What is Christology and Why is it Important?

Christology is the area of Christian belief concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The New Testament of the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is an eternal person, who along with God the Father and the Holy Spirit has existed eternally. He has been present in creation since the very founding of the universe. (John 1:1-3)

The Bible also teaches that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (John 19:7) He is fully God Himself, and equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. However, it is Christ’s nature to subordinate himself to the Father’s will as an expression of their perfect love. This dynamic is evidenced in Jesus’ coming to earth, as well as in the greater purpose for which He came.

In Jesus’ incarnation (taking on full humanity), He humbled himself in identifying with the struggles of sinful mankind.

Yet, in being born of a virgin and remaining fully God, Jesus remained fully God. He lived a sinless life and possessed the complete power and authority to carry out the mission He had been assigned – the plan of God the Father from the very beginning of time to lovingly draw people who are lost in sin back into His very own family. (Galatians 4:4)

Jesus Christ came to earth on a mission to restore humanity to the right relationship with God. Any person can receive forgiveness of our sins and new and eternal life when we simply confess our spiritual need and look in faith to what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf through His sacrificial death on the cross and resurrection from the grave.

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” - 2 Corinthians 8:9

Jesus Christ is the perfect mediator between God and mankind. (1 Timothy 2:5) Through Him, all people who believe are redeemed from sin, made righteous before God, and united with God for all eternity.

So why does our Christology matter?

Our Christology matters because our Christology (what we believe about Jesus) forms the foundation for our Soteriology (what we believe about how a person can receive forgiveness and new spiritual life).

When our hope is set on Jesus Christ, we have firm ground to stand on for all eternity. Whatever we face in life, and even in the face of death, when our life is in Jesus Christ, we are secure. He is our strength and salvation. He is our peace, our joy, and source of life from the moment we first believe through all eternity, and that reality is unchangeable.

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so, through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” - 2 Corinthians 1:20

May the words of a hymn that has brought encouragement to followers of Jesus for centuries be an affirmation of hope, for you and me.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

“On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand” - Edward Mote (1797-1874)