? What provision did God make to overcome that problem?

7. Who do you think Jesus Christ is? Explain.

8. What stands out the most to you from this study? Explain.

9. How can one appropriate the salvation God has made provision for? (John 3:16).

10. What do you think believe means? (John 3:16). Do you believe?