Study 3: Jesus Christ
Christians are followers of Christ, so it is important that we understand who He is. This study looks at the Lord Jesus Christ, His divine glory, His true humanity, and why He is the suitable and sufficient Saviour for sinners.
The Bible’s teaching can be summarised like this: the Lord Jesus Christ has two natures, divine and human, found in one person. That truth is not a dry doctrine. It lies at the heart of our salvation and our hope.
Before you begin
It is important to look up the Bible references and think carefully about what they say, so that you can see for yourself the Bible’s teaching. In this study we are considering the central person of the Christian faith.
We must not be content with vague ideas about Jesus. Scripture shows us who He is, what sort of Saviour we need, and why He alone can save.
This study at a glance
Jesus is truly God
The Bible gives Him divine names, titles, works, attributes, and worship.
Jesus is truly man
He took real human nature, body and soul, yet without sin.
Jesus is one person
His divine and human natures are united in one person, making Him a suitable and sufficient Saviour.
His full title
His full title is the Lord Jesus Christ. Each part is rich with meaning and helps us see more clearly who He is.
Lord
In the Old Testament this title is applied to God. In the New Testament it is applied to Jesus and shows His deity. See Psalm 97:5, Philippians 2:11, and Luke 2:11.
Jesus
Jesus means Jehovah is salvation. He is the Saviour. See Matthew 1:21.
Christ
Christ means Messiah, the anointed one. See Daniel 9:25-26 and Matthew 16:16.
Look up these passages
These passages will help you trace the Bible’s teaching as you go through the study.
Main passages
- Ephesians 1:3
- John 1:1
- John 1:14
- Titus 2:13
- Hebrews 2:14-17
- Hebrews 4:15
Helpful supporting passages
- Matthew 1:21-23
- Philippians 2:11
- John 20:26-28
- Psalm 49:7-10
- Hebrews 7:23-28
- Hebrews 9:23-28
The Bible teaches that Jesus is God, God the Son
The Bible does not present Jesus as a merely great man. His names and titles imply full deity, He is called God, divine attributes are applied to Him, divine works are ascribed to Him, and worship is given to Him.
Divine names and titles
The Old Testament title of Lord is applied to Jesus in the New Testament. See Numbers 21:5-7 with 1 Corinthians 10:9, Isaiah 6:1-10 with John 12:37-41, Psalm 45:6-8 with Hebrews 1:8-9, and Jeremiah 23:5-6.
He is called God
See John 1:1 and Titus 2:13. Isaiah 9:6 also speaks of the Messiah in divine terms.
He receives worship
Thomas says, “My Lord and my God.” See John 20:26-28, and also Hebrews 1:6 and Revelation 5:12.
Attributes of God applied to Christ
- First and Last, Isaiah 44:6 and Revelation 1:17-18
- Pre-existence, John 1:1
- Creator, John 1:3
Works of God ascribed to Christ
- Life-giving, John 5:20-23 and John 10:28
- Judgement, 2 Corinthians 5:10
The Bible teaches that Jesus is fully human
Jesus is not only truly God. He is also truly man. The Word was made flesh. He did not merely seem human, nor did He borrow a body for a time. He took real human nature.
He had a real body
See Matthew 26:26-28.
He had a rational soul
See Matthew 26:38.
He had human emotions
See John 11:33-35.
He was born
See Galatians 4:4.
Yet He was different from us
He was born of a virgin, Matthew 1:20-23, and He was sinless, Hebrews 4:15.
Why did Christ need to be God?
Psalm 49:7-10 reminds us how deep the human problem of sin really is. We need a divine Saviour.
A sacrifice of sufficient value
Only such a Saviour could bring a sacrifice great enough to deal with sin.
One able to bear wrath and redeem
We need a Saviour able to bear the wrath of God and redeem men.
One able to apply His saving work
We need a Saviour able to apply the fruits of His work to His people.
Why did He also need to be human?
Man sinned, therefore the penalty had to be borne by a man. See Hebrews 2:14-17. The Redeemer had to be one of us, truly human, in order to stand in the place of His people.
One person, two natures
The two natures join in one person. They are not mixed together or changed by their relationship to 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. See Hebrews 2:14-18, Hebrews 7:23-28, and Hebrews 9:23-28.
Not two people
Christ is one person.
Not mixed or changed
His divine and human natures remain distinct, yet perfectly united in one person.
Ponder the life of this Saviour
Spend time thinking over the life of the Lord Jesus Christ as Scripture sets it before us.
His birth and childhood
- Matthew 1
- Luke 2:52
His teaching and miracles
- Matthew 7:28-29
- John 11:38-47
His death, resurrection, and ascension
- Matthew 27 and 28
- Acts 1:1-11
You may be wondering
Is Jesus really God, or simply a very great man?
The Bible goes far beyond calling Him a great man. It gives Him divine titles, divine attributes, divine works, and divine worship.
Did Jesus only appear to be human?
No. The Bible teaches that He truly took human nature. He had a real body, a rational soul, human emotions, and was truly born.
Why does it matter that He is both God and man?
Because only such a Saviour can truly represent us, bear sin’s penalty, and save completely.
Is Christ one person or two?
He is one person. His divine and human natures are united in Him without confusion and without division.
Reflection and response
Take time over these questions and answer them carefully from Scripture.
- Write out three texts from the Bible which show Jesus is God, and say why it is important that He is God.
- Write out three texts from the Bible which show Jesus is a man, and say why it is important that He is a man.
- Is He two people or one? How did the church finally describe Him?
A simple prayer before moving on
Keep going
Having considered who Jesus Christ is, the next study turns to ourselves and asks what the Bible teaches about man and our true nature.
