Austin Bible Church
Jesus Christ was perfectly qualified to be the Savior of mankind. Jesus Christ was qualified by prophecy. He was qualified by lineage or genealogy. Matt. 1; Luke 3. He was qualified by the Davidic Covenant (house, kingdom, throne). 2 Sam. 7; Luke 1.
He was qualified by His ascension and His current session where He was told by God the Father to “sit down” at the Father’s right hand – the place of honor. Heb. 1. He was qualified by being the perfect God-man. John 1:1-14. He was qualified because He was the perfect genius with the perfect spiritual IQ. 1 Cor. 1 and 2.
Adam was created innocent. He then sinned through negative volition and he died spiritually. He then acquired an old sin nature which became the source of his personal sin. Since Adam, every member of the human race is born into the world with a genetically-formed sin nature to which God the Father imputes Adam’s original sin at the first breath, thus we are all born physically alive and spiritually dead. Further, we all sin in our lifetime and have no way to gain the absolute righteousness of God. We are all born in the slave market of sin. Rom. 5:12.
“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—” (Romans 5:12, NASB)
To become our Savior, the Son of God took on the form of true humanity to become the unique God-man in one person forever. He became “flesh.” Heb. 2:14-16; Phil. 2:6-8; John 1:14.
“Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.” (Hebrews 2:14-16, NASB)
“who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8, NASB)
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14, NASB)
Jesus Christ, in His humanity, was qualified to be our Savior because He had no imputed or inherent old sin nature. He committed no personal sin throughout His life, even while being crucified. 2 Cor. 5:21.
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NASB)
Jesus Christ was qualified to be our Savior through the virgin birth. He came into the world as a free man. The sin of Adam was not imputed to Him. He did not inherit an old sin nature and He did not committed any personal sins. He became the unique person of the universe – perfect God and sinless man – the God-man.
He was qualified to and did die with reference to the old sin nature, condemning it. He was qualified to and did endure the divine judgment for the sins produced by all of mankind. He also rejected the human good which comes from the area of strength in the old sin nature. Titus 3:5.
“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,” (Titus 3:5, NASB)
He died spiritually so that we might have eternal life. He died physically so that we might have a resurrection body. 1 John 5:11-12; Rom. 4:25.
“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” (1 John 5:11-12, NASB)
“He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.” (Romans 4:25, NASB)
Jesus Christ is Qualified to be Our Savior by Prophecy
The diagram below summarizes the Old Testament prophecies regarding the qualifications of Jesus Christ to be our Savior. Note how the prophecies narrow down the potential One who would die on the Cross. He would be of the human race, of the nation of Israel, of the Tribe of Judah, a Prophet like unto Moses, a King like unto David, His Birthplace would be Bethlehem, His birth would be of a virgin, His names among others are Wonderful Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace and finally He would die on a Cross. Thus He is the ONLY ONE qualified to be our Savior.
His race was predicted. He became a member of the human race. In Genesis 3:15, “you” refers to Satan, the “woman” refers to Eve, “your seed” refers to Satan’s seed, “her seed” refers to Jesus Christ, “He” is Jesus Christ, the “head” is Satan’s head, and “bruise him on the heel” refers to the Cross where Jesus Christ would atone for all sins.
“And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."” (Genesis 3:15, NASB)
His nation was predicted as Israel, a nation founded on regeneration. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob were all believers. First, the Savior would come through the human race. Second, the Savior would come through the nation of Israel. Prophecy narrowed down the identity of the Savior. Gen. 12:1-3.
“Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."” (Genesis 12:1-3, NASB)
His tribe was predicted as Judah. He was known in the Old Testament as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. We move from the general category of homo sapiens to a more specific category, a nation, namely Israel. And finally to a category within that nation, Judah. Gen. 49:10.
“"The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” (Genesis 49:10, NASB)
His prophetic office was predicted by Moses. The qualified Savior would be a prophet like unto Moses. Moses was marvelous, but One greater than Moses was in the offing. Deut. 18:15.
“"The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.” (Deuteronomy 18:15, NASB)
His kingship was predicted. Through the line of David, He would have a house. He would have a throne. He would have a kingdom. 2 Sam. 7:14-16.
“"I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. "Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever."'"” (2 Samuel 7:14-16, NASB)
His birthplace was predicted. Bethlehem Ephrathah, a specific location prophesied in 710 BC. Micah 5:2.
“"But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity."” (Micah 5:2, NASB)
His unique virgin birth was predicted. Isaiah 7:14.
“"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14, NASB)
Many of His names were predicted. Isaiah 9:6.
“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6, NASB)
His death on the Cross was predicted. Isaiah 53.
Thus, the One born in the Gospels could be none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He was born so that He could die spiritually on our behalf and physically for all believers. In His death, He rose again. Today we worship Him as the ascended seated Christ. Do you know Him, believe in Him?