Biblical & Theological Issues

by Fred A. Malone –

Since the Fall of Adam, Jesus Christ is the center of God’s revelation to man (Gen. 3:15). The Old Testament is the progressive revelation of His coming; the New Testament is the historical record of His glorious Person and Work. The New is in the Old concealed; the Old is in the New revealed.

The very existence of this universe and the history of mankind is about Jesus Christ and His revelation to fallen man (John 1:1-18). God’s patient restraint of judgment against the sin of man is because of Christ’s coming in the fullness of time to gather God’s chosen people from every tribe, tongue, race, and nation (Eph. 1:3-14). Therefore, the life of every man, woman, and child is about finding restoration to God through repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the center of all history.

Such great claims about Jesus Christ meet with the skepticism of unbelieving man. Nihilistic historians seek to deny Jesus’ historical existence. Liberal theologians seek
to reconstruct the person and life of Jesus as just a man surrounded by myth. Of course, there are no historical resources to corroborate such speculative theories.

In spite of the above presuppositional philosophies, the discipline of textual criticism continues to affirm the first century provenance of the New Testament writings. We are reading history. Therefore, the historical Jesus of Scripture was either deluded, or a liar, or true. If He was deluded, why admire His words? If He was a liar, why admire His sayings and life? But if He was true, we have to bow to His Person and work as the revelation of the invisible God to man.

Therefore, we investigate His Person and work with personal investment. For the outcome determines our personal reconciliation with the only true God. So, how do the documents present the Person and Work of Jesus Christ?

The Person of Jesus Christ

The texts of the Old Testament present the Messiah as fully man (Isa. 9:6): the seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15), the seed of Abraham (Gen. 15:4; Gal. 3:19), the son of David (2 Sam. 7:12). Yet they also present the Messiah as fully God (Isa. 9:6): the Son of Man (Dan. 7:13), Almighty God (Psa. 110:1), the Son of God (Psa. 2:7; Heb. 1:5).

The New Testament affirms the testimony of the Old Testament prophecies to the fully human-fully divine Person of Jesus Christ (John 1:1-4, 14; Heb. 1:1-5). He was fully God and fully man, two natures in one Person, yet thinking as one person thinks, acting as one person acts. Such a mystery baffles our minds to fully understand or explain.

Besides modern skeptics, church history grappled with this mystery of the Person of Jesus Christ. Apollinaris denied Christ’s full humanity, arguing that the divine Logos replaced his human spirit. The Nestorians rejected the unity of unable to reconcile Christ’s two natures, the mystery of two natures in one person, inseparably joined but unmixed. The Eutychians failed to distinguish between the two natures of Christ, arguing for a mixture which would lessen both. But the Council of Chalcedon (451 A. D.) condemned all these views, establishing the orthodoxy of two natures unified in one person, yet without mixture or absorption of one by the other.

And it was necessary that it be so. As man, Jesus Christ had to suffer body and soul the wrath of God against man to be a true substitute. As God, his death had to be of more value than one perfect man’s death for the atonement of many sinful men. As man, he had to be tempted in every point as we are, surviving the temptations which Adam did not. Yet, as God, it was impossible for Him to sin, guaranteeing the predestined success of His work.

As the only mediator between God and man, He had to be both God and man in one Person, distinct in natures, yet unified in Person in the mystery of redemption. Thus, we have a perfect Savior, fully man, to whom men may come and find help; yet, being fully God, He can bring us safely into the presence of a holy Father as His companions (Heb.2:13).

Fully Human
It is obvious that Jesus was a man in history. But what kind of man? He was a man who ate and drank and slept as we do. He wept and grieved and felt tiredness and pain as we do. He lived under the authority of His parents as we do and experienced the trials of sibling rivalry. He was tempted by Satan to sin against God in every point that we experience (Heb. 4:15-16), yet without sinning (1 Pet. 2:22; 1 John 3:5; Heb. 7:26; compare 2 Cor. 5:21). He tasted death as man does.

He was a man, a real man. Yet He was born without the sinful nature we have. As the last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45), He was born under the Law Covenant of Eden, fulfilling its demands for perfection which Adam failed to do. Born under the Sinai Covenant, He lived under the Law of Moses as a Jew, perfectly keeping its call to obedience. Therefore, He fulfilled every requirement of God to man, Jew and Gentile, becoming qualified to offer a perfect human sacrifice of atonement for those condemned under the law He fulfilled and kept (Heb. 5:8-9).

He lived as a man. In His earthly life, He trusted in God His Father as a man trusts and loves God (Matt. 27:43; 1 Pet. 2:23); even His enemies said so. He obeyed His Father’s commandments as a man obeys His God (John 5:19-20; 8:26). He felt emotions as a man feels, yet without any mixture of sinfulness in His thoughts and feelings. He loved, He hated sin, He felt righteous anger against sin, He grieved over the sins of others and the death of friends. He felt compassion for their suffering and was moved to help them (John 6).

Those who diminish His true humanity only cut themselves off from the sympathy and empathy of Jesus for their own soul, as well as from His perfect atonement as man for men. For it is in His true humanity that we can believe in His ability to identify with our trials, sorrows, and needs, and to come to the aid of those of us who are tempted to sin.

Fully God
Jesus Christ was a man, but He also was called fully God by Himself and others. He was so designated by angels (Luke 1:35). He claimed this for Himself (John 8:42, 54-59). Those disciples who walked with Him, who saw His crucifixion and resurrection, affirmed this as well (John 20:25-31). He accepted this incredible designation for Himself (Matt. 16:16-17).

The Kenosis theory is that He “emptied” Himself of all deity when He came to earth (Phil 2:5-8). Yet the verb only means that He laid aside the prerogatives of His deity, not its nature. The explanation is that He humbled Himself without ceasing to be Himself, for God the Son is immutable. The incarnate God took on the form of a servant, becoming obedient in that roll till death, to bring many lesser creatures to glory. Yet, he retained his Divine nature, shining through His humanity on the Mount of Transfiguration. As fully God the Son (Psa. 2; Heb. 1:1-4), Jesus Christ lived as a man, died as a man; and in His divine humility and love for the undeserving, He died and rose again to bring many sons to glory. Can those who believe this not trust this great Savior in all things of life and eternity?

Unipersonality of Human and Divine
It is in the great mystery of Jesus Christ’s full humanity and full deity, two natures in one person, that we find our minds and understanding overwhelmed. Humbling Himself as God the Son, He lived as a man lives trusting in God. And having done that, He could righteously bear the wrath of God against men as a man, yet dying a death of infinite worth as God and conquering death for men in His resurrection.

The Work of Jesus Christ
All Old Testament history and prophecy ultimately serves the coming of Jesus Christ in His New Testament birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and return in glory. He is the center of the revelation of God to man and the reason for the patience of God to postpone judgment upon sinful flesh to show mercy. He is the only Mediator between God and man and is the Prophet, Priest, and King of any man’s salvation.

He came to fulfill the broken Law of perfection to Adam and to become the Gospel Redeemer from that broken Law for sinners. In His Gospel redemption, He not only has paid the price for our spiritual crimes against God’s Law but also has provided a perfect righteousness of the Law to be imputed by faith alone to those who believe (2 Cor. 5:21).

As our Prophet, He speaks to man on behalf of God. As our Priest, He represents man before God. And, as our King, He rules all things and is able to bring in His redemptive kingdom for His people’s sake and for His Father’s glory.

Our Prophet
Moses spoke of a prophet to come after him, like him, who would teach the truth (Deut. 18:15-18). The people recognized Jesus as a prophet (Matt. 21:11). He spoke the words His Father gave Him (John 8:26). He IS the truth, His words are life because of Who He is (John 14:6). He is the One whose words bring eternal life (John 5:24; 6:68). Jesus Christ is the prophet of Whom Moses spoke that we must listen to His words. This is why He called the apostles to teach baptized disciples to do the apostles to teach baptized disciples to do 20). Let us hear His words.

Our Priest
The High Priest of Israel entered once per year into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled the blood of the Lamb on the mercy seat in atonement for the sins of Israel. His breastplate bore 12 stones, each engraved for the 12 tribes of Israel. He did not offer atonement for the other nations but only for the people of God.

The High Priesthood of Jesus Christ is echoed in many Scriptures such as Matt. 1:21: “you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.” The effectual atonement of Jesus as a vicarious representative for the ones given Him by the Father assures the success of His kingdom and the building of His church (John 10:15; 11:47-52; Acts 20:28; Eph. 1:4-7). He died to give life to the world, that is, everyone (Jew and Gentile) who eats of Him as the bread of life (John 6:51). He is the ransom for all men, not just the Jews (1 Tim. 2:5-6). He is the One who died for His brethren (Heb. 2:11-13), the given ones (John 17:1-2), the seed of Abraham, as a great high priest who sacrificed Himself for His own (Heb. 2:13-17). He is the high priest of those whom He represented, offering Himself to God in atonement according to the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 7:17).

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only Savior the world has, the only Mediator between God and man (1 John 4:14; 1 Tim. 2:5-6). Therefore, it is right for God to call all men to repentance and trust in Him as their great high priest (Acts 17:30-31). As the old Synod of Dort proclaimed, His sacrificial death is of infinite worth because of His Person, of far more value than the worth of one ordinary man’s death. Therefore, His high priesthood and sacrifice for sin is effectually sufficient to save all who would come to Him for atonement of sins, justification by faith alone, and the gift of eternal life. Thus, we hold Him forth to all men and call them to repentance and faith in the only high priest who offered Himself. For He is the Savior of the world.

Our King
When we see Him riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, He fulfilled all the prophecies of the Son of David as King (2 Sam. 7:12; Isa. 11:1; Jer. 23:5). His Kingdom is a kingdom of the heart, both now in its initiation and in its consummation (John 3:3-6; Matt. 25:34; John 18:36-37).

He proved His authority over all flesh in the conquering of Satan and his spirits. He proved His authority over all men in delivering up Himself to His enemies at His time, not theirs. Now He rules in the hearts of all who flee to Him as their King. He rules by His Word and Spirit. He is ascended as King of Kings and will complete the consummation of His kingdom when He returns in Kingly glory (Rev. 17:14; 19:16). Let us bow to our King.

Conclusion
The Person and Work of our Lord Jesus Christ is at the center of God’s revelation to man. He is fully God and fully man, two natures in one Person forever. He showed his purity in a sinless life. He showed His power in His miraculous works. He showed His truth in His wonderful words. He showed His humility and compassion in His bloody cross. He showed His eternity in His glorious resurrection and ascension to the Father’s right hand.

Now He rules the universe as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, bringing all things into submission to His will (1 Cor. 15:25). And when His reigning work is done, He will present to the Father a glorious kingdom of redeemed souls, gathered by grace to proclaim the excellencies of His Person and Work for all eternity. Surely, those who have found Him precious, receiving their souls by faith alone in Him, will live out their earthly days according to His call: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). For God the Son, is our Prophet, Priest, and King.

Fred A. Malone (Ph.D.) is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Clinton, Louisiana. He is the author of the book, The Baptism of Disciples Alone (Founders Press, 2003).

(First published in Areopagus Journal Vol. 9 No. 2 – Essential Doctrines )