Apologetics Bethel Community University Pastor Brad Belcher Session 3 Apologetics - but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence 1 Peter 3:15 Axiom #4 - God has revealed Himself to us through: what He has in all of creation. His written to us the Scriptures. the of the Lord Jesus Christ. THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST I. The Preexistence of Christ. A. Christ has always as the Second Person of the Trinity. Genesis 1:1-3 John 1:1-3, 14 John 8:58 - ἐγώ εἰμί - ego eimi I am John 17:5 B. Problems: 1. Why does the Bible call Jesus the firstborn? (Colossians 1:15) Firstborn: The word firstborn refers to Christ s, not his origin. It means that Jesus Christ is higher than the Creation. This meaning is clear in Psalm 89:27. 2. Why does the Bible call Jesus only begotten? (John 3:16) Only begotten: The word only begotten refers to Christ s position, not his origin (like firstborn). It means that Christ is - there is no other like him. This meaning is clear in Hebrews 11:17. C. Important: If Christ is God, he must have existed, because God is eternal. II. JESUS CHRIST IS GOD A. He has God s attributes: 1. He is. (John 8:58; Exodus 3:14) 2. He is not by space. (Matthew 18:20)
3. His is unlimited. (Philippians 3:20-21; Hebrews 1:3) 4. His knowledge is. (John 4:29; 16:30; Colossians 2:3) 5. He never. (Hebrews 1:10-12; 13:8) B. He does things only God can do: 1. He forgives sins. (Mark 2:5-12) 2. He eternal life. (John 10:27-28) 3. He the dead. (John 5:28-29; 11:43-44) 4. He will judge every. (Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:22-23) 5. The Church is His, and He it. (Matthew 16:18) C. He permitted people to Him as God: John 9:35-37 John 20:26-29 Compare with Revelation 22:8-9 Important: This shows that Jesus Christ was either God, or He was a blasphemer and false prophet. It is not possible that Jesus was just a man or a good teacher. Lord, Liar, Lunatic. D. He that He is God. John 8:58-59; Exodus 3:14 John 10:30-33 E. His names are the of God. 1. God (John 1:1; 20:28; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:3) 2. Lord (Romans 10:13) - Compare with Joel 2:31-32 3. The Holy One (Acts 3:14) - Compare with Isaiah 1:4 4. The Son of God: Jesus Christ has a unique with the Father because Jesus Himself is also God. John 5:17-18; 10:33,36; 19:7 5. The First and the Last (Revelation 1:17) - Compare with Isaiah 44:6 6. I AM (John 8:58-59) - Compare with Exodus 3:14 III. JESUS CHRIST IS HUMAN A. His humanity is a. 1. The key word: Incarnation 2. The Incarnation of Christ: The Second Person of the Trinity became truly, yet He was without sin. John 1:1, 14 Philippians 2:5-8 Galatians 4:4 Hebrews 2:14
B. The method by which He became a man: the Virgin Birth 1. The fact of the Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38) 2. The Virgin Birth was necessary: a) If the virgin birth had not happened, a new would have come into being. b) If there would not have been a Virgin Birth, it is possible that Christ would have a sinful nature from Joseph (Luke 1:35) 3. The Virgin Birth was a. (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:34-35) C. The proofs of His humanity 1. He had a human body which and developed (Luke 2:52). 2. He experienced human. He ate He got tired He slept He grew He wept He was thirsty He bleed He was troubled of Spirit He died He sweat D. His humanity and his deity - The difficult question How is it possible that one person is both truly God and truly at the same time? Luke 8:22-25 Luke 8:42-48 E. His sinlessness and his humanity - Jesus Christ has a human nature, but he does not have a human nature. Luke 1:34 2 Corinthians 5:21 1 John 3:5 1 John 2:1 Revelation 12:10
IV. JESUS CHRIST S DEATH ON THE CROSS What was the purpose of his death? A. His death was a substitutionary. (2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24;3:18) Substitutionary death (of Christ): Christ died in the sinner s place. B. His death was (Romans 3:24; Galatians 4:4-5; 1 Peter 1:18-19) Redemption: The word redeem means to deliver by paying a certain price. In the Bible, man is viewed as a bondslave, being sold under sin, and under the judgment of death. Christ paid the price (his blood), to free humanity from the bondage and punishment of sin. C. His death was (Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2; 4:10) Propitiation: Satisfaction. Through his death Christ completely satisfied the just demands of a holy God for the judgment of sin. D. His Death was (Romans 5:10-11; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Colossians 1:20-22) Reconciliation: To change thoroughly. Through Christ s death the relationship between God and the world was changed. This means that now God can show grace where judgment would be deserved. E. His death was (Hebrews 10:11-14) Its meaning: Christ s death secured the complete removal of sin for us. V. THE RESURRECTION, ASCENSION, AND PRESENT MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST A. His Resurrection: 1. It is an historical. (1 Corinthians 15:4-8) 2. It was a physical resurrection in a body. (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:27) 3. The significance of the resurrection: The foundation of our! a) If He had not been raised (Romans 1:4) 1) He would have been a. (Romans 1:4) 2) The Gospel would not. ( 1 Corinthians 15:3-8) 3) We would be false and with no hope at all. (1 Corinthians 15:13-19) b) The Resurrection proved that 1) Jesus Christ is. (Romans 1:4) 2) That God accepted Christ s for our sins. (Romans 4:23-25)
3) That He will resurrect every. (2 Corinthians 4:14) 4) That he will the world. (Acts 17:31) B. His Ascension (Acts 1:1-3; 9-11) - After His resurrection, Christ went up to heaven, where he now sits at the Father s right hand. C. His Present Ministry: 1. He is the of the Church. (Matthew 16:18; I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:4; 11-16) 2. He is the believer s High. (Hebrews 4:14) a) Its meaning: High Priesthood of Christ: Christ sits at the Father s right hand and for us. (Hebrews 7:25) b) Its implications: 1) He can help us when it is necessary. (Hebrews 4:14-16) 2) He is our advocate whenever we sin. (1 john 2:1; Revelation 12:10) 3. He is preparing a for us. (John 14:1-3)