Jesus Christ

Jesus startled his friends and angered his enemies by referring to God as his Father (Matthew 27:43).  He took his own directions from God, pointed others to God, and depended on God for all his needs ‑‑ including His resurrection victory over death (John 5:19, 30; 17:3‑4;  Luke. 23:46; Hebrews 5:7). 

At the same time, Jesus claimed a unique oneness with the Father (John 14:8‑11; 17:3‑5, 20‑23). ‑‑ a claim that would be quite blasphemous were it not true (Matthew 26:63‑65). 

Before leaving the earth, Jesus also promised to come again in the Spirit, and that through the indwelling Spirit, believers could enjoy intimate fellowship with both Jesus and the Father (John 14:16‑23).

What is God like?  Look at Jesus and you will see.  We need not try to understand God through human observation and logic, for Jesus the only-begotten Son of God has already revealed him (John 1:18).

Chapter one of the gospel of John lists several characteristics of Jesus.  Jesus is the "Word"(John 1:1; 14).  Here "Word" is translated from the Greek word "logos."  We obtain our English word "logo" from this Greek word "Logos." 

"Logos" (the word) was a visible demonstration of a concept.  In other words, Jesus visibly demonstrated the concept of God.  Hebrews chapter one verse eight refers to Jesus as God.

In the beginning the "Word" existed.  The "Word" was Jesus.  The "Word" existed before He was born into the world as Jesus the Son of God (John 1:1).

The "Word" was with God and also was God (John 1:1).  In the beginning before the "Word" was born into the world as the Son of God and before there existed Father and Son they existed as God.  Long before anything else existed, they, God and the "Word," existed as supreme beings who had always existed.  Before anything else ever came into existence there existed God and the Word.  All things were made by the Word (John 1:3).  This fact is confirmed (Ephesians 3:9).

Jesus is Lord (Acts 2:36).  As Lord he is our course or point of continuation (1 Corinthians 8:4-6).  In other words, through Jesus God continually directs our life.  However the term "Lord" is a designation of majesty not only applied to God as the father (Genesis 3:1-23), but to husbands (Genesis 18:12;  Peter 3:6) as well as Jesus the Christ (Luke 6:46).

Other scriptures call Jesus: 

(1) the Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6).  As the wonderful counselor he counsels and admonishes (Matthew 11:28-30; 18:1-6).   

(2) the Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6).  As the mighty God he displays his strength (Matthew 28:18, Colossians 1:13-18).

(3) the Everlasting Father, the father of eternity (Isaiah 9:6).  As the Everlasting Father, his

duration is eternal (1 Corinthians 15:20-26, Revelation 1:5-8).

(4) the Prince of Peace.  As the prince of peace, he  reconciles (Ephesians 1:2; 2:11-16). 

The Purpose of Jesus Christ.  Jesus came to reconcile us to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).  The word "reconcile" expressed the concept of restoring peace.  It means to reestablish a favorable relationship or ­to change the judicial status from condemnation to justification. 

We can be reconciled because of the birth of Jesus.  He was conceived of a woman (Galatians 4:4).  Because he was born of a woman, Jesus was endowed with all human faculties of human nature.     

He was conceived of a virgin (Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:26-35; Isaiah 7:14).  Because Jesus was conceived through the Holy Spirit, he was endowed with all spiritual faculties of divine nature (John 1:1; Hebrews 1:8).

We can be reconciled because of the blood of Jesus.  The blood of Christ cleanses us from the guilt of sin as we are born into the family of God.

We are redeemed by the blood of Jesus (1 Peter 1:17-23).  To be redeemed is to have the ransomed price of  sin paid by the blood of Jesus.

During the time of the Law of Moses, the high priest continually offered animal blood as the sacrifice for sins.  But now by one offering of his blood, henceforth and forever more, Jesus has freed us from sin (Hebrews 7:26-28; 9:6-14). 

By the blood of Jesus we are freed from sins and situated into the kingdom as priest (Revelation 1:4-6).  Never ask, "Can God forgive the sinner?" 

The blood of Christ cleanses us from the guilt of sin after we are born into the family of God (1 John 1:5-2:1).  Walking in the light does not demand living and never sinning.  If so, what is there to be forgiven for?  The "we have" is present and durational, meaning we have continual forgiveness in the blood of Jesus.

Because of what Jesus has done we have forgiveness now and in the future.  Never ask, "Will God forgive the saint?"

The blood of bulls and goats could never atone for sin.  They merely pointed forward to the One that would come in the end of that age and put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, namely Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:22-28).  No sacrifice offered on the Jewish altar had ever taken away sin.  After Jesus had made atonement for our sins, He arose to be our eternal high priest (Hebrews 10:12-14).

Written Review for Lesson Eight

Write within the blank the letter of the term that is related within the lesson and transfer answers to ANSWER SHEET.  Five points each.

1.       ___ "logos"                       a.  Isaiah 9:6

2.                                             2.       ___ Prince of Peace            b.  Husband

3.                                             3.       ___ Wonderful Counselor      c.  Visible demonstration of a concept

4.                                             4.       ___ reconcile                              d.  Jesus Christ      

5.                                             5.       ___ lord                            e.  Restore peace

Fill in the blanks.  Five points each.

          1.       As the wonderful counselor Jesus ______________________.

          2.       As the mighty God, Jesus displays his _______________________.

          3.       We are redeemed by the __________________ of Jesus.

4.                  The blood of Christ cleanses us from the guilt of sin ___________ we are born into the family of God.

          5.       Reconcile means to reestablish a _______________________ relationship. 

True or False.  Five points each.

          1.       ______ Long before anything else existed, they, God and the "Word" existed.

                   2.       ______ Jesus is Lord.

          3.       ______ The term "lord" never referred to any human being.

          4.       ______ The blood of bulls and goats could forgive sins.

5.                  ______ With the birth of Jesus a new era began only for the history of the Hebrew

          people.

Circle the one answer that best answers the question or completes the statement and transfer answers to ANSWER SHEET.  Five points each.

1.  The word "logos"

          a.  Means the high priest

          b.  Is a visible demonstration of a concept

          c.  Means prince of peace

          d.  All of the above  

          e.  None of the above

2.  Jesus is

          a.  Our eternal high priest

          b.  Prince of peace

          c.  The mighty God

          d.  All of the above

          e.  None of the above

3.  During the Law of Moses

          a.  The priest offered animal blood only once

          b.  The priest continually offered sacrifices

          c.  The priest forgave sins himself

          d.  All of the above

          e.  None of the above

4.  The blood of Jesus cleanses us from the guilt of sin

          a.  As we are born into the family of God

          b.  Along with the blood of animals

          c.  After we are born into the family of God

          d.  Both A & B     

          e.  Both A & C     

5.  Walking in the light    

          a.  Demands perfect sinlessness

          b.  Does not demand perfect sinlessness

          c.  Is not possible

          d.  A & B