I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
In Session Two, you will learn more about the Person and Work of Jesus Christ as we break down the next line of the Apostles' Creed: "I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary."
We will do this by:
Seeing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Understanding what it means to say that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Part 1
Jesus is God's Only Begotten Son
Key Points from Part 1
Jesus is the Christ
“Christ” is a title that derives from the Greek word “Christos,” which means “Anointed One.” This word is equivalent to the Hebrew word, “Messiah.”
Referring to Jesus as the “Son of God” associates Him with the covenant God made with David (2 Samuel 7:14).
Jesus is the Son of God
Calling Jesus the “Son of God” speaks to His relationship with God the Father.
When we refer to Jesus as God’s only begotten Son, we are making a statement about the uniqueness of Christ’s relationship to the Father.
Review Questions
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“Christ” is a title that derives from the Greek word “Christos,” which means “Anointed One.” This word is equivalent to the Hebrew word, “Messiah.”
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It means that Jesus has a unique relationship with the Father that sets Him apart from the rest of creation. He has a relationship with the Father that only someone who is truly God can have.
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No. Jesus is eternal. He is true God, and has been true God for all eternity. There was never a time when Jesus did not exist, nor will there ever come a time when He stops existing.
Key Points from Part 2
Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit did not have relations with Mary resulting in her becoming pregnant.
Instead, the Holy Spirit miraculously caused her to become pregnant with Jesus. In doing this, we see the union of God and man in Jesus.
Jesus was born of the virgin Mary
Because of this, Jesus did not inherit a sinful nature from Adam. Because He did not inherit a sinful nature, He did not sin.
This allowed Him to stand in the place of others and pay their sin debt for them.
Review Questions
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When Adam and Eve sinned, they not only corrupted themselves, they corrupted the whole of Creation, along with everyone who descended from them. They brought sin into the world and in doing this, they polluted the hearts of all who would follow them with sinful natures.
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Jesus not being born of an earthly man means that the sin we all inherit from Adam passed over Jesus. He wasn’t born with a sinful, rebellious nature like we were. He was born sinless and perfect.
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He was born of a woman as a human. Because of this, we can say that Jesus is true man. But He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. Because of this, we can say that Jesus is true God.
Key Points from Part 3:
Our Lord
Jesus Christ is Lord of everyone and everything, and therefore, all of creation owes its fealty and devotion to Christ above all.
Abraham Kuyper: “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!”
Review Questions
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Everything.
Questions for Further Discussion
Explain why the virgin birth of Jesus is essential to Christian teaching. What else do we lose about Jesus if we lose the virgin birth?
What does the title of "Christ" mean about the position Jesus holds?
How is calling Jesus the Son of God similar and different from calling a man the son of his father?
Read Matthew 28:18. What do you think the phrase "all authority" means in regards to Christ's relationship with the world? What does this mean for people who do not yet follow Him?