Email Bible Lessons, Course No. 110
Life and Person of ChristBible Lessons - Lesson 1 of 27
EMAIL BIBLE LESSONS
Welcome, we trust you will enjoy these lessons as much as we did composing them. We are glad to be able to serve the Lord and you in this way.Many arebeing saved and helped through these simple Bible lessons. We suggest that you try to do one lesson each week; this will keep your interest in them active. This particular course contains twenty-seven lessons on Life and Person of ChristBible Studies. Please save this lesson onto your computer, read the lesson carefully, full in the answers to the test questions at the end of each lesson and email the test page back to us at . We will then evaluate and return any corrections to you with your next lesson. On completion of the full course you will receive a beautifully presented certificate. Should you have difficulty opening or sending this file to us, please let us know by return email. We suggest that you print these lessons and put them in a binder for future studies.
May God richly bless you as you proceed
Your Instructors
Harold Smith (Your Instructor) and Shelly Allen (Assistant)
All Courses are copyright and may not be used as Courses without permission.
We are greatly indebted to Samuel Johnson and the publisher, Gospel Tract Publications 7 Beech Avenue, Glasgow G41 5BY UK, for their kind permission to use the book, The Person of Christ, for Bible lessons. Much appreciated!
LESSON 1 –LIFE AND PERSON OF CHRIST BIBLE LESSONS
THE PERSON OF CHRIST
PREFACE
The Person of Christ Series appeared in Truth and Tidings magazine over a period of thirteen months. Many believers expressed their appreciation of these thirty-eight articles when they were published, and have requested that they be printed in a more permanent form. Our brother, Samuel F. Johnston of Gospel Tract Publications, 48 York Street, Glasgow, Scotland, offered to publish this book in compliance with these requests.
Care has been taken to republish this material in its original form, with only minor corrections. A full index of Scripture references has been added to aid the careful reader of the Word of God in his studies.
The article on the Perfect Servant was written many years ago by the late esteemed W.E.Vine. The other seven writers are engaged in an evangelistic and teaching ministry in Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland, Canada and the United States.
The matchless glories of the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the eternal value of His once for all sacrifice, are subjects which are dearest to the heart of the heavenly Father. May each saint who ponders the truths presented in these pages find his heart’s affections stirred, his hands engaged for the glory of God and his footsteps hastened toward the blessed moment when we shall see Him as He is. - Norman Crawford April 1981
LIFE AND PERSON OF CHRIST 1
The Pre-existence of Christ - In the Old Testament and the Gospels, Sydney Maxwell
The theme of this article brings to mind the question of the two on the road to Emmaus, “Art Thou only a stranger in Jerusalem?” (Luke 24:18 (KJV) And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?). The Lord Jesus was truly the “paroikeo”, (means = to be or dwell in a place as a stranger, to sojourn) the Sojourner in the world His hands had made. He did not belong here as He so clearly declared, “I am not of the world”(John 17:14, 16 (KJV) 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world). As we trace His footsteps before He came to Bethlehem,
We will be assured that He walked upon the sapphire stones of the heavenly sanctuary before worlds were brought into being. It is also the voice of this ‘Stranger̓ in the realm of Godhead that we hear saying, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3 (KJV) And God said, Let there be light: and there was light). It is with delight then, that we occupy our hearts with our glorious Lord and affirm from the Scriptures that, “He was before all things” (John 1:1 (KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God). We will first look into the Old Testament records.
THE THRONE SITTER - ISAIAH 6:1-4
Isaiah 6:1-4 (KJV) 1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
Uzziah, the leper king, had died. In his earlier days, as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper (2 Chronicles 26:5 (KJV) And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper). Also he was marvellously helped until he was strong (2 Chronicles 26:15 (KJV) And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong). The tragedy of his life was that his heart was lifted up to his destruction (2 Chronicles 26:16 (KJV) But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense). It is at such a momentous crisis in the nation that we are introduced to the Lord “high and lifted up.” The seraphim cry about His holiness and acknowledge His glory. In such an atmosphere the Prophet was made to confess his own need for cleansing. We turn to the Gospel of John and the writer by the Spirit identifies for us the Throne Sitter to be none other than our Lord Jesus Christ. “These things said Isaiah when he saw His glory and spake of Him” (John 12:41 (KJV) These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him).
THE SHEPHERD KING - MICAH 5:2-4.
Micah 5:2-4 (KJV) 2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. 3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
Micah 4:1-9 gives us a preview of the coming Kingdom. Micah 4:1-9 (KJV) 1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. 2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it. 5 For all people will walk everyone in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever. 6 In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; 7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever. 8 And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem. 9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.
Mount Zion is named as the place of the gathering of the people (verse 2). The principles of God’s law shall go out from this wonderful centre (verse 2) and peace shall pervade His kingdom (verse3). The prosperity of His subjects is described in verses four and five, and the promise of deliverance (Micah Chapter 4:10 to Chapter 5:1) is followed by the description of the Person who will bring it (Micah 5:1-4 (KJV) 1 Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. 2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. 3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth). The student will note that verse three, is a parenthesis denoting the rejection and return of the King, and verse four returns again to a description of the work of the Sovereign in that glorious Age.
The pre-existence of our Lord Jesus is established in the expression - whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting?(Micah 5:2 (KJV) But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting). We are left in no doubt as to the truth of this when we turn to Matthew 2:5-6 (KJV) 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel, and see the fulfilment of Micah’s prophecy in the birth of the One Who was born King of the Jews.
Having examined the references to His pre-existence in the Old Testament we will now look at the record of John’s Gospel concerning this essential truth. We will again look at our Lord Jesus Christ under titles that link Him to eternity.
THE LOGOS - JOHN 1:1-2
John 1:1-2 (KJV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.
The expression, “In the beginning” (verse 1), takes us beyond and before creation. This beginning is into the infinity of an eternal past; indefinable to human wisdom, because it is beyond the reach of time.
The preposition “with” (pros) is used to indicate that the Word did not exist in isolation but rather in the communion of Godhead. “The Word was with God.” It denotes, as well, distinct personality and eternal companionship (verse 2). We shall see in verse fourteen what He became (R.V., not “made” as in the A.V.). It is in Manhood throughout John’s Gospel that He claims pre-existence.
It is as the Word that He speaks in creation. He was before creation and through Him it came into being.
We have the important statement of John the Baptist, the Forerunner in John 1:15, 30.
John 1:15, 30 (KJV) 15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 30 This is he of whomI said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
John says, in point of time He came after me, but from eternity, “He is preferred before.me, (‘or He was before me” (verse 30).
THE SON OF MAN - JOHN 6:62
John 6:62 (KJV) What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
The Lord’s discourse on the Bread of Life is replete with proof of His pre-existence. He reminds them that He is the Antitype of the manna; He is the Living Bread out of (εκ - a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct or remote) heaven, having come down (John 6:51 (KJV) I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world). He clearly states, “What and if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where He was before?” (John 6:62 (KJV) What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?) This title, Son of Man does not refer to His origin from man, but His relationship to them.The words, “Where He was before” are emphatic, indicating a relationship prior to Bethlehem’s condescension.
THE SENT ONE
In a number of chapters in John’s Gospel the Lord Jesus is emphazing the great fact that He was the Sent One of the Father. In looking at these we will be impressed with the truth of His pre-existence.
The Pharisees had accused the Lord of having borne record of Himself and therefore His record was not true (John 8:17-18 (KJV) 17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. 18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.). In answer, the Lord Jesus said, “I know whence I came and whither I go.” He is going back to heaven for He came out of heaven, is the plain meaning of His words (John 8:14 (KJV) Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go). Not only did He enjoy the companionship of the Father in heaven, but He continued to enjoy it on earth even as He moved on to the cross (John 8:16 (KJV) And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me). In verse 42 the Lord puts His pre-existence beyond any doubt when He states, “I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but He sent Me.”(John 8:42 (KJV) Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me).
In John thirteen, we have the Divine Omniscience of the Lord Jesus presented to us; “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God and went to God” (John 13:3 (KJV) Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God). The “knowing” here is not that which is acquired by experience but inherent knowledge. We repudiate in any form the erroneous teaching that at some point in His pathway He became conscious of the Father’s will. Hebrews 10:7 (KJV) Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God, is sufficient to prove that He ever had this knowledge. This was a solemn occasion, Calvary was near; He knew His hour had come (John 13:1 (KJV) Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end). He knew He was going “unto God” from whence He had come, and in taking leave of His own He says, “Now I go my way to Him that sent Me” (John 16:5 (KJV) But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?). In John 16:28 He is very, expressive in His language, “I came out from the Father, and am come into the world, again I leave the world and go to the Father” (John 16:28 J.N.D.).