Who is Christ? Part 2
0 ratings
· 4 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Jesus - Fully God
Jesus - Fully God
One of the most controversial and yet crucial topics of Christian theology is the deity of Christ. It lies at the heart of our faith. For our faith rests on Jesus’s actually being God in human flesh, and not simply an extraordinary human, even the most unusual person who ever lived.
Erickson, Millard J.. Christian Theology (p. 624). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
As we stated earlier, Jesus was conceived in the womb of his mother by a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit. Again, this is made clear in Matthew 1:18. Jesus’ virgin birth was a supernatural work of God. Through the work of the Holy Spirit inside Jesus’ mother, Mary, the human and the divine were united in a way they never will be in any other person.
Grudem, Wayne A.; Grudem, Wayne A.. Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
If Jesus was not God, we would simply be believing with Christ rather than in Christ.
If Jesus was not God, we would simply be believing with Christ rather than in Christ.
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
In addition, when Jesus’ contemporaries called him “Lord,” they were employing a term that was used over six thousand times in the Greek translation of the Old Testament to refer to God or “the Lord.” Therefore, when the angels announced Jesus’ birth by saying, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11), they were saying that the Lord God himself was born.
Grudem, Wayne A.; Grudem, Wayne A.. Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
14 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.
57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
As proof he points out four parallels with the Old Testament:
As proof he points out four parallels with the Old Testament:
“In the form of God” (v. 6 RSV)—“in our image, in our likeness” (Gen. 1:26).
“In the form of God” (v. 6 RSV)—“in our image, in our likeness” (Gen. 1:26).
“Made himself nothing” (v. 7)—“poured out his life” (Isa. 53:12).
“Made himself nothing” (v. 7)—“poured out his life” (Isa. 53:12).
The image of Jesus as a servant—Isaiah 53.
The image of Jesus as a servant—Isaiah 53.
“In human likeness” (v. 7)—“one like a son of man” (Dan. 7:13).
“In human likeness” (v. 7)—“one like a son of man” (Dan. 7:13).
Erickson, Millard J.. Christian Theology (p. 630). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
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,
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16 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.
17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
18 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.
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Questions for Review and Application
Questions for Review and Application
1. Jesus is fully God. What are some ways that this encourages you?
1. Jesus is fully God. What are some ways that this encourages you?
2. Jesus is fully man. What are some ways that this encourages you?
2. Jesus is fully man. What are some ways that this encourages you?
3. Take a moment to pray and talk directly to Jesus, thanking him for coming to earth and becoming fully man for your sake.
3. Take a moment to pray and talk directly to Jesus, thanking him for coming to earth and becoming fully man for your sake.
Grudem, Wayne A.; Grudem, Wayne A.. Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.