Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, Savior, and Lord of the mission
Community of Christ affirms Jesus Christ as the divine Son of God, the Savior of the world, and the center of the church's mission. The denomination has moved toward a Christology more consonant with mainstream Christianity — affirming Christ's full divinity and humanity without the distinctive LDS qualifications about his being the firstborn spirit child or his identity as Jehovah of the Old Testament in a strict LDS sense.
The church's Mission Statement declares: 'Jesus Christ, the living head of the church, is the lens through which we interpret scripture and make decisions.' This Christ-centered orientation is intentionally stated in terms accessible to ecumenical partners and to members from various theological backgrounds.
Key Distinctions
- Natures formula:
- two complete natures (divine and human) united in one person (hypostatic union)
- Conciliar affiliation:
- Council of Chalcedon (451) affirmed
Scripture References
Sources
- Community of Christ Basic Beliefs
- Community of Christ Mission Statement