Jesus of Nazareth was the most important person ever born. His life divided history into two eras -B.C and A.D. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus was not a mere man, He is God.
“The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.” (John 1:1-5)
As God the Divine Word, Jesus has no beginning. He is the uncreated, eternal, self-existent, Creator.
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this; for after his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She shall give birth to a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
“Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child,
and shall give birth to a son.
They shall call his name Immanuel”;
which is, being interpreted, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:18-23)
The birth of Jesus is a historical miracle. A virgin became pregnant through God the Holy Spirit. This was prophesied 700 years before the birth of Jesus by the prophet Isaiah. God is all powerful. He is the Creator and chose to become human to save us from sin. When we break God’s commandments that is sin and the consequence is death. Have you realized that you need to be saved from sin?
“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children.” (Galatians 4:4-5).
God has no beginning. God always had a plan to become human to restore our relationship with Him.
“Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For most certainly, he doesn’t give help to angels, but he gives help to the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:14-18)
Jesus was 100% God and 100% human. God became human so that He could die. Only death could fulfill the justice of God. Jesus was raised back to life to serve as our Great High Priest forever. He is able to help us in our time of need.
“For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Armies will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7).
Jesus is the promised King who will reign in righteousness forever. It is blasphemy to call a human child Mighty God, but only God is eternal.
“Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:36)
Jesus fulfilled every prophecy concerning the promised Divine King and the Suffering Servant of the Lord who would be anointed with the Holy Spirit.
“When your days are fulfilled, and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your offspring after you, who will proceed out of your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men;” (2 Samuel 7:12-14)
“concerning his Son, who was born of the offspring of David according to the flesh, who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,” (Romans 1:3-4)
It was prophesied that Jesus would be born through the nation of Israel, through the tribe of Judah, through the family of David.
“I will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will bruise your head,
and you will bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)
The first prophecy concerning the birth of Christ was told to the serpent (Satan), Adam, and Eve in the garden of Eden. Let’s review Who is the Jesus of the Bible.
“who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things are held together. He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him; and through him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, whether things on the earth, or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:15-20)
“Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great:
God was revealed in the flesh,
justified in the spirit,
seen by angels,
preached among the nations,
believed on in the world,
and received up in glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16)
“Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)
The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Savior. His purpose was announced before His birth when the angel of the Lord informed Joseph that Jesus would “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). The Lord Jesus proclaimed that He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Paul testified that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). The Lord Jesus Christ provides the atonement and justification needed to save mankind from the wrath of God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is our Sanctifier. He lives through us and enables us to love God and love our neighbor. The Holy Spirit conforms us to the likeness of Christ. Sanctification is a gift from God that was purchased by Christ on the cross. The purpose of sanctification is to enable the believer to live for Christ and His kingdom. Sanctification makes the life of Christ available by the Holy Spirit so that believers will be workers and witnesses for Him
“that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)
All Scriptures are from the World English Bible.