What Makes an Individual a Christian - Part 3

Romans 10:17 “So then faith [belief] cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Hearing the Word of God and Believing God About Jesus Christ:

Jesus is the Son of God:

John 1:1-4, 14, 49

~ Jesus is God, Sovereign Lord, and the Creator

Verse 1. “In the beginning {eternal} was the Word {eternal Jesus; Logos}, and the Word was with God {eternally; Godhead}, and the Word was God {coequal, coexistent}.” Isaiah 9:6; Zechariah 13:7; John 17:5; John 17:24-25; Philippians 2:6; Revelation 19:13

• The Messenger of the Word is Jesus (Word of God incarnate); people are the hearers of the Word of God (Acts 8:15)
• This verse speaks of Jesus being the Second Person of the Triune Godhead (“Word was God”). Human minds cannot grasp the mystery. “Elohim” is the Hebrew name for God. It is a plural noun (“us”).  This is a broad study topic and one that will be, God willing, studied deeper in the future.

Verse 2. “The same was in the beginning with God {eternal relationship of Jesus and God}.” Genesis 1:1

Verse 3. “All things were made by him {Son of God/Jesus Christ/Creator}; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2

Verse 4. “In him was life {salvation}; and the life was the light {Jesus’ revelation of God} of men.” 1 John 5:11; John 8:12; John 9:5; John 11:25; John 12:46

Verse 49. “Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.” Matthew 14:33; Matthew 21:5; Matthew 27:11

Luke 22:70 “Then said thy all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.” 

Mark 3:11 “And unclean spirits {demons}, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.” Mark 1:23; Luke 4:41; Matthew 14:33; Matthew 1:1; Mark 1:24 Acts 16:17

• Notice in the verse above that demons believe Jesus is the Son of God

Philippians 2:5-11 – (Gift of Jesus, His greatness, and His glory)

Verse 5. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” John 13:15

Verse 6. “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:” Isaiah 9:6; Zechariah 13:7; John 1:1,2; John 17:5; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:3; John 5:18; John 10:33

Verse 7. “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” Psalm 22:6; Isaiah 53:3; Daniel 9:26; Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 53:11; Ezekiel 34:23; Zechariah 3:8; Matthew 20:28; John 1:14; Galatians 4:4

Verse 8. “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Hebrews 12:2 (submissive to the will of God)

Verse 9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.” John 17:1; Hebrews 1:4

Verse 10. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;” Isaiah 45:23; Revelation 5:13

Verse 11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” John 13:13

Jesus, the Son of God, was born of a virgin:

Matthew 1:18, 23, 25:

Verse 18. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused {engaged} to Joseph, before they came together {consummated union}, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost {supernatural and miraculous conception}.” Isaiah 7:14; Galatians 4:4; Hebrews 20:5

• Mary was somewhere around 15 years of age 

Verse 23. “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call {or, His name shall be called} his name Immanuel, which being interpreted is {translated}, God with us {indicates the deity of the Son of God}.” Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; 1 Timothy 3:16

Verse 25. “And knew her not {kept her a virgin} till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS {Yehoshua: “Jehovah Saves” or “Yahweh is Salvation”}. Exodus 13:2; Luke 2:7; Luke 2:21

Luke 1:26-35 + 36-38: 

(Mary’s character vv. 26-30) 

Verse 26. “And in the sixth month {of Elisabeth’s pregnancy} the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,” Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18

Verse 27. “To a virgin espoused {betrothed/engaged} to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.” 

Verse 28. “And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail {rejoice}, thou that art highly favoured {graciously accepted}, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” Daniel 9:23; Judges 6:12

• God refers to all Believers (born again) as highly favored in Ephesians 1:6
• Thought from this author: One who is truly born again is highly favored of God and should truly rejoice! 

Verse 29. “And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast {considered} in her mind what manner of salutation {greeting} this should be.” Luke 1:12

(Mary’s courage vv. 31-38)

Verse 30. “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.” Luke 2:52

Verse 31. “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb {no seed of a man}, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.” Isaiah 7:14; Luke 2:21; Matthew 1:21; Galatians 4:4

Verse 32. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest {Most High}: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:” 1 Timothy 6:15; Philippians 2:10; 2 Samuel 7:11; Psalm 132:11; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 16:5; Jeremiah 23:5; Revelation 3:7; Mark 5:7; 2 Samuel; 2:12-13; 2 Samuel 2:16; 2 Samuel 7:14-17; Matthew 1:1; 2 Samuel 7:13

Verse 33. “And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Daniel 2:44; Daniel 7:14; Obadiah 21; Micah 4:7; John 12:34; Hebrews 1:8

Verse 34. “Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man {am a virgin}?” 

Verse 35. “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest {Most High} shall overshadow thee {Mary’s faith gave her courage to obey God}: therefore also that holy thing {One} which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Matthew 1:20; Matthew 1:21; Matthew 14:33; Mark 1:1; John 1:34; John 20:31; Acts 8:37; Romans 1:4

Verses 36 – 38: “And, behold, thy cousin {relative} Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.” 37. “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” 38. “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid {maidservant} of the Lord {she submitted to God’s will}; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” Mark 10:27; Romans 4:21; Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 19:26

• The Virgin Birth gave Jesus a physical body like Mary’s (He had to be one hundred percent man to die) and received the sinless and divine nature of God the Father (Jesus had to be sinless - spotless - to be the final sacrifice for sin). 

Jesus lived a perfect and sinless life:

Jesus was one hundred percent God existing eternally with a sinless nature Hebrews 7:26

Hebrews 4:15 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched {sympathize} with the feeling of our infirmities {our weakness}: but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Isaiah 53:3-5; Luke 22:28; Daniel 9:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5

John 1:14 “And the Word {Jesus} was made flesh {became flesh/human; incarnate Son of God}, and dwelt {tabernacled (Old Testament)} among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” 

1 Timothy 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery {hidden truth} of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

• Manifest in the flesh: John 1:14; 1 Peter 1:20; 1 John 1:2; 1 John 3:5, 8
• Justified in the Spirit: Matthew 3:16; Romans 1:4
• See of angels: Matthew 28:2
• Preached unto the Gentiles: Acts 10:34; Romans 10:18
• Believed on in the world: Romans 16:26; 2 Corinthians 1:19; Colossians 1:6, 23
• Received up into glory: Luke 24:51

Hebrews 2:14-17 “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took {shared} part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” John 1:14; Colossians 2:15; 2  Timothy 1:10

John 8:29 “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” John 14:10; John 4:34; John 6:38

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he {God the Father} hath made him {God the Son} to be sin for us, who knew no sin: that we {all who will believe} might be made the righteousness {condition acceptable and approved of God} of God in him.” Isaiah 53:6; Isaiah 53:9; Isaiah 53:11; Hebrews 7:26; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:22; Jeremiah 23:6; Daniel 9:24; Romans 1:17; Romans 3:21; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Philippians 3:9

Jesus was crucified in our place and paid - in full - the penalty for our sins:

Matthew 26:28 “For this is my blood {atoning blood of Christ} of the new testament {New Covenant under Grace}, which is shed for many for the remissions {pardon; forgiveness} of sins {violation of God’s divine law in thought or act}.” Exodus 24:8; Leviticus 17:11; Jeremiah 31:31; Matthew 20:28; Romans 5:15; Hebrews 9:22

1 Corinthians 15:2-4

Verse 2. “By which also ye are saved, if ye keep {hold fast} in memory what {the word} I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain {without cause}.” Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Galatians 3:4

Verse 3. “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died {He was the substitutionary and propitiatory sacrifice} for our sins according to the scriptures {historical and prophetical facts};” Romans 3:23-26; 1 Corinthians 11:2; 1 Corinthians 11:23; Galatians 1:12; Psalm 22:15; 1 John 2:2

Verse 4. “And that he was buried {proof of physical bodily death}, and that he rose again {was dead, but is alive now} the third day according to the scriptures:” Psalm 16:9-11; Psalm 68:18; Psalm 110:1

• Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea 
• Other Scriptures for Verses 1-4 above: Genesis 3:15; Psalm 22:15; Isaiah 53:5; Isaiah 53:10; Hosea 6:2; Daniel 9:26; 1 Peter 2:24; Psalm 2:7

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Isaiah 53:6; Isaiah 53:9; Isaiah 53:11; Romans 1:17; Romans 3:21; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:22; Hebrews 7:26; Jeremiah 23:6; Daniel 9:24; Romans 1:17; Philippians 3:9

1 John 2:2 “And he is the propitiation {expiation; an appeasing} for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world {all; completely; entire human race}.” John 1:29; Romans 3:25; Ephesians 5:25; Hebrews 2:9; Genesis 22:13 (not a mistake as a reference here; Just as God put the ram in the thicket for Abraham; God put Christ on the cross for mankind)

• Propitiation used in this verse means “atoning sacrifice.”  

Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his {demonstrates His own} love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ dies for us.” John 3:16; John 15:13; 1 Peter 3:18

Romans 6:23 “For the wages {our deserving} of sin is death; but the gift {unmerited favor} of God is eternal life through {literally in Jesus Christ} Jesus Christ our Lord.” Genesis 2:17; John 3:14; 1 Peter 1:4

Jesus resurrected from the dead: 

The Resurrection is crucial to the Christian faith; it is when Christianity began; it proves the deity of Christ and God’s power over death. Acts 1:3

Luke 24:46-47 “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved {was necessary for} Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:” 47 “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Daniel 9:24; Genesis 12:3; Psalm 22; Isaiah 49:6; Jeremiah 31:34; Hosea 2:23: Hosea 6:2; Luke 11:29; Acts 5:31; Acts 10:43; Acts 13:8; Acts 17:3; Acts 26:18; Micah 4:2; Malachi 1:11; Galatians 3:14

Mark 16:6 “And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted {alarmed}: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.” Matthew 28:25; John 2:19

Romans 1:4 “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit {Spirit} of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead;” Acts 9:20; Acts 13:33; Hebrews 9:14

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” Psalm 16:9-11; Psalm 68:18; Psalm 110:1

• Christ died for our sins: In our stead/place; substitution and propitiatory (Romans 3:23-26)
• He was buried: Absolute death
• He rose again: He was dead but is now alive
• According to the scriptures: Prophetically and historically Psalm 16:10; John 20:9; Acts 26:23

Quiz

1. How does faith come about?

2. Who is Jesus?

3. Why is the Resurrection important?

4. Name Jesus’ sins

5. Why is the Virgin Birth vital?

6. When did Christianity begin?

7. For whom did Jesus die?

8. Why did Jesus die?

9. Are you born again?

10. Who is the Creator?