Who is Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ is the central figure of Christianity, the promised Messiah, and the Son of God. He is fully God and fully man, the second Person of the Trinity, and the only Savior of humanity. His life, death, and resurrection stand at the heart of God's redemptive plan. To understand who Jesus is, we must examine His divine and human nature, His identity in Scripture, and His purpose in redemptive history.

Jesus Is the Eternal Word

One of the most profound declarations of Christ’s deity is found in John 1:1-3:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.” (John 1:1-3)
This passage affirms that Jesus, as the Logos (Word), has existed eternally. He was not created but has always been with the Father, distinct in Person yet fully divine. The phrase "In the beginning" directly parallels Genesis 1:1, showing that Christ existed before creation and played an active role in it.
Furthermore, John explicitly states that the Word was God. This is not a mere title or metaphor; it is a declaration of Jesus' divine nature. The fact that all things were created through Him confirms His power and authority as the Creator, reinforcing that Jesus is not a lesser being but fully God, equal with the Father. This understanding is crucial because it sets Christianity apart from belief systems that see Jesus as a mere prophet or created being.

Jesus Possesses the Attributes of God

For Jesus to be fully God, He must possess the characteristics that belong to God alone. The Bible affirms that Christ shares these divine attributes:

• Eternality:
   Jesus has no beginning or end. Hebrews 13:8 states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Unlike created beings, who have a starting point, Christ’s existence is eternal. He existed before time, has always been, and will always be. This aligns with Micah 5:2, which prophesies the Messiah as one “whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”
  
  
• Omniscience:
   Jesus demonstrates divine knowledge, knowing things only God could know. In John 16:30, His disciples proclaim, “Now we know that You know all things and do not need anyone to question You; this is why we believe that You came from God.” Even during His earthly ministry, when He voluntarily limited certain aspects of His divine knowledge, He still displayed supernatural insight, reading hearts (Mark 2:8) and foretelling future events (Matthew 24:1-2).
  
  
• Omnipotence:
   Jesus declares His supreme authority in Matthew 28:18: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” He demonstrated this power by calming storms (Mark 4:39), raising the dead (John 11:43-44), and forgiving sins (Mark 2:5-7)—something only God can do. His authority is not delegated temporarily but inherent to His divine nature.
  
  

Jesus Receives Worship as God

In Scripture, worship is reserved for God alone (Exodus 34:14, Isaiah 42:8). Yet, Jesus not only accepted worship but affirmed it as right and proper. If He were merely a prophet or moral teacher, He would have rebuked those who worshiped Him. Instead, He received it as His due. One striking example is in Matthew 14:33, where, after Jesus walked on water and calmed the storm, His disciples responded by worshiping Him: “And those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.’” (Matthew 14:33) Another significant moment is in John 20:28, when Thomas, upon seeing the resurrected Christ, declared, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus did not correct him but affirmed his faith. In contrast, when angels and apostles were mistakenly worshiped, they immediately rejected it (Revelation 22:8-9; Acts 14:11-15). Christ’s acceptance of worship is further evidence of His deity.

The Incarnation: God Became Flesh

While Jesus is fully God, He also became fully man in the incarnation. John 1:14 states:
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” The incarnation means that the eternal Son took on a real human nature, being born of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:23). This was not a temporary appearance but a true and lasting union of divine and human nature. Christ experienced hunger (Matthew 4:2), fatigue (John 4:6), sorrow (John 11:35), and even temptation (Hebrews 4:15), proving that He was genuinely human. The necessity of His humanity lies in the fact that only a true human could represent humanity and bear its sins. Hebrews 2:17 explains, “Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” Without His full humanity, He could not be our substitute on the cross.

Jesus’ Sinless Life

Though fully human, Jesus was entirely without sin. Unlike all other humans, who are born in sin (Romans 3:23), Jesus was “holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26). He never once disobeyed the Father but perfectly fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17). Even His enemies could find no fault in Him (John 8:46). This sinlessness is essential because only a sinless sacrifice could atone for sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21 states, “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus’ perfect righteousness is credited to believers, securing their salvation.

Jesus, the Only Savior

Jesus Himself declared that He is the only way to the Father: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) His exclusive role as Savior is echoed in Acts 4:12: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Many attempt to find salvation through good works, religion, or philosophy, but Christ alone provides the atonement needed to be reconciled to God. His death on the cross paid for sin, and His resurrection secured eternal life for those who believe.

Conclusion

Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, fully divine and fully human, the promised Messiah and only Savior of the world. His identity is not merely a theological concept but the foundation of Christian faith. Understanding who He is shapes how we worship, how we live, and where we place our trust.
Believers must recognize the significance of His deity, humanity, sinless life, and atoning work. Knowing Jesus personally is the key to eternal life (John 17:3). He is not merely a good teacher or prophet—He is the sovereign Lord and King, and through Him alone, we are reconciled to God.

-Study Questions for Reflection

1. How does John 1:1-3 affirm Jesus’ deity?

2. What attributes does Jesus share with God, and why are they important?

3. Why is it necessary for Jesus to be both fully God and fully man?

4. How does Jesus’ sinlessness set Him apart from all other religious leaders?

5. What are the implications of Jesus being the only way to salvation?

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