BCT Lesson 2 – A Survey of Christology

He walked among men, and He was the greatest person who ever lived. His spotless character, flawless from every point of view, even earned respect from His enemies. His life was unique. Imperfect man could not have invented Him, and no skeptic can reasonably explain Him. More has been written about Him than about anyone else in history, yet He never authored a book on earth.

“Centuries have come and gone, and today He is the central figure of the human race … All the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on earth as much as that One Solitary Life” – James Allan Francis (partial quote of the poem, One Solitary Life).

No one has had a more significant impact on history than Jesus Christ. His life divides history into periods called B.C. and A.D. (before Christ and Anno Domini, the year of our Lord). Yet, He played no role in politics and commanded no earthly army. Jesus became the most controversial figure in history, bitterly opposed, mindlessly persecuted, and violently slain. Yet, He preached nonviolence and instructed His disciples against retaliation, vengeance, and the use of the sword. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world,” otherwise “My servants would fight” (John 18:36). His chief credential was His moral supremacy.

His greatness is beyond our complete understanding. He has existed from eternity past, lived for 33 years as a man on Earth, died and rose again, and lives forevermore. We want you to discover more about who Jesus Christ is, so that you may know Him more fully and love Him more deeply. Consider the following:

1. His Names and Titles

• Jesus – His name, Jesus, means God [Jehovah] saves (Matthew 1:21).
• Savior – He is the divine Savior (Titus 2:13; cf. Isaiah 43:11).
• Christ the Lord – He was born “Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). Christ is a title meaning the Messiah, the Anointed One. He is the promised Deliverer (John 4:25-26; Romans 11:26-27).
• Son of Man – He often referred to Himself as the Son of Man (Luke 19:10). He became a man to suffer the death of all humankind (Philippians 2:5-8; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:9).
• Son of God – He was “declared to be the Son of God” (Romans 1:4), which His enemies understood as a declaration of deity (Luke 22:70; John 10:33, 36; 19:6-7).
• The Word – “The Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:1, 14).
• The Lamb of God – He was the once-for-all perfect lamb who “takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
• “I Am” – God told Moses that His name is “I AM” (Exodus 3:14). This name is usually pronounced Jehovah (Yahweh). He is self-existent, self-sufficient, eternal, and sovereign. Jesus claimed this personal name of God as His own and said, “If you do not believe that I AM … you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). He connected this name to promises that only God could fulfill. For example,
  • “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51).
  • “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).
  • “I am the door” (John 10:7, 9).
  • “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11, 14).
  • “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).
  • “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).
  • “I am the true vine” (John 15:1, 5).
• “The Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last” (Revelation 22:13).
• King of kings and Lord of lords – this speaks of His supremacy (Revelation 19:16).

If you pause each day to reflect on one name or title of the Lord Jesus Christ and consider the profound impact His attributes have in your life, your heart will naturally overflow in worship and praise to Him.

2. His Eternal Past

• The Creator – Jesus was not a created being but the Creator of all things (John 1:3, 10; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:2, 10). From all eternity, He was with God and was God (John 1:1-2).
• The only-begotten – The expression “only-begotten” (John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18) does not refer to His birth, but it means “unique,” as is illustrated in Isaac, who was not an only child (Hebrews 11:17).
• “Firstborn” – this refers to His first place in resurrection. He was the first person to rise from the dead to die no more (Colossians 1:18; Revelation 1:5).
• He is eternal – The Lord was from eternity (Proverbs 8:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2).
• The “I Am” – As the “I Am,” He was before all things (Exodus 3:14; John 8:58).
• His glory – He shared the Father’s glory before the world existed (John 17:5).

3. His Old Testament Appearances

You might be surprised to learn that the Lord Jesus did not first appear in the New Testament. The term “theophany” is used to describe the visible, physical appearance of God in the Old Testament, and is often referred to as “the Angel of the LORD.” The actions and messages of the Angel or Messenger of the Lord clearly represent those of God, not a created being (Genesis 22:11-18; 32:1-30, cf. Hosea 12:4-5; Exodus 3:2-6). See also Mark 12:26; Joshua 5:13-15; Judges 6:11-12; 13:18-22; Daniel 3:24-25.

4. His Fulfillment of Prophecies

To the men on the road to Emmaus, the Lord explained that all Old Testament Scriptures foretold His coming and referred to Him (Luke 24:27, 44). He was the central theme and fulfillment of Scripture. Jesus fulfilled hundreds of prophecies, including His birthplace (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1), the manner of His conception (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21-23), and the scope of His ministry (Luke 4:17-21). His death was substitutionary, meaning He died in our place as our substitute, taking the penalty we deserved for our sins (Isaiah 53). He fulfilled Old Testament promises as a prophet greater than Moses (Deuteronomy 18:18-19; Acts 3:22-26), a priest who would minister forever (1 Samuel 2:35; Hebrews 7:17, 24), and a king greater than David, whose throne will last forever (2 Samuel 7:12-13; Luke 1:32-33).

5. His Fulfillment of Types

The term ‘type’ in the Old Testament refers to a real person, object, or event that God used as a preview or illustration, pointing forward to a deeper spiritual truth that is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. These types are often called “shadows of things to come.” Through these types, we can see Christ; He fulfills the promises represented by various sacrifices and festivals, such as the Passover (Exodus 12; 1 Corinthians 5:7). For example, the bronze serpent represents Christ on the cross, emphasizing the need for faith in His saving power (Numbers 21:8-9; John 3:14-16). The rock that Moses struck symbolizes the crucified Savior (Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:8-12; 1 Corinthians 10:4). Melchizedek is a figure representing Christ as the Great High Priest (Genesis 14; Hebrews 5-7). Does Joseph remind you of Jesus?

6. His Coming as Man

“The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). The incarnation is a word we use to describe the truth that God the Son became a man. It means that “God was manifested in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16) when Jesus was born as a baby to Mary (Luke 2:11-12, 16). When God took upon Himself humanity, He marvelously joined both divine and human natures in a single person (John 1:1, 14; Colossians 2:9). Divine attributes were veiled but not surrendered. Philippians 2:7 says, “He emptied Himself.” William MacDonald explains, “What He did was to empty Himself of His positional equality with God and to veil the glory of Deity in a body of human flesh … There was no moment in His life on earth when He did not possess all the attributes of God.” He was fully human, yet He was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus is both God and man (Romans 1:3-4; 9:5; Philippians 2:6-11; Hebrews 2:14).

The four gospel accounts do not always match in emphasis or sequence of events, as they approach the subject from different perspectives. The Lord Jesus is presented in Matthew as the King of Israel, in Mark as the Perfect Servant, in Luke as the Son of Man (highlighting His humanity), and in John as the Son of God (emphasizing His deity). He was miraculously conceived in the womb of a virgin by the Spirit of God (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:34-35). The Child grew in every typical way (Luke 2:52). He lived for 30 years in Nazareth, Israel, except for His birth in Bethlehem and a brief stay in Egypt.

7. His Public Inauguration

The Messiah was to be heralded by one who went before Him to prepare the people morally and spiritually for His coming (Isaiah 40:1-5). John the Baptist fulfilled that prophecy (Matthew 3; Mark 1:1-11; Luke 3:2-18; John 1:19-36). His ministry called individuals to repent or perish (Luke 13:3). The Lord Jesus began His public ministry by accepting baptism from John. Of all people, Jesus needed no repentance, but He was baptized to “fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:14-16). Upon His baptism, the Spirit of God visibly anointed Him for ministry, and God the Father said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). The “years of obscurity” were over. He called twelve disciples to be with Him and began a dramatic itinerant ministry of about three years.

8. His Temptation and Transfiguration

At the start of His ministry, Satan tempted Him during an intense 40-day fast in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). Satan targeted the temptation to sin in three areas. First, he appeals to hunger, then to spiritual pride, and finally to tempting God through presumptuous actions. His successful resistance to temptation was evidence of His sinless character. Satan hoped that Jesus would sin, but Jesus proved that He could not sin. Some use an analogy of an invincible army that can still be genuinely attacked, but not defeated. Remember, Jesus Christ is God, and God cannot sin. He is also fully man, but Scripture clearly emphasizes Christ’s sinlessness. Paul wrote that Jesus “knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21); Peter states that He “committed no sin” (1 Peter 2:22); and John says, “in Him there is no sin” (1 John 3:5). The Bible confirms Christ’s impeccability—the impossibility of Him sinning.

Three disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration saw a spectacular manifestation of Jesus’ divine glory (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-9; Luke 9:28-36). Before this event, Jesus had veiled His glory in human flesh, but on this one occasion, “He was transfigured before [the three disciples]. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light” (Matthew 17:2). The radiance of His glory was a visible display of His true identity as God. Once again, the disciples heard God the Father express delight in His beloved Son. Both the temptation and transfiguration displayed the absolute uniqueness of Jesus.

9. His Miracles and Teaching

The Apostle Peter said, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst” (Acts 2:22). Jesus pointed to these genuine miracles as sufficient grounds for belief in Him, as Nicodemus admitted (John 3:2; 14:11; cf. Luke 4:18-21; 7:22). His miracles revealed His deity and fulfilled prophetic Scripture (John 5:36-37). He demonstrated His divine power over sickness, nature, evil spirits, and even death itself (Mark 5:8-13; Luke 7:11-17; 8:40-56; John 11:1-44). His power as the Creator was seen when He fed the crowds of 5,000 and 4,000 men, plus women and children, and by turning water into wine (Matthew 14:13-21; 15:32-39; John 2:1-11). He never performed miracles to attract crowds or impress the curious, but showed His deep compassion for those suffering (James 5:11).

The frequent use of parables characterized His teaching style. His Sermon on the Mount has no equal anywhere (Matthew 5–7), and it astonished His listeners (Matthew 7:28-29). His powerful discourses surpass anything ever spoken by man, particularly the ones that include the “I Am” statements.

10. His Opposition

Jesus embodies all that is good and righteous. However, good is opposed by evil. The Bible reveals that a fallen spiritual being led the resistance against Jesus, “that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan” (Revelation 12:9). Satanic opposition sought to kill the infant Jesus, opposed Him throughout His ministry, and ultimately orchestrated the plot to crucify Him (Luke 22:2-4). Satan employed a wide range of wicked people, from kings and rulers to religious leaders, to oppose Christ.

11. His Death, Resurrection, and Ascension

By God’s design, the central theme of the Bible is the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without His death, there can be no forgiveness, salvation, or new life. Without His resurrection, there is no hope for a relationship with God, heaven, or eternal life – which is at the heart of the gospel message. His sacrifice was the prophetic fulfillment of Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, and other scriptures. Jesus predicted His death many times to His disciples, who did not understand it (Matthew 16:21; 17:9-12, 22-23; 20:18-19). His enemies, however, heard His bold statement that He would rise again, which led them to ask for a Roman guard to secure His tomb (Matthew 27:63-66).

He instituted a memorial supper on the final night before His crucifixion (Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20) so we can always remember His death for us. Judas’ betrayal fulfilled Scripture, right down to the price paid (Zechariah 11:12-13). Jesus’ agonizing prayers in the garden, His enemies’ plotting of His death, His disciples’ flight, and the mockery of His trial complete His last hours.

The Roman governor found no fault in Him, but, yielding to public pressure, condemned Him to death. The details of His sufferings and “seven last sayings” are described in moving terms. The final cry, “It is finished!” (John 19:30), was a triumphant shout celebrating the completion of His saving work for sinners. The evil actions of men in putting Him to death were used for God’s eternal purpose to save those who believe. His sufferings and death were substitutionary – He took our place and endured the punishment that we deserved for our sins (Isaiah 53:4). He died in the company of two thieves. He was buried in a rich man’s tomb, fulfilling prophecy (Isaiah 53:9). The Roman guard, the sealed tomb, and the large stone covering the entrance did not prevent Him from rising on the third day, just as He predicted (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20). He appeared to over five hundred disciples over a period of 40 days before being received up into heaven before their eyes (Acts 1:3-9; 1 Corinthians 15:6). His pierced hands proved His resurrection to “doubting Thomas” and left no doubt (John 20:25-28). “The Lord is risen indeed” (Luke 24:34).

12. His Session – The Present Ministry of Christ in Heaven

The “Session of Christ” refers to what Jesus is currently doing in heaven. After His ascension to heaven, He “sat down at the right hand” of God the Father (Hebrews 1:3; 10:12) and began His ongoing work for believers in heaven. His work introduces “a mystery,” which is the church. A mystery is a truth about God’s plan that was not revealed in the Old Testament, but has now been revealed in the New Testament (Ephesians 3:3-6; Colossians 1:26). The church does not replace God’s covenant people, Israel (Romans 11:25-26). The church is the body of Christ, and He is the Head. Those who are believers are given spiritual gifts that function as parts of the body. Additionally, Christ is currently at work as our Intercessor and Advocate, ensuring that believers never lose their salvation.

Christ’s current and extensive ministry in heaven includes the following seven activities, as helpfully summarized by the theologian Lewis Sperry Chafer:

• Universal Authority: Christ exercises universal authority, governing from His exalted position, and everything and everyone owes its existence to Him as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe (Matthew 28:18; 1 Corinthians 15:27; Ephesians 1:20-21; Colossians 1:16-17).
• Head of the Church: As Head of the church (which began at Pentecost), His Body, Christ directs and teaches all believers everywhere throughout the Church Age (Pentecost through the Rapture), through the Holy Spirit (John 16:12-13; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18).
• Bestower of Gifts: He gives spiritual gifts to believers (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-31) and gifted leaders to the church (Ephesians 4:7-11).
• Our Intercessor: Christ continually prays for every believer as a faithful High Priest (John 17:1-26). His intercession includes protecting them from spiritual enemies (Luke 22:31-32), saving them from the power of sin, and delivering them from every trial until the end of their lives, “since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). Because of the effectiveness of His intercession, He saves and keeps believers eternally secure (Romans 8:34).
• Our Advocate: When believers sin, and Satan accuses them before God (Revelation 12:10), they have an advocate to plead their case. Christ is our righteous Advocate with the Father, pleading His own sacrifice as the basis for our forgiveness (Hebrews 9:24; 1 John 2:1-2).
• The Builder: Christ is preparing a glorious heavenly home for His church – His bride. He is currently fulfilling His promise, “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1-3).
• Waiting in Expectation for His Return: Jesus said, “I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3). He is calling out a heavenly people for Himself (Acts 15:13-18), not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). He is “waiting till His enemies are made His footstool (Hebrews 10:12-13), and for the time when “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Psalm 2:8; Revelation 11:15).

13. His Second Coming and His Kingdom

The Lord often spoke about His Second Coming. Jesus said, “If I go…I will come again” (John 14:3). Imagine looking at two distant mountain peaks that appear to be one. From their historical perspective, the Old Testament prophets often viewed Christ’s first and second comings as a single, great event (Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18-21). From our place in history, we can clearly see that His First Coming was to suffer and die for our sins, and His future coming will be to reign (Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:18-25). We have the advantage of living between these two events and can be assured that His Second Coming will fulfill the Scriptures just as accurately as His First Coming did.

b. The events of the Second Coming are as follows:

• The Rapture: This is the event when Christ will return in the clouds to catch up all believers, both living and dead, to meet Him “in the air” and be with Him forever (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This phase of His coming is in the air and for His saints (believers).
• The Tribulation: This will be a future seven-year period in which God’s judgment will be poured out upon the earth (Revelation 7:14), but the church will be safe in heaven with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
• The Revelation: This refers to the visible, glorious return of Christ to the earth with His saints at the end of the Tribulation (Revelation 19:11-16). This phase of His coming is to the earth and with His saints (believers).
• The Millennial Reign: This describes the literal 1,000-year reign of Christ on the earth as the world-wide ruler from Jerusalem (Revelation 20:4-6).

c. His Kingdom

The Bible speaks about Christ’s kingdom. William MacDonald suggests there are five distinct phases:

• Prophesied: God promised He would set up an everlasting kingdom (Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14).
• “At hand” or present: When Jesus was on earth, He preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17), because the King—the Lord Jesus Christ—was present among them (Luke 17:20-21 NASB; cf. Matthew 12:28; Luke 11:20 NIV). He fulfilled the prophetic role of the lowly King (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:1-5).
• Current interim form: Jesus is in heaven, but the kingdom exists in the hearts of all who believe in Him and submit to Christ as their King (Colossians 1:13). This phase of the kingdom is described in the parables in Matthew 13.
• Established on Earth: In the future, Christ will establish His kingdom on the earth, which will last for 1,000 years (the Millennium). Jesus said, “… many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (8:11). “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14), and every knee will bow to Him (Isaiah 45:22-25; Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10-11).
• Everlasting kingdom: After the Millennium, the kingdom will continue for eternity in the new heavens and new earth. Peter refers to it as “the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11).

Currently, He is the focus of heaven’s worship (Revelation 5:8-14). Soon, He will begin to judge the sin of the world. “The Father…has committed all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22), and He will judge those who have not believed the gospel for their sins at the Great White Throne (Revelation 20:11-15).

There is no escape from the Great White Throne judgment, and no second chance to avoid it for those who die in unbelief. Believers will not face that judgment; instead, they will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, where Jesus Christ will evaluate their life and service for Him (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10). This judgment concerns rewards or the lack thereof, not eternal punishment.

Conclusion

You have learned about the Lord Jesus Christ, but do you now truly know Him as your personal Savior and Lord? He desires for you to know Him. You can do so if you repent of your sins and trust in Him as your Lord and Savior, for He promises that He will forgive your sins and give you eternal life.

“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:11-13).

Basic Christian Training – Lesson 2

1. How do the names and titles of Jesus Christ in the following verses express His position, character, and work?
   1. Matthew 1:21
   2. John 1:1, 14
   3. John 1:29
   4. John 10:36
   5. John 14:6
   6. Luke 2:11
   7. Luke 19:10
   8. Revelation 19:16
   9. Revelation 22:13
2. Of all the names and titles of Christ mentioned in the lesson, which one is most meaningful to you personally, and why?
3. In your own words, paraphrase Colossians 1:16-17. What do these verses teach about Christ’s relationship to the universe?
4. If someone told you that Christ was the first and greatest of God’s creations, how would you use these verses to prove that He is the eternal Creator (Micah 5:2; John 1:1-3, 10, 14; 8:58)?
5. Read Hebrews 1. Explain how the following verses indicate that Jesus is God.
   1. Verses 2, 3, 10
   2. Verse 6 (compare with Luke 4:8)
   3. Verse 8
   4. Verses 11-12
6. What are some attributes of deity ascribed to Jesus in the following verses?
   1. Matthew 28:18, 20
   2. Mark 2:5-7
   3. John 1:1; 17:5
   4. John 5:22, 27
   5. John 6:64
   6. Hebrews 13:8
7. Since Jesus was fully human, in what ways would you expect Him to be like you are?
   1. Matthew 4:2
   2. Mark 4:38
   3. Luke 2:52
   4. John 4:6
8. How does William MacDonald’s quote (Section 6 of the lesson) on Philippians 2:7 help clarify what it means that Christ “emptied Himself?”
9. The lesson states that it was impossible for Christ to sin (the doctrine of impeccability). Some ask, “How, then, could His temptation by Satan be considered genuine?” It is essential to understand that the Scriptures teach that Christ did not sin and that He could not sin. How do the following verses teach both truths? (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15; 6:18; 7:26; James 1:13; 1 Peter 1:19; 2:22; 3:18; 1 John 3:5)?
10. What was Christ’s primary purpose in coming to the earth, and how did He fulfill Scripture in doing it (Mark 10:45b; Isaiah 53)?
11. What would be the consequences for the Christian faith if Christ had not risen from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:14-19)?
12. Write a brief paragraph explaining the personal importance of Christ’s death and resurrection for your own salvation.
13. Section 12, “His Session,” describes Christ’s present ministry. Why is understanding His ongoing work in heaven as our Intercessor and Advocate crucial for a believer’s assurance of salvation?
14. Describe the differences between “The Rapture” and “The Revelation.” What hope is available for Christians (John 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 19:6-9)?
15. What role will Christ have over those who accept Him and over those who reject Him (John 5:22-23; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15)?