THE PERSON AND WORK OF JESUS CHRIST: A. THE TWO NATURES OF CHRIST (DEITY AND HUMANITY) -
1) Christ’s Deity - Divine worship is given to Christ (Matthew 4:10; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews1:6). He is given divine names such as God (John 1:1; 20:28), Lord (Romans 10:9; Philippians 2:11), Son of God (Mark 1:1; Luke 1:35), etc. Jesus has the attributes of God and holds these divine offices - Creator, Upholder, Forgiver of sin, Giver of eternal life, Judge, Resurrector of the dead. Jesus Christ has divine equality with God, He is equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19), the expressed image of the Living God (Hebrews 1:3). We believe that Jesus Christ is God Incarnate (God in human flesh) “For in Him (Christ) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead...” (Colossians 2:9).
2) Christ’s Humanity - Christ was not only Deity, but he was humanity. He was 100% God and 100% man. He had a human birth (Matthew 1:20-23), human growth (Luke 2:40), human appearance (John 4:9), human limitations (Matthew 4:2) and human names (Acts 2:22), etc.
B. THE VIRGIN BIRTH -
Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary by the conception of the Holy Sprit as taught in Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:16-23, and Luke 1:34, 35.
C. THE ATONEMENT -
Atonement is extensively an Old Testament word. In the New Testament it means “reconciliation” (Romans 5:9-11). Reconciliation means a change in relationship with God because of Christ’s finished work on the Cross where, He bridged the gap between God and man (II Corinthians 5:19-20). Atonement has come to mean the total significance of Christ’s death.
D. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST -
We believe that Christ’s resurrection was a real physical, bodily resurrection. He said to His disciples, “touch me” (Luke 24:39; John 20). His resurrected body was a supernatural body which could not die (I
Corinthians 15; Revelation 1:8). The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most important Doctrines of Scripture. “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain and ye are yet in your sins.” (I Corinthians 15:17). If the resurrection of Christ is not true the truthfulness of the Word of God is lost (Luke 24:46), Christ is not the God He claims to be (Romans 1:3-4), regeneration is not possible (I Peter 1:3) and the Power of Sin and Satan is still unbroken (Hebrews 2:14-18). But, Praise be to God, Jesus is alive!
E. THE PRESENT INTERCESSION OF CHRIST -
The purpose of Christ’s intercession is because He knows our limitations and as our high priest He prays for us and presents our petitions before the Father. He is our go-between (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; I John 2:1-2). Christ’s intercession is on the behalf of the saved, not the unsaved (John 17:9).
1) Christ’s Deity - Divine worship is given to Christ (Matthew 4:10; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews1:6). He is given divine names such as God (John 1:1; 20:28), Lord (Romans 10:9; Philippians 2:11), Son of God (Mark 1:1; Luke 1:35), etc. Jesus has the attributes of God and holds these divine offices - Creator, Upholder, Forgiver of sin, Giver of eternal life, Judge, Resurrector of the dead. Jesus Christ has divine equality with God, He is equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19), the expressed image of the Living God (Hebrews 1:3). We believe that Jesus Christ is God Incarnate (God in human flesh) “For in Him (Christ) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead...” (Colossians 2:9).
2) Christ’s Humanity - Christ was not only Deity, but he was humanity. He was 100% God and 100% man. He had a human birth (Matthew 1:20-23), human growth (Luke 2:40), human appearance (John 4:9), human limitations (Matthew 4:2) and human names (Acts 2:22), etc.
B. THE VIRGIN BIRTH -
Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary by the conception of the Holy Sprit as taught in Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:16-23, and Luke 1:34, 35.
C. THE ATONEMENT -
Atonement is extensively an Old Testament word. In the New Testament it means “reconciliation” (Romans 5:9-11). Reconciliation means a change in relationship with God because of Christ’s finished work on the Cross where, He bridged the gap between God and man (II Corinthians 5:19-20). Atonement has come to mean the total significance of Christ’s death.
D. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST -
We believe that Christ’s resurrection was a real physical, bodily resurrection. He said to His disciples, “touch me” (Luke 24:39; John 20). His resurrected body was a supernatural body which could not die (I
Corinthians 15; Revelation 1:8). The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most important Doctrines of Scripture. “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain and ye are yet in your sins.” (I Corinthians 15:17). If the resurrection of Christ is not true the truthfulness of the Word of God is lost (Luke 24:46), Christ is not the God He claims to be (Romans 1:3-4), regeneration is not possible (I Peter 1:3) and the Power of Sin and Satan is still unbroken (Hebrews 2:14-18). But, Praise be to God, Jesus is alive!
E. THE PRESENT INTERCESSION OF CHRIST -
The purpose of Christ’s intercession is because He knows our limitations and as our high priest He prays for us and presents our petitions before the Father. He is our go-between (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; I John 2:1-2). Christ’s intercession is on the behalf of the saved, not the unsaved (John 17:9).