This paper had to be written under 2,000 words- think, how could you sum of the life, purpose, and ministry of Christ in 2,000 words…? I don’t know how I did… but I did. Check it out.

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1.      Introduction: The intent of this paper is to provide a doctrinal summary of Jesus Christ.

2.      Pre- Incarnation:

a.      Christ’s Eternality and Pre-existence: Christ is the “first born” referred to in Colossians 1:15, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy” (Col. 1:18) speaks of how Jesus was the first be raised in resurrection of life.

b.      Christ’s Deity: Christ’s deity is proved by Him being called God (Yaweh, Elohim, and Son of God), possessing God’s attributes (omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, immutability, and eternity) and does things only God can do (creation, preservation, forgiveness, judgment, resurrection from the dead, and receive worship).  “Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him (John 12:41).”

c.       Pre-incarnate Ministry: Christ is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, “”This is what the LORD says—your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself…(Is. 44:24).” At times in the Old Testament God would manifest Himself as an angel to minister mercy and deliverance, bring divine revelation, or execute judgment.

3.      Incarnation: (500-600 WORDS)

a.      What does it mean? The incarnation is God becoming a Man. This meant that God would share the experiences that belong to human beings. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being… And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (John 1:1, 3, 14)…”

b.      Why the incarnation? “Although a number of reasons for the incarnation may be found- the theme of redemption seems to be the most prominent.”[1]He became Man to fulfill prophecy, inherit the throne of David, manifest God to man, to be the faithful High Priest, to understand what it is like to be a man, deliver from death, manifest perfect humanity, and become the Kinsman Redeemer.“For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).”

c.       What did Christ empty Himself of? “There are certain prerogatives (rights and privileges) that come with being God. Yet Christ (though He is God) did not cling to His rights, but rather He laid them aside for the sake of others.”[2] In Phillipians 2:5-7 it says, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”

d.      Explain hypostatic union and why it matters. Hypostatic union is the uniting of two things that remain distinct. “The single person of the incarnate Christ retained the total complex of divine attributes and possessed all the complex of human attributes essential to a perfect human being.”[3] Hebrew 1:3 says, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

e.      Prove Christ’s humanity from the scriptures. Jesus was man, He confessed Himself as a man, died a man, and possessed the human body (“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men [Luke 2:52].”), soul and spirit (“Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me [Matt. 26:38].’”). He experienced human traits: weariness, hunger and  thirst (“…Jesus said, “I am thirsty [John 19:28].’”). “He experienced love and compassion (Matt. 9:36). He wept (John 11:35). He was tested (Heb. 4:15).”[4]

4.      Significance of the Major Events in the Life of Christ: (400 WORDS)

a.      Baptism: “Jesus is the bridge between the Law and the New Covenant.  All righteousness that would end the Law, Jesus was compelled to observe on the side of his flesh from the seed of David.  God chose water baptism to be the transfer point from the Law dispensation over into Grace Dispensation, from dead in sins and trespasses unto life, from darkness to light, and from an unholy to a sanctified condition… The baptism of Jesus sets forth the mighty revelation of the bridegroom preparing himself for his bride-wife. As the head of the Church, he must be first partaker of that righteousness that the bride-wife would join in participation (“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John [Matt. 3:13].”)

b.      Temptation: Took place right after His baptism. He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness and was “driven” by the Spirit. Satan tested Christ three times and passed each one. “The test was a test of Christ’s humanity.”[5] In all three temptations, Christ sets forth perfect humanity. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin (Heb. 4:15).”

c.       Transfiguration: “Greek word is “metamorpho”… word is a verb that means to change into another form… to change the outside to match the inside…the transfiguration of Jesus Christ was a unique display of His divine character and a glimpse of the glory…visible sign in the presence of reliable witnesses of the reality of the power of God and the glory, which is Christ Jesus.” Matthew 17:2-3 says, “There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.”

5.      Death and Resurrection of Christ (400)

a.      What is the significance of Christ’s death? Christ’s death was satisfying to the Father, propitiation- “taking a personal object from wrath or anger.”[6] Propitiation was accomplished by the death of Christ (“… and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2).” Apart from man, “Christ alone has accomplished this to God’s eternal satisfaction.”[7] Now that God’s wrath is satisfied, “He can now meet a sinful man without judgment, and sinful man can meet this holy God without dread or fear.”[8]

b.      Discuss the significance of Christ’s resurrection. “If Christ did not rise from the dead then He was a liar, for He predicted the He would (“…and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” [Matt. 20:19].”). The Resurrection authenticates our Lord as a True Prophet… If Christ did not rise from the dead then, of course, He would not be alive to do all His post-resurrection ministries (“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me [Gal. 2:20].”). His ministry would have ended at His death… there would be no living Person to indwell and empower us… The Gospel is based on two essential facts: a Savior died and He lives. The burial proves the reality of His death. (“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification [Romans 4:25].”) Without the Resurrection there is no Gospel.”

c.       For who did Christ die? Christ died as the substitute for man, referred to as a “vicarious death (authorized or accepted as a substitute).” He became sin on our behalf, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21).” With sin in between God and man, it bring hostility. “Because of Christ’s death, mankind has been reconciled as far as God is concerned. His desire is for men to be reconciled unto Him’ the cause of enmity has been dealt with in full.”[9]

6.      The Present and Future Ministry of Christ (200-300)

a.      Briefly explain the present session of Christ: The Lord is positioned at the right hand of the Father and He is to be the Head over the Church, which is His body. “This involves a number of specific ministries… He formed the body by sending the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost to baptize believers into the body (“For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink [1 Cor. 12:13].”)… He cares for His body in a number of ways- He sanctifies…nourishing and cherishing His body… bring to maturity …Our ascended Lord also gives gifts to the body (1 Cor. 12:5)… also empowers the body. On His part of the ministry involves discipline and encouragement.”[10]

b.      Briefly explain the future ministry of Christ as King: “Christ will one day raise the dead. He will also Judge the saved and the unsaved. He will come again to earth and rule the world in the millennium.”[11] Those that Jesus raises from the dead, “…will be called to eternal life and others to condemnation.”[12]Not all judgment will happen at the same time, but Christ will judge everyone. “He will reward all people… believers… heaven, though with a varying number of rewards. All will receive some praise from God… Unbelievers… will be rewarded for their deeds by being cast into the lake of fire. He will rule this world… rule the nations of this world as a benevolent dictator… He will show Himself to be King of kings and Lord of lords in the same area where man’s rebellion against God took place.” In Revelation 11:15 it says, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,  and he will reign forever and ever.”

7.      Conclusion: In conclusion, I see that Jesus Christ is Creator and Sustainer. He was existed as long as God is existed because He is God. Chapter one of John reflects who Jesus is and His pre-existence and who He became in the flesh.  He became man so that He could be the substitution for man’s sin. Because of the cross, are relationship is based on grace and not on performance. He forgives us and is merciful. Because of Christ, I am saved. I have eternal life and hope comes from Christ when He comes back to reign on earth.

[1] Keen, Scot. Christology Notes (Pg. 16).

[2] Keen, Scot. Christology Notes (Pg. 18)

[3] Ryrie, Charles. Basic Theology (Pg.288)

[4] Ryrie, Charles. Basic Theology (Pg.287)

[5] Keen, Scot. Christology Notes (Pg. 24)

[6] Butler, Trent. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (pg. 533)

[7] Keen, Scot. Christology Notes (Pg. 33)

[8] Keen, Scot. Christology Notes (Pg. 33)

[9] Keen, Scot. Christology Notes (Pg. 33)

[10] Ryrie, Charles. Basic Theology (Pg.314)

[11] Keen, Scot. Christology Notes (Pg. 40)

[12] Ryrie, Charles. Basic Theology (Pg.315)