Thursday, February 17, 2011

~ + BIBLICAL significance of JESUS - Part ONE !! ~

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is true God and true Man, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin. We believe in His life being sinless, in His miracles, His perfect substitutionary sacrifice for sins, in His bodily resurrection, in His Ascension to the right hand of the Father and in His personal return in power and glory.


That Jesus was truly God can be argued from many different parts of the New Testament. The angels of God are his angels and the Kingdom of God is His kingdom (Mathew 13: 40-43, Luke 12: 8,9; 15:10). Only God can forgive sins yet Jesus did (Mark 2: 1-12). The Son will be the judge at the last judgement (Matthew 25: 31-46). He has authority over the Sabbath which God established (Exodus 20:8-11; Mark 2: 27,28). God is the one who has the power to kill and make alive (1 Samuel 2:6; Psalm 119) yet Jesus claims to be the resurrection and the life (John 11: 25,26) who can give life to whoever He pleases (John 5:21). He used the formula 'I am' of Himself, notably to claim pre-existence (John 8:58), which in Exodus: 3: 14,15 is used of God. This statement prompted an attempt on His life. At His trial He was accused of claiming to be the Son of God (John 19:7), a charge He accepted (Matthew 26: 63,64). Jesus accepted Thomas' affirmation, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). John 1 and Hebrews 1 are both chapters that provide developed statements of the deity of Jesus Christ as does Paul in Colossians 1: 15-20; 2:9 and Philippians 2: 5-11.


In the Gospels the humanity of Jesus is taken for granted as if it would not occur to anyone to question it! He lay in a cradle (Luke 2:7), he grew (Luke 2:40) and learned (Luke 2:5). He was tired (John 4:6) and sorrowful (Mark 14: 33,34). He questioned (Mark 15:34), and was surprised (Luke 7:9). He died and was buried (Mark 15: 33-47). In several passages His humanity is underlined (John 1:14; Galatians 4:4; Hebrews 2:9,17, 4:15; 5: 7,8; 12:2).


Matthew 1:18-25 makes it clear that Joseph accepted no responsibility for Mary becoming pregnant and we are specifically told that they had no union until Jesus was born. Luke 1: 29-38 makes it clear that Mary wondered how the words of the angel could be true since she was a virgin. Both passages are the work of the Holy Spirit in the conception and both Joseph and Mary humbly accepted God's word to them.


Jesus boldly challenged His critics to prove him guilty of sin (John 8:46), a challenge they could only take up by charging Him with blasphemy at His trial. Even at His trial he governor declared His innocence (Luke 23:4,14,15,22). He had no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), He was tempted in every way like us yet was without sin (Hebrews 4:15), He is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners (Hebrews 7:26), He committed no sin and no deceit was found in His mouth (1 Peter 2:22) and in Him is no sin (1 John 3:5).


The Gospels contain many stories of how Jesus was able to do things that normal people are not able to do. These events which run counter to the observed processes of nature are called miracles. These miracles are consistent with the overall Biblical picture of God as actively involved in the world He created. They are an integral part of the revelation of the glory and love of God in the life of Jesus and are regarded as the vindication of Him by God (Acts 2:22). The central miracle of the New Testament is the resurrection which provides hope for the believer and without which we are a rather pitiable group (1 Corinthians 15). To reject these miracles is to deny God's work in His world and in our lives as individuals and corporately as His people.


END of PART 1 ...

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