The Source of Knowledge Life of Christ

Introduction John 21:25 –The whole world would not have room for the books that would be written –John was overwhelmed with the task of sifting through all the material to present the truth that would lead people to Christ –Gospels have been studied from many viewpoints: Historically Geographically Critically Etc. –Little attention has been given to the person of Christ

Source of Knowledge Luke 1:1-4 –Luke was a historian –Wrote to an individual known as “Theophilus” Means “lover of God” – Verse 4 “so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught” –There were tons of different beliefs that was circulating amongst the people –Luke felt it was necessary to convince the people of the truth

Source of Knowledge Luke 1:1-4 –Events that had transpired coming from eyewitnesses (Luke 1:2) –Dealing with many accounts (Luke 1;1) Fulfilled: surely believed or on which there is full conviction Oral tradition is able to present truth Written records gives it authority Acts 1:1 –Believe everything Jesus did

Source of Knowledge Instruction –Believers were being instructed by catechizers (teaching Christian ethics) Catechizers would instruct by oral tradition –Luke is writing approximately a generation after the death of Christ Many have been taught by oral traditions and written records by traveling teachers (itinerant teachers) –Not having an authoritative Gospel

Source of Knowledge Synoptic Gospels –Written in response to the need of early believers –Church of Acts Decade: mainly Jews Authoritative record was needed for the Jews –Matthew: an apostle »Wrote to Jewish believers as Jesus being Israel’s Messiah »Jesus was Savior and Sovereign »Recorded the authentication of the offer of the kingdom, Israel's debate over the kingdom, and Israel's rejection of Messiah and His withdrawal of the offer of the kingdom »Matthew was not reaching the unbelieving group but to explain the kingdom program

Source of Knowledge Gospel Need –Paul’s missionary journey to the Gentiles Romans and Greeks –Reached Roman province Mark joins Paul on his missionary journey’s to Roman provinces Luke joins Paul on his missionary journey’s to Greek world –Luke presents Jesus as the Son of Man –Son of Man was a Messianic title of the Old Testament –Servant of the Lord Old Testament title for Messiah who was to redeem and to reign

Source of Knowledge Luke’s Introduction –Material came from apostles Apostles were eyewitnesses and servants of the Word –Commissioned to go out into the world (Mt 28:19-20) –Apostles would be responsible for sharing the Word Prophetic Commission repeated in Acts 1:8

Source of Knowledge Luke’s Gospel –Eyewitnesses Luke 2:19-”But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” –Luke must have learned about the birth from Mary –Elizabeth gives details about John the Baptist birth – Luke being a historian investigates everything and decides to put in proper order –Luke wants to make sure Theophilus is given the truth

The Preexistence of Christ John 1:1-18 –Facts Brief introduction about the preexistence of the Son before arriving (“In the beginning was the Word”) Son had a distinct personality (“The Word was with God”) –With: emphasizes a personal relationship existing between two persons Affirms the deity of Christ (“The Word was God”) Eternity of God (“He was with God in the beginning.”)

The Preexistence of Christ John 1:1-18 –John 1:14-”The became flesh, and lived for a while among us” –Philippians 2:5-8: Paul emphasizes the same truth –Word Roots in the Old Testament Law that prohibited a Jew from taking the name of their God in vain –Customary to substitute another word for the name Yahweh Old Testament: God would reveal His truth –The Revealer would be referred as “Memra” –“Memra”-Hebrew word for “a word” –Emphasizes the importance of what God is communicating

The Preexistence of Christ John 1:1-18 –Concept of the Word Is a person who has come into the world to reveal the person of the Father to men –Relationship with Creation Verse 3: Father is the designer and the Son is the intermediate agent in creation Christ has authority over creation Creation was designed by the Creator to show the power of God

The Preexistence of Christ Verse 4 –Relationship of the Word to men Life stems from the Creator Verse 5 –“The light shines in the darkness”: John communicates light being knowledge of God

The Preexistence of Christ John the Baptist –Malachi 3:1: Prophecy of John the Baptist –Prepare the nation of Israel for the coming of the Messiah –People misplaced their trust in John the Baptist John came as a witness to the light

The Preexistence of Christ Verse –“The world was made through him”: preexistence of Christ –“He was in the world”: Incarnation of Christ –“He came to that which was his own”: Purpose-Incarnate Son Psalm 2:6-9: promise the Son has authority over all people 2 Samuel 7:16: Prophecy of Jesus coming from David’s lineage

The Preexistence of Christ Response to Christ –John 1:10, “The world did not recognize him” Jesus was seen as blasphemous impostor who deserved death Israelites rejected Him –John 1:12, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” Children of God-Jews to refer to membership in a covenant nation (be part of God’s kingdom) Jewish custom: physical birth was sufficient to guarantee a right to Messiah’s kingdom (covenant with the Jewish nation) –Natural descent from Abraham

The Preexistence of Christ John 14 & 18 –Revelation of the Word To reveal God to men, the Word became flesh Those who knew God could testify they had seen the shekinah (light) of God Exodus 40:34-38, 1 Kings 8:10-11, 2 Peter 1:16-18 –Glory of God –Verse 18 “No has ever seen God” –Refers to Old Testament –Special Revelation allows us to come to know the Father