Bwebbservant
Topical Bible Study
December 13, 2000
I.
Introduction
a.
A
Short History of Important Church Councils
i.
325AD Council of Nicea > Nature of Christ’s
Deity
1.
Arius
a.
Did
not believe that Christ was indeed the same substance as God.
b.
This
view is recurrent in today’s in popular in those who hold to the separation of
the Historical Jesus from the Mythical Jesus
c.
Viewed
Christ was heterousious (different substance)
2.
Athanasius
a.
Held
that Christ was homoousious (same substance)
3.
Arius
a.
Rebutted
that Christ was homoiousious
4.
The
council named Arius a heretic and the historic position of the substance of
Christ.
ii.
381AD
Council of Constantinople > Nature
of Christ’s Humanity
1.
Apollinaris
a.
A
trichotomist who accepted that Jesus was human in Body and Soul but not in
Mind. His view was rejected but not
alleviated
b.
This
view is still presented in some Charismatic Churches who state that Christ had
the Holy Spirit indwelling a regular human body.
iii.
431AD Council of Ephesus > Nature of Christ as
One or Two People
1.
Nestorious
a.
Denied
that Mary gave birth to God in any way and only provided him a human
nature. He was understood as saying
that Christ was in fact two people.
b.
This
idea was rejected.
iv.
451AD Council of Chalcedon > One or Two Natures
1.
Eutyches
a.
Eutyches
felt that Christ did not have two natures but rather his flesh was deified
after the incarnation.
b.
This
view is used by the Mormon Church now who says that “as God is man may become,
as Man is God once was.”
c.
The
Council condemned this view affirming that Christ had two full natures, Divine
and Human, in one person.
v.
Now
on to the Text that sets our understanding about the Nature of Christ.
II.
Attitude vv. 5-7
a.
The
importance of Christian duty
b.
This
is an action we are told to do
c.
This
action sets up a high degree of tension
i.
Jesus
existed in the form (morphe) of God
1.
Morphe
is a Greek term meaning “nature” as that which is intrinsic to a things being.
a.
Absolute
Attributes of God
i.
Simplicity
ii.
Unity
iii.
Infinity
iv.
Eternity
v.
Immutability
vi.
Omnipresence
vii.
Sovereignty
viii.
Omniscience
ix.
Omnipotence
b.
Personal
Attributes of God
i.
Justice
ii.
Love
iii.
Truth
iv.
Freedom
v.
Holiness
ii.
Jesus
took on the form (morphe) of a bond-servant
1.
Here
again he took on the nature or attributes of man
a.
Body (Soma [Basar])
i.
Ears Hearing
ii.
Eyes Sight
iii.
Mouth Taste
iv.
Nose Smell
v.
Skin Touch
b.
Flesh (Sarx [Basar HaAhaer])
i.
Desire
c.
Soul (Psyche [Naphesh])
i.
Reason
ii.
Imagination
iii.
Memory
iv.
Affections
v.
Conscience
d.
Spirit (Pnuema [Ruach])
i.
Will
1.
Faith
2.
Hope
3.
Reverence
4.
Prayer
5.
Worship
iii.
Jesus
appeared (schema) as THE man
1.
God
is made evident in the creation
2.
God
is made relevant in His word
3.
God
is made applicable by Jesus’ incarnation
a.
Schema
is Greek for “figure”, “mode or circumstance”, “fashion” thus implying EXTERNAL
CONDITION.
III.
Appearance v. 8
a.
Jesus
Appearance is based on His emptying (kenoo)
i.
Kenoo,
form the root kenosis, in Greek is “to empty”, “to neutralize”, “to
vain” which I think appears to be a preferred rendering.
b.
The
Importance of the Doctrine of Kenosis
i.
It
amplifies that Jesus had two distinct natures mixed without any confusion
ii.
It
explains why Sometimes Jesus acts
1.
In
His Humanity
a.
Eats,
sleeps, drinks, cries, walks, talks, etc.
2.
In
His Deity
a.
Heals,
transfigures, blesses, curses, divine knowledge, accepts worship and adoration,
etc.
iii.
In
accepting “the vaining” idea of kenosis then we can see the shrouding of
His Deity is akin to the setup and function of the Tabernacle.
IV.
Achievement vv. 9-11
a.
What
did Christ accomplish through the Kenosis?
i.
God’s
love is proven
ii.
God’s
wrath is defined
iii.
God’s
truth is revealed
iv.
God’s
freedom is empowered
v.
God’s
holiness is protected
V.
Conclusion
a.
Jesus
is the picture of perfect Humanity
b.
Jesus
is the picture of perfect Deity
c. We are to be more like Jesus
d. Remember the context of this highly important section of scripture is the form of an early hymn.
Any Questions? Contact the Webbservant at… stephen.mack.howard@juno.com