Week 3 Doctrine: The Person and Work of Christ
Day 1 - Eternal Son of God
Scripture - John 1:1-3, Hebrews 1:3, & Colossians 1:15-20
Devotional - Jesus is the second member of the Trinity, the eternal Son, begotten of God the Father. He is the very Word of God and was with God in eternity past. He is not created but was active in the creation of everything. Jesus is the only Redeemer of God's elect. He has defeated our enemies by His death on the cross, having risen from the dead, is now seated on the throne, ruling and interceding for His people.
Questions -
1. Was the Son of God created?
2. Was Jesus active in creation?
3. How did Jesus defeat our enemies?
Day 2 - The Incarnation of Christ
Scripture - 1 John 5:20, Isaiah 9:6-7, & John 1:14
Devotional - The second person of the Trinity, Jesus, became a human by taking on a physical body. Though Jesus took on human form he did not stop being God. He was fully God and fully man at the exact same time. Because every person born after Adam and Eve is born sinful, it was necessary for Jesus to be human and complete perfect obedience on our behalf. Jesus lived a perfect life, He never sinned. When He died on the cross for His elect, He took the punishment of death that we deserved. He exchanged His obedience for our sinfulness. He took the punishment for our sin and gave us the blessing from His obedience.
Questions -
1. Why did Jesus need to be human?
2. What do we receive because Jesus died on the cross?
3. Did Jesus stop being God when he became a man?
Day 3 - Christ's Active and Passive Obedience Scripture - Philippians 2:6-8, Matthew 3:15, & Matthew 26:39
Devotional - When we speak of Jesus’ obedience, we understand it by dividing His obedience into two categories: active and passive obedience. Active obedience is actions Jesus does to fulfill His role as our Redeemer. Jesus' passive obedience is actions Jesus allows to happen to Him in order to fulfill his role as our Redeemer. Both were necessary for Jesus to accomplish our redemption.
Questions -
1. What is Jesus' active obedience?
2. What is Jesus passive obedience?
3. Why are both types of obedience necessary for our redemption?
Day 4 - Penal Substitutionary Atonement Scripture - Romans 3:25, Romans 6:23, Galatians 2:20, & 1 John 4:10,
Devotional - Because we are all born sinners and also chose to sin against God, we are born at war with God. The penalty/payment we deserve, because of our sin, is death and God's wrath. Jesus took the wrath of God and paid the debt of sin which we owed. He paid our debt by dying the death we should have died and gifted to His people the favor which He earned through His perfect life. This is how Jesus redeemed (definitively) that which was lost (fellowship and right standing with God) when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden.
Questions -
1. What are the wages of sin?
2. Are we born sinful or sinless?
3. Jesus won back what Adam and Eve lost in the Garden of Eden. What did He win back?
Day 5 - Kingship of Christ
Scripture - Psalm 110, Psalm 2:6-8, Philippians 2:10-11, Luke 24:27, Matthew 28:18-20
Devotional - After Jesus rose from the dead, He walked with His disciples for 40 days. During this time He explained to them how all the old testament scriptures were pointing to Him. He taught them about His victory over sin and His Kingship. After 40 days, Jesus ascended into heaven where He still reigns at the right hand of God the Father. From His position of power and authority, He rules all the nations. He extends this power and authority to all of His people, commanding them to get busy building His kingdom. We do this by making more disciples and winning the nations to Christ.
Questions -
1. Where is Jesus right now?
2. How many nations does Jesus rule?
3. How can we build Christ's kingdom?
Resources:
ESV Bible: www.esvbible.org Westminster Confession of Faith & Larger and Shorter Catechisms: https://www.amazon.com/Westminster-Confession-Catechisms-Adopted-Presbyterian/dp/0979377005/ref=sr_1_2?crid=NLMB9B71ROL3&keywords=westminster+confession+of+faith+and+catechisms&qid=1558915443&s=gateway&sprefix=westminster%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-2 Louis Berkof Systematic Theology: https://www.amazon.com/Systematic-Theology-Louis-Berkhof/dp/1941129560/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1558915533&sr=8-1
Ligonier Free Resources: www.ligonier.org