TheoDoc_d.Christology

- But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah... from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity (Micah 5:2).

- And now, glorify Thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was (Jn 17:5).

- In the beginning was the Word... (Jn 1:1a)

Notes

: The literal reading of 'was' in Jn 1:1a is 'In the beginning the Word was continually existing.'

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Christ's Deity

Jesus is God!

- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. .... And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us... (Jn 1:1,14a)

- For this cause therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He... was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God (Jn 5:18).

- [Jesus said] '…for unless you believe that I AM He, you shall die in your sins' (Jn 8:24).

Notes

: 'I AM' is uniquely God's Name (see Ex 3:14). (Note: The word 'He' is added in Jn 8:24 for clarity and is not in the original manuscripts, which is why it is italicized in Bibles.)

: Jesus is the second Person of the Trinity (Father, Son - Jesus, Holy Spirit).

: Jesus shares all the same attributes of God as the Father and the Holy Spirit.

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Christ Our Creator

Jesus created all things.

- All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being (Jn 1:3).

- For by Him all things were created... (Col 1:16a)

Jesus is presently upholding all things He created.

- And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together (Col 1:17).

- And He... upholds all things by the word of His power... (Heb 1:3b)

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Christ's Incarnation

Jesus, Who is God, took upon Himself human flesh.

- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. .... And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us... (Jn 1:1,14a)

- Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, "Sacrifice and offering Thou hast not desired, but a body Thou hast prepared for Me..." (Heb 10:5)

- For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form... (Col 2:9)

Notes

: Incarnation = in + carne (flesh).

: Incarnation is the what - Virgin Birth is the how.

False prophets, deceivers, and antichrists deny Jesus came in the flesh (1 Jn 4:1-3; 2 Jn 7-10).

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Christ's Miraculous Conception

Jesus was conceived of / by the Holy Spirit.

- ..."The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God..." (Lk 1:35)

- Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. .... ...an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit." [Joseph] ...kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son... (Mt 1:18,20,25a)

Notes

: Immaculate Conception does not refer to Jesus' conception but to the false teaching that Mary herself was conceived (and lived) sinless. This is false because she proclaimed God as her own Savior, proving she was a sinner needing a Savior (Lk 1:47; Rm 3:23).

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Christ's Virgin Birth

Mary (Hebrew: Miriam), a virgin, gave birth to Jesus.

This fulfilled the prophecy given through Isaiah:

- Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel (Is 7:14).

Notes

: Immanuel translated means 'God with us.' (Mt 1:23)

: The Virgin Birth is the means by which Christ became incarnate (took on human flesh).

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Christ's Humanity

Jesus took on (or added) a human nature to Himself.

- And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us... (Jn 1:14a).

- [Jesus said] "But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God..." (Jn 8:40)

- For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim 2:5).

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Christ's Hypostatic Union

Jesus was, is, and always will be the only Person ever to be fully God and fully man in one Person.

a. Jesus is God.

- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. .... And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us... (Jn 1:1,14a)

b. Jesus took on the nature of a man (by virtue of His incarnation).

- ...taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Php 2:7b-8).

Notes

: Theological Concept - Two Hypostases: two natures. Hypostatic Union is two natures in one Person: Jesus, fully God and fully man.

: There is no mingling of the two natures together, nor do the two natures blend into one new nature. There are two separate natures existing perfectly in the one Person, Jesus.

: Theological Term - Theanthropos (the God Man). Jesus is, was, and always will be the only One to ever be God and Man.

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Christ's Kenosis

Jesus 'emptied' Himself while on earth by taking on humanity, while remaining fully God. In doing this His glory was veiled and He did not exercise the full use of the attributes of God He possessed.

- ...emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men (Php 2:7).

- And now, glorify Thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was (Jn 17:5).

- [On a high mountain Jesus was transfigured before three of His disciples, His face shone like the sun and His garments became as white as light.] (Mt 17:1-2)

- But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone (Mt 24:36).

Notes

: Jesus remained fully God while on earth, never laying aside any of His essential Being or divine attributes.

- Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever (Heb 13:8).

: 'Emptied' here is used metaphorically, referring to God the Son humbling Himself by taking on the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

: Even so, while He was on earth there were glimpses of His veiled glory as on the Mount of Transfiguration.

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Christ's Subordination

Jesus, being fully God, placed Himself under the will of the Father while on earth.

- I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." (Jn 5:30)

- "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." (Jn 6:38)

- Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work." (Jn 4:34)

- ..."My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt." (Mt 26:39b)

Notes

Jesus' subordination to the Father is in role or function alone, not in Being or substance.

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Christ's Ministry

Jesus' ministry while on earth included a great many things, some of which are:

a. He revealed the Father to people, showing the Father to people.

- ...nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him (Mt 11:27b).

- Jesus said to him... he who has seen Me has seen the Father... (Jn 14:9b)

b. He taught His disciples and many others.

- And coming to His home town He began teaching them in their synagogue...(Mt 13:54)

- ...and all the multitude were coming to Him, and He was teaching (Mk 2:13).

c. He challenged wrong thinking, and wrong doing.

- You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me... (Jn 5:39)

- But Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures, or the power of God." (Mt 22:29)

- And Jesus entered the temple and cast out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves (Mt 21:12).

d. He performed many miracles, a few of which are:

- [Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding.] (Jn 2)

- [Jesus healed a demon-possessed man.] (Lk 4)

- [Jesus cleansed a leper.] (Mt 8)

- [Jesus calmed a storm.] (Lk 8)

- [Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.] (Jn 11)

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Christ's Temptation

Jesus was tempted in all things as we are.

- [Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness.] (Mt 4:1-11)

- For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin (Heb 4:15).

Notes

: Temptation, in and of itself, is not sin. Giving in and participating in the thing we are tempted in, is.

: God cannot be tempted by evil, in that He is not enticed and carried away by lust as we humans are, which then leads to our committing sin (Js 1:13b-14).

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Christ's Sinlessness

Jesus never sinned.

- [Jesus]...committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth (1 Pt 2:22).

- ... [Jesus] was tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin (Heb 4:15b).

- ...and in Him there is no sin (1 Jn 3:5b).

Notes

: Theological Term - Impeccability: Being holy God, and immutable (unchangeable), Jesus was impeccable, or unable to sin.

: Sin is birthed when one is enticed and carried away by their own lust (Js 1:14). This is an impossibility for Jesus, Who is God.

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Christ's Work Of Atonement

See Jesus Came...

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Christ's Death and Burial

Jesus died by crucifixion on Calvary 's Cross.

- And when they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left (Lk 23:33).

- ...this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death (Acts 2:23).

Jesus was buried in a tomb.

- Joseph took the body [of Jesus]... and laid it in his own new tomb... (Mt 27:59a-60a)

- And that He [Jesus] was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures... (1 Cor 15:4)

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Christ's Resurrection

Jesus was resurrected, raised from the dead.

- And that He [Jesus] was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures... (1 Cor 15:4)

- And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead (Mt 28:7).

Jesus was raised bodily from the dead.

- [Jesus prophesied His body would be raised again.] (Jn 2:19,21)

- "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." (Lk 24:39)

Notes

: That Jesus' body was raised from the dead soundly refutes He merely had a spirit body.

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Christ's Ascension

Jesus ascended back into heaven.

- So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven… (Mk 16:19a)

- And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight (Acts 1:9).

Notes

: Jesus will return the same way He left, coming back in the clouds (Acts 1:11).

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Christ's Present Work

Jesus' present work / Session in heaven includes:

a. sitting at the right hand of God

- ...and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places... (Eph 1:20b)

- ...but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God... (Heb 10:12)

b. mediating between us and God as our Advocate, interceding for us

- For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim 2:5).

- ...we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous... (1 Jn 2:1b)

- [Jesus] ...who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us (Rm 8:34b).

c. ruling and guiding the church as its Head

- And He put all things in subjection under His [Jesus] feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church... (Eph 1:22)

- He [Jesus] is also head of the body, the church... (Col 1:18a)

d. answering the prayers of His people, giving them help

- "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it." (Jn 14:14)

- [Jesus, our high priest sympathizes with us, so...] Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need (Heb 4:[15]16).

e. preparing a place for His people to be with Him forever

- "...for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (Jn 14:2c,3)

Notes

: Theological Term - Session: what Jesus is doing presently in heaven. (Some use this word 'Session' as another word for His present activities or ministry.)

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Christ's Second Coming / Return

Jesus is coming back one day soon!

- "And if I go... I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (Jn 14:3)

- And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory (Lk 21:27).

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Christ's Consummation of the Ages

See more about this in Eschatology. (under construction)

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