BC Article 10

The Deity of Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ,
according to his divine nature,
is the only Son of God—
      eternally begotten,
      not made nor created,
           for then he would be a creature.

He is one in essence with the Father;
coeternal;
the exact image of the person of the Father
and the "reflection of his glory,"^13
      being in all things like him.

He is the Son of God
not only from the time he assumed our nature
but from all eternity,
      as the following testimonies teach us
      when they are taken together.

Moses says that God "created the world";^14
and John says that "all things were created by the Word,"^15
           which he calls God.
      The apostle says that "God made the world by his Son."^16
He also says that "God created all things by Jesus Christ."^17

And so it must follow
that he who is called God, the Word, the Son, and Jesus Christ
already existed when all things were created by him.

Therefore the prophet Micah says
that his origin is "from ancient times,
      from eternity."^18
And the apostle says
that he has "neither beginning of days
      nor end of life."^19

      So then,
      he is the true eternal God,
      the Almighty,
      whom we invoke,
      worship,
      and serve.

^13 Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3
^14 Gen. 1:1
^15 John 1:3
^16 Heb. 1:2
^17 Col. 1:16
^18 Mic. 5:2
^19 Heb. 7:3

 

As to why it is important...

Unless Christ is God (and unless he is man) we cannot be saved.

“To whom was the ransom (Christ’s death on the Cross) paid?”

QUOTE:

St. Gregory the Theologian on our Ransom by God

One of the greatest orators of his age, St. Gregory the Theologian (also known as Gregory Nazianzus), is considered among the most central of Church fathers. His work, and that of St. Basil the Great, did much to win the day for the Nicene Creed (by God’s grace) and to secure its completion at the first Council of Constantinople, where the Creed received its final and present form. He is not as easy to read for moderns as Augustine or some of the Latin Fathers. But is well worth the read. Below is a portion from his Second Paschal Oration in which he asks the question: “To whom was the ransom (Christ’s death on the Cross) paid?”

Now we are to examine another fact and dogma, neglected by most people, but in my judgment well worth enquiring into. To Whom was that Blood offered that was shed for us, and why was it shed? I mean the precious and famous Blood of our God and Highpriest and Sacrifice. We were detained in bondage by the Evil One, sold under sin, and receiving pleasure in exchange for wickedness. Now, since a ransom belongs only to him who holds in bondage, I ask to whom was this offered, and for what cause? If to the Evil One, fie upon the outrage! If the robber receives ransom, not only from God, but a ransom which consists of God Himself, and has such an illustrious payment for his tyranny, a payment for whose sake it would have been right for him to have left us alone altogether. But if to the Father, I ask first, how? For it was not by Him that we were being oppressed; and next, On what principle did the Blood of His Only begotten Son delight the Father, Who would not receive even Isaac, when he was being offered by his Father, but changed the sacrifice, putting a ram in the place of the human victim? Is it not evident that the Father accepts Him, but neither asked for Him nor demanded Him; but on account of the Incarnation, and because Humanity must be sanctified by the Humanity of God, that He might deliver us Himself, and overcome the tyrant, and draw us to Himself by the mediation of His Son, Who also arranged this to the honour of the Father, Whom it is manifest that He obeys in all things? So much we have said of Christ; the greater part of what we might say shall be reverenced with silence.

His final summation puts my garrulousness to shame.

http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/st-gregory-the-theologian-on-our-ransom-by-god/

I appreciate your considering my questions, Keith.

And I appreciate your thoughts, Harold.

- Bruce

p.s. Keith, my family and I attend a Dutch Reformed Church, and my kids go to a Presbyterian Church in America based Christian school. And I was baptized in a Swedish Baptist church. So, please don't steriotype me. Thanks.

My son's memory verse for school seems to apply:

John 5:22-24 (New International Version) 

22Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

 24"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.