Who Do You Say Jesus Is? Understanding the Person and Work of Christ

Jul 24

This is part of a series giving an overview of theology and Neighborhood Church’s doctrinal statement. (Introduction, The One True God, The Lord Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, The Bible, Humanity, Salvation, Church, Christian Life, Angels, Satan, Demons, Future Life)

Have you ever been asked a question that changed everything? Jesus asked his followers one of the most important questions in history: "Who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:15). This question is just as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago.

At Neighborhood Church, we believe understanding who Jesus is matters deeply. What we believe about Jesus affects how we live, how we treat others, and how we see ourselves. That's why we want to share what we believe about the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The Most Important Question

When Jesus asked his disciples who people thought he was, they had plenty of answers. Some said John the Baptist. Others thought he might be one of the old prophets come back to life (Matthew 16:13-14). But then Jesus made it personal: "But who do you say that I am?"

Peter's answer changed everything: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16).

As C.S. Lewis famously pointed out, when it comes to Jesus, we really only have three choices. Either Jesus is who he said he was—Lord—or he was lying about his identity, or he was confused and mistaken. There's no middle ground of just calling him a "good teacher" when he claimed to be God himself.

At Neighborhood Church, we believe Jesus is Lord. He is exactly who he claimed to be: the Son of the living God.

Jesus in the Whole Bible

One beautiful thing about Jesus is that his story doesn't begin in the New Testament. Throughout the Old Testament, we see hints and pictures of who Jesus would be. He's the promised seed who would defeat evil (Genesis 3:15). He's the lamb that takes away sin. He's the king from David's family line.

The Old Testament is like the New Testament concealed, and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. Every story, every promise, every prophecy points toward Jesus. This is why we approach the entire Bible with Jesus at the center—because he truly is the central point of all Scripture.

Jesus is Above All Things

One of the most amazing truths about Jesus is his preeminence—meaning he surpasses all things. Colossians 1:15-20 tells us that Jesus "is the image of the invisible God" and that "by him all things were created in heaven and on earth." Everything that exists—from the smallest atom to the largest galaxy—was created by Jesus and for Jesus.

This means Jesus didn't just appear when he was born in Bethlehem. He has always existed with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. When we look at Jesus, we see what God is like. As Jesus himself said, "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father" (John 14:9).

Jesus created powerful angels, vast galaxies, and complex ecosystems. He's not a distant God who wound up the universe like a clock and stepped back. He remains actively involved in his creation, holding all things together.

God Became Human

The incarnation is the amazing truth that God became human. John 1:1 tells us "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Then verse 14 reveals the incredible miracle: "The Word became flesh."

Think about this: the God who created the universe chose to become a helpless baby. He experienced growing up, learning, and facing the same temptations we face. Jesus had to depend on others for care, just like we do.

But why did God need to become human? Because sin didn't just damage our souls—it damaged everything about us, including our physical bodies. Since death entered the world through a human (Adam), restoration had to come through a human too. That human is Jesus.

Fully God and Fully Human

Here's where things get amazing but also a bit complex. Jesus is both 100% God and 100% human at the same time. This is called the hypostatic union. He's not half-God and half-human—he's completely both.

Luke 2:40 shows us Jesus growing "in wisdom and stature." Philippians 2:6-8 tells us that though Jesus was "in the form of God," he "emptied himself by taking the form of a servant."

This means Jesus understands what it's like to be human. He knows what it feels like to be tired, sad, or tempted. But unlike us, he never sinned (1 Peter 2:22). This gives us incredible comfort—we have a Savior who truly understands our struggles but also has the power to help us.

Jesus Died in Our Place

Perhaps the most important truth about Jesus is substitutionary atonement—meaning Jesus died in our place. Isaiah 53:4-6 beautifully describes this: "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."

In the Old Testament, people brought perfect animals to be sacrificed for their sins. These sacrifices pointed forward to Jesus, who became the perfect sacrifice for all sin for all time. Jesus is the only person in history who got worse than what he deserved, because he took on himself the punishment we deserved.

This is both grace (getting what we don't deserve) and mercy (not getting what we do deserve). Because of Jesus' sacrifice, we can be forgiven and have a relationship with God.

Jesus Rose from the Dead

The story doesn't end with Jesus' death. Three days later, he rose from the dead! 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 tells us that Jesus "appeared to more than 500 brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive." This wasn't just a spiritual resurrection—people saw Jesus, touched him, and ate with him.

The resurrection proves that Jesus has power over death itself. And because he rose from the dead, everyone who believes in him will also rise. Death is not the end of the story for those who trust in Jesus.

Jesus is Coming Back

The good news continues: Jesus is coming back! 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 promises that "the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command" and believers will be "caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."

This means the story isn't over. Jesus has a plan, and he's working it out. Those who have died believing in Jesus will be raised, and those who are alive will join them. We'll be with Jesus forever.

So Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

This brings us back to Jesus' question: "Who do you say that I am?"

Everything we've shared shows that Jesus is the Son of the living God. He's the creator who became human, lived a perfect life, died for our sins, rose from the dead, and is coming again. He alone offers salvation and eternal life.

But knowing facts about Jesus isn't enough. The question is personal: Who do you say Jesus is? Is he your Lord and Savior? Have you trusted him to forgive your sins and give you new life?

If you're still exploring these questions, we encourage you to keep seeking. Read the Bible, especially the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) to see Jesus for yourself. Talk to Christians you trust. And pray—ask God to reveal the truth about Jesus to you.

Jesus is alive and present today, just as real as he was 2,000 years ago. He's not just a historical figure—he's a living Savior who wants a relationship with you. The same Jesus who created the universe, who died and rose again, is waiting to redeem and transform your life.

Who do you say that he is?

At Neighborhood Church, we believe Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human, the creator of all things who became flesh, died for our sins, rose from the dead, and is coming again. We'd love to explore these truths with you as you discover who Jesus is.

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Michael Lockstampfor https://ocalaneighborhood.church