The Jesus I Believe

   Christianity is the religion of the person Jesus Christ. Christian faith is Christocentric. Its center is Christ. It certainly is the case that numerous constituent elements compose the pathway to Christian faith. However, is there not great value in giving serious thought to what one initially, primarily, and ultimately thinks of when he considers his religious faith? And, when it comes to Christian faith, should we not, in some sense, first and foremost, think of Jesus Christ? Who is He? What has He done? What is He doing now? What is He yet to do? It would seem that, in one sense, a surface reading of the New Testament would convince one of the truth of the point we are making here.

   One of the most crucial questions to have been asked on Earth was asked by Jesus, Himself, when He posed the question: “[W]ho do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Andrew Connally summarized the significance of the question when he wrote the following: “Upon this question hangs the destiny of the entire human race, for if He is not the Christ, Christianity has no foundation and we are all lost. . . !” (445). The answer to this monumental question as Simon Peter replied to it is, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Jesus, in response to the answer given by Peter, said: “. . . [O]n this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18), commonly called “the bed-rock foundation from which all claims and actions spring forth” (445). We concur with McGarvey’s conclusion regarding the identity of this “rock:”

 The rock . . . in the context . . . can be no other than the truth which Peter had just confessed concerning Jesus. This truth, that [H]e is the Christ, the Son of the living God is the most fundamental truth in the Christian system—it is that on which the whole superstructure depends. . .” (145).

    Yes! Christianity is Christ-centered. Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). I recall, from 50 years ago, with fond remembrance, hearing one of my mentors, Jess W. Nutter, quote this verse numerous times in his preaching. Additionally, Paul also wrote, “For to me, to live is Christ . . .” (Philippians 1:21). It should come as no surprise that Peter would write to second, perhaps third, generation Christians the following: “[T]hough you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

 The Jesus of the Virgin Birth
   The doctrine precisely stated is that “. . . Jesus of Nazareth was born without human father, being conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary” (Machen 1). The truth of the doctrine is set forth in Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-37. Furthermore, it is marvelously implied from events reported by Matthew (22:41-45) at the conclusion of which Jesus posed a powerful question, which implies the doctrine of the virgin birth of the Lord. He asked: “If David, then calls Him [the Christ] ‘Lord’ how is He his son?” (Matthew 22:45). The obvious irrefutable implication in Jesus’ question is evidenced when Matthew records: “And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question” (Matthew 22:46). This occurred on the Tuesday prior to Jesus’ death on Friday of the same week.

The Jesus of the Virtuous Life
   He was virtuous (morally excellent) in what He said. “Never man spoke like this man!” (John 7:46), “And all were wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips . . .” (Luke 4:22). He was virtuous in what He did. “And they were utterly astonished saying, ‘He has done all things well’ . . .” (Mark 7;37). The Jesus of the virtuous life is attested to by Peter’s remarkable statement that” Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth . . .” (1 Peter 2:21-22).

The Jesus of the Vicarious Death
   Prophetically, from the Old Testament Scriptures, in conjunction with their fulfillment in the New Testament Scriptures, this marvelous truth is affirmed and defended. His suffering and death atone for the sins of humanity. He is our substitute. He bore our griefs, carried our sorrows, was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, and with His stripes we are healed spiritually. On Him was laid our iniquity. His soul was made an offering for sin. He was numbered with the transgressors, and yet He bore the sin of the many. All of this amazingly is prophetically described in Isaiah (52:13-53:12) eight centuries before His birth! Robinson eloquently summarizes:

 [V]icarious suffering and ultimate exaltation . . . so clear and so true . . . with such pathos and potency. . . . [I]t holds first place among Messianic predictions. Polycarp called it “the golden passional of the OT.” It has been realized in Jesus Christ. (1502)

    It is truly “the unveiling of the Cross” (Reich 58)! Many years ago as a young man I read about how the skeptic Voltaire was reported to have once said if he could be convinced Isaiah 53 was genuine he would become a Christian. I wish now I had possessed the wisdom in my youth that would have caused me to preserve that quote and its source. Interestingly, an Ethiopian whose name the New Testament does not provide, but only to say he was a political leader of “great authority” (Acts 8:27), became convinced of the authenticity of Isaiah 53 and its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He became a disciple of Christ and was baptized in water as Christ had commanded (cf. Acts 8:26-39; Matthew 28:18-20).

The Jesus of the Victorious Resurrection
   Christianity stands or falls on whether the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth is historic fact or horrendous fable. Paul affirmed the former in the opening lines of the inexhaustible letter he wrote to the church at Rome. He wrote of “the gospel of God . . . promised beforehand . . . in the holy Scripture, concerning His Son . . . declared with power to be the Son of God by the resurrection from the dead . . .” (Romans 1:2-4). A late classical scholar and his son, a medical doctor, co-authored a volume in which they call the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth” perhaps the best authenticated fact in ancient history [which] clinches the Christological argument for the existence of God” (Blaiklock and Blaiklock 70).

Conclusion
  Knowing that Jesus is at the heart of the greatness of Christian faith, in fact is the summation of Christian faith, Paul acknowledged, “. . . I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord . . .” (Philippians 3:8, 10). What a goal for human life! One version renders it as follows: “. . . [T]he overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth and supreme advantage-of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. . . . [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him—that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding [the wonders of His Person] more strongly and clearly” (vv. 8, 10 Amplified). This is the essence of my faith as a Christian. He is my creed, the cause, the center, and crux of my faith. He is the champion on whom I must focus to be victorious in this life (cf. Hebrews 12:1-2). He is the Jesus I believe and by whom I will overcome (John 16:33; 2 Timothy 1:12; 1 John 5:4).

   The great expositor G. Campbell Morgan left a soul-stirring charge from all of this:

 To those of us who still believe in the Bible as the final and infallible Word of God, there remains the Christ of virgin birth, of virtuous life, of vicarious death, and victorious resurrection; and with all confidence we may go forward . . . the victories of nigh two thousand years, which are also the victories of the present hour, will be continued. (33)

 Charles C. Pugh III
Executive Director 

WORKS CITED

 Blaicklock, E. M. and D. A. Blaiklock. Is It—Or Isn’t It? Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1968.

 Connally, Andrew. “Passion: Resurrection: And Coming Foretold.” A Homiletic Commentary on the Book of Matthew. Memphis: Getwell Church of Christ, 1988.

 Machen, J. Gresham. The Virgin Birth of Christ. 1930. New York: Harper and Row, 1932.

 McGarvey, J. W. The New Testament Commentary. Vol. 1: Matthew and Mark. St. Louis: Christian, 1875.

 Morgan, G. Campbell. The Best of G. Campbell Morgan. Comp. Ralph Turnbull.1972. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1980.

 Reich, Max I. The Messianic Hope of Israel. 2nd ed. Chicago: Moody, 1945.

 Robinson, George L. “ISAIAH.” The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia. Vol. 3. Chicago: Howard-Severance, 1930.