Having a Right Christology

Introduction

“Opinions are like feet, everyone has them and they usually stink!”

A Christology is also something that everyone has, though most don’t realize it.

And for too many, their Christology might not stink, but it’s certainly flawed!

Defining the term “Christology”

Basically: the study of Christ

More accurately, one’s Christology reveals what a person believes about Jesus; His life, death and resurrection; and how that belief impacts their personal life.

As I said, everyone has a Christology, whether they know it or not.

So, the question is really do you have a right Christology or a flawed Christology?

We will explore that question this morning.

Body: Luke 24:13-35

Verses 13-16

Verses 17-18

Here’s the irony, Jesus, the man they are now talking to, is really the only One who truly knows “the things that have happened”!

Verses 19-24

Verses 25-27

Verses 28-29

Verses 30-32

Verses 33-35

Key Questions: Why does having a right Christology matter, and how can I have a right Christology?

Why does having a right Christology matter?: Because a right Christology will help us fully understand the teachings of the Bible.

John 5:39–40 ESV

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

Matthew 5:17–18 ESV

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Luke 24:27 ESV

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

All these passages point us to a vital truth: The OT is an arrow that points us to Christ Jesus.

What this means is that some passages in the OT are directly prophetic, pointing us to Christ Jesus. Others are what we call “typological”, which is a special kind of symbolism. Thus, we often talk about a person in the OT being a type of Christ, meaning they behave in ways that correspond to Jesus character or actions in the NT. Or we might say an event is typical or “typological” of Christ, we are saying it is representative of a quality found in Jesus.

Additionally, and most importantly, the OT and the NT both unfold God’s plan to reconcile humanity to Himself and the establishment of His final Kingdom.

Without the foundation of a right view of Christ Jesus, we can never truly understand the point of the Bible.

It becomes nothing more than a religious/philosophical/potentially historical book with a lot of suggestions of how to live a good life.

But, when we understand that Jesus Christ is truly the point of the Bible and we put our faith and followship in Him, then everything becomes crystal clear!

How can I have a right Christology?: Believe that Jesus is the Promised Messiah.

Look closely at the following verses:

Luke 24:25–26 ESV

And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”

Notice what Jesus calls them to here: to believe. But not just here...

John 6:29 ESV

Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

John 11:25–26 (ESV)

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”

John 14:1–3 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

John 20:29 ESV

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Over and over again, Jesus called people to believe that He is the Promised Messiah.

So the choice we all have is will I believe or will I reject Christ?

If I believe, what do I do?

Romans 10:9 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Why does having a right Christology matter?: Because a right Christology leads to right belief and practice.

Their flawed Christology: Jesus was the Jewish Messiah.

We see their flawed Christology in Luke 24:19-21...

Make no mistake about it, this isn’t just Cleopas and his unnamed companion. Their belief reflected the belief of all the disciples at this point.

Jesus as the Jewish Messiah was and is essentially true, but it’s flawed because it doesn’t go far enough.

Jesus is more than the Messiah they were looking for in that He didn’t come to save Jewish people from their oppressors; He came to save Jews and Gentiles from the greater oppressor: sin, which leads to eternal death.

Today there are a multitude of flawed Christologies:

“Benevolent Hippy in the Sky...” (God, but only love…)

“Merciless Judge in the Sky...” (God, but only judging the wrongs of mankind…especially of those who disagree with me)

“The Conservative Crusader” or “The Liberal Crusader” (Might be God, might not be God, but most definitely agrees with my political views on everything)

“Mr. Rogers of Nazareth...” (Not God, but a nice guy who taught people how to be nice)

“The Man, The Myth, The Legend” (Not God, and not anything like Christians say He is…and might not even have been a real person…)

Not to mention the flawed Christology of Mormons (God’s physical son), Jehovah’s Witnesses (God’s first-born creation), Muslims (a great prophet only), Prosperity preachers (He’s looking to give you a better life if you just have enough faith and you give enough money), and on we can go.

All these flawed Christologies, lead to flawed belief and flawed following of Christ.

How can I have a right Christology?: Spend time daily in God’s Word and prayer so you will know Jesus deeper.

The greatest way to know Jesus is to spend time with Him.

Just like any other relationship, the more we spend time together, the more we know each other.

April and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary this September...

I was turning twenty-five when we got married, so that means I have been married as long as I was single...

During 25 years of marriage, I’ve learned a lot about my wife...

Here’s my question (or maybe meddling)…If your relationship with Jesus was like a marriage relationship, would you have a strong marriage or would your marriage be on the rocks?

If it’s anything but strong, it’s not because Jesus doesn’t know you. It’s because you aren’t spending the time with Him to know Him well.

How do we do that? Spending time in His Word and in prayer.

How: Participate in Christ’s body, His church.

A Gospel preaching and teaching church is the second greatest antidote to a flawed Christology.

People love to say today, “I can be a Christian, but I don’t need to be a member of the church.”

Sounds great, expect for the fact that it’s sin to not be a part of the church. How dare you say that?

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Participating in Christ’s body, the church, helps us:

Grow, through God’s Word being preached and taught;

Be encouraged and be an encouragement to others;

Draw near to God through Gospel-centered worship.

Fulfill the mission He has for us (more on that next week!)