The most important question you'll ever answer.
"....'Who do people say that the Son of Man is?' And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?'" Matthew 16:13-15
Every person must answer the same question Jesus asked His disciples:
"Who do you say that I am?"
It's a question that still confronts every person today. Everyone has an opinion about Jesus.
Some believe He was a great moral teacher. Others think He was simply a prophet, a revolutionary, or an influential historical figure. Some admire His compassion while rejecting His claims. Others dismiss Him altogether. But Jesus never left us the option of creating our own version of Him. He didn't ask His disciples to vote on His identity. He revealed it. That means the most important question you will ever answer isn't "What church should I attend?" or "Am I a good person?" The most important question is: Who is Jesus? Because if Jesus is who He claimed to be, then He deserves more than our admiration. He deserves our worship.
Every person must answer the same question Jesus asked His disciples:
"Who do you say that I am?"
It's a question that still confronts every person today. Everyone has an opinion about Jesus.
Some believe He was a great moral teacher. Others think He was simply a prophet, a revolutionary, or an influential historical figure. Some admire His compassion while rejecting His claims. Others dismiss Him altogether. But Jesus never left us the option of creating our own version of Him. He didn't ask His disciples to vote on His identity. He revealed it. That means the most important question you will ever answer isn't "What church should I attend?" or "Am I a good person?" The most important question is: Who is Jesus? Because if Jesus is who He claimed to be, then He deserves more than our admiration. He deserves our worship.
Why This Question Matters
Jesus made extraordinary claims about Himself. He claimed to forgive sins (Mark 2:5-12).
He claimed to have existed before Abraham (John 8:58). He accepted worship (Matthew 14:33; John 9:38). He declared that He alone is the way to the Father (John 14:6). He claimed that one day He would judge the world (Matthew 25:31-32). Those aren't the claims of someone who merely wanted to inspire people to be kinder. They're the claims of someone who believed He was God. As C.S. Lewis famously observed, a man who made these claims cannot simply be called a "great moral teacher." If they weren't true, He would either be deceiving people or be deceived Himself. But if they are true, then Jesus is exactly who He said He is. There is no middle ground.
He claimed to have existed before Abraham (John 8:58). He accepted worship (Matthew 14:33; John 9:38). He declared that He alone is the way to the Father (John 14:6). He claimed that one day He would judge the world (Matthew 25:31-32). Those aren't the claims of someone who merely wanted to inspire people to be kinder. They're the claims of someone who believed He was God. As C.S. Lewis famously observed, a man who made these claims cannot simply be called a "great moral teacher." If they weren't true, He would either be deceiving people or be deceived Himself. But if they are true, then Jesus is exactly who He said He is. There is no middle ground.
The Bible Gives Us the Answer
At Anchor City Church, we don't believe truth is determined by culture, personal preference, or popular opinion. We believe God has spoken through His Word. That means we don't ask, "Who do I want Jesus to be?" We ask, "Who does Scripture reveal Jesus to be?" Throughout this page, that's exactly what we'll do. We'll open the Bible, look at what God has said about His Son, and let Scripture answer the question Jesus asked so long ago: Who is Jesus?
"These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name." John 20:30-31
"These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name." John 20:30-31
Popular Misconceptions About Jesus
A lot of people have opinions about Jesus. Some are well-intentioned. Others are shaped by culture, politics, tradition, or personal preference. But our goal isn't to build Jesus in our image. It's to know Him as He has revealed Himself.
Jesus Is Not a Mascot
Jesus isn't someone we pull out to support our opinions or make us feel better about the lives we've already decided to live. He isn't our lucky charm or spiritual accessory. He calls us to follow Him, not simply admire Him.
(Luke 9:23)
Jesus Is Not a Coping Mechanism
Jesus certainly brings peace, comfort, hope, and healing. But He didn't come merely to reduce anxiety or make life easier. He came to save sinners, reconcile us to God, and make us new. The gospel is far bigger than self-help.
Jesus Is Not a Political Activist
Jesus wasn't sent to establish an earthly political movement. His Kingdom isn't built through elections or governments. He confronted sin wherever He found it, called all people to repentance, and proclaimed the Kingdom of God. Christians may engage in politics, but Jesus cannot be reduced to a political mascot for any party or ideology.
Jesus Is Not Just a Good Teacher
Many people admire Jesus' teachings while rejecting His claims. The problem is Jesus never left that option open. He claimed to be God. He claimed to forgive sins. He claimed to be the only way to the Father. Either those claims are true, or He wasn't merely a good moral teacher.
Jesus Is Not Merely a Prophet
Jesus certainly spoke the words of God. But He is far more than another prophet. The prophets pointed people to the coming Messiah. Jesus is the Messiah. He isn't simply a messenger from God. He is God the Son.
Jesus Is Not Whatever We Want Him to Be
Every generation is tempted to reshape Jesus into its own image. Some make Him only loving and never holy. Others make Him only Judge and never Savior. Some create a Jesus who affirms everything they already believe. But the real Jesus isn't discovered through imagination. He is revealed through Scripture. Our responsibility isn't to reinvent Jesus. It's to know Him, trust Him, and follow Him.
Jesus Is Not a Mascot
Jesus isn't someone we pull out to support our opinions or make us feel better about the lives we've already decided to live. He isn't our lucky charm or spiritual accessory. He calls us to follow Him, not simply admire Him.
(Luke 9:23)
Jesus Is Not a Coping Mechanism
Jesus certainly brings peace, comfort, hope, and healing. But He didn't come merely to reduce anxiety or make life easier. He came to save sinners, reconcile us to God, and make us new. The gospel is far bigger than self-help.
(Matthew 1:21, John 3:16-17)
Jesus Is Not a Political Activist
Jesus wasn't sent to establish an earthly political movement. His Kingdom isn't built through elections or governments. He confronted sin wherever He found it, called all people to repentance, and proclaimed the Kingdom of God. Christians may engage in politics, but Jesus cannot be reduced to a political mascot for any party or ideology.
(John 18:36, Mark 1:14-15)
Jesus Is Not Just a Good Teacher
Many people admire Jesus' teachings while rejecting His claims. The problem is Jesus never left that option open. He claimed to be God. He claimed to forgive sins. He claimed to be the only way to the Father. Either those claims are true, or He wasn't merely a good moral teacher.
(John 14:6, John 8:58, Mark 2:5-12)
Jesus Is Not Merely a Prophet
Jesus certainly spoke the words of God. But He is far more than another prophet. The prophets pointed people to the coming Messiah. Jesus is the Messiah. He isn't simply a messenger from God. He is God the Son.
(Hebrews 1:1-3, Colossians 1:15-20)
Jesus Is Not Whatever We Want Him to Be
Every generation is tempted to reshape Jesus into its own image. Some make Him only loving and never holy. Others make Him only Judge and never Savior. Some create a Jesus who affirms everything they already believe. But the real Jesus isn't discovered through imagination. He is revealed through Scripture. Our responsibility isn't to reinvent Jesus. It's to know Him, trust Him, and follow Him.
(Hebrews 13:8, John 5:39)
So Who is Jesus?
Jesus Is God
One of the most important truths about Jesus is also one of the most misunderstood. Jesus is not merely a good man, a great teacher, or another prophet sent by God. Jesus is God. This truth isn't something the early church invented. It's what the Bible has consistently revealed from the very beginning. John opens his Gospel with these words:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." John 1:1, 14
John intentionally begins his Gospel with the same words found in Genesis: "In the beginning..." Before creation existed, Jesus already existed. He wasn't created. He didn't come into existence in Bethlehem. He has always been. John identifies Jesus as "the Word" (Greek: Logos), declaring that He is both fully God and the One through whom God has revealed Himself to the world. Then, in verse 14, John makes the astonishing claim that the eternal Word became flesh. God stepped into His own creation.
The Apostle Paul says the same thing in Colossians:
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible... all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." Colossians 1:15-17
Paul isn't saying Jesus was the first thing God created. The word "firstborn" speaks of position, authority, and supremacy. Jesus is supreme over all creation because He is the Creator of all creation. Everything that exists was created through Him, for Him, and is sustained by Him even now.
The writer of Hebrews continues this same testimony:
"He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power." Hebrews 1:3
Jesus doesn't merely reflect God's character like a mirror reflects light. He is the radiance of God's glory and the exact imprint of His nature. To know Jesus is to know the Father because Jesus perfectly reveals who God is. This is where Christianity begins. Before Jesus taught us how to live, He revealed who He is.
He didn't come simply to give us better morals or a new philosophy for life. He came to reveal the Father and accomplish the salvation that only God Himself could provide. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture consistently points to one truth:
Jesus is fully God and fully man.
He is the eternal Son of God who entered human history, took on flesh, and dwelt among us so that we might know God and be reconciled to Him. That's why the question, "Who is Jesus?" matters so deeply.
If Jesus is merely a teacher, we may choose whether or not to follow His advice. But if Jesus is God, then He is worthy of our worship, our obedience, and our entire lives.
One of the most important truths about Jesus is also one of the most misunderstood. Jesus is not merely a good man, a great teacher, or another prophet sent by God. Jesus is God. This truth isn't something the early church invented. It's what the Bible has consistently revealed from the very beginning. John opens his Gospel with these words:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." John 1:1, 14
John intentionally begins his Gospel with the same words found in Genesis: "In the beginning..." Before creation existed, Jesus already existed. He wasn't created. He didn't come into existence in Bethlehem. He has always been. John identifies Jesus as "the Word" (Greek: Logos), declaring that He is both fully God and the One through whom God has revealed Himself to the world. Then, in verse 14, John makes the astonishing claim that the eternal Word became flesh. God stepped into His own creation.
The Apostle Paul says the same thing in Colossians:
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible... all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." Colossians 1:15-17
Paul isn't saying Jesus was the first thing God created. The word "firstborn" speaks of position, authority, and supremacy. Jesus is supreme over all creation because He is the Creator of all creation. Everything that exists was created through Him, for Him, and is sustained by Him even now.
The writer of Hebrews continues this same testimony:
"He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power." Hebrews 1:3
Jesus doesn't merely reflect God's character like a mirror reflects light. He is the radiance of God's glory and the exact imprint of His nature. To know Jesus is to know the Father because Jesus perfectly reveals who God is. This is where Christianity begins. Before Jesus taught us how to live, He revealed who He is.
He didn't come simply to give us better morals or a new philosophy for life. He came to reveal the Father and accomplish the salvation that only God Himself could provide. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture consistently points to one truth:
Jesus is fully God and fully man.
He is the eternal Son of God who entered human history, took on flesh, and dwelt among us so that we might know God and be reconciled to Him. That's why the question, "Who is Jesus?" matters so deeply.
If Jesus is merely a teacher, we may choose whether or not to follow His advice. But if Jesus is God, then He is worthy of our worship, our obedience, and our entire lives.
Why Jesus Came
Knowing who Jesus is naturally leads to another question: Why did He come? Jesus didn't come merely to teach us how to live. He came to do for us what we could never do for ourselves. The Bible teaches that every person has sinned against a holy God. We've all chosen our own way instead of His, and because God is perfectly just, sin separates us from Him. Left to ourselves, we could never bridge that gap. But God didn't leave us without hope.
Out of His great love, the Father sent His Son into the world. Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live, willingly went to the cross to bear the punishment our sins deserved, and rose again three days later, defeating sin and death forever. The gospel isn't simply good advice. It's the good news that Jesus has accomplished our salvation through His life, death, and resurrection.
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God."
1 Peter 3:18
"But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8
Out of His great love, the Father sent His Son into the world. Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live, willingly went to the cross to bear the punishment our sins deserved, and rose again three days later, defeating sin and death forever. The gospel isn't simply good advice. It's the good news that Jesus has accomplished our salvation through His life, death, and resurrection.
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God."
1 Peter 3:18
"But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8
How Do I Respond to Jesus?
Jesus never called people to simply admire Him. He called them to follow Him. The Bible says our response to Jesus is repentance and faith. Repentance means turning away from sin and turning toward Christ. Faith means trusting that Jesus alone is enough to save you. Not your good works. Not your religious activity. Not your church attendance. Not your efforts to become a better person. Salvation is God's gift of grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ. When we trust Him, God forgives our sins, declares us righteous, adopts us into His family, gives us the Holy Spirit, and begins transforming us into the likeness of Christ. Following Jesus doesn't mean life suddenly becomes easy. It means you've been made new.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 10:9
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 10:9
Your Answer Matters
One day, every one of us will stand before Jesus. On that day, what will matter most won't be how successful we were. It won't be how religious we appeared. It won't be what our family believed. It won't be what culture said about Him. The question that will matter is the very same question Jesus asked His disciples nearly two thousand years ago: "Who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Matthew 16:16 That same question stands before every one of us today. Our prayer is that you would come to know Jesus, trust Him as your Savior, and follow Him as your Lord. If you have questions about Jesus, the Bible, or what it means to follow Him, we'd love to walk alongside you. We believe there is no greater joy than knowing the One who loved us enough to give His life for us. Because knowing Jesus isn't simply about gaining more information.
It's about finding the life you were created for.
"And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
John 17:3
It's about finding the life you were created for.
"And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
John 17:3
