Article IV

Article 4 – Jesus Christ, the Son of God

Jesus Christ is the eternal Word of God, who is of one substance and equal with the Father, prophesied in the Old Testament and revealed in the New Testament.

1.Old Testament Prophecies

•Isaiah 9:6:

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

•Micah 5:2:

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

•Psalm 2:7:

“I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.”

2.Fulfillment in the New Testament

•John 1:1-3:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

•John 1:14:

“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.”

His Incarnation

Jesus took on human nature, fully human and yet without sin, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah’s birth.

1.Old Testament Prophecy

•Isaiah 7:14:

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

2.Fulfillment in the New Testament

•Matthew 1:22-23:

“Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

•Luke 1:35:

“And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

His Divine and Human Natures

The Messiah is both fully God and fully man, possessing two perfect and distinct natures, and is the only mediator between God and man.

1.Old Testament Prophecy

•Isaiah 53:3-5:

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief… But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

•Psalm 110:1:

“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”

2.Fulfillment in the New Testament

•Colossians 1:15-20:

“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible… And having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself.”

•1 Timothy 2:5:

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

The Revelation of God to Man

The Son is the fullest revelation of God, as foretold by the prophets.

1.Old Testament Prophecy

•Deuteronomy 18:18-19:

“I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.”

2.Fulfillment in the New Testament

•Hebrews 1:1-4:

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.”

His Life and Ministry

Jesus lived a sinless life, performed miracles, and taught God’s will, fulfilling Old Testament expectations of the Messiah.

1.Old Testament Prophecy

•Isaiah 61:1:

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.”

•Psalm 22:22:

“I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.”

2.Fulfillment in the New Testament

•Philippians 2:5-8:

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus… took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”

•Acts 10:38:

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

His Sacrificial Death and Resurrection

Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection fulfilled Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah’s redemptive work.

1.Old Testament Prophecy

•Isaiah 53:7-9:

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter… for the transgression of my people was he stricken.”

•Psalm 16:10:

“For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”

2.Fulfillment in the New Testament

•Hebrews 9:14:

“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

•1 Corinthians 15:3-4:

“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.”

His Ascension and Exaltation

Jesus ascended to heaven and intercedes at the right hand of God, fulfilling the promises of His reign.

1.Old Testament Prophecy

•Daniel 7:13-14:

“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven… And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him.”

2.Fulfillment in the New Testament

•Hebrews 4:14-15:

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.”

•Acts 1:9-11:

“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.”