This will help ya out if you do. I don't rememeber who sent this link to me, but everyone needs to read this.
I hope I enjoy a similar situation...
Thursday, January 31, 2008
The Humanity of Christ and...
...it's application to your life. So I'm a big believer in Biblical Counseling. That is what I have a degree in; well sort of. (its not a long story, but its a story that I can make sound really long and terrible) Anyway, all that means is that I am really interested in how the Bible/Theology applies to the every day life of the believer. While teaching through the subject of Christology this week, and more specifically the Humanity of Christ, I came across the question of why Jesus had to be human. Good question eh? Easy one to answer too. Go on, take a minute and see how many answers you can come up with.
Anyway, the text that I am using to teach the class (Grudem's Student addition) brought up two major reason why Christ had to be a human just like you and I. 1) Representative obedience: that means that in order for Christ to be the representative for any human beings, he had to be one. I used the example of electing someone from SC to go and serve in congress as a rep for Arkansas. It wouldn't work, because they weren't from Arkansas and have no idea what it is like or what they need or anything like that... they can represent a group they don't belong to. Same is true of Christ. In order to be the 2nd Adam and represent and stand as a rep for any human being he had to belong to that group. Your salvation depends on his humanity. 2) Substitutionary Sacrifice: God is just, equal, fair, and righteous. If he is going to trade one thing for another, then it has to be of equal value. Paul reminds us in Romans that our lives are required of us when we sin. I sinned, so I earned death. The payment God demands is one human life. Therefore if something is going to be a substitute for me, it has to be equal payment. A Human life for a Human life. Again, if Christ isn't truly human, then your salvation is worthless. The terrible price that is required for your transgressions has not yet been paid, and you are still left to fill the debt. All of the sudden, something so simple, so taken for granted, so... forgot about is so HUGE!! If Jesus isn't a real human being just like you and I, we're all in for one terrible eternity!
But he was human! AMEN! Thank you God! Now when I read Hebrews 4:14-16 I can find a whole new reason to be thankful! The applications that come from knowing that Jesus was a human exactly like you and I (before His resurrection) seem endless, don't they?! Thankfulness: i don't have to pay the penalty of sin. Encouragement in Temptation: Jesus knows what it means to feel the pressure of a sin weighing down on you. Boldness: When i go before the throne, my High Priest knows me and what it is like to live in my world. He lived in it! Go read, study, apply, live, and glorify.
But there's always that one nagging question... Was it even possible?
Anyway, the text that I am using to teach the class (Grudem's Student addition) brought up two major reason why Christ had to be a human just like you and I. 1) Representative obedience: that means that in order for Christ to be the representative for any human beings, he had to be one. I used the example of electing someone from SC to go and serve in congress as a rep for Arkansas. It wouldn't work, because they weren't from Arkansas and have no idea what it is like or what they need or anything like that... they can represent a group they don't belong to. Same is true of Christ. In order to be the 2nd Adam and represent and stand as a rep for any human being he had to belong to that group. Your salvation depends on his humanity. 2) Substitutionary Sacrifice: God is just, equal, fair, and righteous. If he is going to trade one thing for another, then it has to be of equal value. Paul reminds us in Romans that our lives are required of us when we sin. I sinned, so I earned death. The payment God demands is one human life. Therefore if something is going to be a substitute for me, it has to be equal payment. A Human life for a Human life. Again, if Christ isn't truly human, then your salvation is worthless. The terrible price that is required for your transgressions has not yet been paid, and you are still left to fill the debt. All of the sudden, something so simple, so taken for granted, so... forgot about is so HUGE!! If Jesus isn't a real human being just like you and I, we're all in for one terrible eternity!
But he was human! AMEN! Thank you God! Now when I read Hebrews 4:14-16 I can find a whole new reason to be thankful! The applications that come from knowing that Jesus was a human exactly like you and I (before His resurrection) seem endless, don't they?! Thankfulness: i don't have to pay the penalty of sin. Encouragement in Temptation: Jesus knows what it means to feel the pressure of a sin weighing down on you. Boldness: When i go before the throne, my High Priest knows me and what it is like to live in my world. He lived in it! Go read, study, apply, live, and glorify.
But there's always that one nagging question... Was it even possible?
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Hebrews (The book, and the nation)
So unless something drastic comes up that changes my mind, my goal is to begin a study of the book of Hebrews. I have been kicking this idea around since the beginning of the week when my pastor brought us a very humbling, convicting, passionate, and awesome exposition of Hebrews 11.
The next day I was to meet up with a former student who is in a state of serious conviction. As I considered what passage God might use to help him in his quest, I turned to Heb 3. Such goodness!! So as I sat in the coffee shop waiting for my friend to arrive I began to read through the whole chapter to remind myself of the context. Sadly I didn't end up spending time with my friend that day, but i did end up reading from chapter 3 all the way into chapter 8. What amazing beauty and clarity is used by the author to show the identity of the Messiah. How well he must have known the Law and Prophets. It was clearly his meditation day and night.
Then another thought struck me. What about the Hebrews? I grew up mainly in fundamental/independent Baptist churches. I saw all the major Old Testament stories on the story boards. I knew that they were (past tense) the people of God. What about now? If God's plan doesn't involve the ethnic nation of Israel now, then why in the world do we have such an amazing book like Hebrews in the New Testament? The thought that kept coming up as i read that day was "This would be the perfect book to give to an Israeli who knows their Old Testament".
One thing that I try to teach all my students is: "Never allow your experience to help you interpret what the Bible has to say. Study the Truth first, and then allow that to shape your understandings and convictions." So the question that looms large as I begin this project is: "How wrong has my experience been, and what is the Truth about God's plan for people Israel (present/future tense)?
The next day I was to meet up with a former student who is in a state of serious conviction. As I considered what passage God might use to help him in his quest, I turned to Heb 3. Such goodness!! So as I sat in the coffee shop waiting for my friend to arrive I began to read through the whole chapter to remind myself of the context. Sadly I didn't end up spending time with my friend that day, but i did end up reading from chapter 3 all the way into chapter 8. What amazing beauty and clarity is used by the author to show the identity of the Messiah. How well he must have known the Law and Prophets. It was clearly his meditation day and night.
Then another thought struck me. What about the Hebrews? I grew up mainly in fundamental/independent Baptist churches. I saw all the major Old Testament stories on the story boards. I knew that they were (past tense) the people of God. What about now? If God's plan doesn't involve the ethnic nation of Israel now, then why in the world do we have such an amazing book like Hebrews in the New Testament? The thought that kept coming up as i read that day was "This would be the perfect book to give to an Israeli who knows their Old Testament".
One thing that I try to teach all my students is: "Never allow your experience to help you interpret what the Bible has to say. Study the Truth first, and then allow that to shape your understandings and convictions." So the question that looms large as I begin this project is: "How wrong has my experience been, and what is the Truth about God's plan for people Israel (present/future tense)?
But first...
Biggest Understatment ever...
...AND...
Sometimes the truth is hard swallow...
The great side of post-modernity here
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