In our first study we saw that God made all things, and that He made them good. In fact they were perfect, nothing was wrong with them.
Then in our last study we saw how everything went wrong, or how it was made to go wrong. We saw that it was “sin” (breaking God’s rules) that made things go wrong.
This sin means that we are in trouble. Not only trouble now, with crime, sickness etc, but we are in trouble with God as well.
However, God loves us. He made us and does not want us to suffer, and He does not want to have to judge us for the wrong that we have done. So, He has a plan. In this study we are going to begin to look at God’s plan to save us from sin.
Jesus, God’s Answer
(As you read this it will help if you know that the term ‘The Word’ is like a nickname for Jesus.)
1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. The same was in the beginning with God. 3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5.And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-14
The earth and mankind were all part of God’s plan. He created the earth for a purpose, and He was not going to be defeated by Satan or wayward mankind. He had already planned that He would send Jesus into the world to deal with the problem of sin.
Who is Jesus?
Jesus is God Probably the most important answer to the question ‘who is Jesus?’ is that Jesus is God. In the passage that we have just read John says of Jesus
1. In the beginning was the Word, (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1
Paul calls Jesus ‘the great God’.
13. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Titus 2:13
Jesus is often called ‘The Son of God’; this does not mean that He is God’s baby, at least not in the way that we know it. Jesus was a baby born to Mary, not as a child of Joseph her espoused, but as the child of God. But this was not the beginning of Jesus; it was Him moving from having been only spirit to being a true man. The term ‘Son of God’ relates more to His relationship with God the Father than as God’s child. If you want to know more about how God can be Father, Son, and Holy Spirit then you can ask the person leading you through this book or you can contact me through our contact me page. As God, Jesus is: Creator of all things.
3. All things were made by him (Jesus); and without him was not any thing made that was made
John 1:3
Sustainer of all things.
3. Who, (Jesus) being the brightness of his, (God the Father) glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Hebrews 1:3
Has all power.
18. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Matthew 28:18
Jesus is Man As well as being God, Jesus is also true man.
5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1Timothy 2:5
He had a normal birth of a woman.
7. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:7
Jesus has not always been a man; He became a man to save us. The Bible calls this becoming man being ‘made flesh’
14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
“beheld his glory” means ‘we have seen him.’ John and many of the other writers of the Bible actually knew Jesus. As a man, Jesus: Grew
40. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
Luke 2:40
Was hungry
2. Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
Luke 4:2
Wept
35. Jesus wept
John 11:35
(that is the whole verse. It is the shortest verse in the Bible!)
In other words Jesus was a genuine ‘man’.
So what did Jesus Do?
Jesus was involved in the creation of the world and much more throughout history, but let’s just look at his life on earth, as a man. He was born and grew up, each year going to the temple in Jerusalem. When He was twelve, He was lost by His parents for a short time. Apart from this we know very little until He was thirty. It is likely that Joseph died before Jesus reached thirty as we never hear anything about him. We can also guess that Jesus worked with Joseph learning his trade, but we really do not know. When He was thirty Jesus called twelve men to follow Him and taught them many things, preparing them to be His representatives after His death. He also taught great crowds of people, healed many of them and freed many others from evil spirits. Above all, at the age of thirty-three He was killed by crucifixion, (that is they killed Him by nailing Him to a cross or tree), and three days later He rose from the dead.
Why did He come?
And how did He solve the world’s problem with sin? The Bible teaches that the wages of sin is death.
23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23
Therefore, we should die. This is not just the coming to an end of your life on earth as you know it today. Not just the death of your body. There is a second death that we are all destined for. A death of eternal punishment.
14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:14-15
If we were not to suffer this death bodily and eternally, someone else would have to pay the price for us.
50. … one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52. And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
John 11:50-52
For that person to be able to take our place, he would have to be free from sin. Someone who had no sin would be the only one who could pay the price for our sin or he would be dying for his own sin. Only a divine or God offering would be able to pay the price for ALL people.
21. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps 22. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth
1 Peter 2:21-22
15. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15
This is where Jesus came in. As we have just seen He had no sin and died taking our sins on Himself.
18. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1 Peter 3:18
He took our sins that we might have His sinlessness or righteousness.
21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2 Corinthians 5:21
Jesus has died once for our sin, taking away the punishment that should be ours.
24. Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1 Peter 2:24
But we have to receive the gift of life that is now offered to us. We will look more at what we have to do in our next study, you can read it here. Or if you want to get right with God now you can contact me through our contact page with your phone number and I can speak to you more, or you can ask your teacher how, or have a look at the next study right now.
Home Task
Memorise
16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
Have a go at answering these questions. If you have any problems, do not worry, ask the person who is leading you through this study or contact me through our contact page
Q1. What is the most important answer to the question – Who is Jesus?
Q2. List three things that show Jesus is a man.
Q3. List three things that show Jesus is God.
Q4. In your own words write how Jesus dealt with man’s sin. I do hope that this has explained why Jesus came and had to die.
If you have any questions leave a comment below or contact me. I forward to sharing the next study with you.
