If the previous lesson examined the disease, this lesson presents the cure. The Gospel is not primarily about what we must do but about what God has done. And what God has done centers on a Person: Jesus Christ.
Christianity is not a philosophy, a moral code, or a religious system. It is news— an announcement of events that have happened in history. A man was born in Bethlehem, lived in Galilee, was crucified in Jerusalem, and rose from the dead. These events are the pivot point of history, the hinge on which everything turns.
In this lesson, we will explore who Jesus is (His Person) and what He accomplished (His Work). Together, these constitute the solution to the problem of sin, death, and separation.
"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures."
— 1 Corinthians 15:3-4The Person of Christ: Who Is Jesus?
The identity of Jesus is the central question of human history. Who is this man who claimed authority to forgive sins, accepted worship, and spoke of Himself in terms reserved for God alone?
Truly God
The New Testament is unambiguous: Jesus Christ is God incarnate. He is not a created being, not an angel, not merely a great prophet. He is the eternal Son of God, the second Person of the Trinity, possessing the full divine nature.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us."
— John 1:1, 14Jesus made claims that, if not true, would be blasphemous:
- "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58) — claiming the divine name revealed to Moses
- "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30) — asserting unity with God
- "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9) — claiming to reveal God perfectly
- He forgave sins (Mark 2:5-7) — a prerogative belonging to God alone
- He accepted worship (Matthew 14:33; 28:9) — which is due only to God
The apostles affirmed His deity. Thomas confessed Him as "my Lord and my God" (John 20:28). Paul declared that "in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily" (Colossians 2:9). The author of Hebrews says the Father addresses the Son: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever" (Hebrews 1:8).
C.S. Lewis famously argued that Jesus's claims leave us with only three options: He was a liar who knew His claims were false, a lunatic who genuinely believed false claims, or He is Lord—exactly who He claimed to be. What we cannot say is that He was merely a great moral teacher; His claims preclude that option.
Truly Human
Yet this same Jesus who is fully God is also fully human. He was conceived in Mary's womb, born as an infant, grew through childhood, experienced hunger, thirst, fatigue, and sorrow. He wept at the tomb of Lazarus. He agonized in Gethsemane. He suffered and died on the cross.
The incarnation—God becoming man—is the central miracle of Christianity. The infinite became finite. The eternal entered time. The Creator took on the form of the creature.
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."
— Philippians 2:5-7His full humanity was essential to His mission. To save humans, He had to become human. To represent us, He had to be one of us. To die in our place, He needed a body that could die.
One Person, Two Natures
The Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) articulated what Scripture teaches: Jesus Christ is one Person with two natures—divine and human—united without confusion, change, division, or separation. He is not half God and half man, nor God wearing a human disguise, nor a man elevated to divinity. He is the God-man, fully God and fully human, forever.
This union is mysterious, but it is not contradictory. The two natures do not cancel each other out; they coexist in the one Person of Christ. And this unique Person is uniquely qualified to reconcile God and humanity.
The Work of Christ: What Did Jesus Accomplish?
Jesus did not merely come to teach or to set an example (though He did both). He came to accomplish a specific work: the salvation of sinners. This work is summarized in His life, death, and resurrection.
His Sinless Life
Jesus lived the life we should have lived but could not. From birth to death, He perfectly obeyed the Father's will. He fulfilled every requirement of God's law. He never sinned—not in thought, word, or deed.
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."
— Hebrews 4:15This sinlessness was necessary for two reasons. First, only a sinless sacrifice could be acceptable to God; a sinner cannot atone for sin. Second, Jesus's righteousness is credited to believers; we need not only forgiveness for our sins but positive righteousness to stand before God.
His Substitutionary Death
The cross is the center of the Gospel. There, Jesus died in the place of sinners, bearing the punishment we deserved. This is called substitutionary atonement—He was our substitute, and His death atoned for (covered, paid for) our sins.
"But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."
— Isaiah 53:5"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God."
— 1 Peter 3:18What happened at the cross can be described from multiple angles:
- Propitiation — God's wrath against sin was satisfied. The Father poured out on the Son the judgment we deserved, and His justice was vindicated (Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2)
- Redemption — We were bought back from slavery to sin. The price was Christ's blood, and we are now free (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19)
- Reconciliation — The hostility between God and humanity was removed. Enemies have become friends (Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19)
- Victory — The powers of evil were defeated. Satan's hold was broken, and death's power was destroyed (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14-15)
"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). On the cross, a double transfer occurred: our sin was placed on Christ, and His righteousness was credited to us. He got what we deserved; we get what He deserved.
His Bodily Resurrection
The cross was not the end. On the third day, Jesus rose bodily from the grave. The tomb was empty. He appeared to His disciples over forty days, eating with them, showing them His wounds, commissioning them for mission.
"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins."
— 1 Corinthians 15:17The resurrection proves that Jesus's sacrifice was accepted. It vindicates His claims. It demonstrates His power over death. And it guarantees our own future resurrection.
Christianity stands or falls with the resurrection. If Jesus did not rise, we are still in our sins, our preaching is useless, and we are to be pitied above all people (1 Corinthians 15:14-19). But if He did rise—and the evidence is overwhelming—then everything changes.
His Ascension and Present Ministry
After forty days, Jesus ascended to heaven, where He now sits at the Father's right hand. But He is not inactive. He continues to minister on our behalf:
- He intercedes for us — "He always lives to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25). Christ prays for His people continuously.
- He rules as King — All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Him (Matthew 28:18). He governs history for the good of His church.
- He sends the Spirit — The Holy Spirit, poured out at Pentecost, is Christ's continuing presence with His people (John 16:7).
- He prepares a place — He has gone to prepare a place for His people and will return to take them to Himself (John 14:2-3).
His Future Return
The work of Christ is not yet complete. He will return in glory to judge the living and the dead, to consummate His kingdom, to make all things new. The Gospel includes not only past events (the cross, resurrection) but future hope (the return, the new creation).
"This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
— Acts 1:11The Sufficiency of Christ's Work
A crucial implication of Christ's work is its sufficiency. Nothing needs to be added. His sacrifice was complete, final, and fully effective.
"For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."
— Hebrews 10:14This truth has profound implications:
- We cannot add to it — Our good works, religious rituals, and moral efforts contribute nothing to our salvation. Christ has done it all.
- We need not repeat it — Unlike the Old Testament sacrifices, which were offered continually, Christ's sacrifice was once for all. There is no need for additional sacrifices.
- We dare not diminish it — To suggest that Christ's work is insufficient is to insult His sacrifice. Either He saves completely, or He does not save at all.
Salvation is not Christ plus our contribution. It is Christ alone. He is the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
The exclusive claims of Christ are often labeled arrogant. But exclusivity is not arrogance when it is true. If Jesus is who He claimed to be—the unique Son of God who alone can reconcile us to the Father—then claiming there are other ways would not be humble but false.
Proclaiming Christ in Evangelism
The Gospel is about a Person. Evangelism, therefore, is fundamentally introducing people to Jesus Christ—who He is and what He has done.
Keep Christ Central
It is possible to share "the Gospel" without actually talking about Jesus. We can focus on principles, techniques, or experiences while leaving the Person in the background. But authentic evangelism puts Christ front and center. We are not promoting a program but proclaiming a Person.
Proclaim the Cross
The cross is the heart of the message. Paul resolved to know nothing among the Corinthians "except Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). The cross may be foolishness to the world, but it is the power of God for salvation. We must not be ashamed of the blood.
Declare the Resurrection
The resurrection is not an appendix to the Gospel; it is integral to it. The earliest Christian preaching in Acts consistently proclaimed the risen Christ. The resurrection demonstrates that Jesus is who He claimed to be and that His sacrifice was accepted.
Call for Response
The work of Christ is objectively complete, but it must be subjectively received. The message of Christ's Person and work naturally leads to the question: How do I receive the benefits of what Christ has done? That question leads us to the next lesson: the response of repentance and faith.
"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
— Acts 4:12Discussion Questions
- How would you explain Jesus's dual nature (fully God and fully human) to someone unfamiliar with Christian theology? Why does it matter that Jesus is both God and man?
- The lesson describes multiple dimensions of Christ's atoning work: propitiation, redemption, reconciliation, and victory. Which of these images most resonates with you personally? Which might resonate most with people in your evangelistic context?
- How do you respond when people claim that the exclusive claims of Christ are arrogant or intolerant? What is the relationship between truth and humility in proclaiming Christ as the only way?