3.4.5 Jesus Christ–the Redeemer

The name "Jesus" means "The Lord saves". When the angel of the Lord heralded the birth of Jesus, he announced His name at the same time: "and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1: 21). Thereby it already becomes clear in the assignment of His name that Jesus is the promised Saviour and Redeemer.

In His works, Jesus Christ revealed Himself as the Redeemer sent by God: "The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them" (Matthew 11: 5). However, redemption through Jesus Christ reaches far beyond the visible and temporal dimension and into the sphere of the invisible and eternal. It deprives the Devil of his claim to mankind and leads out of sin and death.

The redemption of mankind is founded upon the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1: 7). In Him alone, salvation is made accessible to mankind (Acts 4: 12).

SUMMARY

God, the Son, is the second person of the trinity of God. In Jesus Christ, God became Man and yet remained God: He entered into historical reality. (3.4)

Jesus Christ is true Man and true God, and thus has two natures. According to His human nature, Jesus Christ is like all other human beings–albeit without sin. According to His divine nature, He remains true God unchanged, even during His abasement on earth. (3.4)

Jesus is described as "God's only begotten Son". The Son of God, the only begotten, is begotten of the Father–that is not created, but eternal, without beginning or end, and one in substance with the Father. (3.4.1)

The transcendent divine Word (logos), which was with God in the beginning, now entered the sphere of the earthly and human in Jesus. It "became flesh" (John 1: 14)–the eternal Word became true Man. The transcendent glory of the Father became directly perceptible historical reality in the earthly glory of the Son. (3.4.2)

The dual nature of Jesus Christ as true Man and true God is a mystery. As true Man, Jesus shared in the full spectrum of physical and emotional experiences. As true God He brought His oneness of substance with the Father to expression with the words: "I and My Father are one" (John 10: 30). (3.4.3)

The Old Testament makes reference to the coming Messiah. The prophets of the Old Testament point to concrete details in association with the appearing of the Redeemer. They foretell the incarnation of the Son of God, His path over the earth, as well as His eternal existence. (3.4.4)

In His works, Jesus Christ revealed Himself as the Redeemer sent by God. Redemption from death and sin is founded exclusively upon the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Salvation is only accessible to mankind in Him. (3.4.5)