"For God so love the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God" (John 3:16-18).

Who is Jesus Christ?

"Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16).Β 

"Jesus" means "Savior." "Christ" is the New Testament word for the Old Testament term, "Messiah." Both "Christ," and "Messiah" mean "Anointed One." Jesus is the Christ; the Anointed One; the Anointed Savior. The Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit, is anointed by God the Father to be the Savior of the world from satan, sin, and death.

In Genesis 3:15, after satan's temptation of Adam and Eve, and their subsequent fall into sin, God cursed satan. But that curse upon satan was a great promise to Adam and Eve, and all mankind. God said, 'I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seeds and her seed. He will bruise your head and you will bruise His heel' (Genesis 3:15). God promises a Savior Messiah who would "bruise" satan's head. Jesus would do that by dealing a fatal blow to his head by his suffering and death on the cross, and satan would strike a non-fatal blow upon His heal on that cross - non-fatal because Jesus would rise from the dead. Genesis 3:15 is known as the first "Gospel" (Good News).Β 

Adam and Eve, placed their faith and trust in God's Word - His "Good News." They trusted that One would come from God to be their champion over sin, death, and satan. This was the Old Testament faith of all true believers. Jesus is the One they were looking to by faith. He is the promised Messiah (the Christ); the Son of the living God. His death on the cross "bruised" satan's head – a fatal blow – for death could not contain almighty God. Jesus rose from the dead, thus showing that satan merely "bruised” His heal – a non-fatal blow.Β 

All who place their faith and trust in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ on the cross have the forgiveness of sins, and the sure hope and promise of everlasting life.

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