We have learned the theme of the Bible is the redemption of man, "buying man back."
Romans 6:23 says every man is a sinner and is spiritually dead. Every man is
under the condemnation of death, and the penalty must be paid.

The gospel, or "Good News" is that God, in the person of Jesus Christ,  paid the price for man.
In dying, Christ took the penalty upon Himself in order that we might have life for time and eternity.

 Let's proceed to study about Jesus Christ, the One who paid the price for the sins of mankind

The Bible teaches the birth of Christ was not His beginning.

A. HE WAS BEFORE JOHN THE BAPTIST

        John the Baptist said Christ had always existed (John 1:15). Jesus was born
        six months after John, yet John said, "He that cometh after me - . . . was before me."
        He was stating that God the Son had existence in eternity.

B. CHRIST TAUGHT HIS ETERNAL EXISTENCE

        1. John 8:58
        2. John 17:5
        3. John 6:61, 62

C. THE APOSTLES TAUGHT HIS ETERNAL EXISTENCE

        1. John 1:1,2
        2. Colossians 1:17
        3. Hebrews 1:1-3
 

A. HIS BIRTH PROPHESIED

         Isaiah spoke of His birth 700 years before, saying He  would be born of a
         virgin (Isaiah 7:14).

B. DETAILS OF HIS BIRTH

        1. His mother was a virgin (Matthew 1:18).

        2. Mary was espoused to Joseph (Matthew 1:18). Jewish weddings had two
            stages, separated by the espousal period.

        3. Mary was with child after her espousal to Joseph and before their marriage
            was consummated (Matthew 1:18-20).

        4. Joseph assumed she had been unfaithful to him, and planned to divorce
            her (Matthew 1:19).

III. CHRIST BECAME A MAN

A. THE BEGINNING OF HIS HUMAN NATURE

        Christ was always a person, but not always a man. His birth was the
        beginning of His human nature (Philippians 2:5-8).

B. HUMAN NATURE AND VIRGIN BIRTH

        The doctrine of the virgin birth is extremely important.

        1. By the normal procreative process of human parents a new personality is formed.
            Christ was a personality before His birth. Had he received a second personality
            through  conception, He would have been two persons living in one body.

        2. The virgin birth protects our Lord from a blasphemous alternative. Since Joseph
            disclaims any procreative responsibility for the baby, whose child was He?

        3. The virgin birth gave Christ a human body and a human nature
            without the weakness of human nature. He had no sin.

 

IV. WHY CHRIST BECAME A MAN

Christ came to earth to ransom man from his sin. That price was death.
The reason He could pay the price and no one else, was because
He was not guilty of the same crime, namely sin, that afflicted man.
But as God, He could not die; therefore, He became a man so He could die.

A. DECLARATION OF HIS DEATH

        1. Isaiah 52:12-53:12

        2. Matthew 16:21

B. REASON FOR HIS DEATH

        1. Christ died for man because of His great love (I John 4:10).

        2. Man's sin made Christ's death necessary (Romans 3:23).

        3. Christ died that He might share His eternal life (John 12:20-24).

C. RESULTS OF HIS DEATH

        1. God saw His death as payment for the sins of all men (I Peter  2:21-24).

        2. Christ is our substitute; He died in our place (I Peter 3:18).

        3. His death displays the love of God for sinners (Romans 5:8).

V. HOW CHRIST'S WORK IS APPROPRIATED

A. FALSE IDEAS

        1. Try and do good.

        2. Keep the Ten Commandments.

        3. Join a church.

B. APPROPRIATED BY FAITH

        The key word is "believe." Look up and read the following verses aloud.

        1. John 3:16

        2. John 3:36

        3. John 5:24

        4. Acts 16:25-31

        The word' 'believe" in these verses denotes a heart belief, not just a head
        belief. There are two types of belief. One is an intellectual assent, while
        the other is a heart appropriation. You can believe many things with your
        mind without believing them in your heart.

        5. Romans 10:9. This is a key verse to show how to appropriate the work of Christ.

A. HE WAS HUMAN

        1. Scripture implies His humanity by the names it gives Him
            (I Timothy 2:5; Matthew 1:1; Hebrews 2:14).

        2. He had the following human characteristics:
                a. He began life as a baby (Luke 2:5).
                b. He grew and developed (Luke 2:40).
                c. He had human emotions (John 11:35).
                d. He had a normal appetite (John 19:28).
                e. He had certain limitations (John 4:6). f. He looked like a man (John 1:10).
                g. He suffered and died like a man (John 19:30, 34).

B. HE WAS DIVINE

        1. The names given Him in Scripture can be applied only to one who is God.
                a. John 1:1
                b. Hebrews 1:8
                c. Titus 2:13

        2. He had qualities only one who is God could possess.
                a. He is eternal (I John 1:2).
                b. He is unchangeable (Hebrews 13:8).
                c. He is all-knowing (Colossians 2:3).
                d. He is all-powerful (Philippians 3:30, 31).
                e. He is perfect (Colossians 1:19).
                f. He is holy (Acts 3:14).
                g. He is righteous (I John 2:1).

        3. Scripture credits Him with work only one who is God could do.
                a. He creates (John 1:3).
                b. He holds the elements together (Hebrews 1:3).
                c. He forgives sin and gives eternal life (Colossians 3:13).
                d. He raised the dead (John 11:24, 25).