1. Who is Jesus Christ according to the records of the Gospel?
The four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) present a multi-faceted portrait of Jesus, but with a consistent core identity.
The Messiah (Christ): This is the central claim, especially in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. "Christ" is not a last name but a title meaning "Anointed One." The Gospels present Jesus as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah promised in the Old Testament, who came to inaugurate the Kingdom of God.
The Son of God: This title signifies His unique, divine relationship with God the Father. At His baptism and transfiguration, a voice from heaven declares, "This is my beloved Son" (Matthew 3:17, 17:5). This points to His divinity.
The Son of Man: This was Jesus' most common way of referring to Himself. It has a dual meaning: a human figure (Ezekiel) and a glorious, divine figure from the book of Daniel (Daniel 7:13-14) who is given eternal authority and judgment.
The Savior and Lord: He is presented as the one who saves people from their sins (Matthew 1:21) and the supreme authority over all creation.
Fully God and Fully Man: The Gospel of John especially emphasizes His divinity, opening with "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:1, 14). The Gospels also show His full humanity—He grew tired, wept, felt hunger, and died.
In summary, the Gospels portray Jesus as the divine-human Messiah, who came to preach the Kingdom of God, die for the sins of humanity, and rise again to offer eternal life.
2. What did Paul say about Jesus and man's justification?
The Apostle Paul developed the doctrine of justification more fully than any other New Testament writer. His core message is that we are justified (declared righteous by God) not by our own works, but by faith in Jesus Christ.
The Problem: All people, both Jews and Gentiles, are sinners and fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). The Law of Moses exposes this sin but cannot fix it.
The Solution: God provided Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement. His death on the cross paid the penalty for sin.
The Means: Justification is received by grace through faith.
Romans 3:28: "For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law."
Galatians 2:16: "Know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified."
The Result: When a person has faith in Christ, God credits Christ's righteousness to them. They are declared "not guilty" and are reconciled to God.
For Paul, Jesus is the sole and sufficient grounds for our justification.
3. How did Paul and Peter preach to the Jewish people about Jesus Christ?
Both Peter and Paul tailored their message to a Jewish audience, starting from the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament) they knew and trusted.
Peter's Preaching to Jews (in Acts):
Fulfillment of Prophecy: He presented Jesus as the fulfillment of Jewish hopes. In his famous Pentecost sermon (Acts 2), he quotes the prophet Joel and the Psalms to prove that Jesus is the Messiah.
The Messiah was Killed and Raised: He directly accused them of killing the Messiah but emphasized that this was part of God's plan (Acts 2:23). He then presented the resurrection as God's vindication of Jesus.
Call to Repentance: His call was for his Jewish listeners to recognize their error, repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).
Paul's Preaching to Jews (in Acts):
Synagogue Model: Paul consistently went to Jewish synagogues first when he entered a new city.
Argument from Scripture: He reasoned with them from the Law and the Prophets, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead, and that "this Jesus... is the Messiah" (Acts 17:2-3).
Example in Acts 13: In the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch, Paul gave a masterful summary of Israel's history, showing how Jesus is the descendant of David and the Savior God promised. He concluded that through Jesus, forgiveness of sins is proclaimed, and justification is available that could not be obtained through the Law of Moses.
Their approach was to demonstrate from the Jewish Scriptures that Jesus is the climax of the story of Israel.
4. Did the New Testament say anything about the "work of the law"?
Romans 3:20: "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin."
Galatians 2:16: "...not justified by the works of the law..."
Galatians 3:2: "I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?"
5. What is the "work of the law" and the "law"? What are their differences?
The Law (Nomos): This primarily refers to the entire system of God's commandments given to Israel through Moses, as recorded in the first five books of the Bible (the Torah). It includes moral laws (e.g., the Ten Commandments), civil laws, and ceremonial laws (e.g., sacrifices, dietary rules). The Law is holy, righteous, and good (Romans 7:12) because it reflects God's character. Its primary functions are to reveal God's will, define sin, and act as a guardian to lead people to Christ (Galatians 3:24).
The "Works of the Law" (Erga Nomou): This is a specific phrase referring to the actions and deeds performed in obedience to the Law's commands. In the New Testament context, somes say it especially refers to the Jewish identity markers like circumcision, dietary laws, and Sabbath observance, which separated Jews from Gentiles. The problem is not the Law itself, but human inability to keep it perfectly.
6. Did the Jewish people saved by grace or by believing in Jesus Christ?
According to the New Testament, the means of salvation is the same for everyone, Jew and Gentile.
Salvation is by Grace: The source of salvation is always the unmerited favor and grace of God. No one, not even the most devout Jew, can earn salvation through Law-keeping (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Salvation is through Faith: The instrument by which we receive this grace is faith (trust, reliance).
The Object of Faith is Jesus Christ: True, saving faith is specifically placed in Jesus as the Messiah and Lord.
Therefore, a Jewish person (like Peter, Paul, or any of the first disciples) is saved in the exact same way as a Gentile: by God's grace, through faith in Jesus Christ.
Acts 4:12: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." (Peter speaking to Jewish leaders).
Romans 10:12-13: "For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" (Paul writing).
In summary, the New Testament presents a unified message: the Law was a temporary guardian pointing toward Christ. Now that Christ has come, both Jews and Gentiles are declared righteous (justified) by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
No comments:
Post a Comment