This document summarizes a theology class that discusses the nature of Jesus Christ. It states that Christianity is a belief in Jesus, who was both fully human and fully divine. As a human, Jesus could identify with people and suffer, but as God, he could save them. The document then provides evidence for Jesus' resurrection, including the empty tomb, reported appearances, the disciples' changed lives even unto death, the rise of the Christian church, and the conversion of Paul. It concludes that through Jesus, God became human while remaining divine, and that the Holy Spirit was involved in this occurrence.

1. Hope In the Word Christian Ministries International
HOPE TRAINING CENTER
Introduction to Theology Class
24 September 2010
Ptr. BRIAN TRACY L. DOMINGUEZ, Elder

2. 
Christianity is not a belief about
something, it is a belief in
someone, namely, JESUS CHRIST, who
came that we might have, now and
forever, eternal life.

3. In the NT God meets us – that
is, comes to save us – in Jesus
of Nazareth who, as to His
“person,” was both human and
divine:
 Human so that we can identify
with Him (“one like us”) and
 Divine because only God can
save us.
 Some put more emphasis on
Jesus’ humanity, others of his
divinity.


5. 
Jesus was born of a woman
(Virgin Mary); was tested in
the wilderness; ate with
friends and sinners and went
to weddings; preached to the
crowds and debated the
Pharisees; was often weary
and sorrowful, and at times
even angry; and suffered, died
and was buried.

6. 
Jesus was conceived by
the Holy Spirit (thus by
God Himself); performed
miracles, which pointed to
His divinity; claimed
“oneness” with God (John
10:30); and assumed
attributes of God, such as
forgiving sin (Mark 2:5).

7. 



This is the supreme paradox of
Christianity:
God became human while, at the
same time, remaining God.
How was this possible – how did
“The Word of God became flesh
(Jesus) and live among us (John
1:14)?
Matthew and Luke tell us that it
occurred through the agency or
power of the Holy Spirit.

13. 




The empty tomb, which does not prove the
resurrection but does explain it.
If the Jews had produced Jesus’ body it would
have put an end to his followers’ claim that he
had risen from the dead.
Further, in the 1st century AD, it was customary
to venerate the tombs of revered leaders.
There is no evidence that this was ever the case
with Jesus’ tomb.
Why? Because it was EMPTY! 

14. 


Jesus’ numerous reported
appearances, which recorded in the Gospels
and elsewhere in the NT (I Cor. 15:5 – 8).
These testimonies were written because they
were TRUE!
No one would have taken time or gone to the
expense writing about a dead peasant from a
no-name village in Galilee.

15. 

The changed lives of the disciples, who came
out hiding to preach the risen Christ – and
many were martyred (for almost 300 years
since Jesus ascended to heaven) for doing so.
No one willingly dies (as St. Stephen, St.
James, St. Peter, St. Paul and million others)
for something they know false! 

16.  In a pagan (Roman
Empire) and hostile
(Jews)
environment, a
church whose
message was that
God had raised Jesus
from the dead!
 Acts 2:24

17. 
The dramatic conversion
of St. Paul, who met the
risen Christ on the road to
Damascus and
changed, overnight, from
the bitterest foe (enemy)
of Christianity to its
greatest champion on the
propagation of faith in all
imaginable and
unimaginable perils and
circumstances.

18. IN CONCLUSION…