What The Bible Says About Jesus

Jesus Christ was fully and completely human, being born of a virgin (Mt 1:23; Gal 4:4), and growing in human likeness both mentally and physically (Lk 2:52; Heb 5:8-9). Christ also had human needs, such as the necessity of having water and rest (Jn 4:6,19:28). Although Christ was tempted by sin like all men, he overcame his temptations and never sinned (1 Peter 2:22; Heb 4:15-16).

Jesus Christ is fully and completely God. He is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact imprint of his nature (Heb 1:3); having the fullness of Deity dwell within him (Col 1:19; 2:9). However, Christ did not become God. He is the creator of all things and therefore is not created (Jn 1:3; Col 1:16-17). The Deity of the Son of God is one that is eternal with God the Father (John 1:1; 8:58; 17:5). During his earthly ministry Christ demonstrated his Deity by forgiving sins (Mark 2:10-11), reinterpreting the Law (Mt 5:17-48; 12:1-8), calming the seas (Lk 8:22-25), and receiving worship (Mt 28:9).

The Deity and Humanity of Christ are two distinct natures that compose the one person of Christ. However, these two natures are also completely unified, demonstrating that Jesus was a man and “God with us” (Mt 1:23). According to his earthly genealogy he was the Son of David, yet he is also the Son of God (Ro 1:3-4). He is the eternal Word veiled in human flesh (John 1:1, 14). Only Christ as a man could die for our sins, and only Christ as God could provide the perfect atonement to satisfy the wrath of God (Heb 2:17; 1 John 4:10). It was in God’s sovereign wisdom to place our iniquity upon him so that he would be our substitute for salvation (Is 53:6; Acts 2:23; 2 Cor 5:21). After his death, he did not descend into Hell, since the efficacy of his atoning work was enough (Jn 19:30).

In coming to earth, Christ provided the greatest demonstration of humility. Though he was in very nature God, he lowered himself and became a servant (Mark 10:45; Phil 2:6). Furthermore, he humbled himself by obeying his Father’s will and dying on a cross (John 17:4; Phil 2:8). Although three days later God raised him from the dead and exalted him with the name above all names. After appearing to more than 500 witnesses, Christ physically ascended to heaven at the right hand of the Father (Mt 26:54; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9; 1 Cor 15:6; Phil 2:9-11), where he will continue in his physical resurrected state for all eternity (Lk 24:39; Acts 1:9-11). Because of Christ’s humility and obedience, God has highly exalted him to the glory he shared with him before creation, demonstrating that Christ is forever glorious and worthy of all praise (John 17:5, 24; Rev 5:9-12).

Christ is now our prophet, king, and priest. As our prophet he has brought the final revelation of God’s truth to us (Heb 1:1-2). As our King of Kings he is the preeminent head of the Church who ushered in the kingdom of heaven under his lordship (Mt 4:17, 23; Col 1:18). As our permanent high priest he offered himself as a blameless sacrifice for our sin; enabling us to enter God’s presence (Heb 6:19-20; 7:24-27). He is also continually making intercession for us as our mediator with God (Ro 8:34; 1 Tim 2:5).