The Source of KnowledgeLife 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 10-12– “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