Who is Jesus Christ?

People have debated Jesus Christ's existence or non-existence for a number of years. Was he really born of a virgin birth? Was he just a prophet or teacher? Was he God? And did he die and resurrect himself from the dead? These questions have caused many people to divide into multiple religions and faiths, because some believe and some don't. God created us to have free will and to decide for ourselves what the truth is and who we will follow. But God has also given us many examples and tests, to help us determine that Jesus was and is real. Let's first look at how Jesus came into this world approximately two-thousand years ago. Matthew 1:20-21 says, "But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." This scripture clearly tells us that Jesus was born of a virgin birth into this world, to save us from our sins and eternal death. Was Jesus a prophet, teacher or God himself? Many religions teach that Jesus was a prophet, teacher or holy man. Because Jesus had the ability to perform miracles, by healing the sick, making blind people see, and raising Lazarus from the dead, he was considered a prophet. Because he spoke to a multitude of people about loving God, loving one another and teaching them the right way to live, he was considered a teacher. Jesus did those things, but he also told them he was God, by saying, "I and the Father are one." (John 10:30) Many Jews wanted to kill Jesus, because claiming to be God, was the greatest blasphemy one could claim. But Jesus still tried to convince them by the miracles he was able to perform as proof. John 10:37-38 says, "Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." Even in John 8:56-58 Jesus told the Jews that Abraham, which was a great prophet, rejoiced at the thought of seeing the day that Jesus was revealed. The Jews couldn't believe that Jesus had seen Abraham, who existed before Jesus was born. But Jesus continued by saying, "Before Abraham was born, I am!" John 1:1 also says, "the Word was God." And John 1:14 says, "the Word became flesh." So if we look at these scriptures, you can clearly see that Jesus was God manifested in the flesh. Did Jesus die and become resurrected from the dead? Jesus told his disciples that he was going to die and become resurrected within three days in order to prove to them that he was the Son of God. Mark 10:33-34 says, "We are going up to Jerusalem, " he said. And the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise." Even though some have chosen not to believe in Christ's resurrection, the bible continues to tell us that what Jesus predicted came true. Luke 24:2-7 says, "They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them. "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee. The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again." We have had two-thousand years worth of proof that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and therefore God himself. Who are we to argue and debate his existence? There are many scholars who have tried to disprove or discredit Jesus, but were they there? Did they listen to him or serve with him? Were they exposed to Jesus' direct teachings themselves? The point is, Jesus had to be God to die and pay the penalty of our sins. If God did not do this, the world would be lost and we would have eternal death- physically and spiritually. Because God loves us so much, he died and rose again on the third day, so we could spend eternal life with him one day. Salvation is only available through faith in Jesus Christ. For John 14:6-7 says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." Based on the information that's been given to us through the bible and the Holy Spirit, I choose to believe in him. I have faith that one day, I will see his face and live eternally with him, and others who believe, forever. For the devil's job is to convince you that Jesus does not exist and to spend eternal life with him in hell. But if you just pray to God for help and for his spirit to be revealed, he will show you the truth and save you today. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2176227