TOPIC 09 OF 47
The Person of Jesus Christ
True God and true man, Jesus is our Savior and Mediator.
THE MAIN TRUTH
Jesus Christ is the Savior of the whole world.
The teaching
From the book · pages 25–27
Jesus Christ is the Savior of the whole world. He is the eternal only-begotten Son, the Word of God, equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He is also the human Son born to a virgin woman named Mary, a descendant of King David.
God revealed his presence among Israel in the Tent of Meeting and in the Temple. But at the appointed time, God the Father revealed his presence through his Son in human flesh. The Son of God became man when he assumed our fallen humanity—without sin—into personal union with his divinity at his conception by the Holy Spirit in the virgin womb of Mary.
God is incarnate in the human body of Jesus. This means that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man in one person. God became one of us in Jesus, the God-man, to reunite us with himself. Everything Jesus did as God in the flesh he did vicariously as the Mediator between God and humanity for us and for our salvation. Therefore, he is called Immanuel—God with us. As the Word of God made flesh, Jesus is the definitive revelation and image of God. He is the heavenly King who reveals God’s love for us.
Scripture foundations
All Scripture excerpts from this topic are presented below in the book’s order. Ellipses and bracketed explanations follow the manuscript. Select a reference to read the surrounding passage in the EHV.
Reading these passages together
The passages hold together Jesus’ full divinity and full humanity. His incarnation is the foundation of his work for us: in this one person, God comes near to save.
12 Scripture excerpt groups
SCRIPTURE 01
1 John 4:14 ↗
“. . . the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.”
Book page 26
SCRIPTURE 02
John 1:1-2,14 ↗
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning . . . The Word became flesh and dwelled among us. We have seen his glory, the glory he has as the only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Book page 26
SCRIPTURE 03
Matthew 1:18,22-23 ↗
“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. His mother, Mary, was pledged in marriage to Joseph. Before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit . . . All this happened to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ‘Look, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son. And they will name him Immanuel,’ which means, ‘God with us.’”
Book page 26
SCRIPTURE 04
Luke 1:31-32,34-35 ↗
“‘Listen, you will conceive and give birth to a son . . . name him Jesus . . . The Lord will give him the throne of his father David.’ . . . Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’”
Book page 26
SCRIPTURE 05
Colossians 2:9 ↗
“For all the fullness of God’s being dwells bodily in Christ.”
Book page 26
SCRIPTURE 06
Hebrews 1:3 ↗
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact imprint of the divine nature. He sustains all things by his powerful word.”
Book page 27
SCRIPTURE 07
2 Corinthians 5:19,21 ↗
“. . . God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself . . . God made him, who did not know sin, to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.”
Book page 27
SCRIPTURE 08
1 Timothy 2:5-6 ↗
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all. . .”
Book page 27
SCRIPTURE 09
1 John 4:9 ↗
“This is how God’s love for us was revealed: God has sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we may live through him.”
Book page 27
SCRIPTURE 10
Philippians 2:6-8 ↗
“Though [Christ Jesus] was by nature God, he did not consider equality with God as a prize to be displayed, but he emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant. When he was born in human likeness, and his appearance was like that of any other man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.”
Book page 27
SCRIPTURE 11
Acts 4:12 ↗
“There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
Book page 27
SCRIPTURE 12
John 1:18; Colossians 1:15 ↗
“No one has ever seen God. The only-begotten Son, who is close to the Father’s side has made him known.” “He is the image of the invisible God. . .”
Book page 27
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture passages are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV), copyright 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission, as noted in the manuscript.
PERSONAL REFLECTION OR GROUP DISCUSSION
Reflect and pray
Why does it matter that Jesus is truly God?
Why does it matter that he is also truly human?
How does knowing Jesus help you understand the heart of God?
A prayer
Lord Jesus, true God and true man, thank you for becoming our Brother and Savior. Keep us close to you and assure us of the Father’s love. Amen.