The Person of Christ & Salvation

Question 1

What are some of the names of Christ given in Scripture?

Answer 1

• Son of God - Matthew 8:29, Matthew 14:33
• Son of Man - Matthew 9:6, Luke 6:5 (Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”)
• Lamb of God - John 1:36 (When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”)
• The Ancient One- Daniel 7:13
• The Lion of Judah - Rev 5:5 (Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”)
• Emmanuel - Matthew 1:23 (from Isaiah 7:14)
• The Word (John 1)
• Light - John 8:12 - When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
• Savior of the World - John 4:42 (They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”)
• Messiah - Mark 1:1

Question 2

Is Christ eternal? (Does he have beginning or end? Was there a time when he was not?)

Answer 2

• No beginning or end - John 8:58 - before Abraham was, I am

- Revelation 1:8 - Alpha and Omega

Question 3

What examples can you give of the appearance of the person of Christ in the Old Testament?

Answer 3

• Genesis 18 - Abraham and the 3 visitors - referred to as “Lord”
• Daniel 3 - with Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego
• Moses and 70 Elders - Numbers 11:25
• Genesis 32 - Jacob wrestling

Question 4

What biblical evidence is there that Christ was conscious of his divinity?

Answer 4

• Luke 2:49 - Didn’t you know that I had to be in my Father’s house?
• Luke 5:24 -“But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.””
• John 8:58 - Before Abraham was, “I Am”
• John 10:30 - I and the Father are One
• John 20:28 - He receives worship - Thomas

Question 5

What is the Scriptural foundation for believing that the incarnate Christ had both a divine and a human nature?

Answer 5

• Philippians 2
• John 1
• Human
  
  1. Grew in wisdom and stature - Luke 2:52
  2. Hungered and thirsted - Luke 4:2
  3. Strengthened by an angel - Luke 22:43
  4. Sweated drops of blood due to his anguish - Luke 22:44
  5. Surprised at the faith of the centurion - Luke 7:9
  6. Born like us - Matthew 1
  7. Died - Matthew 27
• Divine
  
  1. Able to forgive sin - Luke 5:24
  2. Saw Nathanael without being physically there - John 1:48
  3. Calms the winds and waves - Matt 8:26
  4. Miracles - Causing the blind to see

Question 6

Why are both natures essential to the person of Christ?

Answer 6

• A human alone could not die for the sin of another, as they would only be atoning for their own sin. A divine person cannot die.
• Second Adam (Romans 5:19 - For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.)
• Look at Hebrews
  
  • Hebrews 2:17 - Made like his brothers in every way
  • Hebrews 4:15- tempted in every way
  • Hebrews 5:8-9

Question 7

What are the essential aspects of the teaching of Scripture on the atonement?

Answer 7

• A sacrifice made by the shedding of Jesus blood that must be received by faith - Romans 3:25
• It brings reconciliation between God and man, and brings salvation - Romans 5:10
• 2 Cor 5:21 - He who knew no sin became sin for us

Question 8

What aspects of man’s condition made the atonement necessary?

Answer 8

• Sin - Romans 3:23
• Enemy of God - Romans 5:10, Colossians 1:21
• In Adam, we have all sinned - Romans 5:18

Question 9

Could anyone other than Christ have made an acceptable offering?

Answer 9

• No - see above
• John 14 - I am the way the truth and the life
• Acts 4:12 - No other name given among men by which we may be saved

Question 10

What assurance do we have that the offering was acceptable to God?

Answer 10

• The resurrection of Christ - Romans 6
• 1 Cor 15
• Romans 4:25

Question 11

Is there any limitation concerning who may benefit from the atonement of Christ?

Answer 11

To as many as received him, he gave the right to become children of God - John 1:12

Question 12

Is the atonement effective in human lives where the Gospel is unknown?

Answer 12

No

Question 13

How does Scripture define justification and regeneration?

Answer 13

• Justification - Put into a right relationship with God from a legal point of view - Romans 4:24
• Regeneration - New birth - born to a new life (2 Cor 5:17)
  
  • Alive to God
  • John 3

Question 14

Who performs the work of regeneration?

Answer 14

The Holy Spirit - John 3:7-8

Question 15

What is the nature of the change brought about by regeneration?

Answer 15

We are new creatures - 2 Cor 5:17

Question 16

What is the continuing purpose of regeneration in the life of the individual?

Answer 16

Christ gives us His life - Rom 8:10

2 Cor 4:16 - Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

Question 17

What is the theological relationship between atonement, justification, andregeneration?

Answer 17

The atonement provides the legal basis for justification. On the basis of justification, Christ then brings us new birth as we respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

Question 18

How does adoption relate to our position in Christ?

Answer 18

• Adoption - Ephesians 1:5

- J I Packer “Knowing God” - “Our understanding of Christianity cannot be greater than our understanding of adoption”