Presbyterians believe Jesus was –
Fully human, fully God.
Jesus proclaimed the reign of God:
preaching good news to the poor
and release to the captives,
teaching by word and deed
and blessing the children,
healing the sick
and binding up the brokenhearted,
eating with outcasts,
forgiving sinners,
and calling all to repent and believe the gospel.
Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition,
Jesus was crucified,
suffering the depths of human pain
and giving his life for the sins of the world.
God raised Jesus from the dead,
vindicating his sinless life,
breaking the power of sin and evil,
delivering us from death to life eternal.
—“Brief Statement of Faith,” Lines 8-26
Jesus was born of a woman — Mary — in a particular place — the Middle East — to a particular people — the Jews. He was born as a helpless infant who hungered, cried, had to be changed and grew as all babies grow. As a grown man, Jesus knew all of the feelings humans know — joy, sadness, discouragement, loneliness and longing. Yet, Jesus also trusted completely in God and was without sin.
Jesus’ actual ministry on earth was short — approximately three years. Because his teachings challenged powerful religious and government leaders, he was executed as a dangerous and seditious criminal. He died, was buried and was resurrected by God. For Christians, this resurrection is God’s most amazing miracle and proof that Jesus was indeed divine.
We believe that Jesus is as alive today as he was on the first Easter morning and that he is present with us today, even though we cannot see him or physically touch him. We call Jesus “Lord” because he has saved us from the power of death and the power of sin and because, through his sacrifice, we are able to know the fullness of God’s love for us.
Christians also believe that Jesus will one day return to the earth to complete the task of creating a world where justice, peace and love rule and evil is no more. To those who believe in Christ, such an event is seen not with fear but with joyful anticipation. Because Jesus showed that not even death can stop God’s purpose and God’s activity, we know that we have life and hope forever.
Tags:
Comments
-
Dear Zeek, The Gospel of John chapter 17 let's us know he is fully God when Jesus says "Father, make them one as we are one," he is speaking of their eternal unity which existed before all creation which is taught in John 1:1 and when he says in John 8:58" before Abraham was born, I am" he makes it very clear to all his critics he is the eternal God who is one with the Father as difficult as is it to understand. When he went to the garden and expressed his dependency on the Father and asks him if there is a different way to go about sin it may have been a rhetorical question. Like saying as you are driving down out of the mountains in a rain or snow storm, " I wish there was another way out of these mountains" know full well there isn't. Jesus knew he had to go to the cross and he rebuked Peter for suggesting otherwise. It was his mission and he did it willingly aligning his humanity with his divinity in the statement, " Father, not my will but yours" Jesus was fully man and he was tempted in every way we are tempted yet without sin. He was tempted to take a way around the cross but his chose to do it " God's way." Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God the Father as God the Son. God the Spirit is right there as well in full agreement of their Godhead. The Trinity is known as the Godhead which is made up of three distinct persons who are all fully God. When Jesus was sent by the Father and by the power of the Spirit scripture says he lowered himself from his Godhood to become a man. Philippians 2" 8,9. Paul teaches he did not hold on to his God equality but lessened himself or humbled himself to become a man. I hope this helps you can come to terms with these important and essential doctrines. Keep asking good questions. God bless you.
-
what I don't understand is that if jesus is fully God than who was he praying to in the garden and why did he say "If it is possible, let this cup pass from me. never the less, not my will but your's be done?" Also, why did he say "Not me, but my father who sent me." the scripture says that he is seated at the right hand of the Father, but Jesus said "Call no man father except your father which is in Heaven who is he sitting next to if He is fully God, himself? these questions are not intended to distort your faith, but are, rather, questions that deserve and need real answeres with scriptural referance to back them up, so as not to confuse the soul who is desperatly looking for real meaning.