Fully divine and fully human; eternal Son incarnate, risen and exalted Lord
Seventh Day Baptists affirm that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who became flesh through the virgin birth. He is fully God and fully man — two natures united in one person without confusion, change, division, or separation. Jesus lived a sinless life, died on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for humanity, rose bodily from the dead, ascended to the Father, and will return in glory.
The SDB tradition holds that Jesus' divine nature is coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, worthy of worship and adoration. His humanity is equally affirmed — he experienced genuine suffering, temptation, and death. The bodily resurrection of Jesus is understood as a literal, historical event central to Christian faith.
Jesus is confessed as Lord, Savior, and the sole mediator between God and humanity. The SDB Statement of Belief affirms his eternal preexistence, incarnation, atoning death, bodily resurrection, current intercession, and future return as king and judge.
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
- Seventh-day Baptist General Conference Statement of Belief