ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ (in Christ Jesus)

When Mel Gibson’s movie “The Passion of the Christ” came out in 2004 my wife chose not to go and see it (she wasn’t up for viewing the intense scenes of his crucifixion). I went to see it with my son, but for those who asked me why my wife did not want to see it I said, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

So what exactly is the significance of Jesus for Christianity? Does it really matter what believers claim about him? Sure he may have existed as a historical figure and he may have actually died on a cross more than 2000 years ago. But is it really important to believe he is both God and man? What’s the big deal about Jesus?

If Jesus is not fully God, then . . .

• There is no eternal life to be had (1 Jn. 4:15; 5:1), for John clearly states that the condition for eternal life is belief in Jesus’ deity.
• Sin is not conquered, as only God can defeat sin and Satan once and for all.

If Jesus was not fully human, then . . .

• He cannot adequately represent humanity (Rom. 5:12) and could not take our punishment for sin (Rom. 8:3; 
2 Cor. 5:21).
• He cannot sympathize with our weaknesses and the point of his sinless life has no significance (Heb. 4:15).

Since Jesus is the God-Man—fully human, fully divine . . .

• He understands completely our temptations and sufferings,
• He never changes and is utterly dependable, completely sympathetic, and always available to help us in our time of need (Heb. 4:15; 13:8).
• We can be assured that there is victory to overcome the world (1 Jn. 5:5).
• There is no longer any real loneliness or solitude, since as the God-Man, Jesus is with us always (Matt. 28:20). We have an eternal companion!
• He has left us with the ideal human life to model. Intellectually, we can grow in our knowledge of his profound life and teachings. Morally, we can mature in our character by becoming more like him. Emotionally, we can progress in appropriate affective responses to life’s challenges. Volitionally, we can decide among choices that would best please him and benefit those near to us. Relationally, we can enjoy relative peace with God, self, and others.
• We can stand firm that our belief in Jesus as God Incarnate is historically responsible, rationally plausible, and biblically faithful.
• We can be assured that we will be led victoriously out of death into eternal life because of Christ’s resurrected human body (1 Cor. 15).

Because of the Incarnation of God in Christ, we can proclaim with confidence the words of John Calvin:

“Since neither as God alone could he feel death, nor as man alone could he overcome it, he coupled human nature with divine that to atone for sin he might submit the weakness of the one to death; and that, wrestling with death by the power of the other nature, he might win victory for us.” Institutes of the Christian Religion, I.12.1