Lesson 6: Christology, Who is Jesus Christ?

Transcription

1 Christology, Todd Atwood Page, 1 Lesson 6: Christology, Who is Jesus Christ? I. Definition and Description. A. The Greek word CHRISTOS refers to the Anointed One. B. Christ is the NT word for the OT references to the Messiah, which also means the Anointed One.. C. The -ology ending derives also from a Greek word, LOGOS, referring to the word, reason, study, explanation of a particular topic. D. Therefore, Christology is the study of the Promised Anointed Messiah of Scripture. II. The Importance of the Subject. A. There is not a word in the Bible which is extra cruem [ outside the cross ], which can be understood without reference to the cross. Martin Luther B. The Bible is the cradle wherein Christ is laid. Martin Luther C. Chalcedoneon Definition, AD It took the Church about 400 years after the Resurrection of Christ to properly define the Person of the Savior. 2. This task was completed with the greatest of care to eventuate in the Chalcedonean Definition of the Hypostatic Union of Christ. 3. THE CREED OF CHALCEDON states Following, then, the holy fathers, we unite in teaching all men to confess the one and only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. This selfsame one is perfect both in deity and also in humanness; this selfsame one is also actually God and actually man, with a rational soul and a body. He is of the same reality as we are ourselves as far as his human-ness is concerned; thus like us in all respects, sin only excepted. Before time began he was begotten of the Father, in respect of his deity, and now in these last days, for us and on behalf of our salvation, this selfsame one was born of Mary the virgin, who is God-bearer in respect of his human-ness. (Here is the meat of the statement of Hypostatic Union) We also teach that we apprehend this one and only Christ Son, Lord, only-begotten in two natures; without confusing the two natures, without transmuting one nature into the other, without dividing them into two separate categories, without contrasting them according to area or function.

2 Christology, Todd Atwood Page, 2 4. The distinctiveness of each nature is not nullified by the union. Instead, the properties of each nature are conserved and both natures concur in one person and in one hypostasis. They are not divided or cut into two prosopa (persons) but are together the one and only and only-begotten Logos of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus have the prophets of old testified; thus the Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us; thus the Symbol of the Fathers has handed down to us. III. IV. Presumed Doctrines. A. Authority of Scripture. The proper definition of Christ can only be found within the pages of Scripture. B. The Attributes of God. As Scripture defines God, and Christ is God, we must recognize those exact same attributes in Christ. C. The Trinity. God is three in person and one in essence. D. The Fall of Man. All of humanity is fallen, with the one exception of Christ. Therefore, as a requirement to redeem man, man s representative must be perfect man before God. This is the conundrum in which man finds himself as we enter into a study of our Savior. Christ as Creator. A. Heb 1:1-3 B. Col 1:15-17 C. Gen 1:3 the Word of God. V. Christ Predicted in Person and Work. A. Predicted Savior. 1. The seed of the woman. Gen 3:15 2. The seed of Abraham. Gen 12: The seed of Judah. Gen 49:10 B. The Angel of the Lord. C. Predicted Messiah. 1. The Son of David. 2 Sam 7. Psalm 2, 8, The Suffering Servant. Isa Son of Man, Dan 7. D. The Presence of God as the Shekinah Glory. Ex 40; Ezek 10, 43; Hag 2:1-9. VI. Christ in the Incarnation (First Advent). A. John 1: John 1:1 Ties Christ to Deity.

3 Christology, Todd Atwood Page, 3 2. John 1:3 Ties Christ to the Creator. 3. John 1:4-13 Ties Christ to the role of Savior. 4. John 1:14 Ties Christ to Humanity. 5. John 1:15-18 Ties Christ to Scripture. B. Matt 1:1-17 Genealogy of the King. C. Virgin Birth. 1. Fulfillment of Gen 3:15, the seed of the woman. 2. Matt 1:18-25 (specifically v20). 3. Luke 1:16-38 (specifically, v34-35). D. Impeccability. E. His Work on the Cross. F. His Resurrection. G. His Ascension and Session. H. His High Priesthood work at the right hand of God. Heb 4-10 VII. VIII. Christ in the Kingdom (Second Advent). A. The establishment of the Kingdom. B. His Reign. C. His Judgments. 1. General principle of Judgment, Rom 2:1-8. a) Judgment unto eternal life for good deeds, v7. b) Judgment unto wrath and indignation for bad deeds, v8. 2. The Judgment of all believers The Bema. 1 Cor 3: Cor 5: The Judgment of all unbelievers The Great White Throne, Rev 20. Bibliography. A. Atwood, Todd, Doctrine of Hypostatic Union and its Historical Development, taught in the Hebrews Series, Lessons 40-43, dated 1/19/10 2/9/10 at B. Chafer, Lewis Sperry, Systematic Theology, vol 1. Kregel Publications: Grand Rapids, Michigan pp C. Clough, Charles, Bible Framework Series, Part 5, Confrontation with the King, Lessons at D. Grudem, Wayne. Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings of the Christina Faith, ed. Jeff Purswell. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, Michigan See Part IV: The Doctrine of Christ, pp

4 Christology, Todd Atwood Page, 4 CLASS MANUSCRIPT I. Definition and Description. II. A. The Greek word CHRISTOS refers to the Anointed One. B. Christ is the NT word for the OT references to the Messiah, which also means the Anointed One.. C. The -ology ending derives also from a Greek word, LOGOS, referring to the word, reason, study, explanation of a particular topic. D. Therefore, Christology is the study of the Promised Anointed Messiah of Scripture. The Importance of the Subject. A. There is not a word in the Bible which is extra cruem (meaning outside the cross ), which can be understood without reference to the cross. MARTIN LUTHER B. The Bible is the cradle wherein Christ is laid. Martin Luther Well, if Luther is accurate in saying that nothing outside the cross is understood without the Cross and the Bible is essentially a wrapping for Christ, we are confronted with a daunting task to examine Christology in a one hour class. Needless to say, we will not cover all aspects of Christ. I will attempt to highlight the critical aspect of our Savior s person. And the way that we are going to do that is to go through the grand images of the Bible as they speak to Christ s person in a variety of ways. However, in order to do this there is no way to go through every passage in any detail. Therefore, I am going to have to rely upon your memory to pull out some of these storylines in your own mind. Obviously, if required record the passages and then ponder them on your own thinking of how Christ is portrayed in that reference. However, before we get to that part of the lesson, I want to present one last definition. C. Chalcedoneon Definition, AD The Church struggled over defining Christ in Biblical terms. In fact, it took the Church about 400 years after the Resurrection of Christ to properly define the Person of our Savior. 2. This task was completed with the greatest of care to eventuate in the Chalcedonean Definition of the Hypostatic Union of Christ. So, I want to read you the official church description of Christ, so that you fully recognize the difficulties involved.

5 III. Christology, Todd Atwood Page, 5 3. THE CREED OF CHALCEDON states Following, then, the holy fathers, we unite in teaching all men to confess the one and only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. This selfsame one is perfect both in deity and also in humanness; this selfsame one is also actually God and actually man, with a rational soul and a body. He is of the same reality as we are ourselves as far as his human-ness is concerned; thus like us in all respects, sin only excepted. Before time began he was begotten of the Father, in respect of his deity, and now in these last days, for us and on behalf of our salvation, this selfsame one was born of Mary the virgin, who is God-bearer in respect of his human-ness. (Here is the meat of the statement of Hypostatic Union) We also teach that we apprehend this one and only Christ Son, Lord, only-begotten in two natures; without confusing the two natures, without transmuting one nature into the other, without dividing them into two separate categories, without contrasting them according to area or function. The distinctiveness of each nature is not nullified by the union. Instead, the properties of each nature are conserved and both natures concur in one person and in one hypostasis. They are not divided or cut into two prosopa (persons) but are together the one and only and only-begotten Logos of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus have the prophets of old testified; thus the Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us; thus the Symbol of the Fathers has handed down to us. 4. That is a mouthful. That is how difficult it is to define the Lord Jesus Christ. But it is something necessary to understand. In fact, this is what we are studying at this time. I am going to break away from the actual Creed as it is rather academic. If you care for a blow by blow development of that Creed, I have listed a four hour series I did on that in the Bibliography. My method in this class is to run through the images of the Bible to develop a pictorial understanding of the Anointed One, the God-Man, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Presumed Doctrines. In order to get to a proper understanding of Christology, there are a few doctrines that we will not cover, but I will assume that you believe. In fact, they must be understood and properly accepted to come to a proper conclusion in this class.

6 Christology, Todd Atwood Page, 6 A. Authority of Scripture. The proper definition of Christ can only be found within the pages of Scripture. B. The Attributes of God. As Scripture defines God, and Christ is God, we must recognize those exact same attributes in Christ. C. The Trinity. God is three in person and one in essence. D. The Fall of Man. All of humanity is fallen, with the one exception of Christ. Therefore, as a requirement to redeem man, man s representative must be perfect man before God. This is the conundrum in which man finds himself as we enter into a study of our Savior. IV. Christ as Creator. A. Heb 1:1-3 Our first picture of Christ is as the Creator. Now in the initial chapter of Scripture, we may not recognize Him as the Creator initially but we have many passages that initialize our understanding of Christ as Creator. Hebrews 1:1 3 (NASB95) 1 God,..., 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. B. Col 1:15-17 Colossians 1:15 17 (NASB95) 15 He (Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. C. Gen 1 the Word of God. With those verses of orientation from the New Testament. Let s look at the first words of Scripture. Genesis 1:1 3 (NASB95) 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, Let there be light ; and there was light. In these first verses, we observe the power of God to create the universe. We observe the Spirit of God as the power to mold the universe. And we see the actual Word of God bring about the thoughts of God. These three verses bring the first insight into the Trinity. Christ is the Word of

7 Christology, Todd Atwood Page, 7 God, or the expression of God s mind into the universe which makes things happen. On each day of creation there is a statement of Then God said. In addition, we have a definitive statement on the Trinity in v26. Genesis 1:26 27 (NASB95) 26 Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Notice that the Trinitarian nature of God is reflected in the way He made mankind as individuals and as communal in marriage, male and female. Each individual bears the image of God. Each marriage bears the image of God. The point being in this passage, we observe the plural pronouns in God s speech indicating that there are more than one person communicating. Christ as the Word of God is the Second Person of the Trinity. Then in the next verse, the mission of man is given. Genesis 1:28 (NASB95) 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth. Man is to exercise dominion over the earth as the image of God. V. Christ Predicted in Person and Work. A. Predicted Savior. 1. The seed of the woman. Well, of course, we come to a problem in Gen 3. In the first seven verse of Gen 3, you have a record of the fall of man. Man rebelled against God. Specifically, Adam was given guardianship over the garden and Adam rebelled against God by eating the fruit of the forbidden tree. As all of the human race is descendant from Adam, to include Eve as she is flesh of his flesh, from his own rib, all of mankind fell with Adam. Every human being comes into this world fallen from his first moments of life. No baby is born truly innocent, as all are fallen due to the rebellion of Adam. However, immediately upon confession of that sin, God gives what is known as the protoevangelium. Genesis 3:15 (NASB95) 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.

8 Christology, Todd Atwood Page, 8 In this verse, we have the first statement of the gospel and the first description of who Christ is. He would somehow be the seed of the woman, a rather mysterious phrase. Women don t have seed, only men do. And He would be give a crushing blow to the serpent, but the serpent would crush His heal. Again, this is a mysterious statement. If a viper strikes a man s heal, is that not a killing blow? So, how would the seed of the woman defeat the serpent, sustain a poisonous strike on the heal and survive victorious? This is the first mystery of Christ. Yet, at the same time, this is the first statement of the gospel. The first response to this is found right here as well, with Adam. Genesis 3:20 21 (NASB95) 20 Now the man called his wife s name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living. 21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. With the very first death in universal history being, not man, but a substitute death for man, God has added the image of being clothed with a bloody substitute as part of salvation. Again, we have an image that hangs over the text that demands we seek further clarification. Adam did not die immediately, but a death was given immediately according to God s word in the garden. However, the substitutional sacrifice of the animal fulfilled God s demand for a death for disobedience after the Fall. And Adam lived another 900 years or so. However, if you note in Gen 5, each member of that genealogy has the statement and he died at the end of his description. Man would still die, but now has time for grace. The idea of the seed of the woman is then traced from Adam to Noah. And then after the flood the line of Noah is traced down to Abraham.. 2. The seed of Abraham. With Abraham we have an addition to the promise in Gen 12. Turn to that chapter, as the first few verses of that chapter give the first statement of the Abrahamic Covenant. The Abrahamic Covenant is the Salvation Covenant. With it we find many points on salvation. Genesis 12:1 3 (NASB95) 1 Now the LORD said to Abram, Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father s house, To the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.

9 Christology, Todd Atwood Page, 9 The three components of this covenant are the Land, the Seed and the Blessing. We will concentrate on the Seed, because the Seed of Abraham is a refinement of the promised Seed of the woman. With Abraham we have a greater record of salvation, and will develop a greater understanding of Christ. Therefore, let s push forward to Gen 22. This is the great chapter on the faith of Abraham. However, embedded in this chapter is a type of Christ exhibited by Isaac, who is the seed of Abraham, and therefore, the new picture of the Seed of the Woman. First of all recognize that this situation is one in which Isaac is an adult. He is at least in his 20 s. In fact, if I had to speculate, I believe Isaac was probably the same age as Jesus Christ when he went to Cross. That is my speculation, so don t run with it, but Isaac is likely in his mid 30 s in Gen 22. Look how Isaac is first described. Genesis 22:1 2 (NASB95) 1 Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, Abraham! And he said, Here I am. 2 He said, Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you. When we have an extended description of a person in a narrative, those additional descriptors are quite important to the text. The author could have just said Isaac as he is a known quantity by this time in the narrative. However, he is significantly called a couple of important names. He is first your son but not just that. He is called your only son. Now, remember Abraham also has had Ishmael as a son. But, Isaac is the Only Begotten Son. And here is where we have this connection being brought out. He is also called the son whom you love or we could say the Beloved Son. These titles if you will, will become quite important later in the text. Christ is the Only Begotten Son of the Father and the Beloved Son. Now, the location is Mt. Moriah, which becomes the location for the Temple mount. Genesis 22:6 (NASB95) 6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Notice that Isaac carried the wood up the mountain. This is the image of Christ carrying the wood of the cross up the same slopes.

10 Christology, Todd Atwood Page, 10 And then we have another of those really weird statements of Scripture in v8. Let s keep reading up to that point. Genesis 22:7 8 (NASB95) 7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, My father! And he said, Here I am, my son. And he said, Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering? 8 Abraham said, God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son. So the two of them walked on together. The phrase here is that the Lord would provide Himself the lamb for the burnt offering. This statement can be taken two ways. Either Himself is the lamb or the Lamb is for Himself. Well, in the church, we recognize that this statement can be taken both ways. God Himself is the one that is the sacrifice through the Messiah. AND God will provide a Lamb for Himself, also called the Lamb of God. Now, as the story works out, Isaac as a fallen human being also requires a substitutionary sacrifice. However, that substitutionary sacrifice takes on a new title the Lamb of God, the Only Begotten Son and the Beloved Son. 3. The seed of Judah. Moving forward now to the story of Joseph, we gain a new image of the Messiah. This time we have the association with the King. Turn to Gen 37. I want you just look at chapter headings. If you are familiar with the structure of Genesis, it is governed by ten or eleven sections called Toledoths, depending upon how you divide them. The last one begins in Gen 37, and if you look in v2, you will see the statement the records of the generations of Jacob. Well, long story short this is the Joseph story. If you remember the Joseph story, Joseph is sold by his brothers into slavery, is lied about by Potipher s wife, arrested and jailed, and then through an amazing turn around is placed essentially on the throne of Egypt second only to Pharaoh. Well embedded in this story is an amazing subplot to observe. The reason I brought you to Gen 37 is to show you the beginnings of the Joseph story. Then note this weird insertion of Judah s background story in chapter 38. And then we are back to Joseph in Gen 39. Now, I have heard Gen 38 called the X- rated chapter of the Bible, and for good reason. Judah is acting just like a Canaanite. He is a picture of the corruption of Israel and is an exemplar of all of the 12 sons of Jacob. Well, if you remember some of the story of Joseph, a famine hits. Joseph is the Prime Minister of Egypt by this time and through his insight into the future, Egypt prepares perfectly for the famine. Joseph s brothers come to Egypt to find food. Joseph essentially keeps Simeon as a hostage through setting the brothers up to look like thieves so that he can get them to bring his younger brother Benjamin to Egypt. Jacob says No, essentially sacrificing Simeon. However, the famine gets worse and have to return the next year. This time they bring Benjamin. Similar things happen. The brothers gather their food, set out to return to Canaan. Joseph sets up Benjamin this time as a thief, putting a golden cup in Benjamin s bag. When it is found, the Egyptians plan on keeping Benjamin.

11 Christology, Todd Atwood Page, 11 However at the end of this test, one of the brothers steps forward as a substitutionary sacrifice. That brother is the previously described scoundrel Judah. We have a very moving chapter in Gen 44. Let s turn to that chapter and observe a key point or two. Genesis 44:12 18 (NASB95) 12 He searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest, and the cup was found in Benjamin s sack. 13 Then they tore their clothes, and when each man loaded his donkey, they returned to the city. 14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him. 15 Joseph said to them, What is this deed that you have done? Do you not know that such a man as I can indeed practice divination? 16 So Judah said, What can we say to my lord? What can we speak? And how can we justify ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; behold, we are my lord s slaves, both we and the one in whose possession the cup has been found. 17 But he said, Far be it from me to do this. The man in whose possession the cup has been found, he shall be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father. 18 Then Judah approached him, and said, Oh my lord, may your servant please speak a word in my lord s ears, and do not be angry with your servant; for you are equal to Pharaoh. Then Judah recounts the whole incident, the conclusion of which begins in v32. Genesis 44:32 34 (NASB95) 32 For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, If I do not bring him back to you, then let me bear the blame before my father forever. 33 Now, therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. 34 For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me for fear that I see the evil that would overtake my father? And with this Joseph breaks down in tears and the family is reunited. Judah displays the character of giving himself, perhaps even in death, for the life of his brother and more importantly for the life of Israel. As a result, we have the next great refinement of the seed of the woman. Genesis 49:9 10 (NASB95) 9 Judah is a lion s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He couches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him up? 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. Embedded in the Joseph story is the picture of Messiah as King. Joseph is the great King who protects the family of Israel. And within that story Judah adopts that kingly image as he takes on the role of the substitutionary sacrifice. That leads to this new prophesy of the seed of the woman, which has become the seed of Abraham and now the seed of Judah. So, in Genesis we have up to this point the image of the Messiah which includes:

12 Christology, Todd Atwood Page, 12 The Word of God and Creator. The Seed of the Woman, hinting of the Virgin Birth. The substitutionary bloody sacrifice. The one who carries the wood up Mt. Moriah. The Kingly Ruler. B. The Angel of the Lord. Added to this we observe in the OT the person of the Angel of the Lord. The Angel of the Lord is a study in itself. He makes many appearances in a variety of settings. He is not adverse to being worshipped as God and is associated with the name YHWH, often in a very close context. In short, the Angel of the Lord is also the Second Member of the Trinity, the visible member of the Trinity Who executes the plan of God. In this capacity, He appears to Joshua as the Commander of the Armies of Israel. He makes Joshua His second in command. That encounter is found at the end of Joshua chapter 5 for a reference. This Angel of the Lord also regularly appears over the course of the book of Judges to empower, and instruct the Judges as to their task of freeing the people from oppression. While this is not equated with a Kingly function, this is certainly a demonstration of the ability to free people from oppression often within a military or judicial context. C. Predicted Messiah. 1. The Son of David. 2 Sam 7 Next we come to the next great prophesy of the Messiah, the Davidic Covenant. This is found in 2 Sam 7. Since this is a rather extended conversation between David and the Lord, we won t read this chapter due to time, let me summarize the added information. David wishes to build for the Lord a house which eventually turns into the Temple that Solomon builds. But, in this chapter there is a great play on words related to the word house. David wants to build a house for the Lord, but the Lord will build a house for David. David, of course, is talking about the Temple. The Lord is talking about a dynasty. As such, we have a greater refinement on the seed promise. The seed is now not only from the tribe of Judah, but is now going to be a Davidic King. He will be the new David, expanding the Kingdom of Israel to the extent described in the Land Promise to Abraham. The story of the King of Israel and the development of this promise is found in 1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Chronicles.

13 Christology, Todd Atwood Page, 13 But, for a final note on the Davidic King, let s turn to just a couple Psalms. Let s begin with Psalm 2. The Psalms have a several Psalms that are called Messianic Psalms. The reason is that they seemingly speak of David the King, but the scope of the Psalm extends beyond David. The best interpretation of this phenomena is to understand that the Psalm is speaking of the ultimate Davidic King, who is of course, Jesus Christ. Psalm 2. This is one of the more famous of the Messianic Psalms. In fact, many have this Psalm memorized. But, this Psalm gives a nice timeline from the First Advent, to the Ascension and Session of Christ, to the Second Advent, when He will return and destroy all opposition to His rule on earth. As such, the last three verses give a warning to all of the kings and judges of the earth as to the way that show respect to the Messiah. Next, turn to Psalm 8. In this Psalm we have reference to the mission of man. This psalm really goes back to the created purpose of man in Gen 1. The problem in this psalm is that man messed up this mission and failed. Therefore, as David ponders this amazing purpose of mankind, we are left with a conflict of thought as to how this will be fulfilled. Look at the heart of this psalm. Psalm 8:3 6 (NASB95) 3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; 4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! 6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, This psalm is quoted in Heb 2 as a reference to Jesus who fulfills the purpose of mankind as the perfect man. Therefore, the Messiah when He comes will end up fulfilling the purpose of man, which is to rule the earth as the image of God. Now, one more Psalm, Psalm 110. Up to this point, we have developed the image of the Messiah as the seed of the woman and the substitutionary sacrifice, dying for the sins of man. We have developed the image of the Messiah as King. We have one more image to develop. That is the Messiah as High Priest. Psalm 110 combines the image of King AND Priest together in one person. Psalm 110 (NASB95) A Psalm of David. 1 The LORD says to my Lord: Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet. 2 The LORD will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, Rule in the midst of Your enemies.

14 Christology, Todd Atwood Page, 14 3 Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power; In holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew. 4 The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek. 5 The Lord is at Your right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath. 6 He will judge among the nations, He will fill them with corpses, He will shatter the chief men over a broad country. 7 He will drink from the brook by the wayside; Therefore He will lift up His head. 2. The Suffering Servant. Isa 53 As the High Priest, the Messiah will have to offer a sacrifice for the people. In this light of the sacrifice turn to one of the greatest chapters of all of Scripture, Isa 53, which is probably entitled in your version as the chapter of the Suffering Servant. This chapter describes the work of the Messiah as the substitutionary sacrifice. While we don t have a direct reference to the High Priest here, we do have reference to the sacrifice which the High Priest offers. The central message of the book of Hebrews combines the person of the High Priest with the offering of Christ as the perfect sacrifice. If you care to study this chapter in detail you will certainly make connection to the gospel accounts of the Messiah s work on the Cross. The statements in this chapter are astonishing prophecies of Jesus work. So, without reading the whole chapter, let s begin reading in v10 Isaiah 53:10 12 (NASB95) 10 But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. 11 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors. This describes the effect of the work of the Messiah. D. The Presence of God as the Shekinah Glory, Ex 40; Ezek 10, 43; Hag 2:1-9. There is one other point that I should mention. Due to time, I am not going to give much explanation other than to give some references. In the OT we observe, the presence of the Lord, dwelling with the people. The location of the dwelling presence of the Lord was originally the Tabernacle. The parts of the Tabernacle all taught of the Messiah. That is another study all on its own. So, I have simply includes a reference to a series I taught on that subject, which was several hours.

15 Christology, Todd Atwood Page, 15 The summary of the references to the actual occupation of the Tabernacle and Temple are found in Ex 40, Ezek 10, 43; Hag 2:1-9. Now, let s turn to the gospels and the First Advent. VI. Christ in the Incarnation (First Advent). A. John 1:1-18. One of the greatest statements of Messiah in all of Scripture is found very succinctly in John 1, specifically vv John 1:1 Ties Christ to Deity. 2. John 1:3 Ties Christ to the Creator. John 1:1 3 (NASB95) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 3. John 1:4-13 Ties Christ to the role of Savior. 4. John 1:14 Ties Christ to Humanity. 5. John 1:15-18 Ties Christ to Scripture. John 1:15 18 (NASB95) 15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, This was He of whom I said, He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me. 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. Notice that title for Christ that we observe way back in Gen 22 and the Isaac sacrifice. Jesus is the Only Begotten God. Only Begotten is not a term of birth, as Isaac as the second son of Abraham. Only Begotten is a term of Inheritance. B. Matt 1:1-17 Genealogy of the King. C. Virgin Birth. 1. Fulfillment of Gen 3:15, the seed of the woman. 2. Matt 1:18-25 (specifically v20). 3. Luke 1:16-38 (specifically, v34-35). Luke 1:34 35 (NASB95) 34 Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I am a virgin? 35 The angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.

16 VII. Christology, Todd Atwood Page, 16 Now, I am going to just blow right through the rest of the gospels due to time. I think that most pastors spend a lot of time in this area of Scripture. So, again, I have to depend upon your own Bible knowledge to make connects. Ideally, after going through the OT picture of the Messiah, you can start to piece together the elements of the gospels that bring this out. John, as we read emphasizes His Deity. Matthew emphasizes the Messiah as King. Luke emphasizes His humanity. In His humanity we talk about His Impeccability. D. Impeccability. As a human being, Jesus was tempted, yet walked through that temptation without sin. As such he fulfills the role of the second Adam passing all tests without sin. E. His Work on the Cross. On the Cross, the Messiah provided the substitute sacrifice for all of humanity. Of course, there are many great doctrines that are related to the Savior s work on the Cross. 1. Redemption He purchased mankind through His work. 2. Reconciliation He stopped the war essentially. Through His work man is no longer the enemy of God. 3. Propitiation and Expiation He satisfied the Righteousness and Justice required by the Essence of God, and that satisfaction was to an infinite extent, since he was God. 1 John 2:2 (NASB95) 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. F. His Resurrection. This was the great verification of His Life. He was witnessed as resurrected by over 500 people on one occasion, and perhaps by 1,000 s over the 40 days after the resurrection. G. His Ascension and Session. This is the great verification of His work before God. As a human being, a resurrected human being, the Messiah entered the throne room of God. As such, the Father accepted a man permanently in His presence for the first time since the garden of Eden. This event validated the efficacy of Christ s work before God. H. His High Priesthood work at the right hand of God. Hebrews chapters Christ in the Kingdom (Second Advent). We come to the final point, the promised Messianic Kingdom.

17 Christology, Todd Atwood Page, 17 A. The establishment of the Kingdom. 1. Christ is laying the groundwork for the Kingdom in the Church Age, in the sense that he is building a population from which He will choose leaders of that kingdom and to whom He will disburse His rightful inheritance. When the Body of Christ is complete according to the timing of God the Father, He will return to reign bodily on the earth from a throne located on Mt. Zion, in Jerusalem. 2. The book of revelation describes the method that the Messiah will take His kingdom. He will take it by force. He will prepare the world for judgment over the course of seven years. He will then appear for a final assault at the end of those seven years and forcibly take control and establish He reign, imprisoning Satan and his demons, and reestablishing a stable universe for His reign. B. His Reign will be for 1,000 years according to Rev 20. C. His Judgments. One final point on the Messiah. He is not only King, Prophet and High Priest, but also the Judge of all. In this way, every human being is also judged by a human being. Of course, we need never lose site that the Messiah is perfect God, undiminished deity and therefore, His judgment will be in line with perfect righteousness. But, as the God-Man, we need to recognize that He did it before us, and therefore, no human being will have an excuse at His judgments. 1. General principle of Judgment, Rom 2:1-8. Romans 2:5 8 (NASB95) 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. a) Judgment unto eternal life for good deeds, v7. b) Judgment unto wrath and indignation for bad deeds, v8. 2. The Judgment of all believers The Bema. 1 Cor 3: Cor 5: The Judgment of all unbelievers The Great White Throne, Rev 20:11-15.