Studies in the Person And Work of Jesus Christ: Chapter Four

The Manifestation of Godliness Chapter Four

I Timothy 3:16  16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

      God was manifested in the flesh,
      Justified in the Spirit,
      Seen by angels,
      Preached among the Gentiles,
      Believed on in the world,
      Received up in glory.

From Matthew Henry’s Commentary:  The church holds forth the Scripture and the doctrine of Christ, as a pillar holds forth a proclamation. When a church ceases to be the pillar and ground of truth, we may and ought to forsake her; for our regard to truth should be first and greatest. The mystery of godliness is Christ. He is God, who was made flesh, and was manifest in the flesh. God was pleased to manifest himself to man, by his own Son taking the nature of man.
Though reproached as a sinner, and put to death as a malefactor, Christ was raised again by the Spirit, and so was justified from all the false charges with which he was loaded. Angels ministered to him, for he is the Lord of angels. The Gentiles welcomed the gospel which the Jews rejected. Let us remember that God was manifest in the flesh, to take away our sins, to redeem us from all iniquity, and to purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These doctrines must be shown forth by the fruits of the Spirit in our lives.

Only One in Trinity is manifested.  Why?
God’s character and perfections are revealed (apart from Christ’s incarnation) in the world, the church, providence, and the written Word.
Godliness was revealed in Christ (manifestation of God Himself)
Discuss hypostatic union pg. 28 paragraphs 2 and 3
Re: the image of God
1st Adam was created in the image (reflection/representation) of God (Let Us make man in Our image)
2nd Adam was not created, but manifested the image of God by possession.
1st Adam broken image, 2nd Adam restores image
Pg. 29
Jesus has power over all flesh “Every obstacle must be removed from the sinner for the entrance of the light of God’s glory to the heart (regeneration)

Heidleberg Question 1:  What is your only comfort in life and in death?
 Answer 1:  That I, with body and soul, both in life and in death,[1] am not my own,[2] but belong to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ,[3] who with His precious blood [4] has fully satisfied for all my sins,[5] and redeemed me from all the power of the devil;[6] and so preserves me [7] that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head;[8] indeed, that all things must work together for my salvation.[9] Wherefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life,[10] and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live unto Him.[11]
1.  Rom. 14:7-8
2.  I Cor. 6:19
3.  I Cor. 3:23
4.  I Peter 1:18-19
5.  I John 1:7; 2:2
6.  I John 3:8
7.  John 6:39
8.  Matt. 10:29-30; Luke 21:18
9.  Rom. 8:28
10. II Cor. 1:21-22; Eph. 1:13-14; Rom. 8:16
11. Rom. 8:1

•   God absolutely considered cannot be seen

WSC Q4:  What is God?
A4:  God is a Spirit,[1] infinite,[2] eternal,[3] and unchangeable,[4] in his being,[5] wisdom,[6] power,[7] holiness,[8] justice, goodness, and truth.[9]
1.  John 4:24
2.  Job 11:7
3.  Psa. 90:2
4.  James 1:17
5.  Exod. 3:14
6.  Psa. 147:5
7.  Rev. 4:8
8.  Rev. 15:4
9.  Exod. 34:6

In Christ, He has been made manifest through the incarnation.
·    God, absolutely considered cannot be approached (dwells in unapproachable light)
The light of Christ illumines (1 John 1)
Pg 30
·    God absolutely considered is a consuming fire.  Isaiah 6
Read first full paragraph then focus our conversation on bottom of pg 30 re: likeness of
He came truly in the flesh, but only in the likeness of sinful flesh.  This excludes sin entirely-He was truly human in everyway.  Adam and Eve were not created in sin.

WSC Q10: How did God create man?
 A10: God created man male and female, after his own image,[1] in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness,[2] with dominion over the creatures.[3]
1.  Gen. 1:27
2.  Col. 3:10; Eph. 4:24
3.  Gen. 1:28

The purpose of His “suffering through temptation/trial?”

Hebrews 5:8   8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.  For whom what He learning obedience?
Hebrews 4:15  15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Why is it important that he would be obedient in all points as we are?
Hebrews 2:18
18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Hebrews 10:7-10
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
      In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
      To do Your will, O God.’”

 8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them ” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
He obeyed the Law perfectly.  He learned obedience and overcame the disobedience of Adam.
Romans 5:19 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
Review imputation.
Pg. 31  1st paragraph re: Divine Order
2nd and 3rd paragraph  Read aloud and discuss