The Theology of the Lord Christ Regarding Belief in Him
The lecturer addresses proving the divinity of the Lord Christ from the perspective of belief in Him. The basic message is that belief in Christ is not an ordinary belief but a belief that contains within it distinctive spiritual and salvific faculties — it grants eternal life, forgives sins, brings the person closer to God, and gives the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Because these fruits and gifts are attributed to God alone in the Holy Scripture, Christ’s demanding belief in Him and acting with the authority of forgiveness and manifesting divine glory are considered evidence of His divinity.
Detailed summary (English literal translation)
- Christ’s call to belief
The lecturer begins by affirming that Christ asked people to believe in Him, and equated belief in Him with belief in God, citing words from the Gospel of John that call: “Believe in God and believe in Me.” He indicates that this belief is required for eternal life.
- Belief as a source of life and salvation
He explains that belief in Christ is the cause of eternal life and prevention of perdition, relying on texts from John and the Acts of the Apostles that link belief in Christ with salvation, justification, and forgiveness of sins.
- The relationship between belief and the Holy Spirit
He emphasizes that belief in Christ is connected to the gift of the Holy Spirit: whoever believes in Him will receive rivers of living water — that is the Holy Spirit — and that acknowledging Christ as Lord cannot occur except by the work of the Holy Spirit.
- Forgiveness of sins as evidence of divinity
The lecturer interprets that forgiveness in the Holy Scripture is an action particular to God, and that Christ’s words “your sins are forgiven” followed by the miracle indicate that He has authority to forgive truly, and this proves His divinity.
- The authority of priests and forgiveness
He clarifies the distinction between the priests’ forgiveness (a prayer of absolution offered to God by the Holy Spirit) and Christ’s direct forgiveness by word and divine authority, explaining how Christ gave the apostles authority through the work of the Holy Spirit.
- Divine glory and future hope
He concludes by asserting that Christ has “glory for ever,” which is divine glory not given to others, and that coming in the Father’s glory and sitting with the Father on the throne and being the center of the heavenly praise are all indications of His divinity.
- Practical results of belief
He finishes by clarifying that belief in Christ prepares for baptism and is the foundation for the writing of the Gospel (John’s Gospel was written so people may believe and have life in His name), and also links belief with justification and peace with God.
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