Jesus' Faith: A Model For Christians

Faith in Jesus Christ is a cornerstone of Christianity. It involves acknowledging the truth of God's revelations and trusting in Him for salvation. This faith is a spiritual gift, necessary for salvation, and it involves a deep trust in Jesus as the Savior and the Son of God, who came to earth to save humanity from sin. It is also about believing in His resurrection and ascension, and that He will return to judge the world. This faith is not just an abstract concept but is shown through actions and obedience to His commands. It is a gift from God, and Jesus is seen as the Author and Originator of faith.

Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah

Jesus was a Hebrew of the tribe of Judah, born in Bethlehem to a virgin. He was a prophet like Moses, but greater, as he frees us from the bondage of death and sin. Jesus is also a priest in the order of Melchizedek, a king, and the Son of David.

The Gospel of Matthew, which is the most Jewish of the Gospels and the one most closely linked to the Old Testament and the prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah, provides a genealogy confirming Jesus' credentials as the Messiah. Matthew traces Jesus' lineage through David and Abraham, affirming that Jesus is the Messiah and Saviour of the world.

Jesus also fulfilled many prophecies concerning the Messiah. For example, his birth to a virgin fulfils the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, his family's escape to Egypt fulfils Hosea 11:1, and his ministry in Galilee fulfils Isaiah 9:2.

All the things written about the Messiah in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms were fulfilled in Jesus. Through faith in Jesus, we are given access to the Father as God's children and the promise of eternal life.

Jesus is God's only son

The phrase "only begotten Son" is used in John 3:16 from the King James Version of the Bible: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The Greek term "monogenes" is translated as "only begotten" and can mean "one of a kind" or "unique".

Jesus is referred to as the "only begotten Son" of God to emphasise his unique relationship with God the Father. This does not mean that Jesus was created by God the Father. Instead, it highlights that Jesus is the Son of God, sharing the same divine nature.

Other passages in the Bible support this interpretation. For example, John 1:1-3 states, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made." This suggests that Jesus, as the Word, was with God in the beginning and had a role in creation, indicating that he is not a created being himself.

Additionally, Colossians 1:15-17 emphasises Jesus' role in creation: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Jesus is referred to as the "only begotten Son" of God to distinguish him from other "sons of God", which can refer to angelic beings or humans who are considered children of God through their faith or adoption into God's heavenly family.

By placing our faith in Jesus as the Son of God, we are granted salvation and eternal life.

Jesus died for our sins

According to the Bible, the first humans, Adam and Eve, were created perfect and lived in paradise. However, they disobeyed God and ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which God had forbidden. This act of disobedience, or "sin", brought death into the world, and all humans became subject to physical and spiritual death due to their sinful nature.

God, in his mercy, provided a way out: he sent his perfect, sinless Son, Jesus, to earth as the final sacrifice for the sins of mankind. Jesus was crucified by the Romans, and his death served as the ultimate sacrifice to atone for the sins of those who believe in him.

Jesus himself declared: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Through his death and resurrection, Jesus provided a way for sinful humans to attain eternal life with God in heaven. This is often referred to as "salvation".

The Bible states: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). This verse captures the essence of the gospel: that Jesus' death and resurrection offer the gift of eternal life to those who believe and trust in him.

Jesus' death on the cross fulfilled the requirement of the Law of Moses, which mandated animal sacrifices for the atonement of sins. However, these sacrifices were only temporary, and Jesus' sacrifice was the perfect and final offering for the sins of humanity.

By placing our faith in Jesus, we can be forgiven of our sins and granted eternal life with God. This salvation is a gift from God, received through faith in Jesus, and not through our own works or efforts.

Jesus rose from the dead

Jesus' resurrection is a central tenet of Christianity, and it is mentioned in the Bible's New Testament. Jesus' resurrection is said to have occurred on the third day after his crucifixion, marking the start of his exalted life as Christ and Lord.

The New Testament describes Jesus' resurrection as a physical raising of his body from the dead. After his death, Jesus' body was wrapped in linen and placed in a tomb with a large stone blocking the entrance. On the third day, Mary Magdalene and another woman named Mary went to visit the tomb and found it empty. An angel of God told them that Jesus had risen and instructed them to tell Jesus' disciples that he would meet them in Galilee.

Jesus then appeared to the women, showing them his nail-pierced hands. He also appeared to his disciples, who were at first doubtful of the resurrection. Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith and instructed them to spread his teachings to the world.

Jesus' resurrection is said to have occurred in accordance with his own predictions and those of the Hebrew Bible. It is also said to have occurred in fulfilment of God's plan for salvation, as described in the New Testament.

Jesus will return to judge the world

Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel and is necessary for salvation. It involves acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in his Word, trusting in him, and receiving and resting on him alone for salvation.

When Jesus returns, he will separate the people of every nation as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Those who have God's approval will inherit the kingdom, while those who do not will go into everlasting fire. This is further illustrated in Matthew 25:31-46:

> "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all his angels are with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. The people of every nation will be gathered in front of him. He will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right but the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, my Father has blessed you! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me into your home. I needed clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you took care of me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' Then the people who have God's approval will reply to him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or see you thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you as a stranger and take you into our homes or see you in need of clothes and give you something to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' The king will answer them, 'I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you did for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did for me.' Then the king will say to those on his left, 'Get away from me! God has cursed you! Go into everlasting fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels! I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger, and you didn't take me into your homes. I needed clothes, and you didn't give me anything to wear. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't take care of me.' They, too, will ask, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or as a stranger or in need of clothes or sick or in prison and didn't help you?' He will answer them, 'I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you failed to do for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you failed to do for me.' These people will go away into eternal punishment, but those with God's approval will go into eternal life."

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