BTG Christology 2020 Reading
BTG Christology 2020 Reading
Gregory Brown
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Copyright © 2020 Gregory Brown
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Content
Preface…10
Introduction…12
Christ’s Preexistence and Deity…14
Christ’s Humanity…22
Christ’s Sinless Life…34
Christ’s Death…40
Christ’s Resurrection…48
Christ’s Ascension…56
Evidence for Christ’s Deity: His Teaching and His
Resurrection…64
Evidence for Christ’s Deity: Prophecy and Miracles…82
Typology of Christ…102
Appendix 1: Study Group Tips…126
Appendix 2: Reflection Questions…128
Appendix 3: Walking the Romans Road…130
Coming Soon…136
About the Author…138
Notes…140
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Preface
And entrust what you heard me say in the presence of
many others as witnesses to faithful people who will be
competent to teach others as well.
2 Timothy 2:2 (NET)
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Introduction
Now this is eternal life—that they know you, the only true
God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.
John 17:3
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Christ’s Preexistence and Deity
Scripture does not teach that Christ came into existence at his birth
or that he was a created being, as some errantly teach. He always
existed. Many Scriptures teach this: Micah 5:2 says, “As for you,
Bethlehem Ephrathah, seemingly insignificant among the clans of
Judah— from you a king will emerge who will rule over Israel on
my behalf, one whose origins are in the distant past.” Micah
predicted that the messiah would be born in Bethlehem and that he
would be the future king of Israel. However, Micah says that he had
existed from “the distant past” or “ancient times” (NIV). Isaiah 9:6
says, “For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us.
He shoulders responsibility and is called: Extraordinary Strategist,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah predicted
that a child would be born who would be called “Everlasting Father,”
which means that this person, though born in time, had existed
forever. In fact, Jesus said something similar about himself in John
8:58, which caused him to be mocked. He said, “… I tell you the
solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I am!” When
Christ said this, it was not just a reference to his preexistence, but
also his deity. When God introduced himself to Israel during their
slavery in Egypt, he introduced himself by the name “I Am” (Ex
3:14) and so did Christ. Christ has always existed, since he is God.
Christ’s Deity
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As mentioned, not only has Christ always existed, he has
eternally existed as God. This is the central aspect of Christ’s
person, which many have questioned, struggled with, and denied.
Certainly, his deity and eternality are hard to fathom. Yet, this is
exactly what Scripture teaches. The author of Hebrews gives God
the Father’s testimony about his Son in Hebrews 1:8, saying, “Your
throne, O God, is forever and ever, and a righteous scepter is the
scepter of your kingdom.” In the context, the author of Hebrews
argues for the greatness of Christ by comparing him to angels. He
does this by quoting God’s words about the Son in Psalm 45:6. God
the Father calls the Son, “God,” which God never said about an
angel.
In addition, John 1:1-3 says,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God
in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart
from him not one thing was created that has been created.
John gives Jesus the title, “the Word,” which means that Christ is
the communication of God—the way we get to know more about
God and his will. Then John says that “the Word” was “with God,”
“was fully God,” and also that the Word created all things. This is a
clear declaration of Christ’s deity.
Paul makes the same declaration about Christ in
Colossians 1:15-16:
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Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God, and he is the Creator
of the earth. When God the Father created the earth, he did it
through the Son and for the Son (Col 1:16).
Likewise, Peter said this about Jesus in 2 Peter 1:1, “From
Simeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who
through the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
have been granted a faith just as precious as ours.” Peter didn’t just
call Jesus, “Savior,” but also “God.”
Further evidence for Christ’s deity is the fact that Jesus’
contemporaries commonly called him “Lord.” When they did this,
they were employing a term (Kurios) that was used over 6,814
times in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament,
to refer to God.1 Wayne Grudem said this about the use of the term:
Distinct
Clearly, in this passage, God the Father is separate from the Son,
as God declares his pleasure in the Son. Also, the Holy Spirit is
distinct as he falls on the Son.
Unity
Application
How should we apply Christ’s preexistence and deity?
Since Jesus is eternally God (Is 9:6), we should worship and pray
to him, even as we do the other members of the Godhead. In John
14:14, Christ taught his disciples to pray to him when he said, “If
you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” Likewise, in
Revelation 22:17, the Spirit and the church pray to Christ, asking
him to return, and others are encouraged to pray the same way.
“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears
say: ‘Come!’” Finally, in Revelation 5:11-14, all the inhabitants of
heaven and earth worship Christ for his great sacrifice:
Since Christ died for us, delivering us from sin and death and giving
us his righteousness so we can dwell and rule with him, we should
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worship and serve him eternally—for he is worthy of all honor,
glory, and power! Thank you, Lord!
Reflection
1. What stood out most in the reading and why?
2. What are some common misconceptions about Christ’s
origin?
3. What are some support verses for the pre-existence of
Christ before his birth?
4. What are some support verses for Christ’s deity?
5. If somebody asked you to explain the Trinity, how would
you explain it?
6. Why should people worship and pray to Jesus? Use
Scripture to support.
7. What other questions or applications did you take from the
reading?
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Christ’s Humanity
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soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here
and keep watch with me.”
This is a mystery we will probably never fully understand
until we get to heaven. The merger of Christ’s two natures—his
deity and humanity—is often called the hypostatic union. Tony
Evans defined Christ’s hypostatic union as his “undiminished deity
and perfect humanity united forever in one person.”6 Incarnation is
a related term which refers to Christ becoming human.
The Incarnation
In considering the incarnation, we must ask, “How can
Jesus be both fully God and fully human?” A very important text on
this is Philippians 2:6-7. It says:
Paul here declares that Jesus “existed in the form of God,” which
simply refers to how Christ preexisted before the incarnation as
fully God and equal to God the Father in his deity. Yet, though he
was God, he did not consider equality with God something “to be
grasped” or held onto. Instead, he “emptied himself,” which is the
Greek word “kenosis.” Christ emptied himself in his incarnation, as
he took on human form.
What does it mean for Christ to empty himself in his
incarnation? There has been tremendous debate over this
throughout history. It can be unequivocally said that Christ did not
cease to be God or give up his deity in the incarnation. It is better
to think of “emptying himself” as Christ “pouring” his deity into a
human body during the incarnation.7 In this pouring, he limited the
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attributes of his deity temporarily. The New Living Translation
paraphrases “emptied himself” in Philippians 2:7, as “he gave up
his divine privileges.” For example:
1. In the incarnation, Christ put aside the full use of his divine
attributes.
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2. In the incarnation, Christ put aside his independent
freedom as God.
Christ said that he came from heaven not to do his will but
the Father’s will (John 6:38). In fact, Hebrews 5:8-9 says, “Although
he was a son, he learned obedience through the things he suffered.
And by being perfected in this way, he became the source of
eternal salvation to all who obey him.” How did Christ learn
obedience in his humanity? Even though Christ has always
submitted to the Father (1 Cor. 11:3), as a man, Christ learned
obedience to the Father in a way that he never did as God the Son.
Isaiah 50:4 gives us insight into this, as it describes the daily routine
of our Savior: “The sovereign LORD has given me the capacity to
be his spokesman, so that I know how to help the weary. He wakes
me up every morning; he makes me alert so I can listen attentively
as disciples do.” In his humanity, Christ was led like a human; he
sought the Lord daily for guidance and empowerment, even as we
do. As mentioned, we also see Christ’s daily dependence on God
in how the Holy Spirit led him after his baptism. Luke 4:1 says,
“Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River
and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness.” In this way, Christ
learned obedience. He gave up his independent freedom and was
led like a man—the perfect man, who was totally dependent upon
the Father.
With all this said, the union of Christ’s divine and human
natures in the incarnation helps us understand various
Christological paradoxes in Scripture. For example, in Christ’s
humanity, he could be separated from God on the cross (Matt
27:46), but in his deity, he could never be separated. Christ taught
that he and the Father were one (John 10:3, 17:21). In Christ’s
humanity, he was not omnipresent, as he was limited by space and
time (John 11:14-15); however, in his deity, he was present
everywhere, at all times. In Matthew 18:20, Christ said this to his
disciples, “For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am
there among them,” which reflects an aspect of Christ’s
omnipresence. In Christ’s humanity, he was not omniscient (John
2:24-25). He declared that he didn’t even know the time of his
coming (Matt 24:36). However, in Christ’s deity, he was omniscient,
knowing all things. In John 2:24-25, John said this about Christ,
“But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all
people. He did not need anyone to testify about man, for he knew
what was in man.” Certainly, the union of Christ’s divine and human
natures in the incarnation is a great mystery that demonstrates the
wisdom, power, and glory of God.
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The Necessity of the Incarnation
Why was the incarnation necessary? For several reasons:
An animal’s death could not pay for the sins of the world—
nor could an angel’s death. Christ had to become human to atone
for the sins of humanity, but Christ also had to be God for his
sacrifice to pay the penalty for all people. Consider the following
verses:
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Christ being our perfect model is amplified by the fact that
he limited the use of his divine attributes in the incarnation.
Otherwise, we might simply say, “Oh, Jesus is God, and therefore,
we can’t do this or that!” However, Christ had to wake up in the
morning to pray in order to discern God’s guidance (Is 50:4, Mk
1:35). He had to pray all night to discern which disciples to appoint
as his apostles (Lk 6:12-13). He had to fast for forty days to conquer
the devil and become empowered for his ministry (Lk 4:1-14).
Christ lived the perfect human life, so that we could model him.
It was God’s original plan for Adam to rule the earth with
his wife. In Genesis 1:28, God said this to Adam and Eve, “Be
fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it! Rule over the fish
of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves
on the ground.” However, when Adam sinned, he lost his
opportunity to rule as God intended. Hebrews 2:8 describes how it
was God’s original intention for humanity to rule but that presently
“all things” are not under man’s control. The writer says: “You put
all things under his control.’ For when he put all things under his
control, he left nothing outside of his control. At present we do not
yet see all things under his control.” Currently, all things are not
under humanity’s control, but through Christ, God’s original plan
will be fulfilled. Ephesians 1:22 says this in the context of Christ’s
resurrection and ascension, “God put all things under Christ’s feet,
and he gave him to the church as head over all things.” Also, in
Matthew 28:18, after his resurrection, Christ said, “All authority in
heaven and on earth has been given to me.” This rule will be fully
manifest when Christ returns to the earth, and as his body,
believers will rule with him (cf. Rom 8:17, Rev 3:21, Lk 19:17, 1 Cor
6:3).
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Application
Reflection
1. What stood out most in the reading and why?
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2. Why was it necessary for Christ to be fully God and fully
human (the hypostatic union)?
3. In what ways did Christ “empty himself” in his incarnation?
4. What are some ways that the incarnation can be applied
practically to daily life?
5. What other questions or applications did you take from the
reading?
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Christ’s Sinless Life
God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us,
so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21
And you know that Jesus was revealed to take away sins,
and in him there is no sin.
1 John 3:5
How can Christ be tempted in every way like us? There are
two primary views on this:
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There must be no weakening or obscuring of the saving
truth that the nature which God assumed in Christ is
identical with our nature as we see it in the light of Fall. If it
were otherwise, how could Christ be really like us? What
concern would we have with him? We stand before God
characterized by the Fall. God’s Son not only assumed our
nature but he entered the concrete form of our nature,
under which we stand before God as men damned and
lost.8
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Being the last Adam implies that Christ came like Adam
did—without a sinful nature. Where Adam fell when tempted by
Satan, Christ did not. Adam led his offspring into sin and death;
while Christ led his offspring (those who come to him in faith) into
righteousness and eternal life.
How did Christ avoid a sinful nature, though he was born
of a woman? Traditionally, it has often been said that since Christ
did not have a human father, he did not inherit a fallen nature.
However, humanity’s sin nature is inherited from being in Adam’s
line, which includes both mother and father. Scripture never
teaches that fathers pass on the sin nature and not mothers. Christ
not having a sin nature is probably best attributed to the fact that
the Holy Spirit shielded him from it at conception (Lk 1:35).
How then could Christ be tempted in “every way” like us
(Heb 4:15)? In “every way” would mean he was tempted by the
same temptations—like lust, anger, unbelief, and fear—though not
from the same avenues. He was tempted by Satan and the world
but not through the flesh. Either way, Christ’s experience of human
temptations makes him able to sympathize with us.
With that said, some find Christ’s ability to sympathize with
us incredulous. They say, “How can he sympathize with us if he
has never been tempted by the flesh or fallen to temptation—never
lied or been sinfully angry? How can he relate to us without those
experiences?”
Consider this illustration: Two Olympic powerlifters had to
deadlift a heavy weight over their head for five seconds. One
person lifted the weight but only for one second and then dropped
it. The second lifted the weight and held it for the complete five
seconds. If we were aspiring, competitive powerlifters, who would
we ask for help? Obviously, we would ask the person who held the
weight without dropping it. That is true of our Savior. Christ bore
the full weight of temptation without failing, and because he never
failed, he bore more temptation than any other human. Therefore,
he can not only sympathize with us but help us in our time of need.
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John MacArthur’s comments on this are helpful:
Reflection
1. What stood out most in the reading and why?
2. Why was it important for Christ to be sinless?
3. What are supports for Christ having a fallen nature but
never sinning?
4. What are supports for Christ having a nature like pre-fall
Adam but never sinning?
5. Which view do you think Scripture best supports?
6. What other questions or applications did you take from the
reading?
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Christ’s Death
and he himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not
only for our sins but also for the whole world.
1 John 2:2
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The limited atonement view is common among those from
reformed backgrounds such as Presbyterians and Reformed
Baptists. Again, this view helps answer the question, “How come
unbelievers go to hell if Christ paid for the sins of everyone?”
Proponents of this view see it guarding against a liberal view called
universalism, which teaches that everybody will ultimately go to
heaven, which clearly is not supported in Scripture (cf. Rev 20:11-
15).
With that said, the weakness of the limited atonement view
is that Scripture never says Christ did not die for all people. And,
there are many Scriptures that at least seem to indicate that Christ
died for every person and not just for those who would accept him.
Here are a few:
and he himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not
only for our sins but also for the whole world.
1 John 2:2
For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one
and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not
perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
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However, even though the righteous and ungodly have
always gone to separate places, many believe that before Christ’s
resurrection, those two places were separate sections in sheol. The
place for the righteous was called paradise (or Abraham’s side),
and the place for the ungodly was called hell. Between these two
places was a “great chasm” which no one could cross (Lk 16:26).
This great chasm indicated that after death, a person’s fate was
sealed and could not be changed.15 These two places in sheol are
referred to in Christ’s story about a poor man named Lazarus and
a rich man. In Luke 16:22-26, Christ said:
Now the poor man died and was carried by the angels to
Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.
And in hell, as he was in torment, he looked up and saw
Abraham far off with Lazarus at his side. So he called out,
‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to
dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
because I am in anguish in this fire.’ But Abraham said,
‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you received your
good things and Lazarus likewise bad things, but now he
is comforted here and you are in anguish. Besides all this,
a great chasm has been fixed between us, so that those
who want to cross over from here to you cannot do so, and
no one can cross from there to us.’
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Prodigal Son, gives credence that the story was an actual event,
including paradise being within sheol.
Further support that Christ went to the center of the earth
after his death is Ephesians 4:8-9:
Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the
unjust, to bring you to God, by being put to death in the
flesh but by being made alive in the spirit. In it he went and
preached to the spirits in prison, after they were
disobedient long ago when God patiently waited in the
days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. In the ark
a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water.
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Christ’s Resurrection
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Christ’s Resurrection Ensures Our Justification
In Romans 4:25 (NIV), Paul said this about Christ, “He was
delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our
justification.” Christ’s resurrection was basically a declaration of
God’s approval. It was a divine guarantee, a receipt of payment—
proving that God accepted Christ’s sacrifice for sin.19 Therefore,
those who trust in Christ are justified—meaning they are declared
righteous, as though they never sinned. Wayne Grudem said it this
way:
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Christ’s Resurrection Empowers Us to Conquer Sin
and Live Righteously
In Christ’s death, he paid the penalty for our sins and broke
the power of sin over our lives. But, through the resurrection, Christ
empowers us to live righteously. In Romans 6:4, 6, and 11-13, Paul
says:
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the
firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:20
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Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be
has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears
we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
1 John 3:1
Conclusion
Christ’s resurrection is crucial to our faith. Because of it,
we are born again, justified, sanctified, and glorified. Christ’s
resurrection power resides in believers, enabling them to conquer
sin and live righteously, and one day, through it, God will resurrect
and glorify our natural bodies (cf. Rom 8:11). Apart from Christ’s
resurrection, our faith is in vain and futile (1 Cor 15:14, 17). Thank
you, Lord, for the resurrection!
Reflection
1. What stood out most in the reading and why?
2. Why is Christ’s resurrection so important for our faith?
3. What are some applications of Christ’s resurrection for
Christian living?
4. What other questions or applications did you take from the
reading?
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Christ’s Ascension
After he had said this, while they were watching, he was
lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight. As they were
still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly two
men in white clothing stood near them and said, “Men of
Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky?
This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into
heaven will come back in the same way you saw him go
into heaven.”
Acts 1:9-11
Present Ministry
What is Christ’s present ministry in heaven?
For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says,
‘The Lord said to my lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make
your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ Therefore let all
the house of Israel know beyond a doubt that God has
made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.
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At the right hand of God, Christ awaits the time when God
will bring all into submission, as Christ’s enemies become his
“footstool” (Heb 10:13). This will ultimately happen at Christ’s return
when he judges those who reject him and rewards the faithful.
Christ said that the Father judged no one but had entrusted
judgment to Christ (John 5:22). Christ will judge unbelievers at the
great white throne of judgment (Rev 20:11-15) and believers at the
judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:21). Ultimately, every knee will
bow and every tongue will confess Christ as Lord (Phil 2:10-11).
Currently, Christ rules in the heavens as Lord until he returns to
rule on earth.
What else does Christ do in his present ministry?
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Application
How should Christ’s present, heavenly ministry encourage
us?
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3. Christ’s heavenly ministry should encourage us in our
ministry, as we understand the authority and power we
have in him.
Reflection
1. What stood out most in the reading and why?
2. What is Christ currently doing in heaven?
3. How should his current heavenly ministry affect our lives?
4. What other questions or applications did you take from the
reading?
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Jesus claimed to be equal with God, which was
blasphemous to Jews. Likewise, in John 10:30, he claimed that he
and the Father were one. His followers taught this also. In John 1:1-
3, John said:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God
in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart
from him not one thing was created that has been created.
The “Word” was John’s favorite name for Jesus. Jesus was
the very communication of God. He was with God in the beginning
and was God. He created the earth. Likewise, in 2 Peter 1:1, Peter
called Jesus “our God and Savior.” This is what separates Christ
from many other founders of religions such as Buddha and
Muhammad; he claimed to be God and his followers taught the
same.
Who was Jesus? Though Jesus taught that he was the Son
of God and died because of it and his disciples taught the same
and were persecuted for it, most today would not answer the
question the way they did. Like the early Jews, they would say
Jesus was a good man, a wise teacher, or a prophet but not God.
For example, a secular book published by Cambridge Press in
2013 called Who’s Bigger? ranked Jesus as the most significant
figure in all of human history by using quantitative analysis.25
Likewise, the Koran calls Jesus “the greatest above all in this world
and in the world to come” (Imran v. 45) and describes him as
“holy”—meaning without sin (Sura 19:19). However, when
considering these high praises written about Jesus, both fall short
of saying what Jesus and his followers said—that Jesus was God.
In this study, we will answer the question, “Was Jesus
God?” We will do this by considering several evidences that point
to his deity.
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Jesus’ Teachings as Evidence of His Deity
As mentioned, the most commonly accepted view of Jesus
is that he was simply a good man, moral teacher, or prophet from
God. Something we must then ask: “Are these common
conclusions about who Jesus was really feasible, considering all
that Jesus said and taught?” Let’s reflect on a few controversial
statements Jesus said:
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if he had a personal relationship with these criminals and they had
harmed him in some way, but the man doesn’t know these people
and hasn’t been harmed by them. Only a person hurt by another
can forgive his or her sins. Again, this would be strange.
However, this again mirrors something that Christ did. In
the Gospel of Mark, Jesus forgave the sins of a paralytic, which
angered the religious leaders who were watching. Mark 2:5-7
details this:
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What are other proofs that Jesus is God? One of the
greatest proofs is the historical evidence for Jesus’ resurrection. In
1 Corinthians 15:14, Paul said, “And if Christ has not been raised,
then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty.” Without the
resurrection, there is no Christian faith. It is the crux of Christianity.
What are evidences for Christ’s resurrection? Specifically,
there are documented eye-witness testimonies. It has often been
said that there is more historical evidence for Christ’s resurrection
than that Julius Caesar lived.26 In fact, Brooke Foss Westcott, a
British scholar who lived from 1825-1901, said this: “Indeed taking
all the evidence together, it is not too much to say that there is no
historic incident better or more variously supported than the
resurrection of Christ.”27 If we reject the evidence of Christ’s
resurrection, then we will have to reject much of what we know
about ancient history. We’ll consider evidences for the resurrection
below.
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rolled away the stone, and the guards ran away. Christ was no
longer present in the grave, but his clothes laid on the ground (Matt
28:1-10, Mk 16:1-8, Lk 24:1-8, John 20:1-18). The empty grave
was first found by some women followers, and then, they told
Christ’s disciples. To account for the missing body, the Pharisees
accused the disciples of stealing it and paid the guards a large sum
to remain quiet (Matt 28:11-15).
Since Christ, without a doubt, died and was buried, we
must ask the question, “Was there really an empty tomb?” This is
a fundamental question that must be answered affirmatively to
prove that Christ did in fact rise from the dead. We’ll consider a few
evidences below:
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him overtly. Though they believed in him, they were not willing to
die with him.
While the disciples served Christ, he spent a considerable
part of his ministry preparing them for his death. He told them that
he was going to die and be raised from the dead three days later
(John 2:19). He told them that the Jewish authorities were going to
put him to death (Matt 16:21) and warned that they would be
persecuted for following him (Matt 24:9). He even taught them that
to be his disciples, they had to be willing to take up their crosses—
being willing to die for their faith (Lk 14:27). However, when
everything Christ taught them happened, they fled. None were
willing to die with him.
With that said, this leads to one of the strongest evidences
for the resurrection. After Christ rose from the dead and appeared
to his apostles, each of the remaining eleven were willing to be
hated, beaten, jailed, exiled, and even die for their belief. Each of
the remaining eleven died for Christ—declaring that he had been
resurrected—with the exception of John, who spent the last part of
his life exiled on an island for prisoners because of his faith (Rev
1).
If the resurrection were not true and was simply made up,
one must ask, “Why would they die for something they knew was a
lie?” If the resurrection was false, surely somebody would have
broken and said, “OK, OK! We lied! We stole the body and hid him!”
But none did. Not only Peter, the head apostle, but also his wife
died for Christ. When his wife was being taken to be crucified, he
encouraged her with, “Remember the Lord!” And when it was his
time to die, he requested to be crucified upside down because he
didn’t deserve to die like Christ. From a historical perspective, the
apostle’s willingness to die for their belief in the resurrection means
that they truly believed it. The apostles suffering for their belief in
the resurrection is a strong proof that it really happened, especially
when considering that each of them fled or denied him while he
was still alive.
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Michael Green, Principal of St. John College, Nottingham,
said this:
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on the third day according to the scriptures, and that he
appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared
to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one
time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen
asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the
apostles.
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taught it. He believed Christians were perverting the true way to
salvation which came through the law, and not through faith in
Jesus Christ. When Stephen attempted to preach the gospel to the
Jews and was stoned for it, the Jews threw his clothes at Paul’s
feet (Acts 7:58, 8:1)—demonstrating his consent of their actions.
Later, Paul received permission from the Jewish authorities to
imprison anybody who professed Christ. However, while on his way
to Damascus, Paul had a vision of the resurrected Christ which
blinded him. Acts 9:3-5 describes this experience:
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Consider how drastic Paul’s change was: Not only did he
profess Christ who he previously hated, but he also began to love
Gentiles. Faithful Jews despised Gentiles. Jewish men commonly
prayed a morning blessing thanking God they were Jews and not
Gentile dogs, men and not women. But, after Paul’s conversion, he
was now the apostle to the Gentiles, spending his life on missionary
journeys throughout Asia and Europe, seeking to reach them. In
addition, Paul was considered the liberator of women. Most Jewish
teachers would not teach women, and some wouldn’t even look at
them, to prevent lust; however, Paul championed the teaching of
women and their dignity. In 1 Timothy 2:11, he says, “A woman
must learn quietly with all submissiveness.” This was radical during
those days. Paul the persecutor of Christians, the racist, and
misogynist now loved Jesus, Christians, Gentiles, and women!
Elias Andrews, a noted historian, said this:
But not only did Paul preach the resurrection, he also died
for it. Tradition says he was decapitated in his second Roman
imprisonment, around the mid-60s AD. His life is a tremendous
evidence for the resurrection.
In fact, a story about two professors at Oxford who were
initially antagonistic to Christianity shows the importance of Paul’s
conversion. As stated by Josh McDowell in his book, More than a
Carpenter:
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The Case of the Jews in Acts
Possibly, the strongest evidence for the resurrection is the
conversion of many of the Jews who convinced Pilate to murder
Christ. How is it possible that only weeks after Christ died, these
Jews became followers of Christ? In Acts 2, Peter proclaimed the
resurrection of the one they killed and called for their repentance
and 3,000 of them were converted. Consider the following verses:
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were devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2:41-42
Conclusion
How do we know Jesus is God? What are some
evidences?
Reflection
1. What stood out most in the reading and why?
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2. Why is it foolish to accept Jesus as a good man, wise
teacher, or prophet from God when considering what he
taught?
3. What are some historical evidences of Jesus’
resurrection? Which historical evidence is the strongest to
you and why?
4. What other questions and applications did you take from
the reading?
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Evidence for Christ’s Divinity:
Prophecy and Miracles
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proceeds to give more information: “This person will meet you at
baggage claim two. He has tan skin, brown eyes, and black hair.
He is pretty short and average looking. He will be wearing grey
sweats to be comfortable on his trip. The front of his hoody will say,
‘Everything is more fun in the Philippines!’ He was originally born
in Manila but is moving to Korea to attend college. His social
security number is xxxxxxx. His phone number is xxxxxxxx. His
email is xxxxxx.” We would think, “That’s pretty thorough! We
should be able to easily find this person!” Then, Susan adds that
this person will stand on the baggage claim and yell, “I am Susan’s
friend! I am the one you are looking for! I’m from the Philippines.
I’m here in Korea to go to college!” We would probably think, “Ok…
this is a little much.” Then Susan proceeds to give more
information…
I share that exaggeration to say, the Bible is very much like
that when giving details about the coming messiah. There are over
300 prophecies about Christ given in the Old Testament. All were
given at least 400 years before he was born—some thousands of
years before his birth. Thirty-three of these prophecies were fulfilled
on the day of his crucifixion.40
When Christ made himself known to the Jews in the
Gospels, consider what he said:
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In fact, even after Christ resurrected, he pointed his
disciples back to the Old Testament to encourage their faith in him.
Luke 24:25-27 says,
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In Genesis 3:15, the first gospel message is presented in
Scripture. After Adam and Eve sinned against God, God
pronounced the resulting curses and then promised that a male
offspring would come from the woman to defeat the serpent, the
devil. This serpent would strike the male offspring’s heel—referring
to a flesh wound—but the male would crush the serpent’s head—
referring to a fatal blow. On the cross, this cosmic battle happened.
Christ’s death on the cross pictured the male seed being bit. The
pain was short-lived as Christ rose from the dead three days later.
However, in Christ’s death and resurrection, he dealt a death blow
to Satan—he defeated him. Colossians 2:15 says, “Disarming the
rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them,
triumphing over them by the cross.” Likewise, 1 John 3:8 says,
“…For this purpose the Son of God was revealed: to destroy the
works of the devil.” The full outworking of this defeat won’t take
place until the end times when Christ throws Satan into the lake of
fire to be tormented forever (Rev 20:10). In addition, Christ will
remove the curse from the creation and renew the heavens and the
earth—making them a new heaven and earth (Rev 21). There will
be no evil, sorrow, or death there. The first prophecy was given
right after the first sin. A male seed would come to undo the evil
and chaos Satan had brought by tempting Adam and Eve to sin.
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35 tells the story, as Mary responds to a prophecy about this from
an angel:
Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I have not
had sexual relations with a man?” The angel replied, “The
Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most
High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born
will be holy; he will be called the Son of God.
1. The virgin birth was necessary for the uniting of the Divine
and human natures. Christ had to be human to die for
humanity, and he had to be God to pay for the sins of the
entire world. Christ’s humanity came through his mother,
and his deity came through the work of the Holy Spirit in
her womb. Hebrews 2:14 says,
When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will
raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons,
and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for
me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be to him a
father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my
steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was
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before you, but I will confirm him in my house and in my
kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established
forever.
Future Messiah?
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background is Daniel praying about the future of Israel (Dan 9:1-3)
when the angel, Gabriel, appears and shares with him about
Israel’s future, including the coming of the messiah. Consider verse
25:
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After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of
King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem
saying, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews?
For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship
him.” … “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they said, “for it is written
this way by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land
of Judah, are in no way least among the rulers of Judah,
for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my
people Israel.’”
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• His hands and feet would be pierced (Psalm 22:16).
• He would pray for his persecutors (Isaiah 53:12).
• His friends and family would stand afar off (Psalm 38:11).
• His garments would be divided and won by casting lots
(Psalm 22:18).
• He would be given gall and vinegar (Psalm 69:21).
• His bones would be left unbroken (Psalm 34:20).
• He would die for our sins (Isaiah 53: 4–6).
• His side would be pierced (Zech 12:10).
• He would be buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9).
Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to
suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for
sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the
will of the LORD will prosper in his hand
Isaiah 53:10 (NIV)
The Resurrection
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In John 2:19, Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and in three
days I will raise it up again.” As mentioned, there is no other ancient
event or person more supported by historical evidence. We have
more evidence for Christ’s resurrection than that Julius Caesar
even lived.
In Matthew 24:2, Jesus said this about the temple, “Do you
see all these things? I tell you the truth, not one stone will be left on
another. All will be torn down!” In AD 70, the Romans destroyed the
temple, almost forty years after Christ’s death.
Persecution of Believers
Antichrists
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Jesus answered them, “Watch out that no one misleads
you. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the
Christ,’ and they will mislead many.
Matthew 24:4-5
Now when John heard in prison about the deeds Christ had
done, he sent his disciples to ask a question: “Are you the
one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus
answered them, “Go tell John what you hear and see: The
blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf
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hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news
proclaimed to them.
Tell those who panic, “Be strong! Do not fear! Look, your
God comes to avenge! With divine retribution he comes to
deliver you.” Then blind eyes will open, deaf ears will hear.
Then the lame will leap like a deer, the mute tongue will
shout for joy; for water will flow in the desert, streams in
the wilderness.
Of course, Christ did not only open the eyes of the blind,
heal the lame and mute, he also calmed the storms, turned water
into wine, multiplied fish and bread to feed multitudes, and raised
the dead, among other things. Again, Christ constantly pointed to
these as evidence. Consider the following verses:
Well then, one must ask, “Is there any historical evidence
for these miracles?” Yes, there is. For example, in the Jewish
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Babylonian Talmud, which is a collection of Jewish Rabbinical
writings, it says:
Fazit
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3. Evidence for Jesus’ deity is fulfilled prophecy. Christ
fulfilled over 300 OT prophecies, including thirty-three on
the day of his crucifixion. If fulfilling prophecies were not
enough, we have the accuracy of his own prophecies,
including his own death and resurrection, the destruction
of the temple, the appearance of false messiah’s claiming
to be him, among other things, which testify to his deity.
Reflection
1. What stood out most in the reading and why?
2. How does fulfilled Bible prophecies (those about Christ
and those he gave) provide evidence for Christ’s deity and
also the validity of Scripture?
3. Why is the virgin birth important?
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4. Roughly, how many Old Testament prophecies were
fulfilled in Christ’s first coming?
5. How many Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled in
Christ on the day of his crucifixion?
6. What are some prophecies that Christ gave which have
already been fulfilled?
7. What other questions or applications did you take from the
reading?
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Typology of Christ
Not only does the Old Testament reveal the coming messiah
through prophecy, it also reveals him through typology. Typology
refers to historical people, places, objects, or events which
foreshadow Christ and his work in the Old Testament. Consider the
verses below, which speak of OT typology:
Adam
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Adam is a type of Christ. Adam was the leader of the world
who failed when tempted by the devil, leading the world into sin and
death. However, Christ, like Adam, was tempted by the devil but
succeeded and leads his followers to righteousness and eternal
life. Adam was simply an imperfect shadow of a coming perfect,
human ruler. Consider the following verses:
Yet death reigned from Adam until Moses even over those
who did not sin in the same way that Adam (who is a type
of the coming one) transgressed… For if, by the
transgression of the one man, death reigned through the
one, how much more will those who receive the
abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign
in life through the one, Jesus Christ!
Romans 5:14, 17
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life of the first Adam physically, they have the life of the last
Adam eternally, which is a better life.57
Abel
Abel is a type of Christ. Abel, the son of Adam, was
murdered by his older brother, Cain, simply for being righteous.
Likewise, Christ was murdered by his brethren, the Jews, for being
righteous. When God approached Cain about the murder in
Genesis 4:10-11, God said:
But the LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of
your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground!
So now, you are banished from the ground, which has
opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your
hand.
Noah’s Ark
Also, Noah’s ark is a type of Christ. In the same way that
God saved Noah’s family who entered the ark from the judgment
of the flood, God now saves all who are in Christ. All outside of
Christ will experience God’s eternal wrath. First Peter 3:20-21 says:
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after they were disobedient long ago when God patiently
waited in the days of Noah as an ark was being
constructed. In the ark a few, that is eight souls, were
delivered through water. And this prefigured baptism,
which now saves you—not the washing off of physical dirt
but the pledge of a good conscience to God—through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ,
For just as the body is one and yet has many members,
and all the members of the body—though many—are one
body, so too is Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized
into one body. Whether Jews or Greeks or slaves or free,
we were all made to drink of the one Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13
Melchizedek
Melchizedek was a king of Salem (an old name for
Jerusalem) and priest of Yahweh who met with Abraham in
Genesis 14. Abraham honored Melchizedek by paying tithes to him
(v. 20). One of the things that makes Melchizedek unique is that he
was a king and priest. In Israel, those roles were kept distinct. The
king was not a priest, and the priest was not a king. Kings were
supposed to come from the line of David and priests from the
Levitical line, through Aaron’s children.
In Hebrews 7, the author makes the argument that the New
Covenant is greater than the Old Covenant because it has a greater
priesthood. God promised that Christ would be a priest like
Melchizedek instead of a Levitical priest. The priesthood of
Melchizedek is greater than the Levitical priesthood for at least two
reasons: As mentioned, Abraham, who is the grandfather of Levi,
paid tithes to Melchizedek which shows how great Melchizedek
was (Heb 4:9). Also, because there is no record of Melchizedek’s
death, that means he has an eternal priesthood. Hebrews 7:3 says
this about him, “Without father, without mother, without genealogy,
he has neither beginning of days nor end of life but is like the son
of God, and he remains a priest for all time.” Priests typically
remained in office till death (Heb 7:23). Therefore, since there is no
record of Melchizedek’s death, technically, he remains a priest.
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Because of this, Melchizedek is a type of Christ—a priest and king,
with an eternal priesthood.
Jacob’s Ladder
Another type of Christ is Jacob’s ladder. In Genesis 28,
Jacob has a vision of a heavenly ladder with angels ascending to
heaven on it and descending to earth from it (v. 12). In John 1:50-
51, when Christ met with Nathaniel—who became one of the
original twelve disciples—he said this to him:
… “Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree, do
you believe? You will see greater things than these.” He
continued, “I tell all of you the solemn truth—you will see
heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and
descending on the Son of Man.”
Isaac
Though Isaac is never clearly called a type of Christ in
Scripture, many have seen the similarities as unmistakable. Isaac
was the child God promised to give Abraham. Isaac had a
miraculous birth when Abraham was 100 years old and Abraham’s
wife, Sara, was 90 years old. Abraham was called by God to
sacrifice Isaac; however, Isaac was miraculously delivered from
Abraham’s knife as God provided a ram in a thicket. The reason
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Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac was because he believed
God would raise him from the dead. Hebrews 11:17-19 says this:
Joseph
Likewise, Joseph is never clearly called a type of Christ,
but the similarities are many. Joseph was the favorite child of his
father, Jacob. He was hated by his brothers and sold into slavery
in Egypt. While a slave, he was eventually falsely accused by his
master’s wife and thrown into prison. While there, he interpreted
Pharaoh’s dream of seven years of plenty in the land and seven
years of famine. Because of that, Pharaoh promoted him to second
in command of Egypt in order to prepare the country to survive the
famine. Eventually, as second in command, Joseph also saves his
family, including the brothers who enslaved him, and other nations
from starving during the famine. God used the bad that happened
to him to save many lives.
What are some of the ways people have seen
unmistakable similarities with Christ? Here are a few:
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• He was a seed of Abraham whom the nations of the earth
were blessed through, even as Christ was (Gen 41:53-57;
cf. Gen 22:18).
• He was the beloved son of his father, even as Christ was
(John 3:16).
• He became a poor servant, even as Christ did (2 Cor 8:9).
• His brothers hated him because of his dream that one day
he would reign over them (37:4,8). The Jews hated Christ
and would not have him reign over them (Lk 19:14).
• The Jewish brothers would eventually bow down to
Joseph, even though they previously rejected and harmed
him. Likewise, Israel initially rejected Christ and killed him,
but one day they will submit to him and worship him as
their messiah (Zech 12:10, Rom 11:26-27).
• Joseph and Jesus were betrayed by their brothers (the
Jews) and sold for the price of a slave in pieces of silver
(Gen 37:28, Matt 26:15).
• Joseph was exalted to prince in Egypt. Everything was
under Joseph’s rule except Pharaoh. In Genesis 41:40,
Pharaoh said, " Only I, the king, will be greater than you."
Likewise, God has exalted Christ. First Corinthians 15:27
says, “For he has put everything in subjection under his
feet. But when it says ‘everything’ has been put in
subjection, it is clear that this does not include the one who
put everything in subjection to him.”
• Joseph was given a Gentile wife, an Egyptian. Christ has
been given a bride who is both Jew and Gentile, the church
(Eph 2:11-22, 5:25-26, Gal 3:28, Rev 19:7-8).
• Joseph wept over his brothers (Gen 45:2). Christ wept over
the sins of the Jews as well (Lk 19:41).
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• Joseph was a prophet that received messages from God.
Jesus was “the Prophet” (Deut 18:15, John 7:40, Acts
3:18-22).
• Joseph saved the lives of those who came to him for help,
including many nations in the world (Gen 41:57). Likewise,
Christ saves the lives of those who come to him for help
(John 3:16).
Moses
Moses is also a type of Christ. As God made Moses the
mediator of the Old Covenant, Christ is the mediator of the New
Covenant. Moses even prophesied that there would be a prophet
like him who would come that Israel must listen to. Deuteronomy
18:15-19 says:
The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me
from among you—from your fellow Israelites; you must
listen to him. This accords with what happened at Horeb in
the day of the assembly. You asked the LORD your God:
“Please do not make us hear the voice of the LORD our God
any more or see this great fire any more lest we die.” The
LORD then said to me, “What they have said is good. I will
raise up a prophet like you for them from among their fellow
Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth and he will speak
to them whatever I command. I will personally hold
responsible anyone who then pays no attention to the
words that prophet speaks in my name.
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Since “the Prophet” became a messianic title, the Jews
were waiting for him and recognized Christ as that prophet.
Consider the following verses:
Now when the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus
performed, they began to say to one another, “This is
certainly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
John 6:14
Passover Lamb
The Jewish Passover lamb is also a type of Christ. While
Israel was in Egypt, God judged the Egyptians by killing their
firstborns. The Jews were passed over as long as they had the
blood of a lamb sprinkled on their doorposts (Ex 12:3-14). During
the Passover ceremony, they would not eat yeast, but would
cleanse their house of it, which was a picture of getting rid of sin.
Likewise, Paul said that Christ is our Passover lamb who has been
slain to deliver us from God’s judgment. Therefore, we should also
get rid of yeast in our lives and churches—referring to sin. First
Corinthians 5:7 says: “Clean out the old yeast so that you may be
a new batch of dough—you are, in fact, without yeast. For Christ,
our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”
Manna
God sending manna from heaven to sustain Israel in the
wilderness is also a type of Christ. In Exodus 16, the Israelites
complained to God because they lacked food while traveling in the
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wilderness. So God gave them manna from heaven to eat, which
was a type of bread. Likewise, while Christ was speaking to the
Jews about their need to believe in him, they asked for a sign from
God, just like their fathers received manna from God in the
wilderness. Christ simply responded that he was the bread from
heaven—declaring that God sending manna from heaven to satisfy
his people in the wilderness was always a picture of him. In the
same way God gave the Israelites bread to deliver them from
hunger and preserve their lives, God gave Christ, as bread from
heaven, to satisfy and save all who believe in him. John 6:30-35
says:
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them, God told Moses to raise a bronze snake on a pole, and when
the Israelites looked at the snake, they would be healed. In John
3:14-15, Christ compared himself to the bronze snake. He said,
“Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the
Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may
have eternal life.” The bronze snake was always a picture of Christ.
In the world, people are dying from the deadly poison of sin;
however, when they put their faith in Christ who died on the cross
for their sins, they will be saved.
High Priest
The high priest in the Old Covenant is also a type of Christ.
In the Old Covenant, God established priests to mediate between
the people and God. They would pray for the people, offer
sacrifices for them, and minister to God on their behalf. Among the
priests, there was a high priest, who once a year would go into the
inner sanctuary of the temple to offer an atoning sacrifice for sins.
Scripture says that Christ is our high priest—our mediator between
us and God. However, unlike regular high priests, he is a perfect
priest in that he has never sinned, and he will live forever. Consider
the below verses:
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those priests do, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins
and then for the sins of the people, since he did this in
offering himself once for all.
Hebrews 7:26-27
Tabernacle
The tabernacle is a type of Christ. While Moses was
leading Israel in the wilderness, God had them make a tabernacle,
which was a portable tent, where God would come down to meet
with his people. John the apostle called Christ our tabernacle. In
John 1:14, he says, “Now the Word became flesh and took up
residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and
only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.” The phrase
“took up residence” or “dwelt” (ESV) in the Greek actually means
“tabernacled.”58 Where God’s presence came down to the
tabernacle to meet with Israel in the Old Testament, in Christ, God
came down to meet with his people.
The Veil
The veil in the tabernacle and temple was a type of Christ.
In the inner sanctuary of the tabernacle and temple (often called
the Holy of Holies or the Most Holy Place), there was a veil which
separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the sanctuary. The
Holy of Holies was where God’s presence dwelled. Once a year on
the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter through the veil
to offer sacrifices for sins. However, when Christ died on the cross,
the veil in the temple was split—symbolizing how the hindrance into
God’s presence was removed. The writer of Hebrews says that now
Christ’s body is our veil (or “curtain”)—his body is our doorway into
the presence of God. Hebrews 10:19-20 says, “Therefore, brothers
and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the
blood of Jesus, by the fresh and living way that he inaugurated for
us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh.”
Mercy Seat
Another type of Christ in the Old Testament is the “mercy
seat,” which was located in the Holy of Holies, within the tabernacle
and temple. Romans 3:25 says this about Christ,
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Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I
will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me,
because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find
rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my
load is not hard to carry.
Cities of Refuge
The Old Testament cities of refuge were a type of Christ.
In the Mosaic Law, the Lord set aside six cities of refuge for people
to run to when they had committed murder, whether on accident or
on purpose. Since God had initiated the law of capital punishment
for murder (Gen 9:6), he allowed those who were accused of
murder to flee to the cities of refuge to escape the avenger of blood
(usually a family member) and to have a fair trial. The verses below
describe this:
Now from these towns that you will give to the Levites you
must select six towns of refuge to which a person who has
killed someone may flee. And you must give them forty-two
other towns.
Numbers 35:6
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have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set
before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of
the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the
curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our
behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order
of Melchizedek.
The Rock
In 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, Paul said this to the Corinthians:
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ultimately supplied the water and that the rock Moses struck
pictured the water’s origin—Christ.59 In fact, Jewish legend said
that the initial rock that Moses struck followed Israel throughout
their journey, supplying water for them.60 John MacArthur’s
comments on this are helpful:
David
David is a type of Christ. Scripture teaches that Christ is
the prophesied Son of David who will one day rule on his father’s
throne over Israel and the world. However, sometimes in Scripture,
Jesus is simply called David. For example, Ezekiel 37:24 says, “My
servant David will be king over them; there will be one shepherd for
all of them. They will follow my regulations and carefully observe
my statutes.” Because of this language, some people actually
believe God will resurrect David to rule over Israel in the millennial
kingdom (Rev 20). However, it seems that God is just using the
name David to refer to the messiah, the Son of David. Jeremiah
23:5-6 says this:
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descendant of David. He will rule over them with wisdom
and understanding and will do what is just and right in the
land. Under his rule Judah will enjoy safety and Israel will
live in security. This is the name he will go by: ‘The LORD
has provided us with justice.’
Solomon
Solomon also is a type of Christ. In 1 Chronicles 17:11-14
(ESV), God made a covenant with David that he would have a son
who would build God a house and have an everlasting rule. It says:
When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will
raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons,
and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for
me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be to him a
father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my
steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was
before you, but I will confirm him in my house and in my
kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established
forever.
Solomon, David’s son, did build the temple for God to dwell
in. However, Solomon died, just like his father, David, did. Solomon
only partially fulfilled God’s promise. It is ultimately fulfilled in
Christ—a future son of David. Christ also built God a house. Many
have seen this fulfilled in at least two ways. (1) Christ built God a
house by building the universal church, which is called the temple
of God. In 1 Corinthians 3:16, Paul says this to the church, “Do you
not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in
you?” Also, in 1 Peter 2:5, Peter says this to believers, “you
yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be
a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable
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to God through Jesus Christ.” (2) But many also believe that Christ
will one day build a future physical temple, even as Solomon did in
his day. In Ezekiel 40-43, Ezekiel prophesies about the dimensions
of a magnificent temple that has never yet been built, which many
believe will exist during Christ’s millennial reign on the earth (Rev
20).
Jonah
Jonah also was a type of Christ. When Jonah was in the
big fish for three days and nights and then spit up onto dry land,
that was a picture of Christ being in the earth for three days and
nights and then resurrecting. In Matthew 12:38-41, Christ said this:
Israel
The final typology of Christ we will consider is the nation of
Israel. Matthew 2:14-15 pictures Israel as a type of Christ. It says:
Then he got up, took the child and his mother during the
night, and went to Egypt. He stayed there until Herod died.
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In this way what was spoken by the Lord through the
prophet was fulfilled: “I called my Son out of Egypt.”
Conclusion
In the Old Testament, there are many shadows of Christ—
dim pictures of the greater reality. (1) This reminds us that God is
the God of history, as it tells “His Story.” He controls events in such
a way that they testify of him and bring glory to him. God used
stories such as the murder of Abel, Jacob’s dream of a ladder,
Moses delivering Israel from slavery in Egypt, Israel being bitten by
snakes in the wilderness, Jonah being swallowed by a big fish, and
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much more, all to picture Christ and point people to salvation in
Christ. (2) This not only reminds us that God is the author and
controller of history, but also that the major theme of Scripture is
Christ—not only the Old Testament but also the New Testament.
The Old Testament prophesies about him and pictures him through
types. The Gospels tell the story of his birth, life, death, and
resurrection. The book of Acts shows the spread of Christ’s gospel
through his apostles. The Epistles declare his teaching through the
apostles, and finally, Revelation describes Christ’s wrath and
coming to rule on the earth. Christ is the major theme of Scripture,
and therefore, we must recognize him throughout and allow the
pictures and messages about him to draw us to worship and
obedience.
Reflection
1. Which types of Christ stood out most and why?
2. What types were new to you?
3. Should historical people like Isaac and Joseph be
considered types of Christ when Scripture never clearly
teaches that they are?
4. What other questions or applications did you take from the
reading?
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Appendix 1
1. Each week the members of the study group will read through
a selected chapter of the guide, answer the reflection questions
(see Appendix 2), and come prepared to share with the group.
3. After the summary has been given, the leader for that week will
facilitate discussions through the rest of the reflection
questions and also ask select review questions from the
chapter.
4. After discussion, the group will share prayer requests and pray
for one another.
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The strength of the study group is the fact that the members will be
required to prepare their responses before the meeting, which will
allow for easier discussion. In addition, each member will be given
the opportunity to teach, which will further equip their ministry skills.
The study group model has distinct advantages.
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Appendix 2
Reflection Questions
Writing is one of the best ways to learn. In class, we take notes and
write papers, and these methods are used to help us learn and
retain the material. The same is true with the Word of God.
Obviously, all the authors of Scripture were writers. This helped
them better learn the Scriptures and also enabled them to more
effectively teach it. As you reflect on God’s Word, using the Bible
Teacher’s Guide, take time to write so you can similarly grow both
in your learning and teaching.
2. What stood out to you most in the reading? Did any of the
contents trigger any memories or experiences? If so,
please share them.
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3. What follow–up questions did you have about the reading?
What parts did you not fully agree with?
4. What applications did you take from the reading, and how
do you plan to implement them into your life?
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Appendix 3
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Step One: We Must Accept that We Are Sinners
Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God.” What does it mean to sin? The word sin means “to miss
the mark.” The mark we missed is reflecting God’s image. When
God created mankind in the Genesis narrative, he created man in
the “image of God” (1:27). The “image of God” means many things,
but most importantly it means we were made to be holy just as he
is holy. Man was made moral. We were meant to reflect God’s
holiness in every way: the way we think, the way we talk, and the
way we act. And any time we miss the mark in these areas, we
commit sin.
Furthermore, we do not only sin when we commit a sinful
act, such as lying, stealing, or cheating. We sin anytime we have a
wrong heart motive. The greatest commandments in Scripture are
to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and to love your
neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22:36-40, paraphrase). Whenever we
don’t love God supremely and love others as ourselves, we sin and
fall short of the glory of God. For this reason, man is always in a
state of sinning. Sadly, even if our actions are good, our heart is
bad. I have never loved God with my whole heart, mind, and soul,
and neither has anybody else. Therefore, we have all sinned and
fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). We have all missed the
mark of God’s holiness and we must accept this.
What’s the next step?
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Step Five: We Must Confess Christ as Lord of Our
Lives
Romans 10:9-10 says,
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Coming Soon
Praise the Lord for your interest in studying and teaching God’s
Word. If God has blessed you through the BTG series, please
partner with us in petitioning God to greatly use this series to
encourage and build his Church. Also, please consider leaving an
Amazon review and signing up for free book promotions. By doing
this, you help spread the “Word.” Thanks for your partnership in the
gospel from the first day until now (Phil 1:4-5).
Available:
First Peter
Theology Proper
Building Foundations for a Godly Marriage
Colossians
God’s Battle Plan for Purity
Nehemiah
Philippians
The Perfections of God
The Armor of God
Ephesians
Abraham
Finding a Godly Mate
1 Timothy
The Beatitudes
Equipping Small Group Leaders
2 Timothy
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Jacob
Whenever You Pray
The Sermon on the Mount
Joseph
How to Study the Bible
The Bible’s Uniqueness
Soteriology
Pneumatology
Christology
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About the Author
Greg married his lovely wife, Tara Jayne, in 2006, and they have
one daughter, Saiyah Grace. He enjoys going on dates with his
wife, playing with his daughter, reading, writing, studying in coffee
shops, working out, and following the NBA and UFC. His pursuit in
life, simply stated, is “to know God and to be found faithful by Him.”
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Notes
doctrine (p. 544). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press;
Zondervan Pub. House.
3 Aaron, Daryl. Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day: How can I know
God?
4 Aaron, Daryl. Understanding Theology in 15 Minutes a Day: How can I know
Says About... God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, Angels,
Salvation... Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.
7 Evans, Tony. Theology You Can Count On: Experiencing What the Bible
Says About... God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, Angels,
Salvation... Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.
8 Accessed 8/4/20 from https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/you-asked-
did-jesus-assume-a-fallen-human-nature/
9 Accessed 8/4/20 from https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/you-asked-
did-jesus-assume-a-fallen-human-nature/
10 Accessed 4/8/20 from https://carm.org/jesus-chist/what-does-it-mean-that-
jesus-was-made-in-the-likeness-of-sinful-flesh
11 Consider the arguments against the Fallen Human Nature view in these
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12 MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1983). Hebrews (p. 112). Chicago: Moody Press.
13 Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical
doctrine (p. 568). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press;
Zondervan Pub. House.
14 Accessed 7/22/20 from https://www.gotquestions.org/Old-Testament-
believers.html
15 Accessed 7/22/20 from https://www.gotquestions.org/Old-Testament-
believers.html
16 MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1986). Ephesians (p. 138). Chicago: Moody Press.
17 MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1986). Ephesians (p. 140). Chicago: Moody Press.
18 Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical
doctrine (p. 608). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press;
Zondervan Pub. House.
19 Evans, Tony. Theology You Can Count On: Experiencing What the Bible
Says About... God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, Angels,
Salvation... Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.
20 Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical
doctrine (p. 615). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press;
Zondervan Pub. House.
21 Evans, Tony. Theology You Can Count On: Experiencing What the Bible
Says About... God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, Angels,
Salvation... . Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.
22 Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical
doctrine (p. 615). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press;
Zondervan Pub. House.
23 Ryrie, C. C. (1999). Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to
doctrine (p. 619). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press;
Zondervan Pub. House.
25 Accessed 1/13/2020 from
http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_21122
69_2112278,00.html
26 Accessed 7/22/20 from https://billygraham.org/devotion/evidence-of-jesus/
27 Bright, Bill. A Journey Home. Thomas Nelson Publishers. 2003.
28 McDowell, Josh. Evidence That Demands a Verdict (p. 276). Thomas
resurrection.html
32 Accessed 7/24/2020 from https://www.gotquestions.org/why-believe-
resurrection.html
33 McDowell, Josh. Evidence That Demands a Verdict (p. 262). Thomas
Articles-Who-Would-die-for-a-lie.pdf
36 Accessed 1/13/2019 from https://seanmcdowell.org/blog/did-james-the-
brother-of-jesus-die-as-a-martyr
37 McDowell, Joshua. More Than a Carpenter. Chapter “Did You Hear What
Happened to Saul?”
38 McDowell, Joshua. More Than a Carpenter. Chapter “Did You Hear What
Happened to Saul?”
39 Bright, Bill. A Journey Home. Thomas Nelson Publishers. 2003.
40 Hitchcock, Mark. The Amazing Claims of Bible Prophecy, (p. 86). Harvest
meaning-of-hosanna-in-the-bible.html
46 Accessed 7/27/2020 from https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1556-
importance-of-messianic-genealogy-the
47 Rydelnik, M. A. (2014). Daniel. In The moody bible commentary (p. 1305).
notes/niv-study-bible/intro-to-micah/
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52 McDowell, Josh. Evidence That Demands a Verdict (p. 231). Thomas
Nelson. Kindle Edition.
53 Accessed 7/27/20 from https://www.foxnews.com/politics/christian-
persecution-how-many-are-being-killed-where-they-are-being-killed
54 Accessed 4/9/20 from
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/world/asia/south-korea-coronavirus-
shincheonji.html
55 Accessed 7/21/20 from http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/talmud.html
56 McDowell, Josh. Evidence That Demands a Verdict (p. 346). Thomas
Says About... God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, Angels,
Salvation... Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition.
58 Hart, J. F. (2014). John. In M. A. Rydelnik & M. Vanlaningham (Eds.), The
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