Pentecostal Sermons and Bible Studies by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.

Who Is Jesus Christ? God? Man? Both?

Summary:  For 2,000 years people have asked some very valid questions: "Is Jesus Christ God?" or "Is Jesus only a man?" or "Is He both?" The answers have eternal consequences for everyone — past, present, and future — who will ever live on planet earth.


It is by the
name of Jesus Christ ... [12] Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:10, 12).

•• The apostle Peter boldly declared that there is salvation in the name of Jesus Christ — and in no other name! Peter places great significance on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (see Acts 2:36).

•• That makes it an issue of eternal consequence to determine correctly who Jesus Christ is. And to that all-important question — Who is Jesus Christ? — I devote this bible study.

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Mark 1:1, King James Version  The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God...

Luke 1:35, KJV  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

•• Who is Jesus Christ? First and foremost, He's the Son of God.
• I am human, since I share my biological father’s humanity.

Jesus is Deity, He's divine, because His Father in heaven is Deity.

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Matthew 1:1, 16, 18  A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham ... [16] and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.... [18] This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

•• Who is Jesus Christ? He is the Son of Man, born of His human mother Mary.
• In addition to His divine nature (see previous Scriptures), Jesus has a human nature, by virtue of His earthly birth through Mary.
•• However, it is vitally important to remember that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, did not begin His existence only 2,000 years ago (See the next Scripture portion).

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John 1:1-2, 14, 18  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was with God in the beginning.... [14] The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.... [18] No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.

Matthew 1:21-23, KJV  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. [22] Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, [23] Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

•• “In the beginning ... [Jesus already] WAS...” He did not come into being only 2,000 years ago. No, rather He existed with God the Father from time immemorial.

•• Jesus “the Word(Greek = logos) from the beginning not only was “with God” the Father, but He also “WAS God”.
“With God”, showing that Jesus the Son is a distinct Person from God the Father.

• But He also “was God”, showing His full Deity with God the Father.

• John calls Jesus “God ... at the Father’s side.”

• Who is Jesus Christ? Who is this One called "the Word of God" (Revelation 19:13)? Matthew calls Him “God with us.”

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Luke 2:11, KJV  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

John 4:42  ...we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.

•• Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world (Matthew 1:23  ...give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.).
 
•• "...a Savior, which is Christ the Lord" — Quite appropriately Christians call Jesus "my Lord and Savior."

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John 4:25-26  The woman said, “I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” [26] Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am he.”

•• Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One Israel was expecting from God. Christ's clear answer forever settles the question: "Is Jesus the Messiah?" Yes!

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John 5:17-18, KJV  But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. [18] Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

John 10:30-33  “I and the Father are one.” [31] Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, [32] but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” [33] “We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

•• Jesus correctly asserted His divinity and His equality with God the Father (John 20:28  Thomas said to [Jesus], “My Lord and my God!”).

•• He claimed to be “one” with God the Father.

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John 17:4-5, KJV  I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. [5] And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

•• Prior to His coming to earth, Jesus shared equally the Father’s glory in eternity past.

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Luke 3:15-16, KJV  And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; [16] John [the Baptist] answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

Matthew 13:55  “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?”

Mark 6:3a  “Isn’t this the carpenter?”

•• Along with His divinity, Jesus possessed full humanity. “True God and true man,” say the ancient creeds. Yet He is far superior to even the greatest of other humans, even such great ones as John the Baptist.

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John 8:23, KJV  And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.

•• Unlike mere mortals, Jesus came to earth from heaven.

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John 8:56-59a, KJV  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. [57] Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? [58] Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. [59] Then took they up stones to cast at him.

•• In heaven the preincarnate Christ existed “before Abraham,” who lived on earth approximately 2,000 years before Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.
• The Jews who heard Jesus say this attempted to stone Him for the apparent blasphemy of claiming to be Deity. Sadly, they missed the fact that His claim was true!
•• The prophet Micah prophesied of the coming of the eternally preexistent Christ — Micah 5:2, KJV  But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

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John 6:33, 35, 51, KJV  For the bread of God is he [Jesus] which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.... [35] And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.... [51] I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

•• Who is Jesus Christ? He is the bread of life, the living bread, from heaven.

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John 1:3, 10, KJV  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.... [10] He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

•• He is the Almighty Creator of the world! The miracles of Jesus recorded in the four Gospels are expressions of His creative power.

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John 8:12, KJV  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

•• Jesus is the light of the world which He created. His followers will have the light of life.

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Matthew 28:16-18  Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. [17] When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. [18] Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

•• Who is Jesus? He's the possessor of all authority in heaven and on earth.
Acts 10:36, KJV  Jesus Christ: He is Lord of all.

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John 1:29, 34, KJV  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.... [34] And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

•• He is the Lamb of God, sacrificed for the sins of the world. The crucifixion of Jesus and His burial and resurrection for our salvation are the very heart of the Gospel message (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

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John 10:11, 14-15, KJV  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.... [14] I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. [15] As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

•• Jesus the Lamb of God is also the Good Shepherd of God’s sheep, willing even to lay down His life for the flock.

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John 13:13  “You call me ‘Teacher’ [KJV: ‘Master’] and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.”

•• Who is Jesus Christ? He's the Teacher ... Master ... Lord — Acts 10:36  "Jesus Christ...is Lord of all."

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Matthew 26:26-28, KJV  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. [27] And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; [28] For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

John 19:18  Here they crucified him, and with him two others — one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

•• It is Jesus who died on the cross and shed His blood for the forgiveness of our sins.

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1 Peter 2:24  He himself [that is, Jesus] bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

•• Jesus is the Healer, the One who not only took our sins, but also bore our sicknesses, diseases, and infirmities.

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Luke 3:16  John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He [Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

•• Jesus is the One who gives to His followers the mighty baptism with the Holy Spirit.

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John 11:25-26, KJV  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: [26] And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

•• He is the Author and Giver of eternal life to those who choose to believe in Him.

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John 14:6, KJV  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

•• Why is it so important that we know who Jesus is? Because Jesus Christ is the only way of access to God the Father.

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Matthew 28:5-6  The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. [6] He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

•• On the third day after His crucifixion, Jesus arose from the dead!

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Mark 16:19, KJV  So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

•• Forty days [Acts 1:3] after His resurrection from the dead, Jesus ascended back to His rightful heavenly place at the right hand of God the Father.

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Matthew 25:31-34, 41  When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. [32] All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. [33] He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. [34] Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.... [41] Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’

2 Corinthians 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ...

•• Sometime in the future, Jesus Christ will come to earth a second time, to judge all who have ever lived. The saved — His faithful followers — will enter eternal life with Him; the lost will enter eternal damnation.

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Who is Jesus Christ? He is:

• the Son of God (true Deity)

• the Son of Man (true humanity)

• the eternal "Word" (Logos)

• the Savior

• the promised Messiah, the "Christ" or Anointed One

co-equal Deity with God the Father

• the One who came to earth from heaven

• the "I am"

prexistent from all eternity past

• the bread of life

• the Almighty Co-Creator

• the light of the world

• the One exercising all authority in heaven and earth

• the Lord of all
 
• the Lord and Savior of our Christian confession

• the crucified and resurrected Lamb of God

Teacher ... Master ... Lord

• the One who shed His blood for the forgiveness of our sins

• the One who heals our sick bodies
 
• "Christ the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:24)

• the One who baptizes us with the Holy Spirit

• the Author and Giver of eternal life

• the only way to God the Father

• the One who rose from the dead

• the One seated at God the Father's right hand in heaven

• the One who will sit and judge all from the judgment seat
 
• and much more than could be adequately covered in one bible study!

Hopefully this study will have impressed upon each of us the urgency of a correct and faith-filled response to Jesus’ question: “What do you think about the Christ?” (Matthew 22:42)

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this
life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life
; he who does
not have the Son of God does not have life
(1 John 5:11-12).

CHOOSE THE SON OF GOD ... CHOOSE LIFE!


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©2005, 2015, 2018 James H. Feeney.
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Pentecostal Sermons and Bible Studies
by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.