The
totality of Christianity hinges on the identity of Christ and his
resurrection. The Apostle Paul noted that if Jesus Christ did not resurrect
from the dead then all Christian preaching and all Christian faith was vain
and of no effect (1 Corinthians 15:12-20). Nevertheless, the reality of the
matter for Paul, the disciples, and billions of Christians (and you!), is
that Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead, three days after he was
crucified. So, who is Jesus and why does he matter to you?
W A S H E M A N O R G O D ?
Jesus Christ is historically recorded as a Jewish teacher who was sentenced to crucifixion by Pontius Pilate, a Roman Governor. As a real man, he was vulnerable to temptations of sin and the possibility of death. However, despite his vulnerability, Jesus never committed a sin. (Sin: The Bible says the penalty owed for sin is death. Thus, sin can broadly be defined acts that we do that bring death to us and others physically, mentally, spiritually, and relationally. These are the things that are inconsistent with the character of God and vilify true love.) His life as a perfect man meant that he owed no debt to sin of death. Therefore, when Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross his perfect blood became all-encompassing saving grace for humanity. (Blood sacrifice: When the first man sinned, an animal was slaughtered to temporarily cover up the sin he had committed. However, animal blood is not enough to pay the penalty of death owed for humanity’s sin. The blood of the perfect human Christ finally fulfilled that debt.) Therefore, all who believe in the death and resurrection of Christ can be reconciled back to God and be members of his family.
Jesus Christ was also God. The Bible records him saying he is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He is recorded as the Creator of all that exists. It is at his name every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that he is Lord. Jesus himself verbalized his deity several times, noting his equality with God and consequently having his life threatened by religious skeptics.
Thus, Jesus Christ was both man and God. He was completely man, vulnerable to everything all men are vulnerable to. Simultaneously, he was completely God (for by the very definition of God, one cannot be “half-god”). As the writer of the gospel proclaimed, he was God (the Word) made flesh, who dwelt among us.
W H Y W O U L D G O D D O T H A T ?
God is the ultimate expression of love. Love is not merely an emotion of affection or attraction. Undefiled and pure, love is patient, kind, tender, forgiving, and eternal. It endures provocation, even as it disdains unrighteousness. It does all these things because it is the opposite of sin. Sin begets death, but the pure love of God produces life. It provides eternal life to our souls, it renews strength and vigor to our relationships with God, and it gives us life and reason to live in the temporal.
Knowing that we were dead in our sins, the love of God was extended to us to rescue us from ourselves. Why did God become flesh and die in our stead? Because he loves us.
W H A T N O W ?
You have the opportunity to respond to God's love. Will you believe in the sacrifice of Christ or reject his love?