Who is Christ (Foundations Series #4), August 24, 2025

Who is ChristBrian Lee

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Introduction

As we continue our Foundations Series, I hope you are not saying this is "too basic." Think of it this way. If you remove the foundation of a house, then it doesn’t matter how well-decorated the living room is. The house built on sand will not stand when the storm comes. So, let us press on with the fourth foundational topic. Today, we ask the question, "Who is Christ?"

Now, Jesus himself asked this question to His disciples. In Matthew 16:15, Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?”

He was not posing a mere theological question. He was asking the defining question of life itself. You see, how we answer the question, "Who do you say that Jesus Christ is?" shows who we are in this world.

Today, we will consider three things: Christ’s personhood, Christ’s offices, and Christ’s work. The personhood, the offices, and the work of Christ are the foundation of the Christian life. We never move past them. We only grow deeper into them.

As R. C. Sproul put it, “The work of Christ reveals to us who He is. The work and the person may be distinguished but never separated.” If we get Christ wrong, we get the gospel wrong. But when we see Christ for who He is, we not only see salvation, we see the very glory of God.

1. The Person of Christ: Fully God and Fully Man (John 1:1-4; 14)

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus is fully God and fully man. He is not half God and half man.

Christians throughout history, everywhere, have professed this about the person of Christ. He is fully God and fully man.

Why does this matter?

If He were not God, He could not save us, for only God can bear the weight of divine wrath and offer infinite righteousness. But if He were not man, He could not represent us (stand in our place), obey the law on our behalf, or die in our stead. As Hebrews 2:17 declares:

"For this reason, he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people." (NIV)

Sinclair Ferguson notes that the incarnation shows us not only God’s power but God’s humility. The Creator stooped to become a creature, so that creatures might be reconciled to their Creator.

2. The Offices of Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King (Hebrews 1:1–4)

Hebrews 1:1–4 (ESV) 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

The Reformers often spoke of Christ’s threefold office as Prophet, Priest, and King.

As Prophet, Christ speaks God’s Word to us. As Prophet, He is unlike any other prophets of religions. He is not merely another messenger. He is the message itself, the Word made flesh. He is the truth, life, and the way.

As Priest, Christ offers Himself as the sacrifice for our sins and continually intercedes for us.

“He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

Unlike the priests of old, He never ceases, and he never fails.

As King, Christ rules over all things. After His resurrection, He declared:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18).

His reign extends over every inch of creation.

Knowing Christ in these three offices shapes our daily life. As Prophet, He directs us by His Word. As Priest, He (re)assures us of forgiveness. As King, He is victorious over sin and death. He gives us the confidence to press on, even when our lives are seemingly falling apart at the seams, because He is the King of Glory. He is mighty to save!

3. The Work of Christ: His Deity and Redemption (Colossians 1:15–20)

Colossians 1:15–20 (ESV)

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

When Apostle Paul says in verse 15 that Christ is “the image of the invisible God,” the Greek word is pronounced, εἰκών (eikōn). In everyday Greek, eikōn could mean a statue, likeness, or picture. But here it means something far more profound: Christ is not a copy or reflection of God, but the exact and perfect manifestation of the invisible God. What is unseen in God the Father is made visible in the Son.

This is why Jesus can say in John 14:9, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” The unseen God is perfectly and personally revealed in Christ. He does not merely represent God; He presents God. He makes the invisible visible.

James Montgomery Boice once said, “The deity of Christ is essential. If Jesus is not God, then we are idolaters for worshiping Him. But if He is God, then worship is our only reasonable response.”

Conclusion: "Who do you say Jesus Christ is?"

If He is not the Righteous God, then He cannot save us.

If He is not fully man, then He cannot represent us. He can only sympathize with us conceptually and not experientially.

If He is not our Prophet, Priest, and King, then we are left without direction in life, without forgiveness for sin and guilt, and I dare say, without hope beyond the grave.

He is the eternal God come in the flesh.

He is our Prophet, our Priest, and our King.

He, as fully God and fully man, redeemed us by bearing the weight of God's holiness upon his shoulders on the Cross!

So who is Christ?

This is the most relevant question for our everyday life.

When we feel crushed by guilt, we need to remember Christ is our Priest who intercedes for us.

When we are confused by the noise of the culture, we need Christ as our Prophet to speak truth into our confusion.

When we feel powerless in this broken world, we need Christ as our King who reigns over every detail of our lives.

This is not abstract theology. This is your lifeline for discipleship, for marriage, for parenting, for vocation, for facing suffering, and even for facing death.

The most important question you can ever answer is the one Jesus asked: “Who do you say that I am?”

So, let us daily answer, “Lord Jesus, We say that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And let us live with the confidence, hope, and joy that comes only from knowing Him. King Jesus lives; so will we!

Hallelujah!