1. Jesus Christ is One with God
John 1:1-3 gives us an explanation about Jesus Christ. It says, “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 nothing was made that was made.” It tells us that Jesus Christ is one with God the Creator.
Also, John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:18 says, “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” It testifies Jesus Christ is God Himself who became flesh and dwelt among us as the one and only Son of God.
Therefore, when Philip, one of Jesus’ disciples asked Jesus, “Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Then Jesus answered, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”
Jesus Christ is one with God but came to this earth in flesh to show us God who is invisible. He accomplished God’s will completely and we can see true God through Him.
In Mark 6:31-56, we see Jesus fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish, walked on water and went up into the boat of the disciples, and calmed down the wind. When those who were sick touched the hem His garments, they were healed.
We can believe that Jesus is one with God because He performed the things that cannot be done with human ability but only with God’s power. He received the sufferings of the cross to save the sinful mankind and guide them to the way of salvation. He sacrificed Himself to give us blessings. Likewise, we can acknowledge that He is one with God since He gave us the kind of love that a man cannot give.
Therefore, Colossians 1:15-17 testifies that Jesus Christ is one with God. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”
Likewise, Jesus Christ, who is one with God, came to this earth in flesh in order to testify to invisible God. He became the way for us to know God’s power and love not only through God’s Word but also through His life itself (John 14:6).
2. Jesus Christ is the Savior
Matthew 16:13-16 portrays a scene where Jesus asks a question to His disciples. He asked, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” Then, they answered, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Now, Jesus asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus is a personal name which means “He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Christ is the word for His title. It is a Greek word which translated a Hebrew word ‘Messiah’. It means ‘an anointed one’ (Acts 4:27). God poured oil and anointed them when He set a king, priest, or a prophet (Leviticus 4:3, 1 Kings 19:16, 1 Samuel 9:1). Oil stands for the Holy Spirit and that is why God poured oil onto the ones whom God set up.
Therefore, God appointed Jesus Christ as the king, priest, and the prophet before the time began to save all mankind who are sinners. Jesus came to this earth as God’s son and became the Savior as the Christ with God’s anointing.
Those who realize this will of God confess like Simon Peter, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Also as Jesus said, “Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17), we can confess this only when God makes us realize it.
The Bible emphasizes that Jesus Christ is the only Savior. John 14:6 says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Also, Acts 4:12 says, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
3. Jesus Christ is the Head and Foundation of Church
A church is a gathering of people who have become God’s children by accepting Jesus Christ. The Greek word for church is ‘ecclesia’, which means ‘one who is called out.’ It is because we are called out from the world through Jesus Christ. Therefore, Jesus Christ is the foundation and head of the church.
Matthew 16:18 says, “on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” What does rock mean here? 1 Corinthians 3:11 says, “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 10:4 says, “and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.” Jesus Christ is the only foundation and rock.
God built the church on the rock of Jesus Christ who is the head of the church. Colossians 1:17-18 says, “And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”
Likewise, Jesus Christ is the only foundation and head of the church. He gives us assurance through faith and leads us to win over this world and live a holy life as God’s children.
4. Jesus Christ is the First Fruit of the Resurrection
The Old Testament mentions about the appearing of Jesus Christ many times. Micah 5:2 prophecies that He would be born in Bethlehem of Judah. Isaiah says He would be born as a son and it was fulfilled (Matthew 2:1, Luke 1:31).
It is as Galatians 4:4-5 says, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” This was fulfilled by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Luke 4:18 quotes the prophecy in the Old Testament about His ministry: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed.”
He came to this earth in flesh. He went around teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people (Matthew 4:23). Also, He obeyed up to the point of death as He said, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
Finally, as said in Philippians 2:6-11, “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, [7] but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. [9] Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, [11] and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father,” He let everybody kneel before His name and give glory to God.
He fulfilled the providence of salvation by being crucified and becoming the first fruit of resurrection, breaking the authority of death. Now all mankind can win the victory over sin and death through faith.
1 John 3:8 says, “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” Also, 1 Corinthians 15:17 says, “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!”
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a historical event which took place in front of the disciples and many other people (1 Corinthians 15:22). It testifies to the eternal life (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Whoever accepts Jesus Christ, believes Him in heart and confesses Him will be forgiven of sins and be justified. Then, he will be saved and have resurrection of life to enjoy eternal life. That is why it is such a good news for mankind who had to go to hell before.
