Can one be saved and not sure that Jesus was both divine and human? Is it sufficient for salvation to believe that, who ever He was, He died for our sins? We ask this because knowledge was never the ground for grace… faith is: “It is of faith, in order that it might be by grace” (Romans 4:16). So, if faith is accepting God’s work of grace on Calvary, how much must I know about Jesus’ crucifixion, first? How much theology is minimally important in order to know that Ι am “….justified by faith … [and have] access by faith into this grace.…” [?] (Romans 5:1-2).
Christian scholars are prepared to defend the belief that Jesus was both God and man. There is to them (and me, too) no doubt even if we debate the logic behind why Ηe had to be both.
According to the Scriptures how can one know they have eternal life? What must I do or say to be saved?”
- “Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ [The Messiah] is born of God.” (1 John 5:1)
- “…we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” (1 John 2:3)
- “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.” (1 John 3:14)
- “Whosoever is born of God does not practice sin…” (1 John 3:9).
- “The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” (Romans 8:16)
- “He who hears My word and believes on him that sent me… has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24)
There is no magic prayer. It isn’t a matter of words but of heart! “Jesus, I believe You died for my sins and were raised. I trust You for forgiveness and eternal life.” (John 3:16) And really mean it!! This is Pauline in scope, “Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13)
Paul recognized a true salvation by 2 criteria which involved the heart and mouth—not the brain! (Romans 10:9-10).
- First, True Christians profess Jesus as their Lord “confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus … with the mouth confession/profession (one word for both) is made unto salvation”
- Secondly they affirm in their hearts His bodily resurrection. True Christians “believe in their heart that God has raised him … with the heart man believes unto righteousness.”
But what if someone isn’t so sure Jesus was both Deity and humanity when He died on Calvary—even though they do believe He died for their sins! They are not arguing. They just don’t know! Is their heart still not right with God? Or are they, none-the-less, “saved by grace… through faith” (Ephesians 2:8)[?]
These 2 points were important to the apostles because the entire plan of God rests upon the person (and not just the work) of Christ on the Cross. (There are many verses.)
- “Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh [was human] is of God:” (1 John 4:2)
- It became him (Jesus), for whom are all things, and by whom are all things (John 1:3), … to make the captain of their salvation perfect through [human] sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10).
- God promises eternal life to everyone who truly believes in His Son [was divine] (John 3:16; 5:24; 1 John 5:13).
- Unto the Son he [God, the Father] said, Your throne, O God, is for ever (Hebrews 1:8; John 1:1; John 14:9).
Summary: Be careful to distinguish between Jesus’ personhood and His relationship to us. Regarding His person, as the incarnate God, He was God becoming man—adding human frailty, suffering, temptation, etc. to His resume (while He remained God).
The Greeks believed that man could become god: apotheosis. Only our Bible says God became man, incarnate, still being God (Philippians 2:6-8). But our salvation, first and foremost, is all about our relationship with Him and not just our knowledge of Him! We are, in truth, getting to know Him (Philippians 3:10; Matthew 11:29; 1 Corinthians 13:12). Mere “head knowledge” doesn’t save; real salvation comes through trusting the risen Christ (John 5:39-40).
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. – 2 Corinthians 4:6
