Have you ever wondered who Jesus Christ really is according to the Church of the Nazarene? Perhaps you have heard Nazarenes describe Him as the Son of God, the Saviour or the Second Person of the Trinity. But what exactly do these descriptions mean?
To answer this question, I want us to look at what the Church officially teaches and then consider the biblical passages behind that belief. The answer is clear: the Church of the Nazarene believes Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human, the eternal Son of God who came into the world to save humanity.
Where can we find this teaching?
The principal reference is the 2023 Church of the Nazarene Manual, Article of Faith II, paragraph 2, titled Jesus Christ. The Manual identifies Jesus as the Second Person of the Triune Godhead and explains His relationship with the Father, His incarnation, His death, resurrection, ascension and continuing intercession.
Let’s look at what these teachings mean in ordinary language.
1. Jesus Christ is eternally God.
The Nazarene confession does not present Jesus as someone who became divine later in history. He existed eternally with the Father. This means Jesus is not simply a prophet, an unusually good teacher or a created spiritual being. He shares the divine identity of God.
John 1:1-18 helps us understand this belief. John introduces Jesus as the Word who was with God and was God. He then explains that this same Word became flesh and lived among humanity. Notice how these two descriptions belong together: the Word was God, yet entered our human world.
2. Jesus Christ became genuinely human.
The Manual also explains that Jesus was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. His divine nature and human nature are united in one Person. Christians often describe this as the incarnation.
In simple language, Jesus did not merely appear to be human. He genuinely entered human life. Galatians 4:4-5 speaks of God’s Son being born of a woman, while Philippians 2:5-11 describes His humility and obedience, even to death on a cross.
Therefore, when Nazarenes speak about Jesus as fully God and fully human, they are holding together two important truths. He is truly divine, and He genuinely shared our humanity.
3. Jesus died and rose again for us.
Article of Faith II also identifies Jesus’ death and resurrection as central to who He is and what He accomplished. He died for our sins and truly rose from the dead. This is not merely a story about a good man’s influence continuing after death.
Romans 8:32-34 connects Christ’s death with His resurrection and exalted position. Article of Faith VI, paragraph 6, further explains the Nazarene understanding of His atoning death. Jesus’ sacrifice is the ground of salvation from sin.
4. Jesus is alive and continues to intercede for us.
There is another important part of this confession that we should not overlook. The Manual speaks about Christ ascending into heaven and continuing His intercession for humanity.
Hebrews 7:22-28 explains that Jesus is the permanent High Priest who always lives to intercede for those who approach God through Him. Hebrews 9:24-28 further describes His presence before God on our behalf. His saving work is not simply something remembered from the past. The risen Christ remains our living Lord and High Priest.
So, who is Jesus Christ according to the Church of the Nazarene?
He is the eternal Son of God, fully divine and fully human, born of the Virgin Mary, who died for our sins, rose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and continues to intercede for us.
I find it important that this confession brings together both who Jesus is and what He has done. The Nazarene understanding does not separate His divine identity from His saving work. We are not simply talking about a remarkable historical figure. We are talking about the living Christ at the centre of Christian faith.
That is the Jesus Christ the Church of the Nazarene confesses.