Imagine a rescue worker entering a burning building to save trapped people.
To rescue them, he must be able to:
enter their condition,
survive the danger,
and possess the power to bring them out alive.
If he is only strong but unwilling to enter the fire, nobody is saved.
If he enters the fire but lacks the strength to rescue, everyone perishes.
Jesus Christ came into our burning world of sin in the same way.
He entered humanity fully:
He felt pain,
hunger,
rejection,
temptation,
sorrow,
exhaustion.
Yet at the same time, He possessed divine authority:
power over sin,
power over demons,
power over nature,
power over death itself.
If Jesus were only human, He could not save us.
If Jesus were only God and never became man, He could not truly represent us.
But the glory of the Gospel is this:
Jesus Christ became exactly what we needed:
fully God,
fully man,
the perfect Savior,
the eternal Redeemer,
the King of Kings.
Christology is not merely the study of facts about Jesus.
Christology is the study of the Person who changed eternity forever.
The word Christology comes from:
Christos = Christ, the Anointed One
Logos = study, discourse
Christology is:
“The study of Jesus Christ.”
This doctrine examines:
the preexistence of Christ,
His humanity,
His deity,
His birth,
ministry,
death,
resurrection,
ascension,
return,
and eternal offices.
The most important question in human history is:
“Who is Jesus Christ?”
Jesus Himself asked:
Matthew 16:15
“Who do you say that I am?”
How you answer that question determines:
your eternity,
your worship,
your salvation,
and your relationship with God.
Many people today call Jesus:
a good teacher,
a prophet,
a moral example,
a spiritual guide.
But Scripture declares something infinitely greater:
Jesus Christ is God manifested in the flesh.
This teaching will focus on three major revelations about Christ:
The Eternal Nature of Christ — Jesus Before Bethlehem
The Incarnation of Christ — Fully God and Fully Man
The Work and Victory of Christ — Death, Resurrection, Return, and Kingdom
The Old Testament prepared humanity for the coming Messiah.
From Genesis onward, Scripture points toward:
a Redeemer,
a Deliverer,
a King,
a suffering servant.
The Jews anticipated:
the Prophet like Moses,
the Son of David,
the eternal King,
the suffering Messiah.
Jesus fulfilled hundreds of prophecies:
His birth,
lineage,
betrayal,
crucifixion,
resurrection,
and kingdom.
The New Testament reveals that Jesus was not merely born in Bethlehem.
He existed eternally before creation.
The incarnation was not Jesus beginning to exist.
It was eternal God entering human history.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
“And the Word became flesh…”
“He is before all things…”
“Being in the form of God…”
“Before Abraham was, I AM.”
“The express image of His person…”
“I am the Alpha and the Omega…”
Jesus did not begin existing in Bethlehem.
Bethlehem was His entrance into humanity, not the beginning of His existence.
THE PREEXISTENCE OF CHRIST
John 1:1
“In the beginning was the Word…”
Notice carefully:
“was,”
“was,”
“was.”
Jesus already existed before creation.
The Greek word used for “Word” is Logos.
Logos means:
divine expression,
reason,
revelation,
eternal communication.
Jesus is the eternal expression of God Himself.
John 1:14
“The Word became flesh…”
The phrase “became flesh” comes from the Greek word:
sarx = flesh, humanity.
This means eternal God took on human nature.
He did not stop being God.
He added humanity to His deity.
JESUS CLAIMED ETERNAL EXISTENCE
John 8:58
“Before Abraham was, I AM.”
This statement shocked the Jews because Jesus used the divine covenant name:
“I AM”
from Exodus 3:14.
Jesus was declaring Himself equal with Yahweh.
That is why the religious leaders attempted to stone Him.
JESUS SHARED GLORY WITH THE FATHER
John 17:5
“Glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”
Jesus existed eternally with the Father before creation.
PAUL’S TESTIMONY ABOUT CHRIST
Colossians 1:17
“He is before all things…”
Christ existed before:
angels,
galaxies,
time,
humanity,
creation itself.
LIFE EXAMPLE
Imagine reading a novel and only meeting the main character halfway through the story.
You may assume that character only began existing at that point.
But the author already knew him from the beginning.
Likewise, humanity first saw Jesus physically in Bethlehem, but Heaven knew Him eternally.
Before:
Mary,
Joseph,
shepherds,
kings,
Jesus already existed as eternal God.
PROPHECIES ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
The Old Testament contains astonishing prophecies about Christ.
His Birth
Micah 5:2
Bethlehem predicted centuries before His birth.
His Lineage
Genesis 49:10
Messiah would come through Judah.
His Betrayal
Zechariah 11:12
Thirty pieces of silver.
His Death
Psalm 22
Describes crucifixion before crucifixion existed historically.
His Resurrection
Psalm 16:10
“You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.”
WHY PROPHECY MATTERS
Prophecy proves:
God controls history,
Jesus is truly Messiah,
Scripture is divinely inspired.
Only God can declare the future accurately.
One of the greatest mysteries in theology is the incarnation.
THE HUMANITY OF CHRIST
Jesus was fully human.
Hebrews 2:17
“He had to be made like His brethren…”
Jesus experienced real humanity.
JESUS HAD A HUMAN BODY
He was:
born,
carried by Mary,
grew physically,
learned to walk,
became tired,
hungry,
thirsty.
Luke 2:52
“Jesus increased in wisdom and stature…”
JESUS EXPERIENCED HUMAN EMOTIONS
He:
wept,
loved,
grieved,
felt compassion,
experienced sorrow.
John 11:35
“Jesus wept.”
The Savior understood human pain personally.
JESUS WAS TEMPTED
Hebrews 4:15
“Tempted in all points…”
Yet He remained sinless.
THE DEITY OF CHRIST
At the same time, Jesus was fully God.
John 1:1
“The Word was God.”
The Greek structure emphasizes absolute deity.
John did not say Jesus was “a god.”
He declared:
Jesus IS God.
JESUS DID THE WORKS OF GOD
Creator
Colossians 1:16
“All things were created through Him.”
Forgiver of Sin
Mark 2:5
“Your sins are forgiven.”
Only God can forgive sins.
Giver of Eternal Life
John 10:28
“I give them eternal life.”
Judge of Humanity
Acts 17:31
Christ will judge the world.
JESUS ACCEPTED WORSHIP
Angels worshiped Him.
Disciples worshiped Him.
Demons trembled before Him.
And Jesus accepted worship because He is divine.
THE HYPOSTATIC UNION
This theological term describes:
two natures,
fully divine,
fully human,
united in one Person.
Jesus is:
not half God,
not half man,
but fully both simultaneously.
LIFE EXAMPLE
Imagine an ambassador who fully represents a king while living among ordinary people.
Jesus perfectly represented:
God to humanity,
and:
humanity before God.
Only Jesus could bridge the gap between sinful mankind and holy God.
WHY THIS MATTERS
If Jesus is not fully God:
His sacrifice cannot save eternally.
If Jesus is not fully man:
He cannot represent humanity.
Salvation depends upon:
the perfect God-man.
Jesus did not come merely to teach morality.
He came to save humanity.
THE PURPOSE OF HIS COMING
Jesus came:
to reconcile mankind to God,
to bear sin,
to destroy Satan’s power,
to establish the Kingdom,
to redeem humanity
Matthew 1:21
“He will save His people from their sins.”
THE DEATH OF CHRIST
The cross was not an accident.
It was the eternal plan of redemption.
Romans 5:8
“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
The Greek word for sin-bearing in Scripture points to substitution.
Jesus died:
in our place,
as our substitute,
bearing divine judgment for humanity.
THE CROSS REVEALS
At Calvary:
God’s holiness,
justice,
mercy,
and love
met together.
JESUS DESTROYED THE POWER OF SATAN
Hebrews 2:14
“That through death He might destroy him who had the power of death…”
The cross defeated:
condemnation,
death,
hell,
and Satan’s authority over believers.
THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS
The resurrection proves:
Jesus is Lord,
death is defeated,
salvation is complete.
Matthew 28
The tomb was empty.
WHY THE RESURRECTION MATTERS
Without resurrection:
Christianity collapses,
salvation fails,
hope disappears.
1 Corinthians 15:17
“If Christ is not risen, your faith is futile.”
But Jesus rose victoriously.
JESUS APPEARED TO MANY
He appeared:
to Mary Magdalene,
disciples,
Thomas,
over 500 believers,
Paul.
The resurrection was publicly witnessed.
THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST
Jesus ascended into Heaven.
Acts 1:9
“He was taken up…”
He now reigns at the Father’s right hand.
JESUS INTERCEDES FOR BELIEVERS
Hebrews 7:25
“He ever lives to make intercession…”
Right now, Jesus intercedes for His people.
THE RETURN OF CHRIST
Jesus is coming again.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
The dead in Christ shall rise.
Believers will meet the Lord in the air.
THE SECOND COMING
Christ will return:
as King,
Judge,
conqueror.
Revelation 19:16
“King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”
THE THREE OFFICES OF CHRIST
CHRIST OUR PROPHET. He reveals God’s truth.
CHRIST OUR PRIEST. He intercedes and offered Himself as sacrifice.
CHRIST OUR KING. He rules eternally over all creation.
LIFE EXAMPLE
Imagine a courtroom where:
the Judge is perfectly holy,
the criminal is undeniably guilty,
and justice demands punishment.
Then suddenly:
the Judge steps down,
takes the punishment Himself,
and offers pardon freely.
That is what Jesus accomplished at the cross.
Everything points to Jesus.
Jesus Is the Eternal Word
Jesus Is the Fulfillment of Prophecy
Jesus Is the Perfect Sacrifice
Jesus Is the Risen Savior
Jesus Is the Returning King
Jesus Is the Only Way to God
Many people know facts about Jesus but do not truly know Him relationally.
Spend daily time in prayer and Scripture.
Worship Him personally.
Build intimacy with Christ.
Christianity is relationship before religion.
APPLICATION 2 — TRUST FULLY IN CHRIST’S FINISHED WORK
You cannot save yourself.
Jesus accomplished salvation completely.
Stop trusting works for acceptance before God.
Place confidence in Christ’s sacrifice.
Walk in gratitude and faith.
APPLICATION 3 — LIVE WITH EXPECTATION OF CHRIST’S RETURN
Jesus is coming again.
Live holy and watchful.
Share the Gospel urgently.
Remain faithful during trials.
The return of Christ should shape daily living.
Jesus Christ is not merely a historical figure.
He is:
the eternal Son of God,
the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world,
the risen King,
the Savior of humanity.
He stepped into human history:
born in humility,
rejected by men,
crowned with thorns,
nailed to a cross,
buried in a tomb,
yet He rose again in glory.
Death could not hold Him.
Hell could not stop Him.
Satan could not defeat Him.
Jesus Christ reigns forever.
He understands:
your pain,
your weakness,
your struggles,
because He became fully human.
Yet He also possesses:
all authority,
all power,
all glory,
because He is fully God.
Lift your eyes to Jesus:
your Prophet,
your Priest,
your King,
your Redeemer,
your coming Lord.
Declare today:
“Jesus Christ is my Savior.
Jesus Christ is my Lord.
Jesus Christ is my foundation.
Jesus Christ is my hope.
Jesus Christ is my King forever.”
May your heart burn with deeper love for Christ.
May your faith become anchored in His truth.
May your worship become filled with awe.
May your life reflect His holiness.
And may you live every day expecting the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.