CHRISTOLOGY

2005

LESSON ONE

I. Introduction

A. “Christology” means “the study of Christ”. (Scaer, p. 10)

B. Christian Dogmatics, Volume II

By: Francis Pieper, D.D.

(Page references to this work unless otherwise noted).

C. Christology

By: David P. Scaer

Confessional Lutheran Dogmatics, Vol. VI.

Robert D. Preus, Editor

D. Other Resources as named in outlines.

II. The Importance of the Doctrine (p. 55)

A. Supreme importance

1. Rests on fact that God’s saving grace is not absolute.

2. i.e. is not founded on God’s power.

3. Rather, it has been gained by Christ.

B. Grace ( p.p. 7 et. seq.)

1. “Denotes God’s gracious disposition, which for Christ’s sake He cherishes in Himself toward sinful mankind,

2. and by which He in His heart, ‘before His inner forum’, does not charge man with their sins, but forgives them.”

3. Is declared and certified unto men in the Gospel.

4. Saving grace is grace in Christ.

a. For Christ’s sake.

b. Gained by His substitutional satisfaction.

5. Is universal grace.

6. Is serious and efficacious grace.

a. He puts His full power into the means of grace to effect His purpose.

b. His gracious will operates not only to generate faith, but is ever active to perfect and consummate faith.

c. Men can oppose and thwart the operation of His grace.

C. Doctrine of justification.

1. The central article of the Christian doctrine.

2. Is directly based on the “doctrine of Christ”.

3. i.e. on the doctrine of Christ’s theanthropic Person and theanthropic work.

4. Ro 3:23,24 (v24).

5. Ro 5:10.

D. Faith which justifies (“saving faith”)

1. Not any kind of belief.

2. Nor is its object Christ as:

a. A teacher of the Law.

b. Or the model of virtue.

c. Or the prophet “of the universal fatherhood of God”.

3. Accepts Jesus as:

a. “the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16).

b. “who gave Himself as a ransom for all”. (1Ti 2:6)

4. Perhaps, overemphasis on faith in doctrine of justification may in fact make faith and not Christ the most important component of our salvation.

a. Must not begin theology with faith and then argue necessity of Christology.

b. Sin and grace for a Christian must for the most part, be a discussion of God and man in Christ.

c. Scaer, p.1.

III. Division of the Doctrine ( p. 55 et. seq.)

A. Pieper retains “the old division” into three sections.

B. First, treat of the theanthropic Person of Christ.

C. Second, of the states of Christ, as Scripture teaches that Christ in His human nature appeared in a twofold state:

1. morphē doulou.

2. morphē Theou.

3. Php 2:6-11.

4. Lk 24:26.

D. Third, of the Office of Christ.

1. He not only taught the Law and exemplified it.

2. He also became the Redeemer of man.

a. By taking upon Himself man’s obligation to keep the Law (Gal 4:4-5).

b. And, by taking upon Himself man’s punishment for his transgression of the Law (Gal 3:13).

IV. Short Summary of the Doctrine (p. 57, et. seq.)

A. False assumption to say Church arrived at true knowledge of the Person of Christ only in the course of time.

1. Always known and believed in Christendom.

2. Clearly revealed in Scripture.

B. There are two natures in Christ.

1. Eternal Son became man.

a. Gal 4:4,5

b. Jn 1:1,2,14.

2. Church does not doubt the unity of the Person (Mt 16:13-17).

3. Church does not doubt the real communion of natures.

a. Col 2:9 – Fullness of God dwells in the human nature as in its body.

b. 1Co 2:8 – Lord of Glory was crucified.

c. This gives to the suffering and death of Christ its value.

(1) Ro 5:10.

(2) 1Jn 1:7.

4. Church believes that Christ was given, here in time, according to His human nature, omnipotence, omniscience, etc.

a. Mt 28:18.

b. Mt 11:27.

c. Jn 3:34,35.

5. Church performs His official acts as Prophet, Priest and King not beside, but in and through, the assumed human nature, i.e. according to both natures.