Christology

CHRISTOLOGY

2005-2006

LESSON TWENTY-TWO

I. The Sacerdotal Office of Christ in the State of Humiliation (con’d)

A. The Active Obedience of Christ (p. 372 et. seq.)

1. Christ’s fulfillment of the Law of God as sinners’ Substitute.

2. An essential part of vicarious satisfaction.

3. Divine justice required:

a. He bear the punishment (Gal 3:13).

b. Also, that He render perfect obedience (Gal 4:4,5).

4. Some have pushed His active obedience into background, or denied it directly.

a. They assert He suffered only what His “vocational obedience” required.

b. Contrast this with his obedience to the Law in our place.

5. F.C., S.D., III, 15 (Kolb and Wergert, p. 564; Tappert, p. 541)

a. Gal 4:4,5 (again)

(1) The Law which He fulfilled is the Law given to men.

(2) Not a reference to the “saving will of God” which sent Him.

(3) He was subjected to this Law and fulfilled it in order to redeem mankind.

6. His holy life is not merely our pattern, which it is under 1Pe 2:21.

7. Nor is it merely the prerequisite to His innocent suffering which it was under 1 Pe 1:18,19.

8. It was an integral part of the payment He made to a just God for our reconciliation.

9. This is of great practical importance!

10. Believers continually resort to His vicarious fulfillment of the Law.

B. Objections raised against making His active obedience a part of His vicarious satisfaction (p. 375, et. seq.)

1. Since He was true man, He was obligated to obey the Law for Himself.

a. Denies the personal union in Christ.

b. Since His human nature was taken into the Person of the Son of God, was as little under the Law as His Person is.

c. He was put by the Father, and put Himself, under the Law.

(1) Gal 4:4,5 (again)

(2) Ps 40:6-8 (quoted in Heb 10:5ff and applied to Jesus).

(3) Ro 5:18,19.

(4) He was, in His Person, above the Law! Mt 12:8.

2. Assertion that Scripture ascribes redemption to the shedding of His blood.

a. It does, but not exclusively.

b. Some passages (e.g. 1Pe 1:19; Col 1:14) place His “passive obedience” in foreground.

c. Others, however (e.g. Ro 5:18, 19; Ps 40:6-8) ascribes redemption to His “active obedience”.

d. Neither is exclusive.

3. Some argue the Law obligates either to obedience or to punishment.

a. i.e. God would be demanding too much to exact both from Christ.

b. Forsakes Scripture.

c. Does not even square with reason.

d. Payment of penalty does not restore to being “law abiding citizen”.

4. Final objection is made in the interest of morality.

a. If His obedience is applied to us, then we would no longer put ourselves to obedience.

b. Same argument, if valid, would have to apply His “passive obedience”.

c. i.e. Since He has paid penalty, hell no longer a cause for fear.

d. Argument ignores Scripture, e.g. Ro 6:2.