PBS: What do Baptists believe about God the Son? (Part 1)

Study Notes from Wednesday’s Bible Study

#5 – What do Baptists believe about God the Son? (His Life – Part 1)

“Christ is the eternal son of God.”

I. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. John Broadus wrote, “Jesus is the center of Scripture. Everything in the OT points forward to Him; everything in the NT proceeds forth from Him.”

a. Jesus existed with the Father before the creation of the world – there was never a time when Christ did not exist or will not exist. Gen., John 17:5, John 1:1-2, John 8:58, John 10:30, Rev. 22:13

b. Jesus was the agent of creation – “All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.” – John 1:3

c. Jesus is the Lord over all creation- “He is before all things and by Him all things hold together” – Col. 1:17

“In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.”

II. Jesus Christ was the born Son of God

a. Jesus’ coming in human form is called the incarnation – the divine Son Jesus’ coming to and living on earth in human form. (Phil. 2) He who made the universe came into His own creation to save His people. God came and dwelt among us – distinctive truth of the Christian faith.

b. Jesus was born of a virgin – This doctrine is essential to Christianity, because it is central to understanding who Jesus is. He came in true human flesh, though he was not conceived by a human father. He was conceived without sin. Thus, he can identify with us in our humanity without the stain of sin. If God can create the world, create man from the dust of the ground, he can form a man in the womb of a virgin. What we believe about God tells us what we believe about Scripture. The virgin birth should not be hard to accept (Luke 1:37)

“Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience…”

III. Jesus Christ lived life as both 100% God and 100% man

a. In his perfect humanity Christ did not sin. His life was marked by perfect obedience.

b. In his perfect humanity, He fully identifies with us – Heb. 4:15-16. He was tempted in every way, yet without sin.