Beyond the Resurrection and Ascension: Who is Jesus Christ?
Philippians 2:5-11
By: Dr. William H. Chavis, Jr.
Christians cannot talk about Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension unless we can explain the purpose for His existence. John 1:1 states “In the beginning (in the eternal past) was the Word, and the Word was with God. He was with God in the beginning.” “Word” in that verse is “Logos.” Logos means “the mind of God,” or the “full reason of God.” John 1:14 states, in part, that the Word became “flesh and dwelt (lived) among us.” The Logos of God is Jesus Christ.
Jesus, The Logos, took to Himself our humanity into the womb of a virgin, named Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit (a biological miracle) and became one of us – but without sin (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1: 16-25; Luke 1:35; 2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus is THE IS before there was a “was.” He is THE GREAT I AM AND THE FIRST AND THE LAST (Rev. 1:8). He is the One who always existed! He is God before He became flesh and now He is God resurrected, ascended and exalted without the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). He is God who is immediately present with us.
Jesus came to deliver us from being spiritually lost and separated from God. That’s the biblical definition of sin (Romans 3:23). By our choosing, we are spiritually lost when we find ourselves alienated and separated from the unconditional, forgiving and restoring love of God. Not knowing Christ Jesus by faith (1 John 5:10-13) is separation from God. Jesus is the only way to God (1 Tim. 2:5). He is the only Person who can deliver us from sin and guilt (Acts 4:12). Those who trust in Him are freed from guilt and sin through Christ’s reconciling blood (Col. 1:20-22; Rev. 1:5).
In our text, it states that The Logos was given an earthly name of Jesus. Jesus means “Savior” or “God is salvation.” This definition is part of God’s character and a window into who God is by nature. God is the totality of that name. Any person who calls on that part of His character for salvation (Rom. 10:9-10, 13) will be immediately rescued and transferred into the kingdom of heaven as their eternal reward for such a decision (Col. 1:13).
This spiritual deliverance happens once a person accepts God’s condition of repentance and faith in the redeeming blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19; Romans 10:9-13; 1 Peter 1:18-19). Biblical repentance is defined as a change of attitude in how you view sin. It is the turning away from sin and toward accepting Jesus Christ by faith for spiritual cleansing of sin and guilt (Acts 3:19, 20:21).
The meaning of the name of Jesus is His character. Say “yes” to Him and Jesus will become His name to you. He is not a liar. Jesus Christ is the only name powerful enough to have every knee to bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord (Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:11).
Saying “yes” to Jesus is to live your life in alignment with His life and becoming one with the ascended Christ. He is ever present with us, ready and able to accept your “yes” to His invitation to become a child of God and the promise of life eternal (John 1:12, 1 John 5:10-13).
God intentionally devised Jesus’ death on the cross to show that He dearly loves us, then pursues us to accept His eternal plan for humankind! All praises to the RESURRECTED AND ASCENDED JESUS!