II- The Doctrine of Christ
1. Q. Who is Jesus Christ?
ANSWER: Jesus Christ is the God man who appeared on our planet to reveal God (Jn. 1:1-14), to show us how to live (1 Jn. 2:6), and to rescue us from the guilt and power of sin (Rom. 6:1-14). He is Savior (Acts 4:12), Life (Jn. 14:6), and Lord (Rom. 10:9,13) to all who put their trust in Him.
2. Q. How does the New Testament affirm that Jesus Christ was genuinely human?
ANSWER: The Lord Jesus was born of a woman (Gal.4:4). He had a human body that developed mentally and physically in the same way that other children do (Lk. 2:40,52). He became tired (Jn. 4:6-8), hungry (Mt. 4:2), and thirsty (Jn. 19:28). He slept (Mt. 8:24). He wept (Jn. 11:35), and was tested (Mt. 4:1-11; Heb. 2:18; 4:15). He felt anger and grief (Mk. 3:5), compassion (Mt. 9:36), and agony (Lk. 22:44).
3. Q. How does the Bible show that Jesus was not only man but also God?
ANSWER: Jesus Himself claimed to be God (Jn. 10:30; cp. v.33). And the Bible explicitly states that Jesus is God (Jn. 1:1; Rom. 9.5; 1 Tim. 3:16; Ti. 2:13; Heb. 1:8). Jesus possesses attributes that only God could have: eternity (Jn. 8:58), omnipresence (Mt. 18:20), omniscience (Jn. 16:30), omnipotence (Rev. 1:8), and immutability (Heb. 1:12). Jesus does what only God can do: forgives sin (Mk. 2:1-12), gives life (Jn. 5:21), raises the dead (Jn. 6:39-40,54; 11:38-44). Jesus was given names and titles of deity: Immanuel, meaning “God with us” (Mt. 1:23); King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16); and son of God (Mt. 26:63-65).
4. Q. How important is Christ’s resurrection?
ANSWER: Through our Lord’s resurrection, God confirmed Jesus as His Son (Rom. 1:4), showed His satisfaction with Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf (Rom. 4:25), affirmed Christ’s power to give life to those who trust Him (Rom. 8:11), and assured us who believe on Him that someday we too will receive resurrection bodies (1 Cor. 15:20-21).
5. Q. Where is Jesus now and what is He doing?
ANSWER: Jesus Christ ascended to heaven 40 days after His resurrection where He has taken a place of honor (Acts 1:9; 2:33). He will remain there until He returns to “catch up” the church (1 Th. 4:13-18) and then later return to the earth as King to judge the world (Mt. 25:31-46) and rule for 1,000 years (Rev. 19:11-20:6). In the meantime, He is preparing a place for us (Jn. 14:3), interceding for us as our Advocate (Rom. 8:34; 1 Jn. 2:1), sympathetically responding to our needs (Heb. 4:14-16), and functioning as the Head of the church (Eph. 5:23; Col. 1:18).
ANSWER: Jesus Christ is the God man who appeared on our planet to reveal God (Jn. 1:1-14), to show us how to live (1 Jn. 2:6), and to rescue us from the guilt and power of sin (Rom. 6:1-14). He is Savior (Acts 4:12), Life (Jn. 14:6), and Lord (Rom. 10:9,13) to all who put their trust in Him.
2. Q. How does the New Testament affirm that Jesus Christ was genuinely human?
ANSWER: The Lord Jesus was born of a woman (Gal.4:4). He had a human body that developed mentally and physically in the same way that other children do (Lk. 2:40,52). He became tired (Jn. 4:6-8), hungry (Mt. 4:2), and thirsty (Jn. 19:28). He slept (Mt. 8:24). He wept (Jn. 11:35), and was tested (Mt. 4:1-11; Heb. 2:18; 4:15). He felt anger and grief (Mk. 3:5), compassion (Mt. 9:36), and agony (Lk. 22:44).
3. Q. How does the Bible show that Jesus was not only man but also God?
ANSWER: Jesus Himself claimed to be God (Jn. 10:30; cp. v.33). And the Bible explicitly states that Jesus is God (Jn. 1:1; Rom. 9.5; 1 Tim. 3:16; Ti. 2:13; Heb. 1:8). Jesus possesses attributes that only God could have: eternity (Jn. 8:58), omnipresence (Mt. 18:20), omniscience (Jn. 16:30), omnipotence (Rev. 1:8), and immutability (Heb. 1:12). Jesus does what only God can do: forgives sin (Mk. 2:1-12), gives life (Jn. 5:21), raises the dead (Jn. 6:39-40,54; 11:38-44). Jesus was given names and titles of deity: Immanuel, meaning “God with us” (Mt. 1:23); King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16); and son of God (Mt. 26:63-65).
4. Q. How important is Christ’s resurrection?
ANSWER: Through our Lord’s resurrection, God confirmed Jesus as His Son (Rom. 1:4), showed His satisfaction with Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf (Rom. 4:25), affirmed Christ’s power to give life to those who trust Him (Rom. 8:11), and assured us who believe on Him that someday we too will receive resurrection bodies (1 Cor. 15:20-21).
5. Q. Where is Jesus now and what is He doing?
ANSWER: Jesus Christ ascended to heaven 40 days after His resurrection where He has taken a place of honor (Acts 1:9; 2:33). He will remain there until He returns to “catch up” the church (1 Th. 4:13-18) and then later return to the earth as King to judge the world (Mt. 25:31-46) and rule for 1,000 years (Rev. 19:11-20:6). In the meantime, He is preparing a place for us (Jn. 14:3), interceding for us as our Advocate (Rom. 8:34; 1 Jn. 2:1), sympathetically responding to our needs (Heb. 4:14-16), and functioning as the Head of the church (Eph. 5:23; Col. 1:18).