THE CHRIST OF SCRIPTURE: HIS PERSON AND AUTHORITY

There is perhaps no question more consequential than this: Who is Jesus the Christ? The answer must not be shaped by sentiment, tradition, or modern speculation, but by the testimony of the Word of God itself. If the Scriptures are indeed inspired, as they claim to be (2 Timothy 3:16–17), then their witness concerning Christ is both sufficient and final. It is not within the province of man to redesign the Christ of the Bible into a figure more palatable to contemporary thought. The issue is not who men suppose Him to be, but who He is in fact, as revealed by divine record (John 20:30-31).

First, the Scriptures affirm the absolute deity of Christ. John declares that in the beginning was the Word, that the Word existed with God, and that the Word was Himself God, and that this same Word took on flesh and dwelt among men (John 1:1, 14). This is not incidental language. It is a deliberate assertion of eternal nature. Christ did not begin in Bethlehem; He entered history there. He shares the very essence of God, being described as the exact imprint of His substance, sustaining all things by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:2-3; Colossians 2:9). Any doctrine that diminishes His deity stands in direct contradiction to the inspired testimony.

Yet the same Scriptures affirm His genuine humanity. He was born of a woman (Galatians 4:4), partook of flesh and blood (Hebrews 2:14), and was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). This dual nature is not a contradiction but a necessity. Only as God could He possess the authority and worth to redeem; only as man could He stand in the place of humanity. The incarnation, therefore, is not merely a theological curiosity, but the foundation of redemption itself.

Further, Christ’s authority is comprehensive and exclusive. Following His resurrection, He declared that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to Him (Matthew 28:18). This leaves no room for rival systems of authority in matters of faith and practice. His words are not advisory; they are binding (John 12:48). He is not one voice among many. He is the final Word (Hebrews 1:1-2). Accordingly, religious systems that operate independent of His revealed will, or in contradiction to it, cannot be sanctioned by divine authority.

Moreover, the mission of Christ was singular and deliberate. He came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). This was accomplished through His sacrificial death, wherein He bore sins in His own body upon the tree (1 Peter 2:24). His resurrection on the third day stands as the divine vindication of His identity and work (Romans 1:4). These are not symbolic events; they are historical realities upon which the entire gospel system depends (1 Corinthians 15:1–4). To deny them is to undermine the very foundation of Christian faith.

Finally, the appropriate response to Christ is clearly defined in Scripture. Mere acknowledgment of His existence is insufficient. One must entrust themselves to Him (John 8:24; Luke 13:3; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 2:38). Christ becomes the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:8-9).

In conclusion, the Christ of Scripture is not a vague moral teacher nor a cultural symbol. He is the eternal Son of God, incarnate in the flesh, vested with all authority, crucified for sin, and raised in power. Any conception of Christ that falls short of this is inadequate. The responsibility of every individual, therefore, is to examine the evidence, submit to His authority, and respond in obedient faith. Eternity itself hinges upon this decision.

BDD