Christology: The Doctrine of Christ - PART V.

Posted : 23 Sep, 2011 04:32 PM

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Christology: The Doctrine of Christ by Dr. Tod Kennedy - PART V.

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.)

16. Ministry of Jesus Christ Today In Heaven. - Jesus Christ at the present time has a ministry in heaven for the church. As the high priest after the order of Melchizedek He prays for the believer, Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25. As the defense attorney He acts on our behalf when we sin, 1 John 2:1-2. He has also been placed in authority over all things even though waiting for the footstool victory. 1 Peter 3:22; Ephesians 1:21-22. Ministry to Israel a Savior, King, Judge.

17. Illustrations of the Relationship between Christ and the Church. - The Bible gives us a number of illustrations teaching the relationship between Christ and the church.

a. Christ is the head of the body, the church. As head of the body He is the authority, and life of the body. Believers are part of the body under His headship. 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 2:19.

b. Christ is the true vine and the church is the branches. Here the believer must abide in the vine to accomplish His purpose. The believer is totally dependent upon Jesus Christ for production in phase 2. John 15.

c. Christ is the chief cornerstone and the church is the building made up of living stones. Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone in the foundation. Everything must be anchored and properly oriented to Him. The building must grow based upon the specifications compatible to the chief cornerstone. If the building loosens up from the foundation it is weak, unsafe, and unusable. 1 Peter 2:4-5; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 3:5-11.

d. Christ is the high priest and we are the royal priesthood. Christ as the high priest is:

i. Author of salvation. He is the priest and the sacrifice. Under this concept we have redemption, propitiation, reconciliation.

ii. Exercises His priestly office by

1. Intercession, Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25.

2. Defense attorney, 1 John 2:1-2.

iii. Believers are priests, 1 Peter 2:5; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10.

e. Christ is the bridegroom and the church is His bride. 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-32; Revelation 19:6-8; Matthew 22:1-14; Luke 14:16-24p; Matthew 25:1-13. Marriage in Christ�s day followed the custom of:

i. The legal union. The parents agreed upon the marriage, they formed a contract, and the dowry was paid. This illustrates the acceptance of Christ as Savior. 2 Corinthians 11:2.

ii. The bridegroom and his friends go to the home of the bride as per Matthew 25:1-13. This illustrates Christ coming for His bride at the rapture.

iii. The marriage feast is for the guests. This occurs after the Second Advent and upon the earth. Israel is the invited guest plus invited gentiles. This follows the wedding which took place in heaven prior to the Second Advent. Revelation 19:6-8; Matthew 25:1-13; Matthew 22:1-14; Luke 14:16-24.

f. Christ is the shepherd and we are the sheep. John 10:15-16. He gives His life for the sheep, He calls the sheep, and they become one flock. He is the shepherd and overseer of our souls in 1 Peter 2:25 and 5:4. Jesus Christ provides, equips, protects, trains, disciplines, herd�s the sheep, the church.

18. The Rapture.- At the conclusion of the church age Jesus Christ will come to receive His bride the church in the air. This is called the Rapture of the Church. At this historical moment the church age saints will be changed and receive their resurrection bodies. It will be an instantaneous change. This applies to believers in Christ whether physically dead or alive. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; John 14:1-3

19. Judgment Seat of Christ.- Following the rapture of the church, Jesus Christ is the Judge at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Here the works of church age believers are evaluated. 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 3:9-15. The result of this judgment is the reward or loss of rewards to believers.

20. Christ the Bridegroom � the Church the Bride. Also following the rapture of the church a marriage will take place in heaven between the bridegroom, Christ, and the bride, the church. 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:25-33; Revelation 19:7-8.

21. Second Advent of Christ.- The second advent of Jesus Christ occurs at the end of the tribulation. He will visibly and physically return to the earth as the glorified God-Man. He returns as Judge, Conqueror, Savior, Deliverer, and King. (See Doctrine of the Second Advent.) Following the Second Advent Jesus Christ establishes His Millennial kingdom and rules one thousand years as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (See Doctrine of the Millennium) Matthew 24:27-30; Revelation 19:11-21; Zechariah 14:1-3; Matthew 24-25; Revelation 20.

22. Millennium and Post Millennial Events.- The Millennium and post-Millennial events end with Christ presenting the kingdom to the Father. At this point the eternal state begins. Jesus Christ continues to receive honor and glory throughout eternity. Isaiah 2, 1; Zechariah 14:9; Ezekiel 40-48; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Revelation 22:3.

f. Prophecies about His resurrection.

i. Psalm 16:10 with Acts 2:25-31. This Psalm is quoted by Peter in Acts and He says it refers to Christ.

ii. Isaiah 53:10

iii. Matthew 12:38-42; Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:9; Matthew 17:23; Matthew 20:19; Matthew 26:32; Matthew 27:63; Mark 8:31; Mark 9:9; Mark 9:31; Mark 10:32-34; Mark 14:58 Luke 9:22, 44; Luke 18:33; John 2:19-21.

g. Prophecies about Christ�s coming to earth. Psalm 2; Zechariah 12:10; 14:1-3.

h. Prophecies about the Millennial reign of Christ after the Second Advent. Isaiah 2; Isaiah 11; Psalm 72; Matthew 26:64; Luke 21:27; Revelation 20; Acts 1:11; then the eternal state in 1 Corinthians 15:24-28.

5. Immanuel � God with Us. The incarnation of Jesus Christ and fulfillment of the virgin conception prophecy of Isaiah 7:14. The redemptive line begins in Genesis 3:15. The place of birth is predicted in Micah 5:2.

a. Matthew 1:18-2:12. Matthew indicates the conception by the Holy Spirit, the virgin birth, His humanity and deity, the purpose for the birth = to save from sins, the place as a fulfillment of prophecy.

b. Luke 2:1-20. Gives the date, why they were in Bethlehem, the fact of the birth, the announcement by the angel. Immanuel, Jesus the Christ, became man at the incarnation. He was then qualified to be the mediator between God and man (Philippians 2:8; 1 Timothy 1:15 and 2:5-6). Notice the emphasis in Luke 2:10-11: the Savior, Christ the Lord.

c. Why did Immanuel come?

i. To save sinners, 1 Timothy 1:15.

ii. To be the sacrifice for sin, Hebrews 10:1-12.

iii. To be a priest forever, Hebrews 5:1-6.

iv. To destroy the works of Satan, 1 John 3:8.

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