Solus Christus

After Jesus forgave the sins of a paralytic man (and before he healed him), some of the religious leaders asked: Mark 2:7 ““Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?””

“Who is it that can turn water into wine?”

“Who is he who raises the dead and rises from the grave?”

Jesus even asked his disciples: Mt. 16:13 “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?””

And then he went on to ask them who they say he is. Peter emphatically replied: Mt. 16:16 “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.””

Peter answered correctly, but even still had difficulty fully grasping all that the title Christ entailed.

The title “Christ” literally means - “anointed one.” It’s the same meaning as the Hebrew word “Messiah.”

But what does that mean? Can there be more than one Christ?

There are some today who argue that the Spirit of Christ is a spirit of anointing that lands on some people for a time. They might say it landed on Moses, Samuel, Elijah then Elisha, some of the other prophets, and also JJesus. Later, they would argue that this Spirit landed on people like Mohammed or Mother Teresa or Ghandi. So is that all that Jesus Christ is/was - a temporarily blessed person?

Was He a good teacher or a religious subversive? Was he just a good human, maybe the embodiment of all that we could be? Was he simply fully enlightened and able to tap into the quantum realm in order to accomplish his miracles?

Furthermore, what was his role? Why did he live? Is he a good example?

we won’t have time this morning to address all of these questions, but we will seek to understand a Bit of what the Bible says about Christ and why that’s still important for us today.

In the years leading up to the reformation, the church had begun to teach of a salvation that in Jesus Christ that was partially realized. There was an element of faith, but there was more needed - namely the sacraments.

With the foundation of Scripture Alone as the inspired and inerrant authority for the church, as we saw last week, the reformers began to argue from Scripture that salvation was found in Christ Alone - Solus Christus.

Stephen Wellum argues that...

Christ Alone—The Uniqueness of Jesus as Savior Introduction

Solus Christus stands at the center of the other four solas, connecting them into a coherent theological system by which the Reformers declared the glory of God

While in some ways this sermon should probably be the middle of the five, we’re going to consider the significance of Christ Alone as the next layer in a foundation of faith that we’re building or understanding based on the five Solas.

Scripture Alone is our authority

Salvation is found in Christ Alone...

...through Faith Alone...

By Grace Alone

To the Glory of God Alone

As we reflect on a bit of this, we’re going to look to Scripture to help us understand the identity and ministry of Christ - which should then lead us to an appropriate response.

The Identity of Christ

Scripture reveals that Jesus is so much more than simply a good man/teacher/leader. One of the most common titles of Jesus is as Son. But he’s not just any Son. He is, first of all,...

The Eternal Son of God (Luke 1:35; Rom. 1:1-4; Col. 1:15-20)

In celebrating Christmas, we recognize Jesus as a son born of a woman. In the announcement to Mary, the angel told her

Luke 1:35 ESV

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

Christmas acknowledges his incarnation - or as some would say - his “enfleshment” - taking on of flesh.

Jesus did not become the Son at his birth - he has been the Son since eternity past.

in his opening remarks to the book of Romans, Paul writes…

Romans 1:1–4 ESV

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

Wellum comments from this passage: that it “teaches of the son’s preexistence, which establishes his deity” -

There are some nuances of Greek grammar and dependencies that get can make this get a bit academic - but notice in that passage - “Concerning his Son” - suggesting there is a pre-existence or he was there before and that the prophets foretold about the one who would the one “who descended from David” - representing his human nature - and yet also “declared to be the Son of God”

Thomas Schreiner explains it this way:

Christ Alone—The Uniqueness of Jesus as Savior Romans 1:1–4

“The one who existed eternally as the Son was appointed the Son of God in power as the Son of David.… In other words, the Son reigned with the Father from all eternity, but as a result of his incarnation and atoning work he was appointed to be the Son of God as one who was now both God and man.”

But as the eternal Son of God, Jesus has had a role in the Universe since before the beginning, as we can learn from...

Colossians 1:15–20 ESV

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. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

For those of us who have grown up in the church, this may seem like nothing new. Jesus walked on earth for roughly 30 years, but being the second person of the trinity, fully divine - he has existed for eternity past. He is truly the eternal Son of God.

Secondly, Jesus is...

The Perfect Son of Man (Hebrews 1:1-4)

human - like us in every way - physical attributes- except - without sin.

In many ways, the whole book of Hebrews could argue this point. In fact, sometime this afternoon or later this week, consider reading through Hebrews as the writer there makes the argument that Jesus is better. Consider the opening verses of the book.

Hebrews 1:1–4 ESV

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.

Stephen Wellum again notes:

Christ Alone—The Uniqueness of Jesus as Savior The Biblical Rationale for Incarnation and Atonement

God the Son becomes man to fulfill God’s original intention for humanity (Heb 2:5–9)

All that God intended in fellowship in the Garden of Eden was torn apart by the rebellion of Adam and Eve. The resulting punishment separated God from man.

With Jesus - God the son, becoming flesh - the Son of Man - he embodies all that was intended in creation. He demonstrates that right and perfect fellowship and relationship with the Father. He models God’s characteristics to us.

And yet, at the same time, he also identifies with us.

Wellum again states:

Christ Alone—The Uniqueness of Jesus as Savior Why Did God the Son Become Man?

In the incarnation, Christ identifies with us; the eternal Son becomes like us, yet he does so to act for us. Solidarity is not enough, as vital as it is, since “solidarity is not itself atonement, only its prerequisite.”4 Christ must identify with us in order to die for us as our new covenant representative and substitute.

So, we’ve briefly wrestled with the Identity of Christ - fully God, fully human. Let’s look at...

The Ministry of Christ

Jesus did many things when he walked on the earth. He was a teacher, healer, friend, counselor. People like John Calvin and many others have divided Jesus’ ministry into three categories or offices.

First of all, Jesus has the office of...

Prophet - revealer (John 1)

The role of a prophet - OT - he would speak on behalf of God for to the people. He represents God to the people. Reveals God’s will for His people.

How Christ fulfills that role?

John 1:1–5 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Just as a prophet would speak the words of God, so to here in creation, Jesus as the word was instrumental in creation. All things made through him.

As the incarnate son, he reveals even more. “in him was life and that life was the light of men.”

Jesus reveals God’s character and attributes - his love and mercy, grace and forgiveness. He also reveals God’s justice and wrath.

Jesus reveals God’s desire for us - for how we should live.

Think through some of the themes of the sermon on the mount - Mt. 5-7. Jesus revealed how to deal with anger, judgmentalism, lust, righteousness, worldly possessions, and so much more.

But, Jesus role as Prophet was not simply while he walked on earth, Gerard Wisse argues that he continues in that role today - within each believer.

In his book entitled Christ’s Ministry in the Christian (which, there are a few copies of this classic and hard to get book in the Book Nook), reflects on all three of the offices of Christ. Regarding this first office, Wisse writes

“The work of the Lord Jesus Christ within us as Prophet is to instruct us....He causes the Word of God to have such a powerful effect on the heart and to work so efficaciously in the heart, that we get an entirely different perspective of God as far as His Being, attributes, revelation and works are concerned.”

With the help of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, Jesus reveals our fallenness but also reveals the means of redemption and continues to walk with us, leading toward our sanctification or our growth in holiness. He helps us to be more like him.

In addition to having the office of Prophet, Jesus has the office of...

Priest - mediator (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Again, thinking back to the OT sacrificial system, a priest would mediate between God and humanity. He would facilitate the sacrifices that would be offered.

Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, a priest would go before the Lord - after first offering a sacrifice for his own sin - he would then offer a sacrifice for the people.

This mediating role would be played regularly.

But, when it comes to Jesus Christ, we see that He is a greater priest.

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

He is the true and only needed mediator between God and humanity. Rather than offering the blood of bulls and goats in mediation, Jesus offers his perfect blood, his perfect life. It’s not temporary like the OT sacrifices were, but it is eternal.

So, Jesus, as our great high priest, mediated our relationship with God through his work on the cross. He addressed our sin problem by taking God’s just wrath on himself - as our substitute.

And yet - not only was his word finished on the cross then, he continues in that role today.

1 John 2:1–2 ESV

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

During the reformation, this is one place where the church and the reformers differed. While they agreed on the identity of Christ and on the work of Christ, the church acted as a mediator of the mediator - through the sacraments. The reformers challenged that Salvation is through Christ alone - apart from sacraments or confessions or duties. It is something we receive by faith.

So we’ve seen Jesus as the revealing prophet, the mediating priest. Finally, Jesus acts as...

King - ruler

There were several prophecies in the OT that pointed to the Messiah being a King, sitting on the throne. But the Kingdom Jesus inaugurated is different. It’s not limited to geographic boundaries.

When Jesus ascended - after His resurrection - it’s as though he rose to his rightful place in the throne room of God.

As people who have been purchased, redeemed by his blood, we now have a new identity, a new citizenship.

However, being the fallen humans that we are, we like to be our own king. We willfully resist His reign in our lives. Wisse suggests that as King, Jesus breaks our resistance to him. He does this not by force, but by his irresistible grace. As we continue to grow in our relationship with him, we act more and more like the Kingdom citizens we should be.

So with Christ revealing God to us, mediating our relationship with God, and now acting as our sovereign ruler, we must finally consider…

Our response to Christ

Wellum summarizes Jesus’ roles in his way…

Christ Alone—The Uniqueness of Jesus as Savior A Threefold Office for an All-Sufficient Work

Christ’s threefold work demonstrates how sin ruined our knowledge of God (prophet), the righteousness of our desires and deeds (priest), and our submission and obedience to the Lord (king)

In order to understand our response, let’s take a brief look back, all the way back to the beginning.

God’s Creation Intention - perfect fellowship

When God created the world, he intended to have communion or fellowship with humanity. It was his desire and delight to allow us to “walk with [Him] in the cool of the day.” (Gen. 3)

In Christ we see this perfect example of fellowship with the Father.

Christ Alone—The Uniqueness of Jesus as Savior Colossians 1:15–20

N. T. Wright notes, Jesus has from eternity “held the same relation to the Father that humanity, from its creation, had been intended to bear.”

But why don’t we have this relationship?

Humanity’s Corruption of Creation - the stain of sin

our world is messed up by it

even as believers, we are hindered by it. Constantly in a battle between the flesh and the spirit.

When Adam and Eve rebelled against God in the garden they corrupted Gods good creation and plan. God being the holy God that he is could not fellowship with sin stained humanity. His holiness set him apart. His justice demanded a right payment for sin.

and yet from the beginning, God has had a…

God’s Covenantal Plan

Covenant was typically an arrangement when between two parties

often a lesser King or monarch would submit to the terms of the covenant

Throughout Scripture, we find God (the greater being) entering into covenants with humanity (lesser) - promising and fulfilling his word.

Maintain perfect holiness and justice

the animal sacrifices reminded people of their sin, and assuaged the wrath of God - but never fully satisfy his justice and holiness.

Demonstrate Mercy - by sending Jesus -

The big theological word for Jesus did on the cross is called Penal Substitutionary Atonement - Wellum defines these elements in this way:

Christ Alone—The Uniqueness of Jesus as Savior Reformation Atonement: Penal Substitution

Penal refers to the sorry state of the human race in Adam in which we stand under God’s judgment and the penalty of death

As Paul writes in Romans 3:23

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

and because of that sin, we all deserve death...

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Christ Alone—The Uniqueness of Jesus as Savior Reformation Atonement: Penal Substitution

Substitution refers to the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ who acts on our behalf in his death on the cross.

Again, Paul helps us understand this...

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

According to the Lexham Bible Dictionary - Atonement is:

The means of reconciliation between God and people.

In other words, Jesus took your place and mine by being the rightful sacrifice, paying the deadly debt of our sin. He then conquered that death by rising victoriously from the grave.

Closing thoughts:

Beloved - Delight in Christ Alone - as he continues to work in your life as…

Prophet, - pay attention to what Jesus reveals to us through his word and the Holy Spirit about God, and us.

Priest, - rest in the confidence of knowing that Christ has secured your relationship with God, and continues to advocate on your behalf.

King - surrender to his ways as Lord, as a student…, mother…, father…,

Friend - if you’re far from God or still checking this out, then understand that what Jesus did for you. It’s not dependent on your performance - but solely on his grace and mercy.

Let me close with the opening question from the Heidelberg Catechism of 1563. We’ve already sung about this but it provides a helpful reinforcement of the role of Christ in our lives

Question 1.

What is thy only comfort in life and in death?

Answer.

That I, with body and soul, both in life and in death, am not my own, but belong to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ, who with his precious blood has fully satisfied for all my sins, and redeemed me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must work together for my salvation. Wherefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me heartily willing and ready henceforth to live unto him.

Let’s pray.

Benediction

Numbers 6:24–27 ESV

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”

Sources

Brockway, D. “Atonement.” Ed. John D. Barry et al. The Lexham Bible Dictionary 2016: n. pag. Print.

Schaff, Phillip. The Creeds of Christendom…

Wellum, Stephen, and Matthew Barrett. Christ Alone—the Uniqueness of Jesus as Savior: What the Reformers Taught…and Why It Still Matters. The 5 Solas Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2017.

Wisse, G. Christ’s Ministry in the Christian: The Administration of His Offices in the Believer. Grand Rapids, MI. Netherlands, Reformed Book and Publishing. 2013.

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