Christology

CHRISTOLOGY

2005-2006

LESSON EIGHTEEN

I. The Prophetic Office of Christ (p. 334 et. seq.)

A. The Execution of the Prophetic Office in the State of Humiliation (p. 334 et. seq.)

1. In days of His flesh, He taught in Person, i.e. immediately.

2. In state of exaltation, He executes prophetic office through the ministry of the Gospel.

3. He is the only Prophet of His kind.

a. Superior to all others.

b. In Him, God Himself came into the flesh.

c. Heb 1:1.

4. He taught of His own divine knowledge.

a. Jn 3:31 compared to Jn 3:32.

b. Jn 1:18.

c. Jn 3:34 “not by measure”.

d. Essentially His per divine; communicated per human nature.

e. Moses: mediator of old, transitory covenant, directs people to Prophet ( Dt 18:15-19)

f. Jesus: Mediator of new, abiding covenant, but greater than Moses.

g. Heb 12:18-28.

5. His message

a. Christ Himself was the burden of His preaching.

b. Apostles also preached only Christ.

(1) 1Co 2:2.

(2) 2Co 4:5.

c. Salvation had come in His Person.

d. Jn 6:33,35,40,47.

6. Believing in Him.

a. As the One affixed to the Cross and thereby paid the ransom.

b. Mt. 20:28.

c. Jn 3:14,15.

d. The sacrificial death of Christ is the object of saving faith.

e. Jn 5:39,46.

7. He preached

a. Both Law and Gospel.

b. When proclaimed God’s wrath, He performed a “foreign work” by which He arrived at “His proper office”, the preaching of the Gospel of grace.

c. Lk 4:18-22.

d. Jn 1:17.

e. He preached no new laws.

f. Taught exactly what Moses taught.

g. Corrects only the perversions of Mosaic Law by the scribes.

8. Roman “evangelical counsels”

a. Invented the likes of celibacy and renunciation of private property.

b. Were invented in the interest of teaching that a man can do even more than fulfill God’s Law.

c. Salvation can be obtained “more easily and with greater certainty” (Catholic Encyclopedia, quoted on p. 338)

9. Arminians

a. Make Christ a new Law giver.

b. By defining justifying faith as the obedience which God has commanded.

10. All Semi-Pelagians and synergists

a. In effect make Christ a new Law giver.

b. For their faith is in part a human accomplishment.