6. The Person of Jesus Christ

Incarnation and Two Natures

In the fullness of time God the Father sent his eternal Son,[1] the second person of the Trinity,[2] into the world as Jesus the Christ.[3] He was conceived by the Holy Spirit[4] and born of the virgin Mary,[5] taking on himself a fully human nature with all its attributes and frailties, yet without sin.[6] In this union, two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in the one person of the divine Son without confusion, mixture, or change. Our Redeemer acted in and through both his human and divine natures,[7] in ways appropriate to each, with both natures being preserved and neither diminished by the other. Yet both his human and divine natures are united and find expression in the one person of the eternal Son.[8] Thus our Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son incarnate, is fully God and fully man, able to be our all-sufficient savior and the only mediator between God and man.[9]

 

Earthly Life and Ministry

As God’s incarnate Son, our Lord Jesus Christ inaugurated the kingdom of God,[10] fulfilling God’s saving purposes[11]and all Old Testament prophecies about the One to come:[12] he is the Seed of the woman,[13] the Seed of Abraham,[14]the Prophet like Moses,[15] the Priest after the order of Melchizedek,[16] the Son of David,[17] the Suffering Servant,[18] and God’s appointed Messiah.[19] As such he was anointed by the Holy Spirit[20] and lived a sinless life[21] in complete obedience to his Father.[22] Jesus entered into full human existence, enduring the common infirmities, temptations, and sufferings of mankind. He perfectly revealed the character of God,[23] taught with divine authority and utter truthfulness,[24] extended God’s love and compassion,[25] and demonstrated his lordship through the working of miracles[26] and the exercise of divine prerogatives.[27]

 

Death, Resurrection, and Reign

Having fully obeyed his Father in life, our Savior was also obedient unto death.[28] He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, dying a substitutionary death for the sins of his people.[29] He was buried and arose bodily from the dead on the third day,[30] vindicating his identity and saving work as God’s Messiah[31] and guaranteeing the defeat of death, our future resurrection, and the glorification of our physical bodies.[32] Forty days later Jesus ascended bodily to heaven,[33] where he is now enthroned at the right hand of God,[34] reigning over all things,[35] and interceding for his people as their Great High Priest.[36] One day he will return to judge all people and angels,[37] putting all his enemies under his feet and dwelling with his people forever.[38]


[1] John 3:16; Gal 4:4.

[2] John 1:1-2; Heb 1:3.

[3] Matt 1:21.

[4] Luke 1:35.

[5] Matt 1:23; Luke 1:34.

[6] John 1:14; Heb 2:16-17; 4:15.

[7] Mark 4:35-41; 11:12; Luke 2:52; 6:6-10. 

[8] John 1:14; Heb 1:1-3. 

[9] Acts 4:12; 1 Tim 2:5.

[10] Mark 1:15; Matt 12:28.

[11] Isa 53; Acts 4:12; Rom 3:21-22; 2 Cor 1:20.

[12] Luke 24:44; John 5:39.

195 Gen 3:15; Rom 16:20.

[14] Gen 15:18; 17:8; Matt 1:1, Gal 3:16.

[15] Deut 18:15; Acts 3:22-26.

[16] Ps 110:4; Heb 5:5-6.

[17] 2 Sam 7:16; Matt 1:1; 22:42-45.

[18] Isa 53:3-6; Mark 10:45.

[19] Dan 9:25-26; Matt 16:16.

[20] Matt 3:16.

[21] Heb 2:16-17; 4:15.

[22] John 5:19; Phil 2:8.

[23] John 1:14, 18; 14:9-11; Heb 1:1-3.

[24] Mark 1:22; John 12:49-50; 14:10-11.

[25] Matt 9:36; Mark 6:34; John 13:1, 34; 14:21.

[26] See, e.g., Matt 8:1-17; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 7:11-17; John 2:1-11.

[27] Matt 11:27; Mark 2:5-12; John 9:39; 10:9, 11; 20:28-29.

[28] Phil 2:6-7.

[29] Isa 53:5-12; 2 Cor 5:21; Rom 3:24-25; 1 Pet 3:18.

[30] Matt 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-18; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-10; 1 Cor 15:3-4.

[31] Acts 2:32-33; 4:10; 13:32-39; 17:31; Rom 1:3-4; 4:25.

[32] 1 Cor 15:20-57.

[33] Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9.

[34] Acts 2:33; 5:31; 7:55-56; Rom 8:34; Eph 1:20; Heb 1:3; 8:1; 10:12.

[35] Matt 28:18; John 17:2; Heb 1:3.

[36] Heb 4:14; 7:25; 10:21.

[37] Matt 25:31-32; Rom 2:16; 2 Tim 4:1.

[38] 1 Cor 15:25-27; Heb 2:8.