The Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ – Part 4: Faith in Him

Main Idea

Pope Shenouda III discusses proving the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ through the importance of believing in Him and the spiritual results connected with this faith. He explains that Christ asked His disciples to believe in Him just as they believe in the Father, which declares His equality with the Father. Faith in Christ is not merely a passing belief, but is connected with eternal life, salvation, freedom from perishing, and judgment. He emphasizes that faith in Christ qualifies a person for baptism, forgiveness of sins, justification, receiving the Holy Spirit, and becoming a child of God. He also explains that the faith intended is complete and fruitful faith, connected with repentance, the sacraments of the Church, and works, rather than merely theoretical belief.

Spiritual Message

The teaching emphasizes that Christ is the only-begotten Son of God and that faith in Him is directly connected with human salvation and eternal life. Pope Shenouda presents biblical passages that connect faith in Christ with eternal life, forgiveness of sins, justification, and receiving the Holy Spirit. He also explains that faith, baptism, and repentance are interconnected in the path of salvation, and that they should not be separated from one another.

Educational Lesson

Pope Shenouda explains that the title “the only-begotten Son” distinguishes Christ from humanity, for He is the only Son who is of the essence and nature of the Father and possesses all the divine attributes of the Father. Among the proofs of Christ’s divinity is also His statement, “I and the Father are one,” as well as His statement that everything belonging to the Father belongs to Him, together with the teaching about the fullness of divinity dwelling in Him. He also explains that Christ concealed His divinity from Satan in certain situations, while His divinity remained unchanged, and that His outward weakness, tiredness, or hunger does not deny the reality of His divinity.

Practical Application

The practical application is for a person to live his faith in Christ as a complete and fruitful faith, with faith connected to repentance, baptism, spiritual life, and receiving the work of the Holy Spirit. The believer should also understand that faith in Christ is not merely intellectual knowledge, but a faith that leads to a new life and a true relationship with God. This teaching leads the believer to hold firmly to the Orthodox faith and to understand Christ’s divine position and the work of salvation connected with Him.

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