How does God make Himself known?

Main Point: All knowledge of God is a revealed knowledge. In the incarnation, God reveals Himself to humanity.

Read Hebrews 1:1-4

Hebrews 1:1–4 ESV

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 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. 3 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, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Discussion

What was your biggest take away from the Pre-Work this week?

Which attribute of God do you most relate to in the person of Jesus? Which is least relatable to you?

Does Jesus represent every attribute of God? Explain?

How does God make Himself known?

General revelation

Psalm 19

Romans 1

Special revelation

God’s Word

In Christ (Incarnation)

Incarnation

The incarnation is defined as the eternal Second Person of the Trinity, God the Son, taken upon Himself a complete human nature.

Theological term: Hypostatic union—both divine and human natures exist in one single person.

Everything belonging to His divine nature and everything belonging to His human nature exist in the person of Jesus Christ.

There’s nothing else to compare this to—this union of divinity and humanity only exist in Jesus Christ.

What are some examples of Jesus functioning within human limitation?

What are some examples of Jesus exercising divine power?

Why does this doctrine matter theologically?

This doctrine creates an important theological consequence. The hypostatic union implies the “communication of attributes,” which helps us understand how attributes typically belonging to God alone (like eternality) and attributes belonging to humanity alone (like mortality) both apply to the incarnate Jesus

Before the incarnation, we understood that God saves while humans suffer—

and crucially, that God cannot suffer and humans cannot save.

But when we encounter Jesus, who unites divinity and humanity in His person,

God has accomplished something miraculous with the distinction between divine and human

Jesus, truly God, experiences birth, suffering, and death.

This doctrine matters because if Jesus were not fully human, He could not stand in humanity’s place to pay for our sins.

It matters because if He were not fully God, He would lack the power for His work to have eternal impact.

This doctrine supersedes our human comprehensions, but it is so important for us to understand how God operates in saving us.

The incarnation is the ultimate act of condescension in terms of our learning what is true about God.

We are embodied—The incarnation teaches us that God is now embodied.

The incarnation does not give us new information, but new clarity.

The prophecies are being fulfilled.

It’s not a new promise—It’s a fulfillment of what the promise had always been.

Progressive revelation—It’s not a new story—God is revealing more of the story to us with clarity.

Why is the incarnation necessary?

Atonement

Clear revelation

This is an unfolding of God’s story.

John 1:1; 14

Jesus is the clarity of God.

John 1:16-17

Jesus reveals the fuller picture of God’s redemption.

God isn’t rewriting the plan—He’s just revealing more.

Through Moses, God revealed the Law

Through Christ, God reveals grace and truth.

Not a new plan—A more full plan.

1 Corinthians 13:12 “12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”

We can see more clearly than the prophets, and even than the early Church.

When Christ returns, we’ll full know.

The Word of God vs. The word of God

We talk about the Bible as the Word

Jesus is the eternally spoken Word.

Jesus is the embodiment of all that the Word of God testifies to.

In Jesus, we have the full testimony of all that God is.

“Jesus Christ is the perfect expression of the character and nature of God.” - JT English

Knowing Jesus helps us read the Bible better.

The Bible helps us know Jesus better.

What does looking at the person of Jesus teach us about who God is? Give an example.

What does Jesus teach us about true humanity?

First Adam vs. Second Adam

1 Corinthians 15:44-49

First Adam

1 Corinthians 15:44-49

Our body’s a natural

Became our living being

From the earth

We are born in the image of the man of dust

Romans 5:12-21

Many died through his trespass

Brought condemnation

Death reigned through him

Second Adam

1 Corinthians 15:44-49

Our bodies are spiritual

Is a life-giving spirit

From heaven

We must bear the image of the man of heaven

Romans 5:12-21

Many abounded in God’s grace

Brought justification

The righteous life is given by Him

Jesus reveals what real humanity is supposed to look like.

We are used to life in Adam.

It takes a spiritual renewal to live in Christ.

It’s foreign—It’s hard for our minds to comprehend what it may look like to live like Jesus—No one’s perfect.

Essentially, we functionally say, “I’d rather live in Adam” when we refuse to live in Christ.

“We are most human when we are following the way of Jesus Christ” - JT English

Discussion

What is your main takeaway from this session?

We are called to imitate the way of Christ. In what area of your life do you need to ask the Holy Spirit to form you more closely to the image of Christ?

Spend some time on “The Image of Christ in You” assignment as a group.

Pre-Work 1.14.26

Turn and Tell: With whom can you share something you learned in this session? What do you plan to share with them?

Complete the “Image of Christ in You” assignment. DUE NEXT WEEK.

Read Matthew 1-7

Read “What Has God Done (Part 1)” from You are a Theologian and “Christ: The Good News of the King and His Kingdom” from Remember and Rehearse.

Next Big Idea question: “What is the gospel of the kingdom?”

Image of Christ in You Formation Assignment

Galatians 4:19 ESV

19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!

As we consider the revelation of God in Christ Jesus, we are invited to look to Jesus over and over again. The hope is that, as followers of Jesus, our lives will increasingly begin to resemble the life and way of Christ.

When we begin to see this resemblance show up in other brothers and sisters in Christ, we should encourage it, commend it, and celebrate it.

The goal of this assignment is to call attention to the “image of Christ” you see in the people around you.

Use the following prompts to encourage each other.

“I see the Holy Spirit shaping you…”

“The image of Christ I see in you is…”

Consider encouraging someone in your family or church community in the same way throughout the week.