Tag: Luke

  • Jesus Christ Lord – 3 Christ of the Christian Church

    Jesus Christ Lord – 3 Christ of the Christian Church

    Christians of the early Church proclaimed Jesus Christ Lord confessing, “JESUS is Lord.”

    • What is your relationship to the Son of God and Son of Man?

    Part 1 UPDATED 25 September 2024 CE

    Previously I pointed out thoughtful teaching QUESTIONS about GOD from the Westminster Shorter Catechism.

    Roles and Relationships of JESUS

    In Part 2 we read about Jesus Christ from the Nicene Creed.

    “.. of one substance with the Father,..”

    JESUS relates to mankind in roles summarized as King, Prophet and Priest; but none is more foundational than Christ of God.

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com

    the Trinity of the LORD

    Church and Biblical teaching are both clear and mysterious in describing GOD’s ROLES of relationship within HIMSELF, that is:

    • FATHER to the SON
    • SON to the SPIRIT
    • Holy Spirit
      • to the Father
      • and to the Son

    Some Christians know and experience a personal relationship to THE ONE GOD. The HOLY SPIRIT speaks to the heart [spirit ] of a uniquely created man or woman, a mortal made of flesh and blood.

    Church Doctrine (teaching)

    In Part 3 of this doctrinal post about the one LORD JESUS CHRIST we will look at scriptural teaching concerning CHRIST from historic catechisms of the Church AND most foundationally, from God’s word in the BIBLE.

    Catechisms provide studied ANSWERS to student QUESTIONS

    Like ANY learning, the Questions and Answers of a catechism we study and memorize as students seeking a deeper understanding of God.

    Doctrine-based QUESTIONS of Christology

    • 21. Who is the redeemer of God’s elect?
      • The only redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever.
    • 23. What offices doth Christ execute as our redeemer?
      • Christ, as our redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in His estate of humiliation and exaltation.
    • *24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?
      • *
    • *25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?
      • *
    • *26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
      • *READ the Westminster Catechism [A.D. 1647] for ANSWERS to these and more Questions about God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
    If you also wonder about the Holy Spirit, time does not allow further study today.

    What does the Church teach? (Church Doctrine)

    Today we’ll study the roles of JESUS’ personal relationship with YOU, with me and with all followers of the Lord.

    Let's begin with a review from the NICENE CREED with its EARLY UNIVERSAL (Catholic) agreement as to the Person and Roles of Christ and God.

    THE CREED OF NICAEA – AGREED AT THE COUNCIL IN 325

    Until the early 20th century, it was universally assumed that the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed (the more accurate term) was an enlarged version of the Creed of Nicaea, which was promulgated at the Council of Nicaea (325). It was further assumed that this enlargement had been carried out at the Council of Constantinople (381) with the object of bringing the Creed of Nicaea up to date in regard to heresies about the Incarnation and the Holy Spirit that had arisen since the Council of Nicaea. - source: Britannica

    Who because of us men and because of our salvation came down,

    and became incarnate

    and became man,

    and suffered,

    and rose again on the third day,

    and ascended to the heavens,

    and will come to judge the living and dead,

    And in the Holy Spirit.

    Nicene Creed, a Christian statement of faith that is the only ecumenical creed because it is accepted as authoritative by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and major Protestant churches. -Britannica


    Offices, Titles, Roles and Relationships of JESUS

    As is my practice, linked DEFINITIONS to clarify.

    Christ our Redeemer

    “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,

    And [after] the last He will rise up over the dust of this world.

    Job 19:25 LSB

    Redeemer is a specifically Scriptural reference to a person acting to save a person or people from the hold, control or responsibility of another.

    The Prophet Isaiah points forward to the Holy One of Israel as the redeemer of Israel for the chosen ones of God.

    Lord κύριος

    Jesus asked them, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?”

    He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:

    ‘The LORD said to my Lord,
    “Sit at My right hand,
    Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’ 
    ?

    Gospel of Matthew 22:41-46 excerpt New King James Version

    22:45  εἰ οὖν Δαβὶδ καλεῖ αὐτὸν κύριον πῶς υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἐστιν 

    Since David called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?” - NLT

    Offices of our Redeemer

    • the office of a prophet
    • the office of a priest
    • the office of a king

    Prophetfrom נָבָא (H5012) נָבִיא

    Then the LORD came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward. Then He said,

    “Hear now My words:
    If there is a prophet among you,
    I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision;
    I speak to him in a dream.

    Numbers 12:5 NKJV

    New Testament use of prophet from the Greek:
    προφήτηςStrong’s G4396prophētēs

    “But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

    Gospel of Matthew 11:9 NKJV [7-15 in contest] JESUS, speaking of John, even comparing John to Elijah and citing Scripture from O.T. Prophets.

    • What does the BIBLE teach us about this office of JESUS?

    And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying,

    That a great prophet G4396 is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

    Gospel of Luke 7:16 KJV [vs 11-17 in context] when JESUS raised a boy to life from his funeral casket

    Priest kōhēnכֹּהֵן

    And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest H3548 of the most high God.

    Genesis 14:18 KJV (first reference to the office of priest in the Bible)

    priest,
    principal officer or chief ruler
    priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah)
    [6 more]
    Active participle of כָּהַן (H3547)

    Lexicon :: Strong’s H3548 – kōhēn

    The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest H3548 for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

    Psalm 110:4

    לְדָוִד מִזְמוֹר נְאֻם יְהוָה לַאדֹנִי שֵׁב לִימִינִי עַד־אָשִׁית אֹיְבֶיךָ הֲדֹם לְרַגְלֶיךָ׃

    1. priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah)
    2. pagan priests
    3. priests of Jehovah
    4. Levitical priests
    5. Zadokite priests
    6. Aaronic priests
    7. the high priest
    Priest – ἱερεύς

    just as He says also in another passage,

    “YOU ARE A PRIEST G2409 FOREVER

    ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

    Hebrews 5:7 LSB

    High Priest or Chief Priest – ἀρχιερεύς – archiereus

    Now the main point in what is being said is this: we have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a minister in the holy places and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.

    Hebrews 8:1-2 LSB


    King

    .. for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

    Malachi 1:14b KJV

    king – meleḵ – מֶלֶךְ

    occurs 2,526 times in the Hebrew Bible

    Israel follows YAWWEH as its King of kings and Lord of lords.

    What other people have GOD as its King by their covenant with the LORD?


    king βασιλεύς – basileus
    Strong's Number G935 matches the Greek βασιλεύς (basileus),
    which occurs 118 times in 107 verses in the TR Greek.

    And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING G935 OF THE JEWS.

    Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John

    Outline of Biblical Usage 

    1. leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king
    probably from G939 (through the notion of a foundation of power); a sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively):—king.

    JESUS showed POWER on earth, signs and miracles no created man could do except the expected Messiah of GOD !

    The King, as Judeans had hoped, would be more powerful than Herod the Great (who rebuilt the Temple, a civil project still under construction under one of his sons (King Herod). Jerusalem and all the lands and their kings were subject to ROME and its Caesars.

    “Hosanna,

    Ὡσαννά εὐλογημένος ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἰσραήλ

    hōsanna eulogeō ho basileus israēl

    “.. Blessed [is] the King of Israel..

    John 12:13c

    a crowd of people with palm branches processing toward Jerusalem

    Rome’s Governor Pilate would decide a pre-ordained mortal fate of this earthly KING Jesus, a man seemingly powerless as Jerusalem’s King Herod and his appointed priests of the Judean Temple.

    drawing of Herod's Temple
    The Apostles Peter and John also preached Christ crucified and risen with signs from God. ACTS 3-4

    JESUS, according to God’s Word

    Wouldn't HOLY SCRIPTURE; written, God-breathed words of the BIBLE (faithfully translated); provide the best, true guidance of how Christian should proclaim JESUS?

    Consider how the New Testament speaks about Jesus - source
    • “Jesus” occurs 980 times in 940 verses in the LSB.
    • 942 times in the KING JAMES VERSION
    • 1000+ times in translations substituting ‘Jesus‘ for prepositions such as ‘He.’

    • Jesus” AND “prophet” occurs in 5 verses in ‘The Gospels” in the LSB.
      • and JESUS never uses it Himself as a title, only confirming this office.
    • Jesus” AND “priest” occurs 30 times in 14 verses in the LSB.
    • He is never addressed as a ‘Priest,’ but the letter of HEBREWS and other Scripture makes clear that JESUS is both Priest and Sacrifice.

    Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us take hold of our confession.

    For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things like we are, yet without sin.

    Hebrews 4:14-15 LSB

    • Jesus” AND “king” occurs 18 times in 8 verses in the LSB
    • Jesus never refers to Himself as King yet acknowledges the recognition of Him by others.

    So Jesus, knowing that they were going to come and take Him by force to make Him king G935, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.

    Gospel of John 6:15 LSB – G035 – basileus

    The Lord Christ Jesus

    Jesus” AND “Lord” occurs 379 times in 179 verses in the KJV

    • The Twelve Apostles and others frequently address the man Jesus as, “Lord.”
    • Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. – Matthew 20:30b
    • When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. – Luke 5:8

    And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

    Gospel of Luke 24:23 KJV – the women at the tomb of Jesus on Resurrection Sunday

    Easter or Resurrection Sunday is the day the tomb of Jesus is found empty and when the risen Messiah appears risen after His crucifixion on a Corss
    HE IS RISEN!

    Jesus the Christ of GOD

    • The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. – Matthew 1:1
    • And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. – Matthew 1:16
    • And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. – Matthew 16:16
    • For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. – Matthew 24:5
    • Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. – Matthew 27:22
    • Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, – Romans 1:1
    • Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.1 Corinthians 1:3 ESV

    He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    1 Corinthians 1:8 Christian Standard Bible


    “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”

    Acts of the Apostles 2:36 Legacy Standard Bible

    ‘.. what should we do?”

    And Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized

    in the name of Jesus Christ

    for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

    Acts of the Apostles 2:38 LSB


    Talk of JESUS .com

    Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel

  • Jesus Christ 2 the Person and His Roles

    Jesus Christ 2 the Person and His Roles

    Who is this Jesus? Has God sent us the Christ – the anointed Messiah?

    God and The Person of JESUS

    JESUS IS and was and will be.

    Talk of JESUS .com Jesus Christ IS Lord – 1

    JESUS IS God! just as we introduced last time through the beginning in John’s Gospel — “..and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God..”

    “No one has ever yet seen God..”

    John 1:18a Berean Standard Bible

    Begotten, NOT made

    John continues [John 1:18 BLB].

    “.. the only begotten God who is in the bosom G2859 of the Father, He has explained Him.

    Gospel of John 1:18 LSB – Strong’s G2859 – kolpos – ‘the front of the body between the arms

    Look closely at John’s Gospel and understand that GOD IS ONE, yet God is a God of relationship – THREE PERSONS with very personal roles and relationships to created men and women.

    Jesus, himself, confessed:

    “I and the Father are one.”

    John 10:30

    the Personality of JESUS the Son

    • Can you attach a Personality to the Face of God who you cannot see?
    • Will you relate to a PILLAR OF FIRE or the unseen Hand of the whirlwind?

    God the Father of our Lord JESUS Christ reveals from His unseen ever-existence, two Personalities, a loving Father and His only Son, to which created mankind can relate in addition to His unseen Spirit-to-spirit power, Holy and separated from that which He has created.

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com

    Personality of sons and daughters of man

    per·son·al·i·ty (pûr′sə-nălĭ-tē) DEFINITION

    The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

    Body, mind and spirit born of a woman

    1. The totality of qualities and traits, as of character or behavior, that are peculiar to a specific person.
    2. The collection of distinctive qualities of a person, especially those distinguishing personal characteristics that make one socially appealing
    3. The quality or condition of being a person.

    WE cannot comprehend the TOTALITY of the Personality of JESUS the SON of GOD any more than that of God the FATHER.


    Jesus IS God from God

    The PERSON of JESUS — perhaps a little difficult to understand, but we can relate to HIS relationship as SON of the One Father of all, even Almighty God.

    And as mysterious and illusive is God’s power, so we must hear from what God has said through Scripture about the Person of the Holy Spirit.

    Our basic CHRISTIAN teaching and belief, including study of GOD [theology] as THE TRINITY is outlined in several creeds of the church, including the NICENE CREED written by our Church fathers in A.D. 325.


    JESUS Christ explained by the Nicene Creed

    We believe in one God..

    And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God,

    Begotten from the Father, only begotten,

    that is, from the substance of the Father,

    God from God, light from light, true God from true God,

    begotten not made,

    of one substance with the Father,

    through Whom all things came into being,

    things in heaven and things on earth…

    THINK about these TEACHINGS of our Church Fathers living just a few generations after the incarnate JESUS, Son of Man.

    Consider in your heart for a moment of our mortal time:
    WHY would GOD show His Face to mankind as a Son, our Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST?
    • We cannot be like GOD; but why would GOD want to become as one of us?

    Why not consider JESUS in your heart rather than dismissing the God you cannot see simply in your self-created thoughts?

    JESUS the Person of relationship with our personality

    Hear the theology of our our Church fathers as you embrace the mystery of God in more of the Nicene Creed:

    Jesus Christ..

    Who because of us men and because of our salvation came down, and became incarnate

    [Embodied in human form; personified – American Heritage Dictionary]

    and became man,

    and suffered,

    and rose again on the third day, and ascended to the heavens,

    and will come to judge the living and dead

    JESUS.. the GOD-MAN!

    Returning to the unseen.. in the heavens..

    Christ ascended

    AND WILL COME AGAIN TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD..

    which is of course the ROLE and right of GOD ALMIGHTY, Creator of all men and Maker all things.


    the Role of Christ Jesus

    Even though we cannot fully understand incarnation, that is, GOD becoming a MAN — let’s not confuse the PERSON of JESUS (of one substance with the Father and the Holy Spirit) with the ROLES of JESUS.

    Χριστὸν – Christ

    And He [Jesus] said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

    And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

    Gospel of Luke 9:20 LSB [vs. 18-20]

    Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
    Peter replied, “You are the Messiah [Or the Christ. Messiah (a Hebrew term) and Christ (a Greek term) both mean “the anointed one.”] sent from God!”

    Gospel of Luke 9:20 New Living Translation


    MORE about JESUS the Messiah or Christ of God NEXT time, God-willing.

    Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel


  • ANNOUNCEMENT of the Testimony of GOD

    ANNOUNCEMENT of the Testimony of GOD

    And when I came to you, brethren, came not in excellency of word, or wisdom, announcing to you the testimony of God.

    1 Corinthians 2:1 DBY

    Further rebuke of CHRISTIAN MINISTERS

    Google Earth map near Corinth. "We preach Christ Crucified

    The Apostle Paul begins NOT with a reminder of his considerable credentials but with an apologia for God’s evidence in Christ crucified and risen.

    1 Corinthians 2:

    I did not come with superiority of word or of wisdom [sophia]..

    Superiority, (elevation, pre-eminence, excellence in) Wisdom would have been what many Hellenists in Corinth might have expected in Paul.

    Note that the Apostle’s approach of rebuke of his Corinthian ‘brothers’ in the faith relies ONLY on the Authority of Almighty God. NOT speech (logos), NOT of wisdom [sophia], but an ANNOUNCEMENT and PROCLAIMATION.

    proclaiming to you the witness of God.

    καταγγέλλω – katangellō

    to announce, declare, promulgate, make known, to proclaim publicly, publish

    Strong’s G2605 – katangellō – BlueLetterBible.org

    AND shortly Paul will ask these Corinthian believers:

    For who among men knows the depths of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?

    1 Corinthians 2:11a LSB

    Even so the depths of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.


    testimony – μαρτύριον – martyrion

    The APOSTLE of the RISEN CHRIST JESUS is providing ‘something evidential, i.e. (genitive case) evidence given or (specially), the Decalogue (in the sacred Tabernacle):—to be testified, testimony, witness.

    Paul has already written his thanks to God for the Corinthians, ‘even as the witness G3142 about Christ was confirmed in you1 Cor 1:6


    DO YOU FEAR GOD?

    Here is my testimony as Christ's apostle to you, my Corinthian brothers and sisters in the Lord:

    Jesus Christ, and Him crucified

    And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my word and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power..


    Listen to some of the descriptions Paul uses here for their condition:

    • WEAKNESS of the body: its native weakness and frailty, feebleness of health or sickness
    • of the soul: want of strength and capacity requisite
      • to understand a thing
      • to do things great and glorious
      • to restrain corrupt desires
      • to bear trials and troubles
    • φόβος – phobosFEAR, dread, terror
    • MUCH TREMBLING
      • quaking with fear
      • with fear and trembling, used to describe the anxiety of one who distrusts his ability completely to meet all requirements,
        • but religiously does his utmost to fulfil his duty
    Does this description of the Apostle Paul (who rebukes these Corinthians) resemble the pastoral approach of the ministers of YOUR church in any way?

    for ministers mature in Christ

    Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten.

    1 Corinthians 2:6 NLT – Paul’s ‘word to the wise,’ mature ministers of God’s word

    Jesus taught followers to be mature

    “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

    “And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?

    “Therefore you are to be perfect G5046, as your heavenly Father is perfect G5046.

    Gospel of Matthew 5:38 LSB

    Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete G5046, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

    Matthew 19:21 LSB

    PAUL writes to the Corinthians who are MATURE ministers of the Lord to “be PERFECT,” become COMPLETE in your TESTIMONY of GOD.


    the Mystery of God’s Wisdom

    No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, (we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery ) which He destined for our glory before time began.

    8 None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 Rather, as it is written:

    “No eye has seen,

    no ear has heard,

    no heart has imagined,

    what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

    Isaiah 64:4

    But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit.
    The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

    1 Corinthians 2:10 Berean Study Bible

    How are mature ministers of God different?

    The relationship of God and Man can become a Spirit to spirit love in Christ our Lord.

    14 The natural [psychikos] person does not accept the things of the Spirit [pneuma ] of God, for they are folly [foolishness] to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. – ESV

    We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

    And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

    1 Corinthians 2:12-13 BSB

    Natural human? OR Spiritual minister?

    • a natural man [anthrōpos] does not accept the depths of the Spirit of God
    • 15 The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment.

    The Apostle again returns to the Prophet Isaiah:

    16“For who has known the mind of the Lord [LORD or kyrios – ],

    he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord

    so as to instruct Him?”

    The APOSTLE here rebukes ministers of the church to be complete or mature in the Lord Jesus Christ:

    But we have the mind of Christ.

    1 Corinthians 2:16b BSB
    Paul will later mention Peter's testimony (1 Cor 15).

    Christ Crucified AND Risen!

    Then He opened their minds G3563 to understand the Scriptures…

    Gospel of Luke 24:45 LSB

    Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God..

    11 He tends His flock like a shepherd;

    He gathers the lambs in His arms

    and carries them close to His heart.

    He gently leads the nursing ewes.

    Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,

    or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand?

    Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,

    or weighed the mountains on a scale

    and the hills with a balance?

    Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD *,

    or informed Him as His counselor?

    Isaiah 40:13 BSB
    *Or mind of the LORD in the Septuagint (LXX)

    NEXT: Meat for Ministers

    and Milk for New Babes

    and we — we have the mind of Christ. And I, brethren, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly — as to babes in Christ..

    1 Corinthians 2:16b-3:1 – Young’s Literal Translation


    Talk of JESUS .com

    Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel