By Matt Singleton
When we consider the fundamentals of Christian theology, we find essential teachings for what it means to be a Christian. At the heart of these doctrines, we can find one binding nucleus: the divinity of Christ.
There are two doctrines which are made from this divinity: the Trinity and the incarnation. Now, we have already discussed the Trinity. So, this article’s focus is on Christ and His nature.
The orthodox conclusion is that even though there is one person (Jesus), yet there are two distinct natures: the deity (logos) and the man Christ Jesus. In the years of the early church, some people divided the two natures, and that was called a heresy. Some modern liberal skeptics do this by separating the “Jesus of history” from the “Christ of Faith.”
Earlier, there was confusion assuming that Jesus only had one making a mix of God and man. First, the group was called, “Monophysite.” Then, there was an adjusted Apollinarian view which kept humanity except for the mind (which was replaced by deity).
But Jesus is fully human.
“And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”
– 1st John 4:3
For example, we see Jesus express a human perspective in the Garden of Gethsemane.
“And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
– Matthew 26:39
Jesus Christ is also fully God. As the Scripture states,
“For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
– Colossians 2:9
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
– John 1:1 and John 1:14
The divinity of Christ is the nucleus because His sacrifice must be of eternal value in order for justice from God to be satisfied, especially for the sins of the world. This is also why it is important that Jesus is not just an offspring or an adopted son but rather, the Only Begotten of the Father.
Events in the life of Christ testify as to this divinity. Those events include the virgin birth, the crucifixion with the resurrection, and His ascension into Heaven. This fits in nicely with what the Apostle Paul wrote, saying,
“And without controversy great is the mystery 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."
– 1st Timothy 3:16
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;
And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:”
– 1st Corinthians 15:3-4
The resurrection is the most verified event. We have a massive amount of testimony that Jesus was dead and buried (and a massive amount of evidence that Jesus was seen after His death alive). But there is some evidence for the virgin birth and the ascension. The star of Bethlehem was apparently seen by Chinese astrologers as well as Koreans astrologers. Also when Christ died, the sun went dark and Roman historians recorded it.
But America needs Jesus. America needs a God that can deal with man personally. After all, governments can’t save the soul. It has been a great disaster every time they tried. A personal God makes a person become responsible, and a responsible person is a free person, and that makes a free country.