Christology

Why this is important

You are Christs representative if you are a Christian. You want to be able to speak about him accurately.

Unless you are living in a Christian bubble, you will encounter people who will try to teach falsely about Jesus.

Misunderstanding/deceived.

Purposefully deceiving.

Rebellion against Christ.

Modern examples I’ve dealt with:

“He was just a great teacher.” (Pop)

Jesus progressed to deity In the Spirit world. (Mormons).

New Age: “The Christ” was a separate cosmic entity from Jesus, who took over the body of Jesus, who was just a man.

Jesus is fully God (John 1:1-3)

John 1:1–3 NIV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

He was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:18).

The fullness of deity was in him (Col. 1:19

Colossians 1:19 ESV

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

He is referred to as our “God and Savior” (Titus 2:13).

When Jesus was declared “Christ the Lord,” the same Greek word for Lord that was used for God.

Jesus said of himself, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John. 8:57-58), which was an OT way of saying “God” (Ex. 3:14).

Jesus was God from eternity past. He did not become God.

Jesus was fully man (John 1:14)

John 1:14 NIV

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

He became like us Heb. 2:17

Hebrews 2:17 ESV

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.

He was born of his mother, Mary (Matt. 1:18)

He “grew and became strong (Luke 2:40)

Jesus’ body was like ours. He had to sleep (John 4:6), eat (Matt. 4:2), and drink (John 19:28).

Jesus’ mind was like ours. He had to go through a learning process like other children (Luke 2:52).

Jesus experienced human emotions: weeping (John 11:35), marveling (Matt. 8:10), sorrow (Matt. 26:38) and crying (Heb. 5:7).

He was even tempted Heb. 2:18

Hebrews 2:18 ESV

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Jesus was without Sin

The one difference: He had NO sin 2 Cor. 5:21

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.

He had to be fully human in order to live and die in our place (Heb. 2:17).

Jesus came on a rescue mission to save us (John. 1:11-12)

John 1:11–12 NIV

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

Lets tie this together:

Jesus was our perfect Savior:

In order for Jesus’ to be the representative for mankind when he died on the cross, he needed to be fully man.

In order for Jesus’ to be able to forgive all mankind, he needed to be fully God.

In order for him to be the Sacrifice for our sin, he needed to be sinless.