The short answer: Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who became a man. He is fully God and fully human. He lived a sinless life, died on a cross for our sins, rose from the dead on the third day, and is alive today as Lord of all. The Bible says "there is salvation in no one else" (Acts 4:12, ESV). Who you say Jesus is turns out to be the most important question of your life.
The Question Jesus Asked
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
That is Matthew 16:15–16, ESV. Jesus did not leave room for "just a good teacher." He asked His followers for a verdict, and He still does.
Jesus Is God
The Bible opens John's Gospel this way: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1, ESV). Paul wrote, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created" (Colossians 1:15–16, ESV). Hebrews says, "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature" (Hebrews 1:3, ESV).
Jesus said it Himself: "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58, ESV), using the name God gave Moses. When Thomas saw the risen Jesus, he said, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28, ESV), and Jesus accepted it. See what the Trinity is.
Jesus Is Fully Human
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14, ESV). Jesus was born, grew, got tired, wept, and was tempted. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15, ESV). He knows what your life is like from the inside.
Jesus Is the Christ
"Christ" is not a surname. It means "Anointed One," the Messiah God promised through the prophets for centuries: a King from David's line who would rescue His people. Jesus is the fulfilment of those promises (Luke 24:27).
Why Jesus Came
- To seek and save. "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10, ESV).
- To give His life. "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45, ESV). See why Jesus died on the cross.
- To bring us to the Father. "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5, ESV). See is Jesus the only way?
Jesus Died and Rose Again
The heart of the Christian message is "that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3–4, ESV). The resurrection is the reason Christianity exists. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live" (John 11:25, ESV).
Jesus Is Lord and Is Coming Back
After His resurrection, Jesus ascended to the Father, and the angels told His disciples, "This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11, ESV). One day "every knee should bow... and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10–11, ESV).
What This Means for You
If Jesus is who He says He is, the right response is not admiration from a distance. It is trust. "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12, ESV). You can turn from your sin and trust Him today. See Know Jesus.
The best way to get to know Him is to read one of the four Gospels. Start with John. See how to read the Bible for beginners.
Common Questions
Who is Jesus according to the Bible? Jesus is the eternal Son of God who became a man (John 1:1, 14). He is fully God and fully human, lived without sin, died for our sins, rose from the dead on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3–4), and is Lord of all (Philippians 2:10–11).
Is Jesus God? Yes. The Bible says "the Word was God" (John 1:1), calls Jesus "the exact imprint" of God's nature (Hebrews 1:3), and records Thomas calling Him "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). Jesus also used God's own name for Himself (John 8:58).
What does "Christ" mean? "Christ" means "Anointed One," the same as the Hebrew word "Messiah." It is a title for the King and Saviour God promised through the Old Testament prophets, and the New Testament says Jesus is that promised one (Matthew 16:16).
Why did Jesus come to earth? Jesus came "to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10) and "to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). He came to bring people back to God through His death and resurrection.
Not just a teacher. Lord, Saviour, and alive.
