Grace Lutheran Church
Lowell, Arkansas
2026
What Lutherans Believe, Lesson Three
What We Believe About Jesus Christ
His Names (among many….)
Jesus – “Savior/Deliverer” (The Hebrew equivalent is “Joshua”)
Christ – Greek for “The anointed One” – see John 1:41
Immanuel/Emmanuel – Hebrew for “God With Us” – see Matthew 1:23
The Bible Tells us About Jesus’ Divine Nature And Divine Characteristics
I John 5:20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true——even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
Luke 2:11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
John 10:18 & 30 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” ….. I and the Father are one.”
Some of His Divine Characteristics
Hebrews 13:8 (changeless) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
John 1:1-3 (eternal; co-Creator) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Matthew 28:18(possess all power/omnipotent) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Matthew 28:20 (is everywhere/omnipresent) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
John 21:17 (knows all things/omniscient). 17The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Because of what the Bible says about Him, I know that Jesus Christ is truly .
The Bible Tells us About Jesus’ Human Nature and Human Characteristics
His Human Nature
I Timothy 2:15 There is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil.
Some of His Human Characteristics
….hungry – Matthew 4:2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
….thirsty – John 19:28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be
fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”
….weariness – Mark 4:38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said
to him, “Teacher, don’t You care if we drown?”
….sorrow – John 11:35 Jesus wept.
….He had flesh and blood – Luke 24:39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see;
a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
….He died – Hebrews 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so
that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death——that is, the devil——
But there was one big difference between Jesus and us…………………
Jesus was sinless! – Hebrews 4:15 – For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are——yet was without sin.
Therefore, according to the Bible, I also know that Jesus is truly a .
It Was Essential For Our Salvation
That Jesus Christ Be Both True God And True Man
We believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world, and thus that He is our personal Savior from the punishment over everlasting death (which we’ve earned because of our sins, as well as our Redeemer from the power of the Devil.
In order to be our Savior, He had to supply, in our place, the perfection that our imperfect world lacked
Matthew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
In addition, Jesus had to obediently live under the regulations of God’s law. We call this His “Active Obedience”
Galatians 4:4-5 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
Hebrews 2:14-15: Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death——that is, the devil—— 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.)
Finally, His suffering and death needed to have the value sufficient to pay for the sins of all people for all time. This is sometimes called Jesus’ “Passive Obedience” (passive, from the word “passion,” indicating that Jesus chose to suffer the punishment that we deserved for our sins).
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
II Corinthians 5:21 21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Through faith in Him we become “clothed” in His perfection and become the children of God.
Galatians 3:26-27 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
It is only by believing in Jesus as our Lord and Savior that any of us can ever be saved
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
The Work of Jesus Christ, My Savior And Redeemer
Redeem = “tobuyback; to pay a price in order to free someone from slavery or captivity.”
Christ’s Work of Redemption
Why Did Jesus REDEEM me?
Ephesians 2:1 But as for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins.
[this was our spiritual condition……..we were dead – incapable of any desire for God, let alone incapable of any activity that might attempt to earn God’s favor and our forgiveness]
John 8:34 I tell you the truth, anyone who sins is a slave to sin. [this was our pre-conversion situation:
we were sin- slaves!]
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life [this was Jesus’ motivation: He loved us!]
How did Jesus REDEEM me?
Philippians 2:5-8 5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature
God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—— even death on a cross!
Jesus “State of Humiliation“
“The first part of Christ’s ministry, when He usually chose not to make full use of His heavenly power and glory (as the true God) so that He might live and die in a lowly (humble) way for our salvation.”
Why did Jesus “humble” Himself?
II Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor so that you, through His poverty, might become rich.
The following, from the Apostles’ Creed, are the six steps/stages in Jesus’ “State of Humiliation”
a. He was conceived by the Holy Ghost Matthew 1:18-20
b. Born of the Virgin Mary Luke 2:1-14
c. Suffered under Pontius Pilate Mark 15:15
d. Was Crucified, Mark 15:22,24
e. Dead Mark 15:37
f. And Buried Mark 15:46
Withwhat (by what means) did Jesus REDEEM me?
Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood – the forgiveness of sins.
Isaiah 53:5 & 8 But He was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him and by His wounds we are healed……For He was cut off from the land of the living: for the transgression of my people He was stricken.
Fromwhat did Jesus REDEEM me?
Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.
Colossians 2:13 When you were dead in your transgressions and sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross.
II Timothy 1:10 ….Jesus Christ, our Savior, Who has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. [see also John 11:25,26 ]
Hebrews 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil.
The Result of Jesus’ Redemptive Work: We are Justified!
Justify = “To declare ‘not guilty.’ This word pictures a judge in a courtroom who tells a guilty criminal that there is no longer any charge against him.” Because He has declared me to be “justified” for Jesus’ sake, God now look views me “just-as-if-I’d-never-sinned.”
What has Jesus’ work of redemption accomplished for us?
Romans 3:23-24 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
What can we, who have been redeemed and justified, now do for Christ to show our gratitude for having been redeemed by Him?
I Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
Titus 2:14 [Jesus Christ] who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His own, eager to do what is good.
II Corinthians 2:14-15 But thanks be to God, Who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
Jesus’ “Exaltation”
Exaltation= “to lift up; or, to take back. That part of Jesus’ ministry beginning with His victorious descent into hell; the time during which He again made full use of His heavenly power and glory.
Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Below, as they are taken from the Apostles’ Creed are listed the five steps/stages in Jesus’ “State of
Exaltation”
E. From thence He shall come to judge the quick (living) and the dead Acts 17:31
D. And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty Ephesians 1:20-22
C. He ascended into heaven Mark 16:19
B. On the third day He rose again from the dead Romans 1:14
A. He descended into hell I Peter 3:19
Jesus Descended Into Hell
Why Did Jesus descend into hell?
I Peter 3:18-20 18For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also——not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Colossians 2:15 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
On The Third Day He Rose Again From The Dead
Matthew 28:1-10 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Jesus’ Resurrection tells me……
Romans 1:4 ….and [Jesus] Who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. (Jesus’ resurrection proves that He is God)
Romans 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Jesus’ resurrection assures us that His sacrifice was sufficient to pay for all our sins and to make us right/justify us with God.)
John 11:25,26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (Jesus’ resurrection assures us that by His almighty power we, too, will one day rise bodily from our graves just as He rose from His.)
He Ascended Into Heaven
Jesus promised to His disciples the Holy Spirit before He ascended into heaven
Acts 1:4-8 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
He ascended to prepare a place in heaven for us
John 14:2-3 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
He Sits At the Right Hand Of God The Father Almighty
What is Jesus now doing at the right hand of His Father?
Ephesians 1:22-23 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. (He rules over everything for the benefit of His Church.)
Romans 8:34 Christ Jesus, who died——more than that, who was raised to life——is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (see also I Timothy 2:5)
From There He will come To Judge The Quick (Living) And The Dead
A Few Comments about Hell and Heaven
Hell is not for the bad, the adulterers, the murderers, the thieves, etc. There are all those types of people in heaven (David, Paul). Hell is for unbelievers and it is very real!
Mark 16:16 …..whoever does not believe shall be condemned. (See also Matthew 25:41)
Scripture describes hell as…..
………….a place of eternal fire ( Matthew 18:8 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.)
………….. a place of darkness and weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12 But the subjects of the
kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will
be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”)
………….. and, a place of eternal separation from God (Luke 16:26 And besides all this, between us and you a
great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’)
Heaven is the believers’ final home. It is a freegift of God through Christ. People will not be in heaven because they were sincere, good/moral, or “at least better than most,” but because they believedinJesus as their Savior from sin, death, and the devil.
Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved.
John 6:40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Why does God tell us about Judgment Day…..and when will it happen?
Luke 21:34-36 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. 35For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
Mark 13:32-33 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.
Jesus’ return on the Last Day will be visible, glorious, accompanied by His angels and will involve the bodily resurrection of the dead
Acts 1:11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (See also Revelation 1:7)
Matthew 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.
I Thessalonians 4:15-18 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words.
John 5:28,29 “A time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out – those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.”
At His Return The Bodies Of The Believers (both those in the grave and those who are still living on judgement day) Will Be Transformed Into Imperishable/Glorified Bodies.
I Cor 15:51,52 “Listen, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”
The Final Judgement
On Judgement Day Everyone will be judged according to II Corinthians 5:10, which says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
On the Last Day the basis for judgment will be whether or not a person believes in the Gospel – the Word of Christ. ….. 48There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. (John 12:48)
The New Heaven And The New Earth
II Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare (With the coming of Judgement Day, the world will be destroyed/wiped away.)
Philippians 3:21 ….Who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body. (Believers’ bodies will be glorified….that is, sinless and perfectly prepared for heaven)
II Peter 3:13 ….But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
The Bible describes our future heavenly home as…..
……a place without suffering or sadness (Revelation 7:16-17 Never again will they hunger; never again
will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. 17For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”……….
……a place for us of full understanding (I Corinthians 13:9-12 9For we know in part and we prophesy in
part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.)……
……. and, a place of eternal glory (II Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly
we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.)