JESUS CHRIST

The Lord Jesus Christ is commonly referred to as the second Person of the Trinity. He existed with the Father and the Holy Spirit before eternity (John 1:1). As the Church confesses in the Nicene Creed, we believe "in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made."

Jesus Christ's Name has a very special meaning to it. "Jesus" means "Saviour," and He is called that because through His death He saves those who believe in Him. "Christ" is the Greek word meaning "anointed." The Lord Jesus is called Christ because He has been appointed by God the Father and anointed with the Holy Spirit (at His baptism) to be the Church's chief Prophet and Teacher, only High Priest (who sacrificed His body for us and speaks for us now before the Father in heaven), and our eternal King.

He is also often referred to as the Lord Jesus Christ. We call Him Lord because, as we confess in our Heidelberg Catechism, "He has ransomed us, body and soul, from all our sins, not with silver or gold but with His precious blood, and has freed us from all the power of the devil to make us His own possession."

To escape the wrath of God against sin, it is necessary to believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour and repent from your sinfulness. This means turning away from your sins and turning to God and asking Him to forgive your sins on account of the s uffering of Christ. It means to forsake yourself entirely and to trust wholeheartedly in Christ alone for your salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ could return at any moment or you could find yourself at death's door -- at that time, will you stand before the judgment seat of God clothed in your own filthy rags or in the life-giving righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ?

"For there is no other Name [besides Jesus Christ] under heaven given among men by which we may be saved." Acts 4:12