Doctrines Concerning

God, The Son

C. The Work of Jesus Christ

1. That Jesus Christ became the Savior for mankind be His sacrificial death on the cross.

Isa 53:5 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.

Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Luk 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

a. That is was only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ that eternal salvation was made possible.

Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Heb 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?

Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

b. That although Jesus Christ's death on the cross was sufficient for all mankind, it is efficient for only those that believe.

Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

1Ti 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

Personal Opinion:

Christianity is just lovely to talk about to the unbeliever up until the part about the blood. 

Then we must explain about the Jews and how they were told to sacrifice animals.  Then we have to explain how it had to be done over and over again.  Then we have to explain how Jesus is the complete perfect sacrifice because He is God.  Then we have to explain how those who never get to hear this story or for one reason or another refuse to believe it and trust in Jesus don't receive its benefits. 

Well, it's a tough sell.  It takes the power of God.  We can't do it.  Is that fair?  I trust it is.

2. That Jesus Christ resurrected bodily from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures.

Mat 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Mar 6:6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Personal Opinion:

It is somewhat of a puzzle to me and maybe it's all in my head, but it does seem that the worldly objections to the work of Jesus revolve around the inhumanity of the very idea of hell - a place of eternal pain and punishment.

Why not just deny that any one has ever come back from the dead?  Why not deny the possibility of the miracles of Jesus?  Maybe the reason is that most people deep down want to believe that death is not the end and that we can have unlimited power of healing.  Most are not atheists, most are mystics worshiping strange gods, gods that they think they can control.

3. That Jesus Christ ascended bodily into heaven.

Mar 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

Act 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

Act 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

Act 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Heb 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

Heb 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

Heb 7:28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Personal Opinion:

Another good reason to reject the New Age - American Indian - pantheistic type of spiritualism.  It is all very well as poetry to think of ourselves as made up of the same material and energy as the rest of the animal, vegetable and mineral world but in the end even the scientist will admit it all had a beginning and it will all have an end.

God is spirit and the spiritual realm is difficult to conceive with our human brain.  But one thing about it is easy to comprehend - it is very much necessary and common sense that there be something which is above and beyond this physical universe.

That's where the Bible says Jesus now resides and where I will reside also when my physical body dies.

4. That Jesus Christ is now seated at the right hand of the Father, where He intercedes for the believers.

Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

 Personal Opinion:

Maybe some day, but not now, I will get it straight when this time or event will be that we will stand before the judgment seat.  After we die?  After the Rapture?  After the Thousand Year Rein of Christ here on earth?

Too bad, I missed the sermon about these events.  It made quite a stir as some ideas were presented which did not jive with those commonly held, such as that we do not instantly go to Heaven but sleep till the Rapture. 

Since time has little meaning in the spirit world, it actually makes little difference either way.

5. That Jesus Christ may return at any moment to "snatch up" His church.

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Personal Opinion:

There does seem to be some contradiction here between Paul and the Gospel writers.  At the Transfiguration Jesus converses with Moses and Elijah.  This seems to mean that not all "the dead in Christ" sleep until the return of Christ.  Matthew, Mark and Luke seem to show that at least two of them were awakened and visited with Christ while he performed his earthly ministry.  Maybe these two (Moses and Elijah) were special cases having a degree of holiness which warranted special treatment.

Who knows?