What We Believe #3 – Jesus Christ
Three Minute Video: https://fb.watch/fO-Sn173Q4/
If it’s challenging to describe God in one sentence, it’s more challenging to describe Jesus Christ. Our Statement of Faith takes six sentences. I’ve separated and titled these six sentences and added a brief explanation.
His identity: “Jesus Christ is the true God and true man (Philippians 2:6-11).”
In Jesus Christ, God became a human being without ceasing to be God. Dietrich Bonhoeffer observed: “If Jesus Christ is not true God, how could he help us? If he is not true man, how could he help us?”
His birth: “He was sent by the Father (John 20:21), conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin, Mary (Luke 1:34-38).”
God revealed himself to us, supernaturally born as a human in the person of Jesus Christ.
His death: “He died on the cross, the Just for the unjust (1 Peter 3:18), as a substitutionary sacrifice (Hebrews 2:9), and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood (Romans 5:9).”
Christ’s death is the atoning sacrifice for our sins – dying in our place, reconciling us to God. We enter a right relationship with God by faith.
His resurrection: “He rose from the dead according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).”
Christ’s resurrection is living proof that he is God. Death could not hold God. Christ’s resurrection validates everything he said and did. We have salvation, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life.
His ascension & seating: “He is now at the right hand of the Majesty on high as our great High Priest (Hebrews 8:1).”
Jesus ascended back into heaven in his resurrected body. He reigns with authority over everything. And he prays for us.
His second coming: “He will come again to establish His Kingdom of righteousness and peace (Isaiah 9:6-7).”
Jesus will appear once again visibly from the heavens. He will rule over all and restore all things. Life will be what it was meant to be.
Twenty centuries have come and gone. Jesus Christ is still the centerpiece of all human history. All the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever sailed, and all the governments that ever sat, and all the world leaders that ever reigned – all put together – have not affected life on earth as powerfully as this one solitary life.
~ Pastor Dave
