BIBLE BASICSBIBLE BASICS

(A Study in Systematic Theology)(A Study in Systematic Theology)

CHRISTOLOGY

(The Study of Jesus Christ)

CHRISTOLOGYCHRISTOLOGY(The Study of Jesus Christ)(The Study of Jesus Christ)

CHRISTOLOGYCHRISTOLOGY(The Study of Jesus Christ)(The Study of Jesus Christ)

His His PersonPerson(The (The ontological ontological dimension)dimension)

(Who He (Who He isis))

His His PersonPerson(The (The ontological ontological dimension)dimension)

(Who He (Who He isis))

His His WorkWork(The (The functionalfunctional dimension) dimension)

(What He (What He doesdoes))

His His WorkWork(The (The functionalfunctional dimension) dimension)

(What He (What He doesdoes))

Significant Events in the Life of Christ

and their theological importance

Last week . . .

• The Baptism and the Temptation

Tonight . . .

• The Transfiguration and the Ascension

The Transfiguration

• This is recorded in the synoptic gospels.

• What are the synoptics?• “seeing together” (Matthew, Mark,

Luke)• (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-13;

Luke 9:28-36), with an additional reference in 2 Peter 1:16-18.

Drawing from Matthew 17:1-8, Drawing from Matthew 17:1-8, theological significance includes:theological significance includes:

1.1. The disciples receive a foretaste of His The disciples receive a foretaste of His futurefuture coming and kingdom. coming and kingdom.

2.2. A revelation of the A revelation of the gloryglory (deity) of the (deity) of the Son of God.Son of God.

3.3. A A confirmationconfirmation of Peter’s confession in of Peter’s confession in 16:13-20.16:13-20.

4.4. EncouragementEncouragement in light of His passion in light of His passion prediction (16:21-23) and the task to prediction (16:21-23) and the task to which the disciples are called (16:24-28).which the disciples are called (16:24-28).

5.5. A declaration of the Son’s unique A declaration of the Son’s unique revelationrevelation from the Father of the world, from the Father of the world, and His superiority to and fulfillment of and His superiority to and fulfillment of the Law (Moses) and the Prophets the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah).(Elijah).

6.6. A reaffirmation of the Father’s A reaffirmation of the Father’s lovelove for for and approval of the Son as He prepares and approval of the Son as He prepares to go to the cross.to go to the cross.

Time for a breather . . .

• A theological quandary:

• Do dogs go to heaven when they die?

The AscensionThe Ascension

• This climactic ending to our Lord’s earthly ministry is recorded only by Luke in his two volumes (Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9-11).

• Paul Enns notes four significant facts about the ascension . . . .

1.1. It ended the earthly ministry of It ended the earthly ministry of Christ. It marked the end of the Christ. It marked the end of the period of period of self-limitationself-limitation during the during the days of His sojourn on earth.days of His sojourn on earth.

2.2. It ended the period of His It ended the period of His humiliationhumiliation. His glory was no longer . His glory was no longer veiled following the ascension (John veiled following the ascension (John 17:5; Acts 9:3,5).17:5; Acts 9:3,5).

3.3. It marks the first entrance of It marks the first entrance of resurrectedresurrected humanity into heaven and the beginning humanity into heaven and the beginning of a new work in heaven (Heb. 4:14-16; of a new work in heaven (Heb. 4:14-16; 6:20). A representative of the human 6:20). A representative of the human race in a resurrected, glorified body is race in a resurrected, glorified body is the Christian’s intercessor.the Christian’s intercessor.

4.4. It made the descent of the It made the descent of the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit possible (John 16:7). It was necessary possible (John 16:7). It was necessary for Christ to ascend to heaven in order for Christ to ascend to heaven in order that He could send the Holy Spirit.that He could send the Holy Spirit.

There’s Something About That NameThere’s Something About That Name

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus;Jesus, Jesus, Jesus;There’s Just something about that name!There’s Just something about that name!

Master, Savior, Jesus,Master, Savior, Jesus,Like the fragrance after the rain;Like the fragrance after the rain;

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,Let all heaven and earth proclaim:Let all heaven and earth proclaim:

Kings and Kingdoms will all pass away,Kings and Kingdoms will all pass away,But there’s something about that name!But there’s something about that name!