Who is Jesus Christ?

Who is Jesus Christ? Unlike the question, does

God exist, the question of whether Jesus Christ existed is asked by relatively few people.

Most accept that Jesus was truly a man who lived in Israel 2 ,000 years ago. The debate begins with the discussion of Jesus' full identity.

Almost every major religion teaches that Jesus was a prophet, or a good teacher, or a godly man.

But the Bible tells us that Jesus was infinitely more than a prophet, a good teacher, or a godly man.

C .S. Lewis, in his book Mere Christianity, writes the following, You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon, or you can fall at his feet and call him

Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher.

He has not left that option open to us, and he didn't intend to. So who did

Jesus claim to be? Who does the Bible say he is? First, he is God in the flesh.

Jesus said in John 10 30, I and the Father are one. At first glance, this might not seem to be a claim to be

God. However, look at the Jews' reaction to his statement. They tried to stone him for blasphemy because you, a mere man, claim to be

God. The Jews understood Jesus' statement as a claim to be God. In the following verses,

Jesus never corrects the Jews or attempts to clarify his statement. He never says, I did not claim to be

God. When Jesus said, I and the Father are one, he truly was claiming equality with God.

In John 8 58, Jesus claims pre -existence, an attribute of God. I tell you the truth,

Jesus answered, before Abraham was born, I am. In response to this statement, the

Jews again took up stones to stone Jesus. In claiming pre -existence, Jesus applied a name for God to himself,

I am. The Jews rejected Jesus' identity as God incarnate, but they understood exactly what he was saying.

Other biblical clues that Jesus is God in the flesh include John 1 1, which says, the

Word was God, coupled with John 1 14, which says, the Word became flesh. Thomas, the disciple, declared to Jesus, my

Lord and my God. Jesus does not correct him. The Apostle Paul describes

Jesus as our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter says the same, calling

Jesus our God and Savior. God the Father bears witness of Jesus' identity as well.

But about the Son, he says, your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.

Old Testament prophecies, such as Isaiah 9 6, announce the deity of Christ. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders, and he will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Why is the question of Jesus' identity so important? Why does it matter whether Jesus is

God? Several reasons. First, as C .S. Lewis pointed out, if Jesus is not

God, then Jesus is the worst of liars and untrustworthy in every way. If Jesus is not

God, then the Apostles would likewise have been liars. Jesus had to be God because the

Messiah was promised to be the Holy One. Since no one on earth is righteous before God, God himself had to enter the world as a human.

If Jesus is not God, His death would have been insufficient to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world.

Only God Himself could provide an infinite, eternally valuable sacrifice. God is the only

Savior. If Jesus is to be the Savior, then He must be God. Jesus had to be both

God and man. As God, Jesus could satisfy God's wrath. As a man, Jesus had the capability of dying.

As the God -man, Jesus is the perfect mediator between heaven and earth. Salvation is only available through faith in Jesus Christ.

As He proclaimed, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the

Father except through me. Got questions? The Bible has answers, and we'll help you find them.