The Undeniable Cornerstone: Jesus Christ, Fully God and Risen Lord
A Foundation
The Christian faith, vast in its denominations and diverse in its practices, finds its absolute, immovable center in two glorious and essential truths: the perfect Deity of Jesus Christ and His bodily resurrection from the grave. These are not debatable doctrines; they are the bedrock upon which salvation rests, uniting the body of Christ in a common, undeniable truth.
The Divinity That Demanded A Sacrifice
The Lord Jesus Christ was not merely a good man, an enlightened prophet, or a wise teacher. He was, and is, God Incarnate. This is the first, vital pillar of our faith. If Christ were not God, His death would be nothing more than the tragic end of a martyr; but because He is God, His sacrifice became the eternal atonement for the sins of the world.
The Apostle John opens his Gospel with the profound and majestic declaration of Christ’s pre-existence and nature:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” — John 1:1-3 (KJV)
The “Word” is Jesus Christ. He was present in the beginning, He was with God, and critically, He was God. This confirms His equality with the Father and His status as Creator and Sustainer of the universe, an act which only Deity can accomplish. Furthermore, Paul speaks of this Divine humility:
“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” — Philippians 2:6-7 (KJV)
The doctrine of Christ’s Deity establishes the infinite value of His work on the cross, ensuring that His sacrifice was sufficient to redeem humanity from the debt of sin.
The Resurrection That Declared Victory
The second, inseparable pillar of our faith is the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. His rising from the dead is the supreme proof that His divine sacrifice was accepted and that death itself has been conquered.
If Christ had only died, we would remain in our sins. Paul makes this argument unequivocally, establishing the Resurrection as the ultimate, non-negotiable proof of the Gospel:
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” — 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (KJV)
The Resurrection is the historical, verifiable event that validates all of Jesus’ claims. The angel declared to the women who came to the sepulchre:
“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” — Matthew 28:6 (KJV)
The empty tomb, the numerous eyewitnesses cited by the apostles, and the radical transformation of the disciples from fearful followers to bold evangelists stand as an unshakeable testimony. The Resurrection is not a mere theological concept; it is the engine of Christian hope, promising the believer ultimate victory over the grave.
The Unifying Truth
The Deity of Christ and His physical Resurrection form the undeniable cornerstone of the Christian faith. They are the truths most vehemently attested to by Scripture and most consistently held by Christian churches throughout history. To deny either is to deny the Gospel itself.
Therefore, as we stand in “Defence of the Truth,” we must return always to this core message: Jesus Christ is the living God, and He has conquered death, providing eternal life to all who believe. This is the sure and certain hope upon which all believers can and must agree.