Is Jesus God? Was He just a “good man” or “teacher” or perhaps even a “simple philosopher?” Was He just a man, one who embodied the “ideal,” the composite man of peace, the gentle prophet? At the very least, is He not an enigmatic Sage that has captivated the curiosity of millions through two millennia?

Christians who believe the Bible to be the absolute authority of faith believe that Jesus is God. Yet, the Scriptures also teach that Jesus is unique, like none other, in that He is completely God AND completely man. In Philippians 2:5-11 we see the following:

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Bible scholars call this the kenosis passage, the “emptying” act of humility as indicated in verse seven, “But made himself of no reputation…” What does it mean?

v. 6 – Jesus is God, equal with the Father, Jn. 10:30, Jn. 1:1-3, 17:5

v. 7 – Jesus, through the virgin birth (Isa. 7:14, Mt. 1:18-25), was made in the likeness of men (Jn. 1:14, I Tim. 3:16), yet without sin (II Cor. 5:21, Heb. 4:15.)

v. 8 – Jesus, The Redeemer of lost mankind (Gal. 3:13, Titus 2:14, Heb. 2:9, 12:2, I Pet. 2:24, 3:18) died upon the cross for our sins, as the substitutionary atonement and propitiation for our sins (I Jn. 2:2, 4:10)

v. 9 – Jesus is the ONLY mediator between mankind and God the Father (I Tim. 2:5) and entrance into heaven is only through Him (Jn. 14:6, Acts 2:36, 5:31)

v. 10-11 – Jesus is worthy of worship, and either mankind will bow before Him now in repentance of sins to receive Christ as Lord and Savior, or at the Judgment Seat (Heb. 9:27, Jn. 5:22-27, Rev. 20:11-12) where all will bow to acknowledge the greatness of God’s plan of salvation.

What does this all mean for each of us individually? God, in His infinite wisdom and grace, created mankind for His glory (Isa. 43:7.) Through Adam, all men became sinners (Rom. 5:12) and have fallen short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23.) Very simply, we are born sinners and therefore have a natural propensity to sin (Eph. 2:1-9.) Sin separates us in fellowship from God who is holy (Isa. 59:2.) Due to this broken fellowship, we need to be reconciled to God. In II Cor. 5:17-20 we see what happens when we as sinners genuinely repent and come to Christ:

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

A genuine, born-again believer is one who has been changed from the “inside out.” The spirit has been radically transformed, life is viewed from a totally new perspective, and the “converted sinner” now is able to have true fellowship with God. The word saint literally means “holy one.” When the sinner becomes a “saint” then and only then is it possible to be “reconciled” to God who is holy. What God has done through this spiritual transformation includes a spiritual sense of responsibility within the believer to be an ambassador for Christ, representing Him and His message of reconciliation to others.

Who is Jesus? For the believer, the Lord Jesus Christ is EVERYTHING!

1Pe 2:7 “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious…”