Christology - The Study Of Christ Series

Christology the study of Christ

Jesus Christ is true God and true man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust, as a substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures. He is now at the right hand of the Majesty on high as our great High Priest. He will come again to establish His kingdom of righteousness and peace.

I. The Person of Christ

A. He existed from Eternity

JOH 1:1, JOH 17:5 JOH 8:58

We conclude from these and other verses that Jesus did not come into existence at Bethlehem but has eternal existed with the first and third persons of the Godhead.

B. He took on a human body

1. He retained His full Deity

JOH 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

JOH 5:17,18 JOH 10:30 HEB 1:8 JOH 1:18

Jesus Christ was fully God. There was no diminishing of His attributes or person at the incarnation.

2. He took on complete humanity

JOH 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

PHI 2:5-8 HEB 2:14 HEB 2:18

Jesus Christ was fully human. He hurt, He bled, He got hungry, He got thirsty, He got tired, He felt He experienced the limitations of the flesh yet experienced the unlimited resources of the Father through total dependence.

ROM 1:3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,

3. He was born of the Virgin Mary

MAT 1:22 Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel\," which translated means, " God with us."

John makes it very clear that the belief that the eternal Word of God took on real flesh and came to earth as a man in order to become the first of a new kingdom of redeemed people.

C. Character

1. Attributes (See Attributes)

2. Sinless

HEB 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

JOH 8:46 1JO 3:5

Jesus did not sin and had no sin in thought, word, deed, attitude.

II. The Work of Christ

A. Created all things

COL 1:15 And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

B. Life and ministry on earth

1. Office

a. Prophet HEB 1:1

b. Priest Heb 2:17 (see above)

c. King 1Tim 6:15

2. Purpose on earth

a. Represent the Father

JOH 1:18 No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained {Him.}

b. Reveal Truth (Preach the gospel)

c. Ruin the works of the devil

1JO 3:8 The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

d. Rescue/redeem the sinner

1JO 3:5 And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.

GAL 4:5 in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

2CO 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

e. Reconcile man to God

2CO 5:17,18 Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,

f. Restore life

JOH 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.

3. Death

Jesus Christ became a substitutionary sacrifice in our place in order to satisfy the righteous demands of a Holy God.

1PE 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;