Doctrines of The Christian Faith 4: The Nature of Christ

From Adam, all men are born sinners. It has been passed down to all of Adam's offspring, except one (although since he existed prior to him, whether you could call him an offspring is debatable). I am referring of course to Jesus Christ.

The Lord was not born in this Earth with glory. He instead was born to a humble family in a simple manger in a humble human form. It is important to remember that this birth was not the beginning of Christ. No, he was an eternal being who has no beginning at all. As Philippians 2:6-7 explains about Jesus,

"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men."

It is rather important to remember that Jesus is not just a man. He is also fully God. As Jesus was born of the virgin Mary by the Holy Ghost, he is both man and God at the same time, the one and only God-Man.

Some would say that it is impossible for a man to be born of a virgin. But it is nonsensical to say a completely sovereign God could not use his power to alter the ways in which babies are conceived, and the Bible confirms that he did.

If there really is any doubt about whether Jesus is God, we should examine his life and his teachings. Some would like to say that Jesus is simply a teacher, but as C.S. Lewis explains in his famous trilemma, the only options available to us is that Jesus is Lord, a liar, or a lunatic.

No one wishes to discount everything that Jesus said. His teachings are truly quite phenomenal, but we are left with one choice, accept everything that Jesus said (including his deity) or reject everything. We cannot possibly pick and choose. Jesus' claim of deity doesn't give us the chance.

With this claim of deity, we are left with only 3 options:

1. Jesus is simply attempting to seek glory for himself. Such a man would have no interest in the advance of society, nor would he be concerned with the validity of what he said. He would say anything that could help his agenda at any point in time. 
2. Jesus truly thinks he is the Lord, and is a mad man. How could we ever trust any of the ideas of a mad man? 
3. Jesus truly is the Son of God, prepared to take the sins of the world. 

I have no reason to count out every word that Jesus spoke, and have every reason to believe that he is the Lord. As such, we can know that every attribute of the Lord applies as much to Christ as it does to God the Father (remember cut crust, same pie). This includes most importantly the attribute of holiness.

Truly, Jesus was a man who was free from Adam's curse because he was also fully God. As Hebrews 4:15 says,

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

Continue to Doctrines 5: Nature of Atoning Sacrifice