Christology: The Doctrine of Christ - PART IV.

Posted : 22 Sep, 2011 10:51 PM

Christology: The Doctrine of Christ by Dr. Tod Kennedy

b. Hypostatic union is the name or label for the biblical doctrine that Jesus Christ is God and man in one person forever. Philippians 2:5-11 makes this clear. Philippians 2:5 refers to Jesus Christ. Then verse 6 begins with �who� and refers to Jesus Christ. The passage goes on to say He is God and He is man. Verse 11 concludes the section by saying that everyone will confess that resurrected Jesus Christ is Lord. John 1:14 says �the word became flesh and lived among us.� John 10:30 records Jesus saying �I am the Father are one,� and He is speaking while a man. First Timothy 2:5 calls Jesus the mediator between God and man, and He must be God and man to be a true mediator. Revelation 19 shows Jesus returning to earth as a soldier king, and His name is The Word of God. There is no question that Jesus Christ is God and man in one person forever.

c. Impeccable (not able to be tempted) and peccable (able to be tempted) relate to the question, could Jesus, the man, really be tempted? Jesus Christ was tempted in His humanity, and His temptations were very real, but He never ever sinned. Because He was tempted in His humanity or human nature, He understands our weaknesses, temptations, and the spiritual battles that we go through (Matthew 4:1-12; Luke 1:36; Hebrews 4:15). But, Jesus Christ could not be tempted in His deity (James 1:13).

11. The Chronology of the Cross.

a. The authorities brought Jesus to Calvary, the place of crucifixion. They offered Him a wine like drink which He tasted and refused. This drink would have had a dulling sedative effect upon Him. He refused it so that He might clearly understand what He was to suffer�punishment for our sins (Matthew 27:33-34; Mark 15:22-23; Luke 23:33; John 19:17).

b. Jesus was crucified at 9 am between two thieves. The thieves were guilty of capital crimes. Jesus said �Father, forgive them.� This was His first loud statement (Matthew 27:35-38; Mark 15:24-28; Luke 23:33-38; John 19:18-24).

c. The chief priests, scribes, one thief, and the people mocked Jesus. They cast lots for His coat (Matthew 27:35-44; Mark 15:24-32; Luke 23:34-38; John 19:23-24).

d. One of the thieves believed in Christ. The Lord gave Him assurance of salvation. Jesus said "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." This was His second cry (Luke 23:39-43).

e. Christ made provision for John to take care of Mary. Jesus said "Woman, behold, your son!" This was His third cry (John 19:26-27).

f. At twelve noon darkness came on the earth; the Father judged Christ for our sins. This lasted until 3 pm. The judgment reached a peak when Christ, under the strain of judgment, cried out the fourth cry to God as the judge, not God as Father, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?" (Matthew 27:45-47; Mark 15:33-36; Luke 23:44)

g. Jesus Christ recognized that the judgment of the cross had been accomplished, therefore since He was thirsty, He took some sour wine to give some relief and fulfill scripture of Psalm 69:21. He cried "I am thirsty," the fifth cry (John 19:28-29).

h. Jesus Christ now said something so that all will know that He had completed His substitutionary work on the cross. He said �it is finished,� the sixth cry. This verb is the perfect passive indicative of teleo. Compare John 19:28. At this point He was physically alive. Teleo means to bring to an end, to finish, to carry out, to accomplish, to perform (John 19:30).

i. Christ at this point voluntarily separated His body from His soul and human spirit by physical death. He said �father, into thy hands I commend my spirit,� His seventh cry. Note that He now said Father, not God the judge. The judgment was over. The fellowship between Father and Son had resumed (Matthew 27:5; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:31-42).

j. After this the soldier stuck a spear in his dead body, they took him down and Joseph and Nicodemus buried him (Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:31-42).

k. During the time from the burial to the resurrection, the body of Jesus went to the grave, while the soul and spirit went to paradise and the presence of God the father (Luke 23:42, 46; Ephesians 4:9; 1 Peter 3:18-21; Luke 23:53).

12. Jesus arose from physical death on the third day. At the end of the three day period Christ arose from the dead. His human nature (soul and human spirit) joined His glorified resurrected body. This body was a new kind of body, a resurrection body, glorified humanity (Matthew 28; Luke 16.1-8; Luke 24; John 20; 1 Corinthians 15.4-20; Acts 7.55-56, and others). After the resurrection many people saw Jesus Christ. Paul says at least 500 people (1 Corinthians 15:6). These included the disciples, select women, and others (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20-21; 1 Corinthians 15). Paul, Stephen, and John saw Christ after He had ascended (Acts 7, 9, 22, 23, 26; 1 Corinthians 15:7; Revelation 1; Galatians 1).

a. His resurrection body is the first one in existence. Jesus� resurrection was a physical body yet not bound by present laws. His body was sinless.

b. People could see and feel and talk with Him. He could eat. He could move through walls and travel at miraculous speeds. People recognized Him. His body was flesh and bones (John 20:19-29; Luke 24:15, 30-43).

c. Our resurrection bodies will be the same kind of body as His resurrection body (Colossians 1:18; Revelation 1:5; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54).

13. One way to understand Christ�s death and the accomplishments of his death on the cross is to study the sin barrier between God and man and the removal of the sin barrier. Reconciliation is the entire work that Christ did; He removed the sin barrier between God and man. Substitution is the means by which He reconciled man to God. Before we look at the sin barrier, we should consider some biblical words that related to Christ�s work and what they mean.

a. The doctrine of the sin barrier is a separate study. I refer you to that.

b. Definitions help is understand and think through a subject. The following definitions about Jesus� death on the cross. They are taken from Jesus Christ Our Lord, by John F. Walvoord.

i. Expiation refers to the act of bearing a penalty for sin.

ii. Forgiveness is an act of God in which charges against a sinner are removed on the ground of proper satisfaction. Forgiveness has a judicial basis.

iii. Justice means a strict rendering of what is due in the form of either merited reward or punishment.

iv. Justification is the judicial act of God declaring one to be righteous by imputation of righteousness to Him. It is judicial.

v. Propitiation has in view the satisfaction of all God�s righteous demands for judgment on the sinner by the redemptive act of the death of Christ. God is propitiated, not mankind.

vi. Reconciliation is the act of God based upon the work of Christ whereby man is rendered savable. It is the removal of the barrier between God and man. Mankind is reconciled, not God.

vii. Redemption refers to the work of Christ on the cross toward sin. Christ purchased our freedom from the slave market of sin and set us free.

viii. Sanctification is the act of God setting apart someone or something to holy use. It may be positional, experiential, or ultimate.

ix. Substitution has reference to the death of Christ on behalf or in place of the sinner. Christ died as a Substitute for sinners on the cross accomplishing salvation for those who put their trust in Him.

14. Christ�s Ascension. After the resurrection and 40 days of ministry by Christ in His resurrection body, He ascended to the Father. This marked a turning point in the ministry of Christ (Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51; Acts 1.6-11). See Doctrine of Ascension and Session of Christ.

15. Ministry of Jesus Christ Today On Earth. Jesus Christ at the present time has a ministry on earth in the church. In His humanity He is seated at the right hand of the Father. In His omnipresent deity He indwells every believer, (John 14:20; John 15:5; John 17:23; Colossians 1:27). Furthermore, Paul prays that Christ will intimately dwell in the heart of the believer�the believer grows in Christ, Christ fellowships with the believer, and Christ�s character shows forth in the life of the believer (Ephesians 3:17.)

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