Is Jesus fully God and fully man?
Yes. Scripture presents Jesus as eternally God while truly taking on human nature in the incarnation. John says the Word was God and became flesh; Paul affirms that in Him the fullness of deity dwells bodily. He did not merely appear human; He partook of flesh and blood like us, yet remained truly God. He lived without sin, so that He could be our faithful High Priest and true substitute. We confess He one Person with two natures, without confusion or division, fully divine and fully human, so that He can reveal the Father perfectly and redeem us perfectly (we call this the Hypostatic union). See John 1:1, 14; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 2:14–17.
Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?
Because God is just and must punish sin, and God is love and willed to save sinners. At the cross, Jesus bore our sin, our guilt, and the penalty we deserved, so that God would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. He who knew no sin was made sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Christ suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God; there is no other way for forgiveness and reconciliation. See Romans 3:24–26; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18. Read our article “Reflections on Good Friday” for more in depth information on this subject.
Did Jesus really rise bodily from the dead?
Yes, bodily and historically. The apostles testified to an empty tomb and encounters with the risen Christ in which He spoke, ate, and was touched. Paul records eyewitnesses, many still living when he wrote, and ties our salvation to the reality of this event; if Christ has not been raised, our faith is futile. The risen Lord’s body was glorified yet tangible; His resurrection is the firstfruits of ours and the foundation of our hope. See 1 Corinthians 15:3–8; Luke 24:36–43. Want to learn more? Read the article “The Resurrection of Jesus Christ”.
What is Jesus doing now?
Jesus ascended to the Father’s right hand where He reigns as Lord and intercedes for His people. He presents His finished work on our behalf, securing our ongoing forgiveness and access to God, and He pours out the Spirit to build His church. From His throne He rules all things for the good of those who love Him and for the advance of the gospel; He will return in glory to judge and to consummate His kingdom. See Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; Acts 1:9–11.