Jesus the Messiah, Lamb of God

And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31-32

The Lord Jesus Christ.

Scripture tells us that there is no other name given under heaven among men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

In these modern days, the name Jesus Christ is most often heard in times of stress and distress, used as a euphemism or curse word. No one chooses to use "buddha" or "mohammed" or "krishna" in such a manner. Why do you suppose that is? 

Who is Jesus Christ? 

In our western world, it's easy to miss the nuance of it, but the name "Christ" is not Jesus' last name or a mere add-on term. The name Christ is a profound declaration of fulfilled prophecy. It means "anointed one." Most significantly, it means "Messiah." It shows that the One we read about in the New Testament, who came as the little baby we celebrate at Christmas, is the longed-for and long-awaited Messiah promised in the Old Testament.

We see the prophecy first in Genesis when God cursed the serpent who deceived Eve:

"And I will put enmity

Between you and the woman,

And between your seed and her Seed;

He shall bruise your head,

And you shall bruise His heel.” (Gen. 3:15)

Who is the seed of the woman? None other than the virgin's son:

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." (Is. 7:14)

Isaiah's prophecy finds fulfillment in the book of Matthew, where we read the following account. 

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Matt. 1:18-23)

Emmanuel, "God with us." 

Jesus the Messiah

The Old Testament is filled with references to the coming Messiah who was to bear the sins of many, be tortured, killed, and then raised from the dead. Moses wrote, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear." (Deut. 18:15) King David wrote prophetically of the resurrection, "For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption." (Ps. 16:10) Daniel the Prophet foretold His atoning sacrifice: "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself..." (Dan. 9:26a) Isaiah spoke of both His death for sin and resurrection:

"He was taken from prison and from judgment,

And who will declare His generation?

For He was cut off from the land of the living;

For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.

And they made His grave with the wicked—

But with the rich at His death,

Because He had done no violence,

Nor was any deceit in His mouth.

Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;

He has put Him to grief.

When You make His soul an offering for sin,

He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,

And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.

He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.

By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,

For He shall bear their iniquities."

Is. 53:8-11

This is Jesus. The perfect and sinless Son of God who came as a Jewish man to pay the wage of our sin with His own blood (Rom. 6:23, Rom. 5:6-21), who did not stay dead, but after three days, came to life again (Acts 17:3). 

Death could not hold Him in the grave! He is risen and offers eternal life to all who believe. 

1. All have sinned. (Rom. 5:12, Gal. 3:22)
2. The wages of sin is death. (Heb. 9:22, James 1:15, Rom. 6:16, 23)
3. Christ died to pay for our sin. (John 1:29, 1 Cor. 2:2, 2 Cor. 5:14, Gal. 3:1)
4. Christ rose alive from the dead. (John 21:14, Rom. 14:9, Acts 4:10, 2 Cor. 5:15) 
5. His death-payment is imputed to us (applied to our account in the sight of God) who trust that He, by Himself and without our help, paid what we owe. (Rom. 4:6-8, Rom. 5:8-11, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Titus 3:3-7, 2 Cor. 5:21, Phil. 3:9) 
6. The gift of God is eternal life, which we receive by faith. (Gal. 3:22, John 1:12, John 3:16, Rom. 6:23, Gal. 2:20, Eph. 2:8)
7. We can KNOW we have eternal life. (1 John 5:10-13)

Thanks be to our Lord Jesus Christ!

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)

The message of salvation

"But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." Rom. 3:21-26

Read more:

• There are detailed accounts from the apostles of Jesus that show His life from prophecy to resurrection. Find them here: Acts 3:12-26, Acts 13:16-43.