Answering the Mysteries Devotionals

Answering the Mysteries devotional from Jesus.org

Quote of the Day

"Apart from Jesus Christ, everyone is spiritually destitute—or poor in spirit—regardless of their education, wealth, accomplishments, or even religious knowledge."
~Greg Laurie (from "the beatitude bombshell?")

Today's Answer

Is Jesus Really Unique?
Dr. Bruce Ware

Why think that Jesus is the only Savior? Of all the people who have lived and ever will live, Jesus alone qualifies, in his person and work, as the only one capable of accomplishing atonement for the sin of the world. Consider the following ways in which Jesus alone qualifies as the exclusive Savior.

1. Christ alone was conceived by the holy spirit and born of a virgin (isa 7:14;matt 1:18-25luke 1:26-38), and as such, he alone qualifies to be Savior. Why does this matter? Only as the Holy Spirit takes the place of the human father in Jesus' conception can it be true that the one conceived is both fully god and fully man. Christ must be both God and man to atone for sin (see below), but for this to occur, he must be conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a human virgin. No one else in the history of the world is conceived by the Spirit and born of a virgin mother. Therefore, Jesus alone qualifies to be Savior.

2. Christ alone is God incarnate (john 1:1-18hebrews 1:1-32:14-18phil 2:5-111 tim 2:5-6), and as such, he alone qualifies to be Savior. As Anselm argued in the 11th century, our Savior must be fully man in order to take the place of men and die in their stead, and he must be fully God in order for the value of his sacrificial payment to satisfy the demands of our infinitely holy God. Man he must be, but a mere man simply could not make this infinite payment for sin. But no one else in the history of the world is both fully God and fully man. Therefore, Jesus alone qualifies to be Savior.

3. Christ alone lived a sinless life (2 cor 5:21heb 4:157:23-289:13-141 pet 2:21-24), and as such, he alone qualifies to be Savior. As Leviticus makes clear, animals offered as sacrifices for sin must be without blemish. This prefigured the sacrifice of Christ who, as sinless, was able to die for the sins of others and not for himself. But no one else in the history of the world has lived a totally sinless life. Therefore, Jesus alone qualifies to be Savior.

For the other reasons, see "only one way? the exclusivity of jesus christ and the gospel" (excerpt used by permission).

Today's Video

what does it mean to pray in the name of jesus?
Answered by Stephen Davey

Do you have questions about the life, ministry, and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
Get real answers at jesus.org
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About Answering the Mysteries

Answering the Mysteries of Jesus Christ is a devotional that talks about a wide range of topics.  Evangelism, Jesus resurrection, and the power of prayer are just some of the topics discussed in this devotional.  Grow in your relationship with the Lord through this devotional here at Christianity.com.

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