Welcome back to our series on church membership.  In our last episode, we began our journey through the Articles of Faith by asking the biggest question of all: "Who is God?" Today, we continue that journey by focusing on the central figure of our faith: Jesus Christ.
If you open your workbook, you'll find the next chapter, "Who is Jesus?" This is a question people have asked for 2,000 years. Was he just a good man? A wise teacher? A prophet? Or was he something more? For us as Nazarenes, the answer to this question is everything.
Our Manual states that we believe in Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead. It says He was eternally one with the Father, became human through the Holy Spirit, and was born of the Virgin Mary. This means that two perfect natures—divine and human—are united in one person. He is fully God and fully man. The Manual goes on to say that He died for our sins, truly rose from the dead, and is now in Heaven interceding for us.
That’s a powerful statement, and it’s packed with meaning. Let’s explore what it tells us about Jesus.
First, Jesus is more than just a historical figure. Yes, he was a real person. He lived, breathed, and walked on this earth. He was born in Bethlehem, worked as a carpenter in Nazareth, and for three years, he traveled, preached, and performed incredible miracles. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and even raised the dead.
His life on earth ended in a brutal way—crucifixion on a Roman cross. But that’s not where his story ends. Three days later, God raised him from the dead. After appearing to his followers for 40 days, he ascended into Heaven, where he is alive right now.
To understand this better, your workbook highlights a few important terms. Let’s walk through them.
The first is Incarnation. This is a theological word for the event of God becoming human. The eternal Son of God stepped into our world in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, without ever stopping being God. It’s a profound mystery: Jesus is both fully God and fully human.
Next is the Virgin Birth. The Bible teaches that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born to a young virgin named Mary. This miraculous birth was the fulfillment of ancient prophecies. For centuries, God had promised to send a Rescuer to deal with the problem of sin that has plagued humanity since the beginning. That someone was Jesus.
Then we have the Crucifixion. This was a form of execution used by the Romans, and it's how Jesus died. But his death was not just a tragic end; it was a purposeful sacrifice. The crucifixion of Jesus is what makes our salvation possible. He took the penalty for our sins upon himself.
This leads to the Resurrection. This means a return to life after death. Jesus didn't stay in the grave. His resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith and the source of our Christian hope that we, too, will be resurrected to new life.
Finally, there’s the Ascension. This is the event where Jesus, after his resurrection, returned to Heaven. He now reigns with God the Father and acts as our representative, our intercessor.
When you put it all together, you see a story that has changed the world more than any other. Your workbook includes a beautiful piece called "One Solitary Life." It describes a man who never wrote a book, held an office, or owned a home. He never traveled far from where he was born. Yet, two thousand years later, all the armies, navies, and leaders that have ever existed have not affected the life of humanity as much as that one solitary life.
Jesus Christ is the center of our faith and the center of human history.
I want to encourage you to go deeper. The workbook contains a long list of scripture references from Matthew, John, Romans, Philippians, and more. Don't just take my word for it. Open your Bible this week and read these passages. Write down what they reveal to you about the character and nature of Jesus. Get to know Him for yourself through the Word of God.
Thanks for joining me today. In our next session, we’ll talk about the third person of the Trinity: the Holy Spirit.
Until then, I hope you take some time to reflect on the incredible story of Jesus.