The Ligonier Statement on Christology
Affirmations
& Denials
The Ligonier Statement
on Christology
Article 1
We affirm that Jesus Christ is the incarnation in history of the eternal Word, or Logos, of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity.
We deny that Jesus was a mere man or a fictional creation of the early Christian church.
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, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:1, 14). See also Ps. 110:1; Matt. 3:17; 8:29; 16:16; Mark 1:1, 11; 15:39; Luke 22:70; John 10:30; 20:28; Gal. 4:4; Phil. 2:6; Col. 2:9; Heb. 5:7; 1 John 5:20.
Article 2
We affirm that Jesus’ divine nature is consubstantial ( homoousios ) and therefore coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
We deny that Jesus is merely “like God” ( homoiousios ) or that He was simply “adopted” by the Father as His Son.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19). See also John 3:15–16; 4:14; 6:54; 10:28; Rom. 5:21; 6:23; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 2:18; 2 Tim. 1:9; 1 Peter 5:10; Jude 1:21.
Article 3
We affirm, with the Nicene and Chalcedonian Creeds, that Jesus Christ is both truly God and truly man, two natures in one person.
We deny that Jesus merely appeared to be human, and we deny that Jesus is in any way lesser than God.
For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily (Col. 2:9). See also Luke 1:35; John 10:30; Rom. 9:5; 1 Tim. 3:16; 1 Peter 3:18.
Article 4
We affirm the hypostatic union, that the two natures of Christ are united in His one divine person without mixture, confusion, division, or separation.
We deny that to distinguish between the two natures is to separate them.
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 16:16–17). See also Luke 1:35, 43; John 1:1, 3; 8:58; 17:5; Acts 20:28; Rom. 1:3; 4:1; 9:5; 2 Cor. 8:9; Col. 2:9; 1 Tim. 3:16; 1 Peter 3:18; Jude 1:4; Rev. 1:8, 17; 22:13.
Article 5
We affirm that in the incarnation both divine and human natures retain their own attributes and remain intact.
We deny that Jesus’ human nature had divine attributes; we deny that the divine nature communicated divine attributes to the human nature; and we deny that Jesus laid aside or gave up any of His divine attributes when He “emptied” Himself in the incarnation.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men (Phil. 2:5–7). See also Matt. 9:10; 16:16; 19:28; John 1:1; 11:27, 35; 20:28; Rom. 1:3–4, 9:5; Eph. 1:20–22; Col. 1:16–17; 2:9–10; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 1:3, 8–9; 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Peter 1:1.
Article 6
We affirm that Jesus is the perfect and supreme image of God, and that to be truly human is to be conformed to His image.
We deny that Jesus’ human nature was that of a mere phantom or that it only “seemed” to be that of flesh and bones.
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, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him (Col. 1:15–16). See also Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 4:4–6; Eph. 4:20–24; Heb. 1:3–4.
Article 7
We affirm that as truly man, Christ possesses all the natural limitations and common infirmities of human nature and that He is like us in all respects except for sin.
We deny that Jesus sinned, and we deny any view that holds that Jesus did not truly experience suffering, temptation, and hardship. We also deny that sin is inherent to true humanity or that Jesus’ sinlessness is incompatible with His being truly human.
Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Heb. 2:17–18). See also Mic. 5:2; Luke 2:52; Rom. 8:3; Gal. 4:4; Phil. 2:5–8; Heb. 4:15.
Article 8
We affirm that the historical Jesus was in His humanity, by the power of the Holy Spirit, both miraculously conceived of the substance and born of the Virgin Mary.
We deny that Jesus received His divine nature from Mary or that His sinlessness was in any sense derived from her.
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary (Luke 1:26–27). See also Matt. 1:23; Luke 1:31, 35; Rom. 1:3; Gal. 4:4.
Article 9
We affirm that Jesus is the second or new Adam who succeeded in His task at every point where the first Adam failed.
We deny that Jesus inherited from Adam the effects or consequences of Adam’s fall or that He had in His humanity the corruption of original sin.
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 5:12–21). See also 1 Cor. 15:22, 45–49; Eph. 2:14–16.
Article 10
We affirm that Jesus completely fulfilled the law’s demands by both His active and passive obedience, and that He bore the penalty for our sin by His sinless life and His death on the cross.
We deny that Jesus at any point failed to obey the law of God or discarded the law of God.
For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous (Rom. 5:19). See also Matt. 3:15; John 8:29; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 2:8; Heb. 5:8.
Article 11
We affirm that Jesus is the sole mediator between God and men.
We deny that God has had or will have any other incarnations or that there are or will be any human mediators of redemption other than the Lord Jesus Christ. We further deny any means of salvation apart from Christ alone.
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5). See also Job 33:23–28; John 14:6; Heb. 9:15; 12:24.
Article 12
We affirm that on the cross Jesus made a substitutionary atonement for sin, satisfying the wrath and justice of God.
We deny that Jesus’ death was only an example, or merely a victory over Satan, or a payment of a ransom to him.
Whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Rom. 3:25–26). See also Isa. 53; Rom. 5:6, 8, 15; 6:10; 7:4; 8:34; 14:9, 15; 1 Cor. 15:3; Eph. 5:2; 1 Thess. 5:10; 2 Tim. 2:11; Heb. 2:17; 9:14–15; 10:14; 1 Peter 2:24–25; 3:18; 1 John 2:2; 4:10.
Article 13
We affirm that because of Christ’s life of obedience and death, our sin is imputed to Him and His righteousness is imputed to us by faith.
We deny that our sin is merely overlooked or passed over, and we also deny that Christ’s righteousness is not imputed to us.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). See also Matt. 5:20; Rom. 3:21–22; 4:11; 5:18; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 9:9; Eph. 6:14; Phil. 1:11; 3:9; Heb. 12:23.
Article 14
We affirm the doctrine of justification by faith alone, that a sinner is declared righteous before God by faith alone in the person and work of Christ alone, apart from any personal merit or works. We further affirm that to deny the doctrine of justification by faith alone is to deny the gospel.
We deny that we are justified on the basis of any infusion of grace into us; that we are justified only once we have become in ourselves inherently righteous; or that any future justification will be based on our faithfulness.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1). See also Luke 18:14; Rom. 3:24; 4:5; 5:10; 8:30; 10:4, 10; 1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Cor. 5:19, 21; Gal. 2:16–17; 3:11, 24; 5:4; Eph. 1:7; Titus 3:5, 7.
Article 15
We affirm that on the third day Jesus rose from the dead for our justification and that He was seen in the flesh by many.
We deny that He merely seemed to die, or that only His spirit survived, or that His resurrection took place merely in the hearts of His followers.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve (1 Cor. 15:3–5). See also Isa. 53; Matt. 16:21; 26:32; 28:1–10; John 21:14; Acts 1:9–11; 2:25, 32; 3:15, 26; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40; Rom. 4:24–25; 6:9–10; Eph. 4:8–10.
Article 16
We affirm that Jesus is the firstfruits of the resurrection, that He has conquered both sin and death, and that we too will rise again in newness of life.
We deny that Jesus’ glorified resurrected body was a wholly new and different body from the one that was laid in the garden tomb, and we further deny that our resurrection is only a spiritual or symbolic reality.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. … “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:20, 55). See also Rom. 5:10; 6:4, 8, 11; 10:9; 1 Cor. 15:23; 2 Cor. 1:9; 4:10–11; Eph. 2:6; Col. 2:12; 2 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 2:9, 14; 1 John 3:14; Rev. 14:4; 20:14.
Article 17
We affirm that Jesus ascended to His heavenly throne at the right hand of God the Father, that He is presently reigning as king, and that He will return visibly in power and glory.
We deny that Jesus was mistaken about His return or that His reign has been postponed until some future period in time.
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:6–11). See also Luke 24:50–53; Acts 1:22; 2:33–35; Eph. 4:8–10; 1 Tim. 3:16.
Article 18
We affirm that Jesus poured out His Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and that in His present session Jesus is building His church, of which He is the supreme head and only king.
We deny that Jesus appointed a vicar in the bishop of Rome, or that any person other than Jesus Christ can be the church’s head or king.
And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church (Eph. 1:22). See also Acts 2:33; 1 Cor. 11:3–5; Eph. 4:15; 5:23; Col. 1:18.
Article 19
We affirm the mediatorial role of Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King.
We deny that the work of Jesus can be reduced merely to the offices of Prophet, Priest, or King.
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 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. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs (Heb. 1:1–4). See also Luke 1:33; John 1:1–14; Acts 3:22; Col. 1:15; Heb. 5:5, 6.
Article 20
We affirm that as Prophet, Jesus proclaimed the will of God, prophesied future events, and is in Himself the fulfillment of God’s promises.
We deny that Jesus ever uttered a false prophecy or false word, or that He failed or will fail to fulfill all prophecies regarding Himself.
And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, “The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you” (Acts 3:17–22). See also Matt. 20:17; 24:3; 26:31, 34, 64; Mark 1:14–15; Luke 4:18–19, 21; John 13:36; 21:22; 1 Cor. 1:20; Heb. 1:2; Rev. 19:10.
Article 21
We affirm that Jesus is our Great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, making the perfect sacrifice on our behalf and continuing to intercede for us before the Father.
We deny that Jesus, being from the tribe of Judah and not from the tribe of Levi, is disqualified from serving as our priest; we deny that Christ, as victim and priest, continually offers Himself as a sacrifice in the Mass; and we further deny that Christ became a priest only in heaven and was not a priest on earth.
For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him (Heb. 9:24–28). See also John 1:36; 19:28–30; Acts 8:32; 1 Cor. 5:7; Heb. 2:17–18; 4:14–16; 7:25; 10:12, 26; 1 Peter 1:19; Rev. 5:6, 8, 12–13; 6:1, 16; 7:9–10, 14, 17; 8:1; 12:11; 13:8; 15:3.
Article 22
We affirm that as King, Jesus supremely reigns over all earthly and supernatural powers now and forever.
We deny that Jesus’ kingdom was merely a political kingdom of this world, and we deny that all earthly rulers are not ultimately accountable to Him.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet (1 Cor. 15:25). See also Ps. 110; Matt. 28:18–20; Luke 1:32; 2:11; Acts 2:25, 29, 34; 4:25; 13:22, 34, 36; 15:16; Rom. 1:3; 2 Tim. 2:8; Heb. 4:7; Rev. 3:7; 5:5; 22:16.
Article 23
We affirm that Jesus Christ will come again in glory to judge all peoples and will finally vanquish all His enemies, destroy death, and usher in the new heavens and earth in which righteousness will reign.
We deny that His final return took place in AD 70 and that His coming and its attendant events are to be viewed merely symbolically.
And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42). See also John 12:48; 14:3; Acts 7:7; 17:31; 2 Tim. 4:1, 8.
Article 24
We affirm that those who believe in the name of Jesus will be welcomed into His eternal kingdom, but those who do not believe in Jesus will suffer eternal conscious punishment in hell.
We deny that in the end all will be saved; we further deny that those who die without faith in Christ will be completely destroyed.
The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear (Matt. 13:41–43). See also Isa. 25:6–9; 65:17–25; 66:21–23; Dan. 7:13–14; Matt. 5:29–30; 10:28; 18:8–9; Mark 9:42–49; Luke 1:33; 12:5; John 18:36; Col. 1:13–14; 2 Thess. 1:5–10; 2 Tim. 4:1, 18; Heb. 12:28; 2 Peter 1:11; 2:4; Rev. 20:15.
Article 25
We affirm that when Jesus has conquered all His enemies, He will hand over His kingdom to the Father; that in the new heavens and the new earth, God will be all in all; and that believers will see Christ face-to-face, be made like Him, and enjoy Him forever.
We deny that this future state is spiritual only or merely symbolic, or that there is any other hope for humanity or any name or way in which salvation may be found except in Jesus Christ alone.
Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all (1 Cor. 15:24–28). See also Isa. 65:17; 66:22; Phil. 2:9–11; 2 Peter 3:13; 1 John 3:2–3; Rev. 21:1–5; 22:1–5.