I believe in God-the Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity (Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14) and the co-equal and co-eternal Son of God-the Father (John 1:2, 10:30, 14:9; Col 1:17). The Son is the “very and eternal God, and of one substance with the Father.”[1] The Son is “God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made.”[2]
The Son became incarnate as the man Jesus of Nazareth (John 1:14; Rom 8:3; Col 1:15). When the Son became human, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (Isa 7:14; Matt 1:18; Luke 1:35; Gal 4:4), he did not cease to be God (Col 2:9; Heb 1:3; 1 John 5:20). Rather, Jesus, the Christ, was the God-man, “fully God and fully human, one person in two natures”[3] (John 1:14; Gal 4:4; 1 Tim 3:16). In other words, “two whole and perfect Natures…the Godhead and Manhood, were joined together in one Person, never to be divided, whereof is one Christ, very God, and very Man.”[4]
Jesus, in all respects, lived a common human life with all the essential human characteristics and frailties, yet he lived without sin[5] (Luke 2:40, 52; Heb 2:14-17, 4:15; 1 John 1:1). Also, Jesus was holy (Mark 1:24; Luke 1:35; John 6:69) and righteous (Luke 23:47; Acts 22:14; Heb 1:8-9) and perfectly obedient to the Father (Matt 26:39; John 4:34; Rom 5:18-19; Heb 10:9). Through the incarnation, Jesus revealed deity and “in his words, deeds, attitude and suffering embodied the free and loving communication of God’s own light (truth) and life (salvation).”[6] Jesus fulfilled the roles of prophet (Matt 12:41; John 3:34; Luke 24:19; Acts 3:20-23), priest (Heb 2:17-18, 5:5-6, 10:19-22), and king (Matt 21:1-9; Luke 1:33; John 18:36-37; Rev 1:5, 11:15), and he is the only mediator between God and humanity (1 Tim 2:5).
Jesus accomplished human redemption (Rom 3:24-25; Eph 1:7; Heb 9:12) and reconciliation with God (Rom 5:6; 2 Cor 5:18-19; Col 1:20) through his death by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate (Matt 27:11-56; Mark 15:1-41; Luke 23:1-49) and through his bodily resurrection from the dead on the third day (Matt 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20; Acts 1:3; 4:33; 1 Cor 15:4) and through his ascension into heaven being exalted and glorified at the the right hand of the Father (Luke 24:51; Acts 2:33; Eph 1:20; 1 Pet 3:22).
The exalted Jesus continues to work as savior (Acts 5:31; Heb 7:25), high priest and advocate (Rom 8:34; Heb 4:14; 1 Jn 2:1). Jesus will physically return to the earth with glory (Matt 24:30; Acts 1:11; 2 Thes 1:7; Php 3:20; Rev 1:7), and he will establish the fulness of the eternal Kingdom of God (Luke 22:18; 1 Cor 15:24; 2 Tim 4:1; Rev 11:15).
Footnotes:
[1] Article II: “Of the Word or Son of God Which Was Made Very Man” in Articles of Religion, https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/worship-texts-and-resources/book-common-prayer/articles-religion. [2] Nicene Creed, https://www.crcna.org/welcome/beliefs/creeds/nicene-creed. [3] Confession 7: “The Redemption of Christ,” in Foundational Documents-Confessional Statement at The Gospel Coalition, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/about/foundation-documents/#confessional-statement. [4] Article II: “Of the Word or Son of God Which Was Made Very Man” in Articles of Religion, https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/worship-texts-and-resources/book-common-prayer/articles-religion. [5] Chapter VIII: “Of Christ the Mediator” in The Westminster Confession of Faith, https://reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/index.html. [6] “Jesus Christ” in A Reforming Catholic Confession, https://reformingcatholicconfession.com/.
To Whom Would We Go? 