THEOLOGY LESSON 14

LESSON 14 – JESUS CHRIST – HIS MINISTRY AND CHARACTER


His Ministry and Character

John 7:14-18, 37-49
Deuteronomy 18:15-19
Philippians 2:8

Life of Christ
Kenosis
Blood Sacrifice
Christ: Prophet, Priest, King

INTRODUCTION

Sometimes the work of Christ is considered under the three offices that He held; that of Prophet, Priest and King. A connection can be made between the Messiah or Anointed One and the fact that prophets, priests and kings were all anointed.

In John 7 everyone knew that when they had seen the Lord Jesus Christ they had seen something very unusual. This is indicated by the frequent use of the words amazed and marveled in the New Testament. They knew they were listening to far more than a man - John 7:37-39.

Because of His presence the authorities could not arrest Him. He claimed to be more than just a man, people said is he that prophet referring to Deuteronomy 18 or is he the Christ. Jesus Christ caused a division. They had to make a decision regarding Him and they still do. What think ye of Christ? This is the central question for all humanity. People who do not want the truth will not recognize it even when they are confronted with it.

PROPHET

In Deuteronomy 18:15 -19 the thing that made them think that this was the prophet spoken of in verse 18 was the authoritative way the Lord spoke to them. He did not say as the teachers of those days said that Rabbi A had said this whilst Rabbi B said that.

He was a prophet, He spoke God's words. He was more than a prophet however. We however are a little bit hard on those who lived at the time of Christ as we now have the benefit of the whole New Testament.

He gave the prophecies, he gave great illustrations, and he made use of questions and turned the questions into a prophetic utterance. He was authoritative and he did it in a non systematic way taking opportunities as they arose.

The prophet was both a foreteller and a forth teller. This latter feature is a main function of the pastor who applies factors from the Bible to the present day in preaching.

There were three important discourses that were a part of his prophetic ministry,

[a] The Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5-7

[b] The Olivet discourse - Matthew 24-25

[c] The Upper Room discourse - John 13-16.

The attitudes of people to these passages will divide theological schools up into good and bad fairly quickly. If you ask them where the Sermon on the Mount fits you will find that in the Liberal, Reformed and Fundamentalist camps views vary significantly.

[a] The liberals take this passage as the Christian way of life, if you keep the Sermon on the Mount you can satisfy God.

[b] In contrast the Reformed view is that the Sermon on the Mount is a policy which we are to bring into being by our own activities now and hasten the bringing about of Christ's kingdom on the earth.

[c] The fundamentalist viewpoint is that it is preached in relation to the kingdom. This discourse therefore seems mainly to emphasize getting ready for the kingdom. Some of the requirements to be practiced totally would necessitate the establishment of the kingdom with its righteous government temple worship system and practices, all though the principles may be followed at any time.

The sermon is a call to repentance for those who had refused to apply the scriptures to their thoughts and behaviour; and thereby left out the inner changes from the requirements for establishing the kingdom. Therefore it has relevance for any time when the kingdom is imminent such as during the Lord's ministry and in the Tribulation, but it may also be argued that it is relevant every day, as we do not know the date of the Lord’s return. It also pictures the conditions that will occur in the kingdom. It is therefore profitable for disciples in any age since it is one of the most detailed of ethical codes in the Bible building upon the Mosaic Law. It emphasizes the important truth that the heart and mind and body must be pure to serve the Lord.

The Olivet Discourse gives a prophetic introduction as to what will be happening on the earth during the Great Tribulation before the Kingdom whilst the Upper Room discourse gives the rules and the standards for the Church Age. One applies to the Church, one to the Tribulation and one to the Millennium. However all Scripture is for all of us to gain from with the principles of all the discourses having application to all ages.

In different ages however the emphasis or importance of a passage will vary. There are certain elements that are required to completely fulfill the Sermon on the Mount which we do not have today. There needs to be accurate teaching in this area as there are many devotional books which do not teach accurately on this especially in the area in the Sermon on the Mount.

For example, the Sermon on the Mount is not the primary passage of historic Christianity, the Upper Room discourse is.

PRIEST

Jesus Christ as Priest - He has a twofold priesthood, one after Aaron as He has a redemptive function but he is also a priest after the order of Melchizedec of Genesis 14

The prophet spoke to men from God; the priest speaks to God for men. Being of the tribe of Judah disqualified Christ from being an Aaronic priest; therefore, God arranged ahead of His coming for another order of priests, the order of Melchizedec, and Christ is a priest of that order with respect to His person and His work. Yet there are similarities between Aaronic priests and Christ as Priest both in His person and His work.

Levitical Priests

These priests had to be men chosen by God and qualified for His work (Hebrews 5:1-7). Our Lord was chosen, incarnate, and tested, thus being qualified in His person to be a ministering Priest.

These priests served by representing the people to God and especially in the offering of sacrifices. Their sacrifices were many, repeated, and not in themselves of eternal worth. The writer to the Hebrews makes it clear that had they been able to effect eternal satisfaction for sin there would have been no need for their repetition year after year.

In contrast, our Lord's sacrifice of Himself for our sins was a single sacrifice, once for all, and for all mankind. In this, His great work of redemption, He did a work which was foreshadowed by the work of the Aaronic priests, even though He was not a priest after the order of Aaron.

Melchizedec Priest

Features of the Melchizedec priesthood include

(a) It was a royal priesthood. Melchizedec was a king as well as a priest. The uniting of these two functions was unknown among Aaronic priests, though predicted of Christ in Zechariah 6:13.
(b) It was unrelated to ancestry. "Without father, without mother", does not mean that Melchizedec did not have parents, nor that he was not born or did not die, but only that the Scriptures contain no record of these events so that he might be more perfectly likened to Christ. Aaronic priests depended on their ancestry to qualify.
(c) It was timeless; having no recorded beginning or ending so Melchizedec might again be more like the Lord who is a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedec.
(d) It was superior to the Aaronic order. Abraham, out of whom came the Aaronic order, acknowledged the superiority of Melchizedec when he gave tithes of the spoils of the war to him (Genesis 14:20).

Levi, though unborn, and all the priests that came from him were involved in this act which demonstrated the superiority of Melchizedec.

KING

The Lord Jesus Christ is also King; He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords as well as being the legal king of Israel as the son of David. He is what could be classified in the ancient world as battlefield royalty. When Napoleon conquered an area he would often make one of his generals a king. The Lord becomes King of Kings and Lord of Lords because of his victory on the Cross. He was born a son of David and therefore royalty according to birth. He is king for ever and over all.

The fact that He is the King of Israel guarantees that He will return to set up His kingdom and rule over Israel fulfilling the Davidic and Palestinian Covenants. It also guarantees that the world will not self destruct due to such things as worldwide nuclear war or a giant asteroid striking the earth

KENOSIS

The first problem for the theologian as they approach Jesus Christ as prophet, priest, king and Saviour is that of kenosis. This Greek word comes from Philippians 2:7 where He became of no reputation and took on the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of man. He emptied himself.

Theologians ask; what did he empty himself of? Was he still full deity or did He empty himself of some of the attributes when He became man? If He did not have all the attributes of deity He was not fully God. He is however both fully God and fully man. Kenosis states that He did not lose any of the attributes of deity but withheld the operation of those attributes. The false concept of kenosis is that Christ gave up being God, He gave up His omniscience. This concept is attractive because it states, He grew in knowledge and wisdom in His humanity. He had to learn in his humanity, but did He have to learn in His deity? The answer of course to the question of loss of all attributes of deity is “no”.

Did he give up His deity? The answer again is no! On one occasion people saw His deity; this was at the time of His arrest in Gethsemane. For a brief time he pulled the veil back and His deity caused the large army contingent to fall backwards. The veil was controlled by His will. John 18:6.

Secondly, the Lord did not call upon the deity that He had. When He was on the Cross He could have come down from the Cross at any time and called legions of angels to rout His enemies. With an ability to say no it brings out the wonder of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ dying for us.

Thirdly, as the great God He humbled himself that we might through Him be lifted up to glory as shown in Philippians 2:7-11 It wasn't the nails that held the Lord to the Cross it was His obedience to the plan of God and love for humankind.

THE LORD AND SIN

The second theological problem is whether the Lord sinned or not or whether He was capable of sinning. Could He be tempted? If Christ was able to be tempted and there was a possibility that He could sin; He would not be perfect say some theologians.

If the Lord is not sinless He is not a sacrifice. The sinless-ness of Christ is absolutely vital as without it you have not got an effective sacrifice. The liberals say that Christ sinned and do not believe He died for their sins. The liberal does not want a Saviour but a nice person in the sky who will let everyone off eventually. They want a great example, not a Lord whom you have to obey. This is not the picture of the Lord that the Bible gives us

As conservatives we are conserving the Biblical truth, the sinless-ness of Christ, the perfection of His character and His work on the Cross, the fact that we have a Saviour and a Lord, the Lord who will be the judge of the world. All conservatives agree that Christ is sinless.

If you are to teach impeccability it is something that needs to be prepared well in advance as it is a complex area of doctrine. The Lord was tempted, not to show that He could sin but to prove for all eternity that He could not sin. The testing of the Lord was real like ours but the testing proved His perfect character. He was tested in every way as we are yet without sin. He is therefore the one who we can depend on when we meet our tests. He could not fail and He did not fail and therefore we can have total confidence in the everlasting arms. He has grace and power to help us in times of need. He has proved to be able to help us in any circumstances.

DOCTRINES

LIFE OF CHRIST

1. The life of Jesus Christ can be divided into seven separate sections:-
a) The Virgin Birth.
b) The Lord's Ministry.
c) His Death.
d) Burial.
e) Resurrection.
f) Ascension.
g) Session.

2. The Virgin Birth. There are three reasons why Jesus had to be born of a virgin:-
a) To fulfil prophecy (Isaiah 7:14)
b) To fulfil the 'curse of Coniah' (Jeremiah 22:30) (also known as Jeconiah and Jehoiachin)
i) (Matthew 1:16) Joseph the legal but not real father of Jesus was descended from David through Solomon ... (Matthew 1:6) and Coniah (Matthew 1:11)
ii) Mary the real mother (Luke 3:23) of the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ was descended from David. (Luke 3:31) through Nathan.
iii) In (2 Samuel 7:16) David is promised a son who will reign forever i.e. The Lord Jesus Christ.
iv) In (Jeremiah 22:28-30) Coniah is told that no descendant of his will reign over Israel.
v) By the Virgin birth a son, Jesus Christ, can reign forever over Israel (He has eternal life) being descended from David via Nathan.
c) To ensure Jesus was born without the imputation of Adam's sin. (l Timothy 2:14,15)
i) In (1 Timothy 2) we see that the woman was deceived but the man deliberately sinned. Thus the sinful nature comes from the man.
ii) In order to be our redeemer Jesus had to be born without a sin nature so that he can purchase those who have a sin nature.
iii) By the Virgin Birth Jesus was born without the imputation of Adam's sin.

3. The Lord's Ministry.
a) Reasons for his HUMANITY
i) Saviour-hood (Philippians 2:5-8)
ii) Mediator-ship (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
iii) Priesthood (Hebrews 10:10-14)
iv) Kingship (Psalm 89:29)
b) What was his means of operation?
i) Power-the Holy Spirit (John 3:34)
ii) He was tempted (Matthew 4:1-11)
iii) He had free will (Matthew 26:39)
iv) Was perfect (2 Corinthians 5:21

4. His Trials and Death.
a) Trials
i) Annas (John 18:12, 13)
ii) Caiaphas (Matthew 26:57)
iii) Sanhedrin (Luke 22:66)
iv) Pilate (Luke 23:1)
v) Herod (Luke 23:8)
vi) Pilate (Luke 23:13)

b) Crucifixion:-
i) Jesus was crucified at 9 am. (Mark 15:25)
ii) Darkness covered the earth 12 noon (Mark 15:33)
iii) Jesus bore the sins 12-3 pm (Matthew 27:46)
iv) "My God My God" Psalm 22 (Romans 6:23)
v) Salvation is completed 3 pm (Luke 23:44-46, John 19:30) "Father into thy bands I dismiss my spirit".
vi) Prophetic (Isaiah 53:9)

5. Burial and In the Grave.
After the death of the Lord Jesus Christ several things happened:-
a) Signs
i) Temple veil rent from top (God) to bottom (man) (Matthew 27:51)

ii) A great earthquake (Matthew 27:51)
iii) Graves opened. (Matthew 27:52, 53)
iv) Breaking of the legs of the thieves (John 19:32-36 cf. Psalm 34:20

Exodus 12:46)
v) Side pierced (John 19:34, Zechariah 12:10)
b) Burial
i) Two pallbearers. Joseph of Arimethea and Nicodemus, both Pharisees, (John 19:38-39)
ii) Both rich men. (John 19:38-42)
iii) Laid in a rich man's tomb. (Isaiah 53:9, John 19:41)
iv) Guard on the tomb. (Matthew 27:62-66)
c) Jesus had three separate parts - Body, Soul, and Spirit.
d) At burial -
i) Body - in the tomb (Matthew 27:57-60)
ii) Spirit - to the Father in Heaven (Luke 23:46)
iii) Soul - Paradise or Abraham's Bosom (Luke 23:43)
iv) In Paradise Jesus met the soul of the penitent thief and preached to the fallen angels in Tartarus. (1 Peter 3:19, 20a, 2 Peter 2:4, Genesis 6:4)

6. Resurrection.
a) Jesus died on the Passover - the Paschal lamb.
b) Jesus rose on the Feast of the First Fruits. After 3 days the soul came from Hades (Luke 23:43) the Spirit from the Father (Luke 23:46) and joined the body in the tomb. With the involvement of the Holy Spirit the Lord Jesus Christ received a resurrection body. (Romans 8:11
c) Jesus predicted his resurrection (John 2:18-22)
d) He is the first fruits (1 Corinthians 15:22, 23)
e) In the period between the resurrection and the ascension many people saw the risen Lord. The bribery of the Roman soldiers (Matthew 28:11-15) is additional proof of the resurrection as are the changed lives of the disciples.

7. Ascension.
a) Having risen the Lord ascended (Luke 24:50-53) to be able to take His place of honour at the right hand of God.
b) With the ascension paradise emptied, the Old Testament saints being transferred to Heaven.
c) In the "Church" age believers go to be with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:7-9)

8. Session - the seating of Christ at God's right hand.
a) Reaching the Father in heaven Christ sat at God's right hand. (Colossians 3:1)
b) The session is in order that the Father may make His enemies His footstool. (Hebrews 1:13)
c) Prophecy of the session. (Psalm 110:1)
d) The footstool will be completed initially at the Second Advent with the final judgment occurring at the Last Judgment. (Revelation 20:11-15)


KENOSIS OF CHRIST

1. Kenosis is an expression which means to "empty oneself" or "to make oneself of no reputation."

2. Principle of Kenosis: (Philippians 2:5-8)

3. Jesus Christ from eternity past always has been God. As such he is all knowing, he is all powerful, has everlasting life and many other absolute qualities. He was not created because he is eternal.

4. Jesus Christ chose to become a little lower that the angels and took on the form of man.

5. Adam the first man aspired to be God, the second Adam who is God divested himself of his deity (Kenosis) and became man in order to save mankind.

6. During his earthly ministry, rather than using his own absolute power he used the power of the Holy Spirit.


BLOOD SACRIFICE

1. Ever since the earliest recorded time God has required a blood sacrifice for sin. It is implied by the coats of skin provided by the Lord in the garden after Adam and Eve had attempted to clothe their nakedness with leaves. Abel brought an acceptable animal sacrifice, unlike Cain's who brought an unacceptable bloodless offering.

2. The requirement for blood sacrifices was continued with Noah after the flood; (cf. the near sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham); and was established as a requirement not only by the Passover lamb but also in the Levitical offerings.

3. When recording the will of God for Israel in the matter of food and the abstinence from eating "any manner of blood" Moses states "For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul."

4. It is clear from the above that the life of an innocent victim (the animal sacrifice) acted as a shadow until the once and for all payment was paid with the true sacrifice of Christ.

5. There is an absolute necessity of the unique sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ as indicated by the phrase "the blood of Christ". (Romans 3:25, Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:22)

6. Up to the time of the once and for all sacrifice the sins of believers were set aside adjacent to them (Greek word Para; means alongside) but since the cross they have been taken fully away.

7. The twelve elements of grace which involve the blood of Christ:

a) The New Covenant. (Hebrews 8:8, 9:20-21)
b) The blood is the life. (John 6:53)
c) Purchase and Redemption. (Acts 20:28, Ephesians 1:7, 1 Peter 1:18-19)
d) Propitiation. (Romans 3:25)
e) Justification. (Romans 5:9)
f) Sanctification. (Hebrews 13:12)
g) Cleansing. (Hebrews 9:14, 1 John 1:7, Revelation 7:14)
h) Victory. (Revelation 12:11)
i) The blood of sprinkling. (Hebrews 10:22, 1 Peter 1:2)
j) Made nigh. (Ephesians 2:13)
k) Peace. (Colossians 1:20)
l) Boldness to enter. (Hebrews 10:19)

8. It is of interest that the resurrection body consists of flesh and bone but apparently no blood.

CHRIST: PROPHET, PRIEST AND KING

JESUS THE PROPHET

1. Moses predicted the coming of a perfect prophet, fulfilled in Jesus (Deuteronomy 18:15-19, Acts 3:20-23)

2. Jesus claimed he was a prophet. (John 7:16, 8:28, 12:49-50)

3. Fulfilled predictions
a) His death and resurrection (Matthew 16:21, John 2:19)
b) The destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:1-2, Luke 19:41-44)
c) The Gentile domination of Israel (Luke 21:20-24)
d) The Jewish dispersion (Matthew 24:34)
e) That the scriptures would survive (Matthew 24:35)



JESUS THE PRIEST

1. A priest is a man who represents other men before God, so that sinful man can have relationship with a holy God (Hebrews 5:1). The priest made propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 10:12) and also made intercession for the people

2. As a high priest, Christ offered a perfect sacrifice to God to remove sin for all time - His own body (Hebrews 9:26).

3. He also offers intercessory prayer for us (Hebrews 7:23-25) at the right hand of the Father.

4. Characteristics:-
a) He was divinely appointed (Hebrews 5:4-10)
b) He is perfect (Hebrews 7:26-28)
c) He is merciful and faithful (Hebrews 2:17)
d) He is sympathetic (Hebrews 4:14-16)
e) He is everlasting (Hebrews 7:23-25)
f) He is our advocate (1 John 2:1)

5. Because of our union in the Body of Christ, every believer is a priest (1 Peter 2:9). We have direct access to God the Father (Matthew 27:51, Hebrews 4:16). Therefore, our lives are to be a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) of praise (Hebrews 13:15), giving (Hebrews 13:16) and obedience (Hebrews 13:17).

JESUS THE KING

1. At the Second Advent; Jesus Christ will come as King, as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (1 Timothy 6:15)
a) His Kingdom - On earth (Jeremiah 23:5, Revelation 19:11-16). His kingdom is called the kingdom of heaven, because of its heavenly character, but it is clearly on earth.
b) His Capital - Jerusalem (Psalm 2:6)
c) Its Extent - The whole world. (Psalm 72:6-11, Isaiah 2:2-3, Daniel 7:13-14, Zechariah 8:20-23)
d) When - He will re-gather believing Israel after the Great Tribulation and will reign on earth for 1,000 years. (Revelation 19:11-16, Zechariah 14:1-4, 9. Revelation 20:4-6)

2. Characteristics of the Kingdom:
a) Universal Peace (Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:2-3)
b) Universal Prosperity (Micah 4:4-7)
c) Righteous and Just rule (Psalm 72:2-7, Isaiah 11:9)
d) Worldwide in extent (Psalm 72:6-8)
e) Glorious (Psalm 72:17-19)
f) Everlasting (Daniel 7:13-14, Luke 1:32-33, Revelation 11:15)
g) Uplifting of the under privileged (Psalm 72:2-4,12-14)

3. Christ's rule on earth will terminate with the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). He delivers the kingdom to the Father, (1 Corinthians 15:24) thus commencing the eternal rule of Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:28)

THEOLOGY LESSON 13

THE INCARNATION OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

Hebrews 1:1-6
Isaiah 9:6,7
John 1:1-5, 14-18 Virgin Birth
Firstborn – Jesus as
Christ – Testimonies re

INTRODUCTION

Hebrews 1:1-6 shows the person and work of Christ as Messiah and Saviour of mankind. Christology is a most important subject. The message of Hebrews is that God has stepped into history with the Creator becoming a creature. It is quite clear that we are talking about the Lord Jesus Christ,

His victory at the Cross showed His superiority over everything including the angels. In the first six verses we have the summary of the subject. This passage is very profound. The most important thing is that God became man and dwelt amongst us.

Isaiah 9:6, 7 looks forward to the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here it should be noted that the child is born and the Son is given. The humanity of Christ was born of Mary as the Son, the 'pre-incarnate' deity known as the WORD (Logos in Greek) always existed. Here we have the deity and humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ brought together to form the hypostatic union. The full meaning of this is hidden from us even yet.

The term 'pre-incarnate Christ' means the appearances of the Lord before the incarnation, before He was born of the Virgin Mary. Before you talk about the virgin birth you have to talk about the person who is being virgin born, the person who is God and man, and that He was God before he became man.

The Lord Jesus Christ is unique in the history of the universe - Christ is unique - Emmanuel - God with us. What was He doing before He was born? The doctrine of the person of Christ is crucial to the Christian faith. It is basic to Soteriology [saviour-hood] because if He was not what He claimed to be then His atonement was deficient and therefore not sufficient.

This is why an incorrect view of the Lord Jesus Christ will give an incorrect view of salvation, sanctification and eschatology. Because of the pre existence of Christ He was there to be given, before He was given, being eternally with the Father, He is God. John 1:1

Because of His eternality He did not come into existence and was therefore not a created person. John 8:58 - there is no point in human history, there is no time in the future when He will not be able to say "I AM" because He is from eternity to eternity. If that is incorrect you have no Saviour.

Looking at the character of God, He is eternal life, Christ is eternal life. What was the Lord doing before he was born as a member of humanity? He was the Creator - Hebrews 1, the Angel of Yahweh in the Old Testament. The person of Christ demands a virgin birth because God is becoming man and no human male can be involved in His birth because it is through the male that the Carnal Sin Nature comes.

THE BIRTH OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ in Bethlehem (house of bread) in Judea was probably in the autumn. The date of the birth of our Lord has been placed variously from 1 to 7 BC. Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem when Cyrenius was Governor of Syria and Herod was king in Jerusalem. - Luke 2:2

Justin Martyr also stated this referring to taxation records which were still in existence in his time to confirm that Joseph and Mary were resident in Nazareth and went to Bethlehem for the census. Until the middle of the 19th century the only historical reference to Cyrenius as the Greeks called him or as he was known by the Romans P.Sulpicius Quirinus was to a period some 10 years after the death of Herod which caused the school of higher criticism to try and discredit the account in Luke.

However the German Dr Zumpt proved that Cyrenius was twice the Governor of the province and that his first period dated from BC 4 when he succeeded Quinctilius Varus.

Josephus tells us that Herod died in the 37th year of his reign. It is known that Herod was made king by the Romans in 40 BC during the consulship of Domitus Calvinus and Asinius Pollio thus his death was either in 4 or 3 BC.

Josephus also states that on the night that Herod ordered the execution of his sons, who he believed were plotting to overthrow him; there was an eclipse of the moon. It is also known that Herod died within days of their execution.

Johnson in his "Eclipses Past and Future" states that there was a lunar eclipse observable at Jerusalem with a maximum effect at 2:34 am on 13th March BC 4 with the next one visible in that city being a full eclipse at 12:15 am on the 9th January BC 1. It is therefore seen that the year of Herod's death was 4 BC.

Josephus also tells that Archelaus remained for 7 days in seclusion after the death of Herod, and that whilst he was well received initially he had to call in the guard prior to his going to Jerusalem on 8th Nisan to celebrate Passover. It is therefore concluded that Herod died in the last two weeks of March 4 BC.

The Greek word for young child which described our Lord at the time of Herod's search for him indicates a child less than 18 months old but not a baby.

It is clear from scriptural evidence that Jesus Christ was born in September / October and it would appear likely that this was either in the year 5 or 6 BC.

The Lord Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea to the Virgin Mary by means of the Holy Spirit. - Luke 2:7

Joseph was demonstrated to be the legal though not natural father. -Matthew 1:16-20 4 BC Visit of the Wise Men from Babylon, or further East in Persia, seeking the child born to be king whose star they had seen in the east. Herod sees this as a threat to his dynasty and asks the Wise Men to report back to him once they have located the Christ child so that he may eliminate the threat, but being divinely guided they escape by another route. - Matthew 2:1-12

Herod kills all the small boys two years old and under in an attempt to eliminate the legitimate King of the Jews but Joseph, Mary and the young Jesus travel to Egypt until Herod is dead. - Matthew 2:13-18
Herod the Great dies in the spring. Just prior to dying due to paranoia he kills some of his sons thereby removing the immediate threat to Jesus from the Herodian line.

ARCHELAUS, was the ethnarch of Judea, Samaria and Idumea until 6AD. During his reign of ten years he made many enemies and exercised great cruelty towards both Samaritans and Jews alike putting to death according to Josephus 3000 Jews in the Temple not long after his accession. In 6 AD as a result of complaints to the Emperor from his brothers and subjects he was banished to the far regions of the Roman Empire and his kingdom became a Roman province. - Matthew 2:22

As teachers we are responsible for the teaching ministry of the Church. By being a Pastor you have an axe put at your neck by the Lord. The Lord's judgment is harsher on the unfaithful Pastor than on others. We are to teach the full doctrine of the unique person of the Lord Jesus Christ to the sheep in our care, so they know the truth about him as their Saviour and Lord

Isaiah 41 - gives the meaning of the Lord Jesus Christ. John 1:14 shows that God became flesh and dwelt amongst us. He has not left us in the dark about who he is. The result of accurate preaching about the incarnation will be worship in the lives of the hearers.

True theology will cause you to end all study with you on your knees, false theology will have people arguing with each other, and this is also the division between good and bad Bible teaching.

THE PURPOSE OF THE INCARNATION

God became flesh to reveal Himself to us, to provide an effective sacrifice for sin, to fulfill the Davidic covenant, to destroy the works of the Devil, to be a sympathetic High Priest for mankind and have the right to judge. They all focus on the purpose of the Lord's coming. This is a central point of the Christian faith not just the "Christmas" message. What was predicted by Isaiah came to pass.

There are over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament regarding the incarnation of Christ.

Some points to note

[a] The humanity of Christ was purposed from before the foundation of the world - Ephesians 1:4-7, 3:11, Revelation 13:8.
[b] Every type and prophecy of the Old Testament concerning Christ was in anticipation of the Incarnate Son of God.
[c] The fact of the humanity of Christ is seen in His annunciation and birth. - Luke 1:31-35
[d] His life here on earth revealed His humanity.
[e] The humanity of Christ is seen in His death and resurrection.
[f] The fact of the humanity of Christ is seen in that He ascended into heaven and is now, in His human glorified body, ministering for His own.
[g] When He comes again it will be "the same Jesus" coming as He went, in the same body though glorified in which He became incarnate.

In His incarnation He becomes head of the Church.

JOHN’S GOSPEL AND THE SAVIOUR

Seven passages in John's gospel bring this together and provide the key to that gospel.

The main purpose of the incarnation was that He came to die for your sins.

John 1:29 - Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world;
John 3:14, 15 - The person who came to hang on the tree;
John 6:51 - The living bread came down from heaven; to give eternal life to those who eat of it.
John 10:11 - The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep
John 11:49-52 - The only person to die for the nation
John 12:24 – Shows that the grain of wheat has to die so that it may bear much fruit.
John 15:13-14 - The example that ‘greater love hath no man than he who will lay down his life for his friends’.

You cannot get around it the Lord came to die. The cross/empty tomb is central.

He had to become human to be King, Priest, Mediator and Saviour.

DOCTRINES

VIRGIN BIRTH

1. Jesus Christ had to be born of a virgin to fulfil prophecy. (Isaiah 7:1 4)

2. Jesus had to be born of a virgin to confirm the curse of Coniah. (Jeremiah 22:28-30)
a) Coniah was a believer but an evil king at the time of the Babylonian captivity.
b) Coniah is also in the direct line of Christ in Joseph's lineage from David (Matthew 1:6, 1:11, 1:16) through Solomon. This is the Kingly line.
c) Mary was also in the direct line of Christ from David (Luke 3:23, Luke 3:31) through Nathan. In Luke 3:23 Joseph is the son-in-law of Heli, Mary's father.
d) Both lines, Solomon's and Nathan's meet in the person of Jesus Christ but by the virgin birth Coniah's line is cut off as Joseph is the legal but not natural father of Jesus Christ.

3. Jesus had to be born of a virgin to not have the sin nature of Adam. The sin nature of man comes down through the male. (1 Timothy 2:14)
a) Adam, as the head, was responsible for his wife.
b) Eve was deceived and sinned.
c) Adam made deliberate choice.

4. In order to be the God-Man Jesus had to be conceived of the Holy Spirit to Mary.

5. The virgin birth is therefore critical especially in the doctrine of Redemption, Imputation and Propitiation. NO virgin birth - NO salvation.

CHRIST: FIRSTBORN

1. He is the firstborn of all Creation - Colossians 1:15, John 1:18, 1 John 4:12

2. He is called the first born of Mary. As such he is the elder of the household and as He is descended from David through both of His genealogies he inherits the kingdom of David. Through Mary He has his title as Messiah - Matthew 1:25, Luke 2:7

3. The Lord is the firstborn of the Royal Family of God - Romans 8:29

4. He is the firstborn in resurrection; He is the first to be raised from the dead - Colossians 1:18, Hebrews 1:5, 6

5. He is the first fruits of resurrection. - 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

6. The church is called the assembly of the firstborn. - Hebrews 12:23

CHRIST: TESTIMONIES ABOUT JESUS CHRIST

TESTIMONIES BY CHRIST OF HIMSELF

1. He claimed to transcend the Mosaic Law, and to be entitled to rewrite it. (Matthew 5:21-48.)

2. He claimed pre-existence as God. He freely used the divine 'I AM' which was the name of Yahweh God in the Old Testament. (John 6:35, 8:12, 58, 10:7, 11, 11:25, 14:6, 15:5)

3. He told the disciples to pray in His name. (John 14:14)

4. He claimed to have come down from heaven and that He would return to where He came from. (John 3:13, 6:33, 42, 50-51, 62; 14:2-7)
5. He claimed power over death. He spoke of laying his life down and that He had the power to take it up again. (John 10:17-18)

6. He claimed that death could not hold Him and that he would rise up again in three days. (John 2:19)

7. He claimed to be able to raise up all the dead on the last day. (John 5:25-29, 11:25)

8. He claimed that he was the judge of all men. (Matthew 25:31; John 5:22)

9. He claimed that to trust Him was the same as trusting God; thereby making Himself equal to God. (Matthew 28:18-19, John 14:1)

10. He claimed that man can only really know God as He is revealed in Him. (Matthew 11:27; John 14:6)

11. He accepted worship as right for Himself, that belonged only to God; from Nathaniel (John 1:49), from Peter (Matthew 16:16) and from Thomas. (John 20:28)

12. He claimed that to see Him was to see God the Father. (John 14:9-10)

13. He claimed that He should be honoured as God is honoured; indeed that God is honoured when He is honoured. (John 5:22-23)

14. He claimed to be able to forgive sin, and give to all who believe in Him eternal life. (Matthew 9:2; John 10:28, 3:16-21, 6:35, 11:25)

15. He claimed that eternal judgment awaits those who reject him as Saviour. (John 3:36; Matthew 25:41-46)

16. He taught with absolute authority. (Matthew 7:29, Mark 1:22, John 14:6)

17. He claimed universal power. (Matthew 28:18)

18. He claimed that God the Father and He were one. (John 10:30)

19. He insisted that all revelation was fulfilled in Himself. He saw Himself as anticipated typologically in Jonah (Matthew 12:39-41, Luke 11:29-32), Solomon (Matthew 12:42, Luke 11:31), David (Matthew 12:3, 4, Mark 2:25-26; Luke 6:3, 4) and Isaiah. (Matthew 13:13, 14, Mark 4:12 and Luke 8:10)

TESTIMONIES ABOUT CHRIST IN ISAIAH

1. His Godhead (40:12-18, 51:13)
2. His Incarnation (7:14, 9:6)
3. His Lowly Youth (7:15, 9:1-2, 11:1, 53:2)
4. His Servant hood (11:2, 42:1)
5. His Mildness (42:2)
6. His Tenderness (42:3)
7. His Obedience (50:5)
8. His Message (61:1-2)
9. His Miracles (35:5-6)
10. His Sufferings (50:6, 52:13-15)
11. His Rejection (53:1-3)
12. His Passion (53:4-6)
13. His Vicarious Death (53:8)
14. His Burial (53:9)
15. His Resurrection (53:10)
16. His Ascension (52:13)
17. His High Priestly Ministry (53:12)
18. His Exaltation (52:13-15)
19. His Role as Judge (63:1-6)
20. His Second Advent (59:20-21)
21. His Millennial Reign (9:6-7, 11:3-9)

TESTIMONIES BY UNBELIEVERS

1. Judas Iscariot (Matthew 27:4) - I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood.

2. Pontius Pilate (John 19:4, 6) - I find no crime in him.

3. Herod the Usurper (Luke 23:15) - No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him: and lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

4. Pilate's wife (Matthew 27:19) - Have nothing to do with this just man.

5. The dying thief (Luke 23:41) - This man hath done nothing amiss.

6. The centurion of the Golgotha detachment (Luke 23:47) - This man was a righteous man.

7. The Roman soldiers at Golgotha (Matthew 27:54) - truly this one was the son of God.

STATEMENTS HE MAKES ABOUT HIMSELF IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION

1. "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last" - Jesus Christ knows all things (1:11)

2. "I am the first and the last" - He is eternal (1:17)

3. "I am he that liveth and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forever more, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death " - He became the God - man and died for us conquering death and saving us from an eternity in hell (1:18)

4. "These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks." - He has the ministers of the church in his hand and is present in the churches. (2:1)

5. "These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive." - He combines eternality with his sacrificial death. (2:8)

6. "These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges." - He is and has the Word of God. (2:12)

7. "These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass" - He is not only Saviour but is also Judge. (2:18)

8. "These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars."- He gave the church the Holy Spirit so that the church can function (3:1)

9. "These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth and no man openeth." - He is holy true and has authority. He also gives opportunities to enable us to serve. (3:7)

10. "These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God"; - He has the final authority and is the revelation of God and the source of God's creation. (3:14)

11. "Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." - He calls to man but does not coerce the freewill of man. (3:20)

THEOLOGY LESSON 12

DEITY OF CHRIST


Luke 24:36-53
John:24-31

Hypostatic Union
I AM Christ – Deity

INTRODUCTION

As we look at our first text in Luke chapter 24 verses 36 through 53, we enter a subject area that caused great debate in the early church. We come again face to face with our limits as human beings here; for we cannot ever; understand this side of eternity how the Lord can be both man and God. The reason this is such a hard thing is that it only has happened once and will never happen again; only the Lord has this "hypostatic union". We have nothing to compare this with, nor any analogies to make.

In his resurrection body the disciples see him as he truly is; the unique person of the universe, the God-Man. Standing before them in glorified body. Their response and ours is to be worship; they fell at his feet as though dead!

The early church councils in the fourth and fifth century tried to define this doctrine and they had great difficulty. Each time they thought they had it right a false view popped up and they had to try again and find a better Greek word to eliminate the false view (heresy). All the false views that exist in the early church exist today as cults. For example the Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons all hold views that the early church rejected. So we will study these councils in Church History.

The Lords work now for us as our Mediator who sits at the right hand of the father depends on his being fully equal with both parties. His work as Mediator depends on his hypostatic union. This word comes from two Greek words, meaning, "Two standing under one essence". Thomas saw it in a moment in John 20:24-31, and we must have the same response as he did.

The Lord’s Titles

The Lord's titles prove that the disciples believed in this doctrine. He is called, the Son of God, Luke 22: 70, and John 5:18, tells us that this meant to Jews equality with God the Father. He calls himself the first and the last, Rev 1:8, 17, and Isaiah 41:4 tells us that this means he is God. He is the Lord of All, 1 Corinthians 2:8. He is our great God, Romans 9:5.

His Attributes

He has the attributes of deity ascribed to him.

All Powerful – (Luke 4: 39, 7:14, 15, 8: 54, 55, John 5: 25)
All Knowing - John 2: 24, 25, 4: 16 - 19, Mark 2: 8, Luke 5: 22.
Everywhere - Matthew 18: 20, 28: 20, John 3: 13.
Eternal Life - John 1: 1, Col 1: 17, John 8: 58, 17: 5, 1 John 1: 1.
Unchangeable - Hebrews 1: 12, 13: 8.
He forgives sin - Mark 2: 5 - 10, Luke 7: 48.
Creator - Hebrews 1: 10, John 1: 3, Colossians 1: 16.
He raised the dead - John 6: 39, 44.
Justice - 2 Timothy 4: 1.
He gives eternal life - John 10: 28, 17: 2.

He is therefore clearly pure deity but also pure humanity; he thirsted, hungered, he was weary, slept, wept and cried out in pain, and died. Find the references to these things in your bible as you do this study.

How is it that the two natures of the Lord were combined? When we ask this we are face to face with the mystery of the universe, the mystery of the incarnation and the plan to provide our salvation.
DOCTRINES

HYPOSTATIC UNION

1. Hypostasis means standing together under one essence, two things united under one with no loss or transfer to the other and no change to either. In the person of Jesus Christ the two natures, divine and human, were inseparably linked with no loss or transfer of properties or attributes, and no mixture or loss of separate identity the union was personal and eternal. The Lord Jesus Christ is still perfectly human and divine Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1-14, Romans 1:2-5, Romans 9:5, Philippians 2:5-11, 1 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 1:4

2. The incarnate person of the Lord Jesus Christ included undiminished deity. Jesus Christ is God. He remained co equal and co eternal with the Father while on earth. Christ is eternal because God is eternal life. His deity was never affected by His death, resurrection and session. As God Jesus Christ could not die; However as a baby in the cradle he was holding the universe together.

3. The Lord Jesus Christ was also true humanity; body, soul and spirit although due to the virgin birth he had no carnal sin nature 1 Peter 2:22

4. The two natures of Jesus Christ are united with no transfer of attributes. Each set of attributes corresponds to the respective natures. The divine attributes such as eternal life, all knowing, everywhere, refers to His divine nature, the human attributes correspond to His human nature. To remove any attribute from His deity would be to destroy deity.

5. No aspect of the divine nature was lacking, although certain attributes were not exercised in line with the Father's plan Matthew 4:1-10

6. The union of the two natures in the person of Christ must be considered personal, human to the human, divine to the divine. They are never mixed. The union was therefore personal and hypostatic; one essence with two natures.

7. Deity did not indwell humanity or possess it. The union was more than sympathy and harmony; it was unique combining the two natures eternally. He is the God – man

8. Christ had two natures in one person; therefore he could be supremely powerful yet weak at the same time.
a) Deity cannot be tempted, humanity can. Matthew 4:1-10
b) Deity cannot thirst, humanity can John 19:28.
c) Deity is omniscient; humanity learns Luke 2:40, 52

9. The necessity of the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ is seen in the following:-

a) To be our Saviour he had to be man as God cannot die. Hebrews 2:14, 15, Philippians 2:7, 8

b) To be our mediator He had to be equal with both God and man Job 9:2, 32-33, 1 Timothy 2:5-6
c) To be our High Priest He must be a man. Hebrews 7:4, 5 14-28; 10:5, 10-14
d) To be a king he must be a man, a Jew in the line of David. Psalm 89:20-37, 2 Samuel 7:8-16

10. There are three categories of sayings or actions of the Lord:
a) From his deity alone John 8:58
b) From his humanity alone John 19:28
c) From his hypostatic union - John 11:25, 26

11. The uniqueness of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ is a key doctrine to understand for all believers, for it is on this point that the accurate preaching of the gospel rests. 1 Timothy 3:16

12. The gospel in one word is Immanuel - God with us. John's testimony on this point John 1:14. In Christ we see God's love and favour towards man. As God revealed himself in the Old Testament, so He perfectly reveals himself in the person of the unique person of the universe, the God man the Lord Jesus Christ.

I AM

The use of the phrase “I AM” means that the Lord was saying that He is God. In Exodus 3:14 God reveals Himself to Moses as, I AM THAT I AM. Using this phrase at His arrest in John 18:2-6; He caused the army group to fall backwards due to His power as God flashing forth for a millisecond; before being led away as a willing sacrifice. We are not confronted with the Jesus of liberalism here, but with the Lord of lords, King of kings, God stepping down to speak authoritatively to mankind. There are seven “I AM’s” in the New Testament.

1. PROVISION - I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE John 6:30-35 - The feeding of the five thousand - a miracle involving bread. God provided miraculous physical food in the desert for forty years - Manna. Christ is our spiritual food. He says that he is the only source of spiritual food for you. There is life in no other. No one else can satisfy the spiritual hunger in man. He tells us He is the bread from heaven - He shows Himself as God. The bread of the Passover - unleavened, pierced and griddled; speaking of his body.

2. SPIRITUALITY - I AM THE LIGHT John 8:12 - The feast of Tabernacles (where He also told the people to have the everlasting water John 7:37-39). When the Lord says this He is saying that He is the only source of pure light as shown in His matchless character. He is stating that He is God. 1 John 1 says that God is light and in Him is there no darkness at all. We are to walk in the light in fellowship with God.

3. SALVATION - I AM THE DOOR John 10:7 - The Sheepfolds of Jerusalem, Psalms 22-24. To be the door of the sheepfold, He is the only way into the plan of God. Anyone that tries to come any other way is a liar and a thief. If this is not true there is no way to God.

4. GUIDANCE - I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD John 10:11 - the good shepherd, the only one who really cares. Many from other religions say that they really care but it is Jesus the good shepherd, the only one who really cares. All other systems drop you into hell.

5. RESURRECTION - I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE John 11:20-25 - The death of Lazarus. Christ conquers death proving He is God, the resurrection and the life, He is the way the truth and life forever. The only way to eternal life is in Christ Jesus. To reject Him is to have eternal life in the Lake of Fire

6. TRUTH/LIFE - I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE John 14: 6 - There is no other way to gain meaning in this life and eternal life than through him. We are related to the King of kings and Lord of lords who came and died for us that we might live. We should be obedient to our Lord who bought us with His blood. I am the way the truth and the life. The only way to live is in the truth, the only way to have life and have it more abundantly is in Him. The only way to God is through the God man Jesus Christ. We need to live in Him as He is the only one who has the truth.

7. PRODUCTION - I AM THE TRUE VINE John 15:1-5 - Walking from the Passover meal past the Temple towards Gethsemane, He talks about the spiritual production that is ours in union with Him. I am the true vine - the only way to spiritual productivity is in Christ Jesus through the fruit of the Spirit. Love Joy Peace and the other fruit is only available in Christ. You have to be in the vine to have fruit. Many unbelievers want joy and peace but they cannot have it without Christ.

JESUS THE CHRIST: DEITY

1. Jesus Christ is both God and man. The two natures are inseparably united without mixture or loss of separate identity, the union being personal and eternal. (Philippians 2:5-11, John 1:1-14, Romans 1:4, Romans 9:5, 1 Timothy 3:16)

2. Jesus Christ is undiminished deity. This includes all the divine characteristics:
a) Sovereignty (Genesis 1, Revelation 1:5, 6, 17:14, 19:16)
b) Eternal Life (Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2, John 1:1-2, 8:58, Colossians 1:16-17, Ephesians 1:4, Revelation 1:8)
c) Holiness (Luke 1:35, Acts 3:14, Hebrews 7:26)
d) Love (John 13:1, 34, 1 John 3:16)
e) Unchangeable (Hebrews 13:8)
f) All Knowing (Matthew 9:4, John 2:25, John 18:4, 1 Corinthians 4:5, Colossians 2:3, Revelation 2:23)
g) All Powerful (Matthew 24:30, 28:18, 1 Corinthians 15:28, Philippians 3:2 1, Hebrews 1:3, Revelation 1:8)
h) Everywhere (Matthew 28:20, Ephesians 1:23, Colossians 1:27)
i) Truth (John 14:6, Revelation 3:7)

3. Christ is the Son of God, equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 Peter 1:2)

4. Proofs of the deity of Christ.
a) He is the Creator of all. (John 1:3, 10 Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:10)
b) He is the Preserver of all things. (Colossians 1:17, Hebrews 1:3)
c) He pardons sin. (Luke 5:21, 24)
d) He raises the dead. (John 5:21, 28-29, 11: 42-43)
e) He will reward the saints. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
f) He will judge the world in the Last Day. (John 5:22)
g) He receives worship (Hebrews 1:6)

5. Jesus Christ was/is Yahweh in Pre Incarnate Form, also known as the Word/Logos John 1:1

a) Jesus is God - (Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1; John 20:28; 2 Peter 1:1, Titus 2:13).

Yahweh is God - (Jeremiah 32:18; (Isaiah 43:10; (Isaiah 45:22; Philippians 2:10).

b) Jesus is I AM (John 8:24; 8:58; 13:19; 18:5).
Yahweh is I AM (Isaiah 43:10; Exodus 3:13-14; Deuteronomy 32:39).

c) Jesus is the First and the Last (Revelation 1:17; 2:8; 22:13).
Yahweh is the First and the Last (Isaiah 44:6; 48:12; 41:4).
d) Jesus is the Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4; Isaiah 8:14; 1 Peter 2:6; Matthew 16:18).

Yahweh is the Rock (Exodus 17:6; Isaiah 17:10; 2 Samuel 22-32; Deuteronomy 32:4).

e) Jesus is Saviour (Acts 2:21; 4:12; Romans 10:9; Jude 25).
Yahweh is Saviour (Psalm 106:21; Hosea 13:4; Isaiah 45:21; 43:3,11).

f) Jesus is Lord of Lords (Revelation 17:14; 19:16; 1 Timothy 6:14-16).
Yahweh is Lord of Lords (Psalm 136:1-3; Deuteronomy 10:17).

g) Jesus is Creator (John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:10).
Yahweh is Creator (Job 33:4; (Isaiah 40:28; Genesis 1:1).

h) Jesus is Light (John 8:12; John 1:9; Luke 2:32).
Yahweh is Light (Micah 7-8; Isaiah 60:20; Psalm 27:1).

i) Jesus is Judge (2 Timothy 4:1; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10).
Yahweh is Judge (Genesis 18:25; Joel 3:12).

j) It is quite clear that Jesus is God (1 John 5:5)

6. Jesus lived on earth in total dependence upon God the Father. He never used His own divine attributes in contradiction to the will of the Father. (Matthew 4:1-11, 27:42-43)

7. At the birth of Christ no change occurred in the deity of Jesus Christ. During His earthly life, some attributes were unused but they were never deleted or destroyed. To remove any attribute from His deity would be to destroy deity.

8. Jesus Christ is true humanity. This includes attributes such as thirst, hunger, weariness. (John 19:28)

9. Jesus Christ had a body, soul and spirit, but no old sin nature. He did not receive an old sin nature because of the virgin birth.

10. God became flesh; it is not a case of God merely possessing humanity.

THEOLOGY LESSON 11

THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD

Ephesians 3:14-15
1 John 4:9,10
Titus 3:3-7
Romans 4:13
Romans 8:17
John 8:30-47 Shekinah Glory
Fatherhood of God

INTRODUCTION

This is one of the significant doctrines of Christian theology which is unique to Christianity. The Moslem does not refer to Allah as “father”, nor does the Hindu believe in a father over us all.

Father is a word that is personal and relational. It shows that God cares and provides. There is therefore a relationship that it is possible for believers to have with God the Father. The Father is the first person in the Trinity and is represented as loving, electing and bestowing, the Son as redeeming, suffering and upholding and the Spirit as regenerating, indwelling, regenerating, baptizing, energizing and sanctifying.

The revelation of the Trinity allows it to be portrayed in a relationship way. God the Father is seen as the first person of the Trinity but is not superior to the Son or the Holy Spirit who are equally God. The words Father and Son are words of accommodation showing relationship rather than superiority. The Father did not form the Son and then between them formed the Holy Spirit this is a false concept called the doctrine of procession. Jehovah's Witnesses and other cults teach this. We need to allow God to reveal Himself rather than we superimpose our concepts on Him. This is man telling God how he will be seen rather than seeking how God has revealed the truth, no matter how difficult it is to understand.

God's Relationship with Man

God’s relationship with man is divided into three aspects:

[a] The Father planned it and is the author of the plan.
[b] The Son executes the plan
[c] The Holy Spirit makes the plan real to humanity.

These concepts are before time with no time distinction.

Fatherhood - Fatherhood comes in various concepts:

[1] Fatherhood over creation Ephesians 3:14 15 all beings have their origin in God. We get our life and very existence from God. There is therefore a brotherhood in the creation. The liberals however take this a step further and talk about the brotherhood of man and the universal Fatherhood of God.

This is a lie that is exposed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ said that all men are not brothers but only become such in Christ. It is noted that even Satan was given his life by God as he is created. There is no relationship in the Father - creation combination.

[2] Fatherhood by intimate relationship which is the concept of the relationship between God and Israel. Exodus 4:22 Israel is my son this is my firstborn. This is more than God saying that He is their creator but it is less than saying that they are regenerated. In the New Testament it says that all Israel is not Israel.

There is however a relationship between the Father and Israel, a care for Israel. He preserves the nation. In the Bible the word father is used a large number of times in relation to the relationship between God and Israel.

However most of the Jews disrespected that relationship and only a relatively few Jews accepted Jesus Christ as their Messiah and were therefore accepted into a new covenant relationship with their heavenly Father.

[3] A specific relationship between the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Ephesians 1:3. The first specific revelation of the New Testament is that God the Father is the father of the Lord Jesus Christ. It also shows without any doubt the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ by His attributes and His works.

The words father and son are used in the New Testament to show the intimacy of the relationship between God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ with out fulfilling all the relationships which would be true of a human relationship of Father and Son. This was the error of the Arian theologians who said that he was a son of God but not equal with God.

The Father and the Son

The second person has been the Son from eternity past. For eternity there has been this close relationship between the Father and the Son. In Isaiah 9:6 it shows that a child is born but a son is given. The baby was born but the Son was given as the Son had existed forever. What they are saying is that you think of the most noble father and the best possible son and the love between those two and you get a small glimpse of the relationship between the Father and the Son.

In Summary

[a] The Son of God is said to have been begotten of the Father Psalm 2:7, John 1:14, 18, 3:16,18 1 John 4:9

[b] The Father acknowledged the Lord Jesus Christ as His Son Matthew 3:17, 17:5, Luke 9:35

[c] The Father is acknowledged by the Son Matthew 11:27, 26:63 64, Luke 22:29, John 8:16 29, 33 44, 17:1 The Son is subject to the Father's plan but it should be remembered that the plan had been a joint plan when it was conceived with its recognition of role and responsibility.

[d] The fact that God the Father is acknowledged by men to be the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ Matthew 16:16, Mark 15:39, John 1:34, 49, Acts 3:13

[e] The Son acknowledges the Father by being subject to Him John 8:29, 49

[f] Even the demons recognize this relationship between the Father and the Son Matthew 8:29. Satan's eternal damnation relies on this relationship and its permanency

The relationship between the Father and the Son is also shown in the giving of the Son to us. Man's response to God is in contrast with the Son's relationship with the Father.

The response of the Son to the Father is a challenge for us. Have you talked to your Father today? The Lord told us to pray to the Father as our father. It does not matter what your human father was like you can have a close relationship with your heavenly Father. Begin with confession and end with praise. True worship is grounded in this doctrine. If you can encourage your flock to be intimate with God it will reduce significantly your counseling requirements.

[4] The Father is the father of all regenerated ones. We can say "our father" because we have a relationship which has been established through the Son.

We are the blood bought children of God. Titus 3:1 7 – So that is why we are heirs to eternal life. In verses 5 8 we have the three persons of the Godhead the Holy Spirit v 5, the Lord Jesus Christ v 6 and the Father in v 8. Not by anything we have done but we have become heirs of the grace of God. We have therefore the fatherhood of God and the son-ship of the saints.

[a] Before salvation we were sold unto sin, we were not sons. Spiritually we were dead other than creatures to our creator Ephesians 2:19, Romans 7:14

[b] Before salvation we were all of different races, none of us could call each other brother. We now only have a relationship through the Father only with those who are related to our Lord Jesus Christ.

[c] Salvation alone makes us children of God rather than slaves to sin.

[d] Only God can make us His children as only God has the power. John 3 we are born from above.

[e] Unbelievers cannot or will not see this unique relationship. As sons of rebellion they believe the lies of their father Satan who promotes the concept of the universal fatherhood of God. This is the concept which is putting most of the people on this earth into the Lake of Fire. John 8:44

[f] The believer's son-ship guarantees heir-ship, eternal life and fellowship with God forever. 1 John 3:2 3, Romans 8:16 18
[g] The Holy Spirit is the down payment on believer's inheritance, the assurance that they are the sons of God. Ephesians 1:14

[h] Believers are heirs of salvation and eternal life in Christ Jesus. We have the assurance of receiving a resurrection body.

[i] The source of our confidence of receiving a resurrection body is based on the Lord's resurrection, a lively hope. We can depend on Him forever. We can trust the Father because we have a relationship with the Son

John 8:30 55 these people thought that their inheritance through Abraham made them acceptable to God. As Jews they were in a special relationship but they were not saved.

They had pride in their life. You are living in a state of sin in the house of Israel as a servant which means you are not a permanent resident as you are a servant rather than a son. He tells them they are of their father the devil v 44.

The Jews also called Jesus illegitimate believing him to be the offspring of Mary and a Roman soldier.

They say they are related to God through Abraham. God however does not have grandchildren he has sons. It does not matter who your father was you need a personal relationship with God. He points out that they do not hear them because they are not of God. They were children of the devil because they were in rebellion. Whose son are you? You choose your father and what family you are in eternally. If you turn down God's grace you choose the lake of fire, the worst of choices.

When dealing with the Gentile you should start with the father of creation and give them the gospel as Paul did on Mars hill. With the Jews however you start with God founding the nation Israel and then proceed to the gospel saying you have to know Him as your own personal father.

DOCTRINES

SHEKINAH GLORY

1. The Shekinah glory is the visible manifestation of the presence of God. The usual title used is the glory of God

2. It is from the Hebrew word "shachan" meaning dwelling.

3. It took the form of light, fire, cloud or a combination of these.

4. At times it is associated with the following, the Angel of Jehovah, the Holy Spirit, The Cherubim and the motif of thick darkness.

5. Appearances of the Shekinah Glory in the Old Testament
a) The Garden of Eden [Genesis 3:8]
b) The time of the Abrahamic Covenant [Genesis 15:12-18]
c) The burning bush [Exodus 3:1-5]
d) At the Exodus [Exodus 13:21, 22]

e) At Mount Sinai [Exodus 19:16-20]
f) The special manifestation to Moses [Exodus 33:17-23]
g) The Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant [Exodus 29:42-46]

h) The book of Leviticus [Leviticus 9:6-7, 22-24]
i) The Book of Numbers [Numbers 13:30-14:45, 16:1-50, 20:6-13]
j) The period of Joshua and the Judges [1 Samuel 4:21-22]
k) Solomon's Temple [1 Kings 8:1-13, 2 Chronicles 5:2-7:3]
l) The departure of the Shekinah Glory [Ezekiel 1:28, 3:12, 23, 8:3-4, 9:3a, 10:4, 18-19, 11:22-23]
m) The Shekinah glory was not in the second Temple [Haggai 2:3, 9]

6. Appearance of the Shekinah Glory in the New Testament.
a) To the Shepherds - Luke 2:8-9
b) The Christmas star - Matthew 2:1-12
c) It comes in a new form - John 1:1-14
d) The transfiguration - Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:288-36, 2 Peter 1:16-18
e) The reflection of that glory - 2 Corinthians 3:12-18
f) The Book of the Acts - Acts 2:1-3, 9:3-8, 22:6-11, 26:13-18
g) The Revelation - Revelation 1:12-16,
h) In the Tribulation - Revelation 15:8
i) The Second Coming of Christ - Matthew 16:27, 24:30, Mark 13:26, Luke 21:27
j) The Millennium - Ezekiel 43:1-7a, 44:1-2, Zechariah 2:4-5, Isaiah 36:1-2, 58:8-9a, 60:1-3

k) The Eternal State - Revelation 21:1-3, 21:23-24

FATHERHOOD OF GOD

Fatherhood comes in various concepts:

1. The Fatherhood over creation Ephesians 3:14 15 all beings have their origin in God. We get our life and very existence from God. There is therefore a brotherhood in the creation. The liberals however take this a step further and talk about the brotherhood of man and the universal Fatherhood of God which is a lie which is exposed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ said that all men are not brothers but only become such in Christ. Even Satan was given his life by God. There is no relationship in the Father creator-ship combination.

2. Fatherhood by intimate relationship which is the concept of the relationship between God and Israel. In Exodus 4:22 Israel is my son this is my firstborn. This is more than God saying that He is their creator but it is less than saying that they are regenerated. In the New Testament it says that all Israel is not Israel. There is however a relationship between the Father and Israel, a care for Israel. He preserves the nation. In the Bible the word father is used a large number of times in relation to the relationship between God and Israel. However; only a few Jews were regenerated.

3. A specific relationship between the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Ephesians 1:3. The first specific revelation of the New Testament is that God the Father is the father of the Lord Jesus Christ. It also shows without any doubt the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ

By His attributes and His works the words father and son are used in the New Testament to show the intimacy of the relationship between God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ with out fulfilling all the relationships which would be true of a human relationship of Father and Son. This was the error of the Arian theologians who said that he was a son of God but not equal with God.

4. The second person has been the Son from eternity past. For eternity there has been this close relationship between the Father and the Son. In Isaiah 9:6 it shows that a child is born but a son is given. The baby was born but the Son was given as the Son had existed forever. What they are saying is that you think of the noblest father and the best possible son and the love between those two and you get a small glimpse of the relationship between the Father and the Son.

5. The Father of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6-7)
a) Only in Christ do we become brothers. (Galatians 3:27-29) This is the result of the Holy Spirit who baptizes us into the body of Christ and makes us a new creation in Him. (1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:5)
b) God is not the spiritual father of the unregenerate man; they are His creation but not His children. (John 14:6) Before salvation we were sons of our carnal sinful nature. (John 8:42-47, Ephesians 2:19)

6. In summary therefore
[a] The Son of God is said to have been begotten of the Father Psalm 2:7, John 1:14, 18, 3:16,18 1 John 4:9
[b] The Father acknowledged the Lord Jesus Christ as His Son Matthew 3:17, 17:5, Luke 9:35
[c] The Father is acknowledged by the Son Matthew 11:27, 26:63 64, Luke 22:29, John 8:16 29, 33 44, 17:1 The Son is subject to the Father's plan but it should be remembered that the plan had been a joint plan when it was conceived with its recognition of role and responsibility.
[d] The fact that God the Father is acknowledged by men to be the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ Matthew 16:16, Mark 15:39, John 1:34, 49, Acts 3:13
[e] The Son acknowledges the Father by being subject to Him John 8:29, 49
[f] Even the demons recognise this relationship between the Father and the Son Matthew 8:29 Satan's eternal damnation relies on this relationship and its permanency

7. Before salvation became possible by Christ’s blood, all members of the human race were "sold under sin" we were strangers before God, not sons. Romans 7:14, Ephesians 2:19. Spiritually we were dead, we had no relationship with God other than creatures to the creator we did not recognize Ephesians 2:1. We were alienated from the perfect of God.

8. Before salvation we were all of different races, the only brotherhood we can ever have is in Christ. Galatians 3:27-29.

9. Salvation alone makes us children of God. Before we were slaves of sin, sons of our fleshly sin nature; or children of rebellion. (Ephesians 2:19, John 8:42-47, 1John 3:10-15)

10. Only God can make us his children, for only God has that power. John 1:12, 13. We are either 'born-again', born from above or we remain spiritually dead, children of Satan, John 3:3, 6, 36.

11. Unbelievers cannot and will not see this unique relationship. 1John 3:1, 1 Corinthians 1:18. As sons of rebellion they believe their father’s lie i.e. the universal fatherhood of God and universal brotherhood of man (both of which are false concepts). John 8:44. This lie perpetrates the idea that God is a “soft-touch” and will not judge man for their sin, but all will be well in the end. This is declared false by God in his word.

12. The believer’s son-ship guarantees heir-ship, eternal life and fellowship for them. 1 John 3:2, 3, Romans 8:16-18.

13. The Holy Spirit is God’s down payment on the believer’s inheritance - the assurance of more to come, Ephesians 1:14.

14. Believers are heirs of eternal life through relationship with God in Christ John 8:35, 51.
a) Receiving rewards: Colossians 3:24, 25, 2 John 8, 1 Corinthians 3:8 and,
b) Receiving a resurrection body. 1 Corinthians 15:50-54.

15. The source of our confidence is based in the Lords resurrection. He is therefore our "lively hope", 1 Peter 1:3-5. He can be depended upon to meet all needs for we will be with him forever. John 14:1-4.

THEOLOGY LESSON 10

The Character of God

Romans 11:33-36
Character of God
God Cares for you
Miracles of God

INTRODUCTION

People have slightly different approaches to this subject as this is one of the regions in Bible study where creatures with limited concepts are attempting to come to terms with the characteristics of God the creator of space and time and all that is within these categories. When you are teaching this vital doctrine, you will be alright as long as you keep remembering that you are a creature of space and time and you are talking about the one who created all things.

This is a very deep concept to which you will go back time and time again. This foundation doctrine combined with the confession of sins should be thoroughly taught to your congregation. Understanding the nature of God assists in all the testing situations of life, for we rest for our total security upon the perfection of the character and plan of God.

The various perfections of God, which some call them are not component parts of God. Even when we have a list it is not exhaustive. All of the qualities of God are absolute. He is the creator of everything. The definitions are therefore human attempts to speak of a unique subject. We however are limited, and theologians who forget this get into the most arrogance and trouble. In our introductory series of lectures we covered the concept of what in philosophy is called “category mistake”. This means to predicate of a being in one category the characteristics of a being in another and totally different category. We try to speak of God in terms he has used in his revelation of himself, but our words and thinking is limited and we must remain humble as we walk into this subject.

Romans 11:33‑36 ‑ this is Paul talking about the attributes of God. Paul ends his brief talk to the Romans about the character of God with a prayer. He ends with a poem of praise. You should ensure that when you are teaching this there is practical application to those you are teaching for every attribute. When you study this subject it should be with thanks and awe. If talk of the character of God does not end in worship, then I suspect you have got something wrong. This is not a theoretical subject, but one that will always lead to a response in the heart of the genuine believer. “Be very scared” if there is no response in the teacher of these things, for their lack of response indicates they are fakes.

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD

[a] The attributes of God are not component parts like bricks in a wall.

[b] He is much more than the sum of the attributes that we see in Him.

[c] They are known through revelation. The sole source of knowledge about this is the Word of God.

[d] The character of God describes equally the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God is one in essence and three in person.

WHAT DO THESE CHARACTERISTICS MEAN TO ME?

There are three categories given which is the classical theological approach:‑

[a] Moral and Non Moral - self existence and infinity are non moral, Justice and holiness have moral impact.

[b] Absolute and Relative - Absolute deal with the essence of God as considered in itself such as eternity and infinity whilst Relative deal with his relationship with his creation such as righteousness, justice and truth.

[c] Incommunicable and communicable ‑ some things you can talk about and some you cannot. You cannot talk much about the concepts of infinity and eternity as we cannot conceive of such items for we are controlled and constrained in our very thinking by the limits of time and space.

This type of approach to the subject, which is theological and philosophical, may not be helpful from a practical point of view. In order for all to understand in the church you must understand it and approach it humbly and with worship as your end goal. Some scholars list 14 attributes, however its not about how many we can list, but knowing that the Lord has every wonderful attribute that we could ever think of and more.

Other examples of the characteristics of God’s character are; Eternity [EL], Freedom, Holiness [R+J], Immutability [U], Infinity, Love [L] , Omnipotence [AP], Omnipresence [E] , Omniscience [AK] , Righteousness [R] , Simplicity, Sovereignty [S], Truth [T] , Unity, .Freedom – means God is independent of His creatures and His creation Isaiah 40:13-14, Infinity – means that God has no bounds or limits by time or space Acts 17:24-28, Simplicity – means God is not a composite as we are, He is Spirit – John 4:24, Unity – means that there is one God who is indivisible. Deuteronomy 6:4 Ephesians 4:6

God is independent of his Creation and is free to use His free will in whatever way He chooses. We cannot put God in our debt which is the answer to legalism. This is why this study is important; it solves many theological issues by simple reflection on God’s character.

God does not change. Application - we can depend totally on Him.

Holiness is the standard of God which we need to attain as a believer to attain. Application - When you have to decide what is all right to do and what is not, ask the question.

Is it holy? Is there no hint of sin in it? Is this in accordance with the character and plan of God? Do not be concerned about teaching your congregation an odd long word which they may learn as a category such as omniscience rather than simply saying “all knowing”. They may remember that characteristic when they are in trouble as one of the three O's and be able to use it in a practical way. You “count it all joy” when in difficulty as you can apply this characteristic of God’s character to your problem. God is a spirit and not three things.

Sovereignty of God ‑ he is in charge but this does not blot out the free will of man. The Calvinists magnify this attribute above the others whilst the liberals magnify the love of God almost to a point of heresy. It is keeping all the characteristics of God’s character together that protects from doubts in daily pressure and heresy in theological thought.

The names of God, the Tetragrammaton, JHWH, often translated Jehovah (Latinized), but as the letter J does not appear in the Hebrew or Greek alphabets, it is incorrect and Yahweh is a nearer translation. The Jews however treated the Divine name with fear and would not to speak it out directly; it would seem that they took the command ‘Not Taking the Lord Gods name in Vain’ literally as prohibition for using Gods name and used the word “Adonai” instead. These gave additional characteristics and by going through the names of God you can impress the importance of the perfection of the characteristics of the Almighty God. In the N.T we have Theos, Kurios (Lord) and others.

We have seen that God is omnipresent but this has to be balanced by God as a personality otherwise we fall into pantheism that God is in everything which is an eastern religious concept. The Almighty supreme God ‘Is Holiness’ and that is what he requires. The mercy of God is also so important and includes the Grace and faithfulness of God. Always remember God is always faithful.

When all else fails God does not. We should realise that we are in the hands of the mighty God. Our God is not small, but He is the almighty BIG God over every situation.

The understanding of the holiness of God has to come before the love of God. Do not teach the character of God simply alphabetically.

The following table has been found by many to be a good way of remembering the Character of God.

CHARACTER OF GOD [NAMES]
CHARACTER OF GOD [LETTERS]

SOVEREIGN
ALL KNOWING
S
AK
RIGHTEOUSNESS
ALL POWERFUL
R
AP
JUSTICE
EVERYWHERE
J
E
LOVE
UNCHAGEABLE
L
U
ETERNAL LIFE
TRUTH
EL
T

DOCTRINES

CHARACTER OF GOD

1. Whilst God is three persons all three persons have exactly the same essence or character:
a) SOVEREIGNTY
The Father (Ephesians 1:11, Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 6:10, Hebrews 10:7, 9)
The Son (John 5:21, Revelation 19:16)
The Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:11, Hebrews 2:4)

b) RIGHTEOUSNESS
The Father (John 17:25)
The Son (Luke 1:35, Hebrews 7:26, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
The Holy Spirit

c) JUSTICE
The Father (Job 37:23, cf 8:3)
The Son (Acts 3:14, John 5:22, Revelation 19:11
The Holy Spirit (Nehemiah 9:20)

d) LOVE
The Father (John 3:16)
The Son (Ephesians 5:25, 1 John 3:16)
The Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11, 1 Corinthians 2:10)

e) ETERNAL LIFE
The Father (John 5:26)
The Son (Micah 5:2, cf John 1:1-2, 1 John 5:11
The Holy Spirit (Isaiah 48:16)

f) ALL-KNOWING
The Father (Hebrews 4:13, cf Matthew 11:27, 1 Peter 1:2)
The Son (John 18:4, cf Matthew 9:4, John 2:25, 1 Corinthians 4:5)
The Holy Holy Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2, 1 Corinthians 2:11)

g) EVERYWHERE
The Father (2 Chronicles 2:6)
The Son (Matthew 28:20, Ephesians 1:23)
The Holy Spirit (Psalm 139:7)

h) ALL-POWERFUL
The Father (Mark 14:36, 1 Peter 1:5)
The Son (Hebrews 1:3, Matthew 24:30, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Philippians 3:21)
The Holy Spirit (Romans 15:19)

i) UNCHANGEABLE
The Father (Hebrews 6:17, Psalm 33:11)
The Son (Hebrews 13:8)
The Holy Spirit (John 14:16)

j) TRUTH
The Father (John 7:28, John 17:3)
The Son (1 John 5:20, John 1:14, 14:6, Revelation 19:11)
The Holy Spirit (1 John 5:6, cf John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13)

GOD CARES FOR YOU

1. God knows.
a) Our sorrows. (Exodus 3:7)
b) Our devotions. (2 Chronicles 16:9)
c) Our thoughts. (Psalm 44:21)
d) Our foolishness. (Psalm 69:5)
e) Our frailties. (Psalm 103:14)
f) Our deeds. (Psalm 139:2)

g) Our words. (Psalm 139:4)
h) The composition of the universe. (Psalm 147:4)
i) All things. (Proverbs 15:3)
j) Our needs. (Matthew 6:32)
k) About animal creation. (Matthew 10:29)
l) Mankind. (Matthew 10:30)
m) What might or could have been. (Matthew 11:23)
n) His own. (John 10:14)
o) Past, present and future. (Acts 15:18)

2. God is able to...
a) Save forever those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ - Hebrews 7:25
b) Supply every need - 2 Corinthians 9:8
c) Deliver all who are tempted - Hebrews 2:18
d) Sustain the weak believer and make him stand - Romans 14:4
e) Keep us from falling and make us blameless - Jude 24, 25
f) Surpass all that we could ask or think - Ephesians 3:20
g) Raise us up in resurrection in the likeness of His Son - Hebrews 11:19

3. With God, all things are possible - Matthew 19:26

4. God is in control. Nothing will ever happen to you that you are not able to deal with. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

5. God's character is stable.
a) If God is for you who can be against you. (Romans 8:31-34)
b) No matter what happens God's love is stable. (Romans 8:35-39)

6. God's promises are secure for he is always with us. (Matthew 28:19-20, Jeremiah 1:19)

7. God's power is always the same:
a) He will always keep us. (John 10:29, 2 Timothy 1:12,)
b) God does not forget us or lose His power to keep. (Jude 24)
c) Even if we fall away from fellowship we still are saved. (2 Timothy 2:13)

8. God knew before time what we would need in time and has provided for the supply of all our needs. (Philippians 4:19, Hebrews 4:16, Ephesians 3:12)

9. God has the power to bless us. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

10. God is able to make all grace abound towards us. (Ephesians 3:20)
MIRACLES AND GOD’S CHARACTER

Miracles demonstrate the attributes of God:

1 The Sovereignty of God was illustrated in:-
a) The Lord's creative work of turning water into wine at Cana. (John 2:1-11)
b) His power when stilling the storm on Galilee. (Mark 4:35-41; Matthew 8:18)
c) The feeding of the 5000 and the 4000. (Mark 6:33-44; 8:1-9)
d) Walking on the water at Galilee. (Mark 6:47-52)
e) His arrest in Gethsemane. (John 18:6)

2. The Righteousness of God was illustrated in:
The Lord's transfiguration before the disciples on the mountain, when they saw the Holiness of God in the Lord displayed. (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36)

3. The Justice of God was illustrated in:
The cursing of the fig tree during the last week before the cross as a sign of His coming judgment upon unresponsive Israel (Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14, 20-26)

4. The Love of God was illustrated in:
All the healing ministries as the Lord's compassion flowed into action, even to the exhaustion of His humanity. While thirty-six specific miracles of the Lord are recorded, many thousands of healing miracles are passed over in a few isolated verses. (e.g. Matthew 9:35-36, 14:14, 15:30-31, 8:16-17 etc.)

5. The Eternal Life of God was illustrated in:
The great miracle of the resurrection of Christ.

6. The Omniscience of God was illustrated in:-
a his knowledge of where unseen shoals of fish were. (Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20, John 21:1-14)

b where the fish was with just enough money in its mouth to pay the required tax. (Matthew 17:24-27)
c the knowledge about Nathaniel and the woman at the well at Sychar also shows his omniscience. (John 1:45-51; 4:5-43)

7. The Omnipresence of God was illustrated in:
His ability to appear in various places many kilometres apart, demonstrating the truth of His promise to be with believers always. (Matthew 28:20)

8. The Omnipotence of God was illustrated in:
The raising of people such as Lazarus from the dead

9. The Immutability of God was illustrated in:
The repetition of the miracle of the draught of fishes both before and after the resurrection showing that His character and power were unchanged.

10. The Veracity of God was illustrated in:-
The healing of the Centurion's servant and also the Nobleman's son. The Lord said they were healed, and at that moment, many kilometres away, they were. (Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10, John 4:46-54)

11. The Grace of God was illustrated in:-
The healing of Malchus' ear in the garden on the night of the Lord's arrest (Luke 22:50). It was a testimony to His Grace that as he faced the horror of the cross, our Lord could still stoop and heal one of His captors. It is significant that the last recorded miracle performed by the Lord before the cross benefited an enemy, one who had come to arrest him.

THEOLOGY LESSON 9

The Trinity

Matthew 28:19
1 Corinthians 8:4-6
Names and Titles of God
Angel of Yahweh
Tri-unity

INTRODUCTION

In Matthew 28:19-20 at the Great Commission it is quite clear that the people are sent out in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit indicating that there are three personalities in the Godhead. There is therefore tri-unity or oneness of nature and purpose.

In many other passages in the Scriptures two or more members of the Godhead are mentioned as equal. Every cult in some way abrogates the Trinity. These cultic belief systems have been around since the first century.

Comprehension of the Trinty

It is quite difficult to comprehend the concept of three personalities and yet unity in the Godhead as it is a violation of our own intellect. Cultists will say that the Trinity does not make sense but this problem for the unbeliever is covered in 1 Corinthians 2:14 where the unbeliever cannot understand spiritual matters as they are spiritually discerned. Our perception of the mechanics of this is limited but we should not expect human logic alone to cope with this concept. We are creatures speaking of the creator and must accept the revelation provided.

It is important to note however that God has decided to reveal Himself to man in this way and that this is therefore the way in which he ought to be understood.

Trinity and unity have their own characteristics.

Trinity and Tri-unity

Trinity and unity have their own relationships in the Character of God. There is unity in character but trinity in personalities. As you go through the Bible where you have the character of God being expressed you have unity, where you have personalities dealing with mankind you have trinity. We can see the unity of the character of God in the different ways in which God has revealed Himself to man. In the case of trinity however we have to be careful with illustrations and concept as it is easy to go into heresy by taking it one step too far.

There are obviously many important reasons behind this. In eternity we will understand this fully, but here and now, as it has been revealed this way to us, we have the obligation to try our best to understand it’s significance for us. Trinity and unity have their corresponding words in the essence of God.

Unity ‑ essence or character; Trinity ‑ personality.

God is one in essence but revealed as three in person. This is especially true of times when one person of the Godhead is dealing with man. This doctrine actually assists us in understanding God.

In this subject we are introduced to the importance of theology. It is very important that the examples you use accurately reflect this doctrine otherwise some may be led astray. Both the Mormons and the Jehovah's Witnesses have a false view in this area and will confuse believers who are not well taught and have not thought this through thoroughly.

The word Trinity as such; is not found in the Bible, nor are other related doctrinal terms. Nevertheless the doctrine grows out of the Scriptures and therefore it is a Biblical teaching.

From the Scriptures we see that:‑[a] God is Spirit [b] God has manifested Himself to man at different times in different ways [c] The final manifestation through the Lord Jesus Christ is physical and visible [d] Man saw glimpses of God through all these manifestations.

There is a problem of comprehension as we are physical and God is spirit. We must worship God in spirit and in truth. We are to see this reality about our creator, Saviour, and lord through the means and terms in which it is revealed.

For example, the angel of the Lord is a clear manifestation of God and associated with God. There are many names of God, the two main ones being Elohim and Jehovah/Yahweh. Elohim is in the plural which shows unity and trinity. Often you will have singular and plural together in the same verse. The contribution of the New Testament is that whilst it does not contain specific reference to the tri-unity of God it does give a lot of evidence that points directly to the doctrine.

One Verse not to Use

It should be noted that it is clear from the evidence that we have that John did not write 1 John 5:7. This is important because if you want to talk about the trinity this is one verse you do not use. No Greek text has this verse in and it did not appear in versions prior to the fifteenth century. It has been inserted as a commentary. It entered the Vulgate, the Latin version of the Bible.

Erasmus in the fifteenth century left this verse out of the first edition of his Greek manuscript stating that it did not occur in any of the originals. He relented however and under pressure included it in the second and subsequent editions.

Verses in the New Testament

The prime passage for unity, trinity and tri-unity is Matthew 28:19, 20. Other key passages include Matthew 3:16‑17, John 10:30 and 2 Corinthians 13:14. In 1 Corinthians 8:4‑6 we have the unity of God maintained but the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ mentioned in the same language showing that they are equals.

Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who are growing do not tend to have general problems with the trinity. The people who have problems generally have problems with most doctrines, if they are saved at all.

Definitions:

"There is one only and true God but in the unity of the Godhead there are three co‑equal and co‑eternal persons, the same in substance but different in subsistence".

“There is one only and true God, but in the unity of the Godhead there are three coeternal and coequal Persons, the same in substance but different in subsistence”

There is one only and true God but in the unity of the Godhead there are three co‑equal and co‑eternal persons, the same in character but different in the work they do".

False Concepts

The theological perspective from where the Jehovah's Witnesses, Moslems and the Mormons are coming from is that the Father is said to have created the son (Jesus is a servant, a creation, not the creator) and therefore they are not co‑equal and co‑eternal. This is false. The second concept is one of “procession” where one sent the other, the Father sent the Son and the Son sent the Holy Spirit. They therefore say we do not have equality we have a hierarchy. This is not true from a Biblical basis when all the texts of the New Testament are compared with one another.

The Early Church

There were a number of people in the early church who had a Unitarian outlook.

The church in those times did not formulate any clear statement concerning the Trinity until the fourth century.

Theodotus of Byzantium about 210 viewed Jesus as a man who was given special powers by the Holy Spirit at His baptism. Another group at about the same time concluded that the Father was incarnated in the Son and suffered in the Son.

Arius [250-336] from Alexandria distinguished between the One Eternal God from the Son who was generated by the Father and thus had a beginning.

He was opposed by Athanasius who held to three persons in the Trinity of one essence.

It was as a result of controversy in the church that the teaching had to be clarified resulting in the Nicene Creed. In 381 at the Council of Constantinople this concept was given in its final form.

Practical Application

The practical outworking of the Trinity is demonstrated in various areas of practical doctrine

All persons of the Godhead are involved in Redemption - John 3:616, Revelation 13:8

Both the Son and the Spirit are involved in Revelation - John 1:18, 16:13

Fellowship with God can only be on the basis of fellowship in the Godhead. John 14:17

Priority without inferiority is seen in the proper relationship between men and women - 1 Corinthians 11:3

Prayer is seen to involve the Trinity with petitions addressed to the Father, in the power of the Spirit and through the Son. John 14:14, Ephesians 1:6, 2:18, 6:18

Baptism is in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit Matthew 28:19,20

DOCTRINES

NAMES AND TITLES OF GOD

1. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28: 19, 20) These titles emphasise the function of each member of the Trinity.
a) Father - the sovereign authority, who decreed the plan of salvation
b) Son - the obedient Son, who offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin according to the Father's will
c) Holy Spirit - the one who reveals the Son to mankind, thereby bringing honour and glory to Him

2. At the Lord's Baptism ‑ Matthew 3 where the Spirit descends, the Father speaking from heaven and the Son being baptised.

3. We have the Father sending the Son in John 3:16, in John 14‑17 we have the Son sending the Spirit.

4. We have the three fold titles of God Romans 5, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 1, Romans 15

5. The Holy Spirit is called God in Acts 5, 1 Corinthians 3 and called the Lord in 2 Corinthians 3:17.

6. The works of the Lord are ascribed to the Father John 17, the Holy Spirit responsible for the procreation of the Son Luke 1:35, 2:11; the Son doing the will of the Father John 8, 10, the Holy Spirit sustaining the Son. Matthew 18:28, John 3:34

7. The Trinity are involved in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ in the first advent. The death of the Lord Jesus Christ is the co operative work of the Trinity, the Father gives the son Romans 8:32, the Lord lays down his life John 10:18, the Holy Spirit empowers Him to offer Himself on the Cross Hebrews 9. On the Cross He addresses the other two members of the Trinity when He cried out "My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me?"

8. All three were involved in the resurrection

[a] the Father ‑ Colossians 2:12
[b] the Son as the person who was raised ‑ John 2:19, 10:18, 1 Peter 3:18
[c] The Holy Spirit was involved in His resurrection ‑ Romans 8:11 The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit will be involved in our resurrection.

9. The indwelling of the believer ‑ John 14:23, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit ‑ 1 Corinthians 6:19, we have the power in us ‑ Ephesians 4:6, the Lord in us ‑ Colossians 1:27

ANGEL OF YAHWEH

1. The Angel of Yahweh is identified as Yahweh (Genesis 16:7-13, 22:11-18, 31:11-13, Exodus 13:21 cf. 14:19, Judges 6:11-23).

2. The Angel of Yahweh is distinguished from Yahweh (Genesis 24:7, Exodus 23:20, 1 Chronicles 21:15-18, Zechariah 1:12-13).

3. The Angel of Yahweh is therefore a member of the Trinity - the same as Yahweh, but distinct from Yahweh.

4. God the Father and Holy Spirit cannot be seen by man face to face (Exodus 33:18-23; John 14:17).

5. Therefore, the Angel of Yahweh is the second Person of the Trinity: the pre-incarnate Lord Jesus Christ the Word/Logos.
a) Jesus Christ identifies Himself as Yahweh (I AM) (John 8:58)
b) The Lord Jesus Christ is the visible/manifest member of the Trinity (John 1:18, 6:46, 1 Timothy 6:15-16).

c) The Angel of Yahweh never appears after the Incarnation (John 1:18, 6:46, 1 Timothy 6:15, 16, 1 John 4:12)
d) Both the Angel of Yahweh and Jesus Christ are sent by Yahweh (the Father).

6. The Angel of Yahweh appeared only in the Old Testament.
a) He wrestled with Jacob. (Genesis 32:24-30)
b) He redeemed Jacob from all evil. (Genesis 48:16)
c) He spoke to Moses from the burning bush. (Exodus 3:2)
d) He protected Israel at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:19)
e) He prepared Israel for the Promised Land. (Exodus 23:20-23)
f) He reassured Joshua (Joshua 5:13-15)
g) He commissioned Gideon (Judges 6:11-23)
h) He ministered to Elijah. (1 Kings 19:5-7)
i) He saved Jerusalem from Sennacherib. (Isaiah 37:36)
j) He preserved Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego in the furnace. (Daniel 3:25)

TRINITY

1. There is one God. He has manifested Himself in three distinct personalities. (2 Samuel 23:1-3, Isaiah 48:16, Isaiah 63:7-10, Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:33, 2 Corinthians 13:14)

2. The oneness of God refers to the unity or sameness of character. All three members of the Trinity are equal (Philippians 2:6, Deuteronomy 6:4, Acts 17:29, Romans 1:20, Colossians 2:9), although they have different functions/purposes in relation to man.

3. The three members are distinguished according to their function in the plan of salvation (1 Peter 1:2-3)
a) The Father - the authority, who planned our salvation (Isaiah 14:27, John 4:34, 5:17, 12:44, 1 Corinthians 8:6a, Ephesians 3:11)
b) The Son - the obedient son, who was born as a man, died for our sins, and rose from the dead (John 4:34, 5:17, Hebrews 10:7)
c) The Holy Spirit - the ministering servant, who reveals the Son and sanctifies us (John 16:8-11).

4. The Word Logos also known as the Son was the only visible member of the Trinity. (John 1:18, 6:46, 1 Timothy 6:16, 1 John 4:12) He was revealed in the Old Testament in Christophonies (e.g. the Angel of Yahweh) and became flesh in the New Testament. (Exodus 3:14 cf. John 8:58; Psalm 10:16 cf. Revelation 11:15; Zechariah 14 cf. Revelation 19)

5. Evidences of the Trinity
a) Affirmed by the use of the title Elohim (plural, Gods) in the Old Testament and the plural pronoun "us" in (Genesis 1:26, 3:22, 11:7).
b) The worship of God we have repeated three times "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty (Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4)

c) The name (singular) of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit indicates Trinity. (Matthew 28:19-20)
d) The Lord's Baptism - the Spirit descends, the Father speaks from heaven and the Son is baptised. (Matthew 3)

6. Light is a good illustration of the Trinity. (1 John 1:5) Light is one, but has three elements.
a) Father - actinic light - that part of light which is invisible, nor felt.
b) Son - luminiferous - that part of light which is both seen and felt.
c) Spirit - calorific - that part of light which is not seen but felt.

TRINITY IN THE TITLES OF GOD

1. The three in one Matthew 28:19, 20,

2. The Lord's Baptism - Matthew 3:16-17 where the Spirit descends, the Father speaking from heaven and the Son being baptized.

3. We have the Father sending the Son in John 3:16, in John 14-17 we have the Son sending the Spirit.

4. We have the three fold titles of God Romans 5, 1 Corinthians 12: 4-6, Ephesians 1, Romans 15

5. The Holy Spirit is called God in Acts 5:1-5, 1 Corinthians 3 and called the Lord in 2 Corinthians 3:17.

6. The works of the Lord are ascribed to the Father John 17:1-5, the Holy Spirit responsible for the procreation of the Son Luke 1:35, 2:11; the Son doing the will of the Father John 8, 10, the Holy Spirit sustaining the Son. Matthew 18:28, John 3:34

7. The Trinity are involved in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ in the first advent. The death of the Lord Jesus Christ is the co operative work of the Trinity.
The Father gives the son Romans 8:32, the Lord lays down his life John 10:18, the Holy Spirit empowers Him to offer Himself on the Cross Hebrews 9:11-15.
On the Cross He addresses the other two members of the Trinity when He cried out "My God, My God why has thou forsaken me?"

8. All three were involved in the resurrection:
a) the Father - Colossians 2:12
b) the Son as the person who was raised - John 2:19, 10:18, 1 Peter 3:18
c) The Holy Spirit was involved in His resurrection - Romans 8:11. The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit will be involved in our resurrection.

9. The indwelling of the believer - John 14:23, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit - 1 Corinthians 6:19, we have the power in us - Ephesians 4:6, the Lord in us - Colossians 1:27