QUESTION: Why must the Redeemer be truly God?
ANSWER: That because of his divine nature his obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective; and also that he would be able to bear the righteous anger of God against sin and yet overcome death.
ANSWER: That because of his divine nature his obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective; and also that he would be able to bear the righteous anger of God against sin and yet overcome death.
WARM-UP
Before you became a Christian, what did you think of Jesus’s divine and human nature? Or, if you grew up as a Christian, how did you experience this aspect of Jesus?
WORD
BIG IDEA
READ
Before you became a Christian, what did you think of Jesus’s divine and human nature? Or, if you grew up as a Christian, how did you experience this aspect of Jesus?
WORD
BIG IDEA
- Jesus is totally human, yet also totally divine.
- In his human nature, Jesus can relate and sympathize with us and, through his divine nature, can also speak for us to God the Father.
- Only God can forgive and pay for sins committed against him.
- Jesus needed to be fully human to be our substitute. Still, he needed to be fully God for his obedience and suffering to be perfect and for God’s justice to be completely and eternally satisfied.
READ
John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
WATCH/LISTEN
OLD SELF
Most people have some familiarity with Jesus and his teaching. How do most people consider Jesus? What are the most significant barriers to considering his divinity?
NEW SELF
Because we know that Jesus is both human and divine, it changes how we understand Him and relate to the Father. It also has implications for how we understand death through Jesus’ work and action.
Reflect on what this means in his ability to mediate between the Father and us. How ought we understand and relate to death based on Jesus’ work on the cross?
WORLD
This week, remind yourself of Jesus’ divine and human nature. Pay attention to how this truth intersects with your daily life. Share them with your group next week.
PRAYER
God the Son, because of our sin, we could never bear the wrath of God or overcome death. Only you, the Holy One, could suffer the just punishment for sin and defeat death. Thank you for making a way for us to God, to enjoy him eternally. Amen.
Most people have some familiarity with Jesus and his teaching. How do most people consider Jesus? What are the most significant barriers to considering his divinity?
NEW SELF
Because we know that Jesus is both human and divine, it changes how we understand Him and relate to the Father. It also has implications for how we understand death through Jesus’ work and action.
Reflect on what this means in his ability to mediate between the Father and us. How ought we understand and relate to death based on Jesus’ work on the cross?
WORLD
This week, remind yourself of Jesus’ divine and human nature. Pay attention to how this truth intersects with your daily life. Share them with your group next week.
PRAYER
God the Son, because of our sin, we could never bear the wrath of God or overcome death. Only you, the Holy One, could suffer the just punishment for sin and defeat death. Thank you for making a way for us to God, to enjoy him eternally. Amen.