Christology Lesson 4

Overview

Why Christ's Humanity Matters

Both biblical and secular historical sources affirm that Jesus truly lived: born of a woman, growing in stature, eating and drinking, befriending, teaching, suffering, and dying a real death under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius. This is not incidental to our salvation—it is essential. Under the Levitical sacrificial system, atonement required an unblemished offering. For the sins of humanity to be atoned for, the sacrifice had to be one of us, yet without sin. Only Christ, fully human and pure, could meet that need. As Hebrews 2:14-17 declares, He shared our flesh and blood so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death and become a merciful and faithful high priest. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 echoes this: there is one mediator between God and humanity, "Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself for a ransom for all."

A Note on Modern Judaism and the "Red Heifer"

A common question is why modern Jews no longer observe the Levitical sacrificial system. The shift began during the Babylonian captivity (roughly 70 years, ending in 538 BC; see Jeremiah 29:10-11). With the temple destroyed, synagogues arose, the Sabbath and circumcision took on heightened significance, and the focus shifted to Torah study, prayer, and works of charity as substitutes for temple sacrifice. Today some Orthodox Jewish groups—and, troublingly, some Christian groups—are attempting to hasten the Messiah's coming through efforts surrounding a third temple and the breeding of a red heifer. Scripture, however, is clear: no one knows the day or hour, and the Lord's patience is meant to bring all to repentance. Exercise the spirit of discernment liberally; not every book labeled "Christian" is faithful to God's Word. We each have our own end times, and our calling is not to decode the newspaper alongside the Bible but to live the life God has given us.

The Full Divinity of Christ

Christ is fully human and fully divine—two natures that do not mix, alternate, or compete. He is always man and always God. The creeds confess this with care: the eternal Father has an eternal Son, "God of God, light of light, true God of true God, begotten not made." The Athanasian Creed reminds us that He has taken humanity into Himself; He has not transformed deity into humanity. Scripture lays this foundation from the start. John 1:1-3 declares the Word was with God and was God; John 1:14-18 tells us this Word became flesh and made the unseen Father known. The angelic announcements in Matthew 1:18-23 and Luke 1:30-35 name Him Emmanuel—God with us—and Son of the Most High before His birth. Philippians 2:6-11 and Colossians 2:9 affirm that in Him "the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily."

Signs of His Glory—and a Word for the Called

Jesus' divinity was revealed throughout His earthly ministry. At twelve, He astonished the teachers in His Father's house Luke 2:41-52. At Cana, His first sign turned water into wine and revealed His glory John 2:1-11. At the tomb of Lazarus, He declared, "I am the resurrection and the life," then called the dead man out by name John 11:25-44. Notice: Lazarus did not deliberate in the cave weighing his options. He was dead, and the voice of Christ summoned him to life. So it is with us. We are dead in our sin and trespasses; faith is not a choice we manufacture but a response to the One who calls us by name. That is the deep comfort of grace—the grace and truth that came through Jesus Christ, true God and true man, our Mediator and our Lord.

Transcript

Okay, so quick review because we are shifting over into the humanity or I mean into the 0s

divinity of Jesus today, but to go back to look at the humanity of Jesus, we know from 8s

biblical sources that Jesus was born of a woman. 15s

We're going to hear that a lot this week with it being Christmas week, which is wonderful, 19s

that he shared with humanity both flesh and blood, that he had a childhood, he grew up, 24s

he became strong, he wasn't just poof an adult here, right? 31s

He was born and he had to grow as we do. 36s

He was tempted, he taught, he ate, he drank, he had friends, he was a person, he died, 38s

a real death. 48s

We know from secular and historical sources that Jesus, a man, Jesus was executed in the reign 50s

of Tiberius by Pontius Pilate. 59s

We know that though it was used as a name, it is a title that there was a Christ that was 62s

associated with this movement of Christians. 71s

We know that there was a man named Jesus who was defined as one who is called the Messiah. 76s

We know that from secular sources, historical sources that a man named Jesus, there was 84s

a wise man who did surprising deeds amongst his people. 89s

And we know that Jesus was described as a wise Jewish king, a magician, and an instigator. 95s

We have sources from both biblical and secular realms that confirm that Jesus did live and 104s

walk the earth, hold on a second here, I'm wondering if, nope, this is the right one, I'm 114s

reviewing from last time. 120s

So, then we talked about the importance of Jesus' humanity within the context of our salvation, 122s

and why it was vital that he was indeed a man and not just, and I use just very loosely, 130s

God, right? 140s

And we talked about that, the critical sacrificial system that for the sins to be forgiven, 141s

they would have to sacrifice animals, but all those animals used had to be without blemish. 149s

They had to be pure and really Jesus as that ultimate sacrifice, not only for the sins 154s

of the Jews, but truly the sins of all the world, he had to be one of us, right, because 163s

it is mankind who sins. 171s

So he had to be man, fully man, and he had to be without blemish or pure without sin, 174s

which he was, and that is what afforded or allowed for Jesus' death to a tone for all sin. 180s

Let's see here, in Hebrews, chapter 2 it says, since the children share flesh and blood, 189s

he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the 198s

one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives 205s

were held in slavery by the fear of death. 210s

For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 213s

Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he 218s

might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God to make a sacrifice 223s

of atonement for the sins of the people. 229s

In 1 Timothy, Paul wrote, there is one God, there is also one mediator between God and 231s

humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself for a ransom for all. 237s

So then we had questions. 245s

And questions were raised regarding the Levitical Sacrificial System, 248s

and specifically how things worked for modern day Jews, which was fascinating. 253s

There is something, so the first question was why don't modern Jews sacrifice as required 264s

in Leviticus? And there is something to the fact that a good portion of current Jews are secular. 270s

They are Jewish by culture, but not Jewish in practicing their faith. 280s

Even in Israel, there are not quite half, but there is a good portion of the Jewish people that 286s

don't adhere to the Jewish law. So that's one thing to keep in mind. 294s

But then before we go further into the modern Judaism, we need to kind of back up and look, 301s

and this question was raised about what happened during the Babylonian captivity. 308s

How did Jews make their sacrifices or worship during that time? 313s

And really, there is a lot of changes, or there are a lot of changes that happened to the practice 319s

of the Jewish faith during the Babylonian captivity. So the Babylonian captivity, 326s

there are a couple of different ideas of when that actually started. Some scholars say that it began 335s

in 598 BC, and some say it was a little bit later in 587 BC. We do know that the captivity 345s

formally ended in 538. So if you look at Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 29, it says, 358s

only when Babylonians 70 years are completed will I visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise 369s

and bring you back to this place. So if you go from 538 back 70 years, you can date it, 375s

which would be 608. Some people, 608 to 538, some people put it at 586 to 516, which 516 BC would be when 385s

the second temple was dedicated. So there are some different ideas by scholars of what that 70 years 398s

actually is. I will say a little side note, this is really interesting. So Jeremiah 29, he is writing to 408s

those in captivity, right? And that's where that surely I know the plans I have made for you. 416s

That's where that comes from. He is giving that to his people when they are in captivity. So 423s

during this time period, it was probably the time period in which the synagogues were first established. 433s

Since the temple was unavailable to make sacrifices in or to have festival celebrations, 441s

the solemn days of penance and prayer commemorated Jerusalem's fall, and you can find words on that in 447s

the prophet Zechariah. The Jews, though, continued to observe the Sabbath and religious holidays, 455s

but the Sabbath took on a whole new emphasis. It was a day of contemplation. It was a day of 463s

prayer. It was a day of sacred rest. And another thing that changed was the practice of circumcision. 470s

It grew in significance. It was a special mark for the Jewish people, for the Israelites, 478s

that they were a chosen people in a foreign land, in the midst of foreign people. So that took on 485s

a greater significance for the Jewish people in captivity. And then the focus shifted away from 492s

the animal sacrifices, which could only be properly performed at the temple. And it really shifted 502s

into the study and the teaching of the Torah, which was the focal point of the worship in those 510s

synagogues. So they substituted prayers for the former rituals of sacrifices in the temple. 519s

So the emphasis then, during that time for Judaism as a whole, really shifted over to works of morality, 526s

charity, and works of charity came to the forefront. The priestly functions were for all intents and 537s

purposes irrelevant. So they shifted that focus no longer on the animal sacrificing, but on the 544s

teaching of the Torah, the prayer, and those works of morality. So then we fast forward to our 552s

modern day. And there was a really interesting article that I found which this woman had written, 561s

it's titled, Sacrifices are Alive and Well. So I thought this was a really fascinating 570s

article. She was writing about two rabbis that were discussing or talking to each other. And they 579s

looked at this destroyed temple and one said, woe to us, the place where Israel obtained a 586s

tonement for sins is in ruins. And the other rabbi said to him, my son, be not distressed. We still 593s

have an atonement equally efficacious. And that is the practice of benevolence, that those good 600s

deeds let a person do good deeds. Study the Torah, bring an offering, then God will have mercy and 607s

extend repentance. One, one, one, Nihama Libawitz explained that sacrifices are a positive means of 615s

promoting communion with the divine. They were a symbol and expression of a person's desire to 626s

purify himself and become reconciled with God. So those sacrifices again are something that the 633s

Jewish people were doing. They're doing it according to this Jewish author in a new way. 639s

Prayer is at the heart of significant living. There's a lot of emphasis put on prayer in Judaism 647s

today. To the Israelites, the temple was the place where God resided and making offerings at the 654s

temple was their way to get closer to God. She wrote that it's not possible to make sacrifices at 661s

the temple today, but that doesn't exclude us from having to put forth an effort to bring ourselves 668s

closer to God. I read things like that. I just think the Lord that I'm Lutheran. It's such a good 674s

word we have. Truly, that word of grace and mercy that abounds. It's so wonderful. We can draw 682s

closer to God if we act in a God-like way. Our practice of benevolence is shown through kindness, 689s

compassion, generosity, and goodwill for the earth and its inhabitants. The sacrifices 695s

were an early form of worship given to the Jewish people so they could learn how to serve God 703s

without feeling different from all the people surrounding them. She wrote that sacrifices are alive 708s

and well. They just have to be slightly redefined. That would be coming from one Jewish author 714s

but we do see how there is a shift in practice and emphasis from the Babylonian captivity. 723s

Where did my list of questions go? Hold on. Here it is. Aha. I've been carrying this around. 735s

Really stink to lose it now. Okay. Another question that came up or another point that someone had made 742s

was about the modern-day Jews who are breeding or attempting to breed a red heifer without blemish. 750s

And can that bring on the return of Christ? No. There are some sects within Judaism that are 760s

trying to breed a red heifer. I found this from a numerous amount of sources. So it's not just 774s

some fringe source. But there are different sects that are trying to bring about a red heifer 782s

in order because they believe that until that red heifer is found or bred, then they won't be 791s

able to have that third temple which means that they won't ever have the promised Messiah really 798s

return or come. So there are those. There is a there is a modern Sanhedrin that's been developed and 804s

there is a temple movement group that has been developed. That was formed in 1987. And those are 813s

very orthodox Jews that are trying to get this third temple. It is difficult. The third or the 821s

temple mount there is a Muslim temple on that spot. So there are political hindrances and religious 829s

hindrances between the two religions. What's really interesting is that there are some Christian 839s

denominations that are really trying to usher in the end with this third temple, with this red heifer. 846s

There are some, I'm trying to use my words really wisely here. Some interesting religious 858s

books that are put out there that are supposed to be prophetic, that tell of all these things are 868s

lining up, all these things. We've had four blood moons. So this is going to usher in the end and 876s

we're going to get the temple. And it doesn't line up with what God's word says. There's a lot of 883s

fancy footwork going on. So don't I say this as a loving warning. Don't get wrapped up into 889s

anything just if it's just because it says Christian. Because it doesn't mean it's necessarily Christian. 898s

We do have the spirit of discernment and the spirit of truth within us. So I invite you to 904s

exercise that spirit of discernment and truth. Liberally, a lot. So because there's a lot of 909s

stuff out there. So there are Christian groups and there are Orthodox Jewish groups that are 917s

attempting to usher in the return of Christ or usher in the Messiah. But we know from scripture 923s

that no one knows when that day is. The Father knows and the Father will bring it about when 932s

He is ready to bring it about. It also says in scripture that the Lord is slow, 938s

impatient, not slow, but slow according to us. Very patient because He wants for all to come to 947s

repentance and to come to Him. So when you think about end times and I'm only going to say, you know, 953s

20 seconds worth, when you think of end times because that's where this whole red heifer thing 959s

kind of is trying to lead. That's not for us to worry ourselves with. We are all in our own end times. 964s

So the more we attempt to open up a newspaper and open up the Bible and try to decipher and figure 976s

out where this red heifer is coming in and when Christ is coming, we drive ourselves crazy. So 981s

that is not where God has called us to be and that is not the life that God has called us to live. So 986s

don't. I guess that's I was trying to be eloquent but just don't. So the red heifer thing is a real 994s

thing but I would not spend a lot of time and energy on it or seeking the red heifer. I never 1006s

thought that was going to happen. So now let's move forward into the divinity of Christ. Oh my 1023s

necklace keeps popping on the I thought what is that popping noise? It can only be me but I don't 1030s

know what it is. Okay. So we're going to move on to the divinity of Christ and we're going to talk 1036s

about this more next week or not next week but the following week January 5th but it's I want to 1042s

emphasize again how important it is to remember and hold in absolute truth that Christ is fully human 1048s

and fully divine. Those two two natures don't mix. They're not constantly fighting with each other 1056s

while in this instance I'm going to be human while in this instance I'll be divine. Always consistently 1065s

Christ is always man he is always God. We will go into that further next week but I just think 1071s

that's really important to continue to lift up and hold before us at all times and that way we 1078s

help ourselves from from getting off the path. So looking at the apostles' creed again Jesus Christ 1085s

God's only son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Born of the Virgin Mary so we have 1093s

that virgin birth we have that human birth but he was conceived by the Holy Spirit. We know the 1101s

Holy Spirit to be the third person of the Trinity God the Holy Spirit right so we know that 1106s

that the eternal Father is the Father of the eternal Son. You can't be a Father without having 1114s

a child right so Jesus is the eternal Son. You can't be eternal without being God. So Jesus is God. 1123s

He ascended into heaven is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty from there he 1135s

shall come to judge the living and the dead who has the authority to judge anyone God and God alone 1140s

correct and that's one of the charges that was brought up against Jesus that he was he dared to 1148s

forgive someone their sins and the Pharisees said who are you to forgive anyone sins that belongs to 1155s

God and God alone. Well here we are told and we hold that in truth that Jesus will come to judge 1163s

the living and the dead we jump down to the nice scene creed or over to the nice scene creed 1170s

we believe in one Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God begotten of his Father before 1176s

all world God of God light of light God very God of very God or true God of true God begotten not 1183s

made being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made for us men and for our 1192s

salvation he came down from heaven and was born of the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary and was made 1200s

man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate he ascended into heaven is seated at the right hand 1207s

of the Father same thing he will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead his kingdom 1215s

will have no end then moving over to the Athenation creed we read that the Father is one person the 1220s

Son is another the Spirit is another but the deity of the Father Son and Holy Spirit is one 1230s

equal in glory co-eternal and in majesty what the Father is the Son is and so is the Holy Spirit 1237s

uncreated is the Son the Son is infinite eternal is the Son Almighty is the Son the Son is God 1246s

the Son is Lord the Son was neither made nor created but was alone begotten of the Father 1256s

he has taken humanity into himself he does not transform deity into humanity it's very important 1267s

again that's holding those two full natures with one another as complete and whole truth those are 1277s

from the creeds but those words that we hear from from that the the only Son we hear that in 1287s

scripture and that's exactly where we're going to turn now let's go to John the the gospel of 1294s

John that's the fourth gospel and we're just going right to that first chapter 1300s

this first chapter when you really sit there and think and read through it and ponder and meditate 1309s

on what it means and what is really being written and said here it can become overwhelming 1316s

just the the heavy truth of it it's absolutely gorgeous so John the first chapter we're going to 1325s

look first at verses one through three in the beginning was the word so in the beginning we have 1333s

that in another place in scripture Genesis in the beginning in the beginning was the word and the 1341s

word was with God and the word was God he was in the beginning with God all things came into being 1348s

through him and without him not one thing came into being so here we have it set up that there's 1357s

this word the word was not only with God but the word was God that is absolutely trinitarian in 1365s

in its nature and it's in its patterns words that this word which in the Greek is logos or logos 1373s

this is held up as as that that which is with God in the beginning and not only with God but was God 1382s

this is where we get that from the Athenation Creed the Sun is infinite eternal is the Sun 1390s

right we have this uncreated that he is with God continuing on with verses 14 through 18 the word 1403s

became flesh and lived among us and we have seen his glory the glory as of a father's only son 1415s

full of grace and truth John testified to him and cried out this was he of whom I said he who comes 1423s

after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me from his fullness we have all received grace upon 1430s

grace the law indeed was given through Moses grace and truth came through Jesus Christ no one has 1437s

ever seen God it is God the only son who is close to the father's heart who has made him known 1444s

so we know God and God is revealed through the person of Jesus Christ Jesus himself tells us this 1452s

which we will get to let's look at the birth of Christ we had this reading earlier today in 1462s

service or we'll have it in a little bit in service Matthew 1 so go over you're going to flip 1468s

backwards to the first gospel which is Matthew and this is about the birth of Jesus the Messiah bless you 1474s

so skipping down into into verse the last verse in or last sentence in verse 18 she was found this 1491s

Mary was found to be with child from the holy spirit then jumped down to verse 20 when Joseph had 1501s

resolved to to dismiss Mary quietly an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said Joseph 1511s

son of David do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife for the child conceived in her is from 1518s

the holy spirit you are to name him Jesus for he will save his people from their sins and this is 1524s

what fulfills the prophet the words of the prophet look the virgin shall conceive in baris son and 1532s

they shall name him in manual which means God is with us so again we have that set up right from 1538s

the beginning in this birth telling or retelling of Christ that he is conceived of the holy spirit 1546s

that he will be named Jesus that he will be called Emmanuel which means God is with us let's go 1554s

over to the gospel of Luke the first chapter that's the third so you're going to go through Matthew 1563s

past mark and find yourself in Luke the first chapter 1569s

and starting in verse 30 this is where the angel has come to Mary to tell her well we'll read it the 1580s

angel said to her do not be afraid Mary for you have found favor with God and now you will conceive 1591s

in your womb and bear a son and you will name him Jesus he will be great and will be called the 1597s

son of the most high and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David he will 1604s

reign over the house of Jacob forever and his kingdom there will be no end Mary said to the angel 1610s

how can this be since I am a virgin the angel said to her the holy spirit will come upon you 1616s

and the power of the most high will overshadow you therefore the child to be born will be holy 1622s

he will be called son of God again that birth story or the coming birth story the angel stating 1629s

this is this is the son of God he will be called holy name him Jesus so we're getting before 1638s

he's even born we're getting this set up by the angel through the holy spirit that that Christ 1644s

will be conceived by the holy spirit and that he will be indeed the son of God here God with us 1651s

in the solid declaration in the formula of concord so that's part of the book book of concord the 1660s

confessions the Lutheran confessions it says it reads that he demonstrated his divine majesty 1667s

in his mother's womb in that he was born of a virgin without violating her virginity 1675s

I thought that was very poignant that even before birth Christ was proving himself to be God 1680s

in that he was conceived within a virgin by the power of the holy spirit but she in her virginity 1689s

was not violated right I think that's that's a really poignant poignant remark there so that 1697s

was one demonstration of his divine nature he had humbled himself and he was found to be in human form 1707s

but Jesus did reveal his divine nature in his earthly ministry let's go back oh you know what let's 1714s

stick in Luke because we're here already and we're just going to go down to Luke 2 verses 41 1722s

or picking up in 41 and we're going to we're going to kind of skip ahead this is where Jesus was 1734s

lost and I say that with air quotes they thought he was lost in Jerusalem so Mary and Joseph turned 1748s

back to find him they found him on verse 46 after three days they found him in the temple sitting 1756s

among the teachers listening to them and asking them questions and all who heard him were amazed at 1763s

his understanding and his answers when his parents saw him they were astonished and his mother 1769s

said to him child why have you treated us like this look your father and I have been searching for 1775s

you in great anxiety he said to them why were you searching for me did you not know that I 1780s

must be in my father's house but they did not understand what he said to them then he went down 1786s

with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them his mother treasured all these things in her 1791s

heart and Jesus increased in wisdom and in years and in divine and human favor so he knew he was in 1796s

his father's house can you imagine a 12 year old speaking with such authority and such wisdom 1805s

amongst these learned rabbis that there was even in his young age it he was already revealing his 1811s

divinity just by his wisdom so now let's go over to John the second chapter where we have Jesus 1819s

first miracle at the wedding at Cana John chapter 2 on the third day there was a wedding in Cana of 1832s

Galilee and the mother of Jesus was there Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding 1844s

when the wine gave out the mother of Jesus said to him they have no wine and Jesus said to her 1850s

woman what concern is that to you and me my hour has not yet come his mother said to his servants 1856s

do whatever he tells you now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rights of 1863s

purification each holding 20 or 30 gallons Jesus said to them fill the jars with water and they 1869s

filled them up to the brim he said to them now draw some out and take it to the chief steward 1875s

so they took it when the steward tasted the water that had become wine and did not 1880s

and did not know where it came from though the servants who had drawn the water new the steward called 1885s

the bridegroom and said to him everyone serves the good wine first and then the inferior wine after 1890s

their guests have become drunk but you have kept the good wine until now Jesus did this the first of 1896s

his signs in Cana of Galilee and revealed his glory and his disciples believed in him so this 1902s

is his first miracle that he performed he is revealing his glorified nature he's revealing 1909s

his divine nature through that miracle if we go over to John 11 1916s

we see another incredible miracle in the raising of Lazarus we're going to start with verse 25 1929s

because I think this is a really important I don't think I just think but this is period a really 1943s

important statement that Jesus makes about himself in verse 25 Jesus says to Lazarus's sister 1949s

I am the resurrection and the life those who believe in me even though they die will live and 1956s

everyone who lives and believes in me will never die he is declaring himself to be the resurrection 1963s

let's go down to verses 38 through 44 Jesus again greatly disturbed came to the tomb it was a cave 1972s

and a stone was lying against it Jesus said take away the stone Martha the sister of the dead man 1982s

said to him Lord already there is a stench because he has been dead for four days Jesus said to her 1988s

did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God so they took away the stone 1995s

and Jesus looked upward and said Father I thank you for having heard me I knew that you always hear me 2001s

but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here so that they may believe and that 2008s

that you sent me when he said this he cried out with a loud voice Lazarus come out the dead man came 2014s

out his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth and his face wrapped in a cloth Jesus said to 2022s

them unbind him and let him go this only God could do the man had been dead and I know that 2028s

that Paul does call someone back to life but this it's done in the name of Jesus right and here 2042s

we have Jesus praying he's saying this is done to show his glory to show the Father's glory 2053s

rather and it's it's very important to realize and this is something that I like to draw attention to 2061s

when we're called into faith it is just as Christ called Lazarus right he said come out Lazarus 2068s

didn't him and ha he didn't sit in the cave saying I don't know is this the choice I want to make 2076s

right he just came he was called and he came and that is that is how we are called into faith 2081s

we are dead in our sin we are dead in our trespasses we may as well be Lazarus physically dead 2090s

we're dead and then Christ calls us into faith and we respond not because we make a choice but 2098s

Christ has made that choice for us and has called us into faith by name we're about out of time 2105s

I've got some more okay hold on okay I know I've got so in John 14 it tells us that Jesus is the 2113s

revelation of the Father Philip Jesus is talking to Philip and Philip is saying where are you going 2125s

and where are you going and and he says that Philip could believe because of all the works 2132s

that Jesus had performed through his divine nature he was able to perform all of these works 2139s

and that Philip could believe through those works by witnessing those works if not by the words 2146s

alone but again those works always point to the word they always point to the truth that Christ 2152s

is God in Philippians 2 6 through 11 it says though he was in the form of God he did not require 2159s

a regard equality with God as something to be exploited but emptied himself taking the form of a 2167s

slave being born in human likeness he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even 2173s

death on a cross therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name 2181s

so at that name of Jesus every knee should bend in heaven and on earth and under the earth and 2187s

every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father in collagens to 2193s

verse 9 it says in him in Jesus the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily 2203s

second Peter has more we're going to go into this more next next class period where we'll also 2213s

look at the transfiguration where Jesus glory is shown and revealed before three of his disciples 2220s

so if you have questions ha ha that's the there you go no time for questions today 2230s

ha ha ha ha if you have questions email me and we will pick up here on the first of January 2235s

so not next week but the following week in 2020 we will pick up with the divinity of Christ 2247s