The Person and Work of Christ

Pastor Fred Greco

Deity of ChristWeek 3

Review:

Who is Jesus Christ?1. Fully God2. Fully Man3. Only one Person (not two) and

not a mixture (e.g. brass), it is a personal union (Hypostatic)

Review:

Fully God

“God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father”

New Testament: Christ is God

The New Testament evidence

John 1:1-14

Hebrews 1

Colossians 1

Other passages

Review: John 1:1-14

1. He existed in eternity

2. He is in intimate relation with God

3. He is God

4. He is the Creator of all things

5. In Him is life

6. He became flesh

Review: Hebrews 1

1. Called God’s Son

2. Creator of the World

3. Sustainer of the World

4. Exact revelation of God to man

5. Object of Worship

6. Called God

Other Passages

John 10:30 I and the Father are one.

John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own

presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

Colossians 2:9 For in him the whole fullness of deity

dwells bodily

Other Passages

1 Timothy 3:16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of

godliness: He was manifested in the flesh Romans 9:5

the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

Acts 20:28 care for the church of God, which he

obtained with his own blood.

Old Testament: Christ is God

Old Testament evidence

Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. (Isaiah 44:6)

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

Also Rev. 1:17, 2:8

Old Testament evidence

“and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13–14)

No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.(John 3:13)

Old Testament evidence

none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, (Numbers 14:22)

We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, (1 Corinthians 10:9)

Old Testament evidence

And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls. (Joel 2:32)

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

Old Testament evidence

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10)

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. (Revelation 1:7)

Theophanies

Genesis 26:7-13

Genesis 18

Genesis 31:11-13

Theophanies

Exodus 3:2-16

Joshua 5:13ff.

Deity of Christ from the Bible

Christ is called by the Names of

God

Christ has all the Attributes of God

Christ does all the Works of God

Called by the Names of God

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58)

God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” (Exodus 3:14)

Called by the Names of God

This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (John 5:18)

waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (Titus 2:13)

Called by the Names of God And we know that the Son of God has come

and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Called by the Names of God

To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 9:5)

None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1 Corinthians 2:8)

Has the Attributes of God

He is Omnipotent

He is Omniscient

He is Unchangeable and

Eternal

Attributes of God: Omnipotent

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:20–21)

Attributes of God: Omniscient

then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind), (1 Kings 8:39)

“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:10)

Attributes of God: Omniscient But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to

them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. (John 2:24–25)

and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. (Revelation 2:23)

But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. (Luke 6:8)

Attributes of God: Eternal

Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end. (Psalm 102:25–27)

Compare Hebrews 1:10

Attributes of God: Eternal

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isa. 9:6)

Does the Works of God

Creation

Miracles

Forgiving Sin

The Object of Worship

Works of God: Creation

John 1:1-3

Colossians 1:15-17

Hebrews 1:1-3, 10

Works of God: Miracles

For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. (John 5:21)

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:40)

Works of God: Forgiving Sin And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his

spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” (Mark 2:8–11)

Works of God: Object of Worship When Peter entered, Cornelius met him

and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” (Acts 10:25–26)

And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ” (Luke 4:8)

Works of God: Object of Worship

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, (Luke 24:50–52)

Works of God: Object of Worship

And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” (Hebrews 1:6)

Works of God: Object of Worship

And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:59–60)

so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (Philippians 2:10)

The Divine Mediator: WLC 36

Who is the Mediator of the covenant of grace?

Answer: The only Mediator of the covenant of grace is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, of one substance and equal with the Father, in the fullness of time became man, and so was and continues to be God and man, in two entire distinct natures, and one person, forever.

Why is It Important?

WLC 38: Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be God?

It was requisite that the Mediator should be God, that he might sustain and keep the human nature from sinking under the infinite wrath of God, and the power of death; give worth and efficacy to his sufferings, obedience, and intercession; and to satisfy God's justice, procure his favor, purchase a peculiar people, give his Spirit to them, conquer all their enemies, and bring them to everlasting salvation.