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The Earthly Life of Christ and Ministry of Christ

Jesus life and ministry in the primitive church was considered together until the

scholastic period where the catholic church becomes more philosophical. Thenluther resists current formulations.

Why does the life and ministry of Christ matter?

How does (should) his life and ministry affect the gospel (content and method)?

-Jesus re-enacts the history of Israel

His Divine human life(mat 1)

1. Davidic Genealogy- this genealogy signals a new beginning being established- genealogy has 3 sections: Abraham to monarchy, monarchy to Babylon,

2. David King-The title Christ

-David named 5 times

3. The Virginal Conception

-Both human and divine component

- mention of women- Fulfillment of the Genesis curse/blessing the seed will bring vindication -

also the representation of both sexes God uses whats necessary to humansalvation also the transmission of Sin discontinued in Christ

B. An Obedient Life (mat 3:13-4:11)

1. Gods son and human Sonship

- In a certain sense Gods son means all human beings- God designates Israel as his firstborn

- Gods son also applied to the kings of Israel (2 Sam 7, Ps 2)

- Historical and theological links between Israel and Jesus (mat 2:15, Hosea11:1)

-Jesus Sonship is a paradigm for all believers men and women (2 Cor 6:18quotes 2 Sam 7:14)

2. Baptism- fulfill all that is righteous

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3. Testing- He is willing to accept privation

- He is willing to trust the Fathers care without the need to test him- He rejects the shortcut to fulfill his mission

- Israel as son tested in the desert in Deut 6-8; Jesus is the new Son

C. A Distinctly Personal Life (matt 22:34-40; john 15:9-17)

1. Relational Integrity and Wholeness- Loving God and loving neighbor refreames our lives in social, relational

terms-Robert Mulholland (Asbury) to be like Christ or like Jesus is to be 1) totally

abandoned to God in Love and 2) totally available to God for others

2. Friendship: Biblical and Philosophical notions- Jn 15: 9-16 : Loved is fleshed out in Friendship

- Aristotle a shared recognition and pursuit of a good

3. Friend of God

-Abraham:- Available to those who fear the Lord (Ps 25:14)

4. Befriender of Others

-Friendship characterizes his earthly mission

-freely gave and received from others (meals, lodging, gifts)-Social status not a criterion for friendship : extended friendship to sinners,

poor, women, gentiles

5. A Spiritually Discerning Love

- not obsessive about doing good

D. A Compassionate Life

(Mark 6:30 and Mark 8:1- 10)

Ex. 15:13. 17Is 49:9ff

Ps 78: 12- 20, 70-72

E. An Exemplary Life (Jn13 :1-20)

1. The Servant Role2. The deeper meaning

- footwashing a paradigm that represents the totality of Jesus mission,

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motivated by love

- Washing represents his once for all atoning, cleansing death (6-8)- Washing represents the continuous work of sanctification(9-10)

- Washing teaches lessons in humility (12-17)

3. Model Given- Identity of Jesus as unique Son of God does not prevent him from acting inhumility. Washing feet is not beneath his dignity.

True use of power, faithful use of privileges

- Inversion of conventional social systems of position, roles, and tasks

4.The Dark Presence

5. Service not servility

- voluntary nature of Jesus service

F. Obedience of the incarnate Son: Important theological distinctions

1. Christs Active Obedience: his intentional. Willing, ongoing, consistent,

unreserved, complete obedience to the Father from his birth up to thePassion

2.Christs Passive Obedience: his passion, during which he accepted passively(without any resistance) the suffering and cross.

3. Immanent Trinity and the Economic Trinity

-Immanent: ontological or essential Trinity; the term used to explore (to an

adequate degree) and explain the integral workings and relationships amongthe 3 persons of the Trinity

-Economic refers to the manifestations of the 3 persons of the Trinity in

relationship to the world particularly in regard to the outworking of Godsplan (economy) of salvation

4. Functional (Economic) Subordinationism versus Ontological

Subordinationism

-Economic: by the incarnation and by the taking form of a servant, the Soncame to sustain new relations to the Father (obedience) and the Holy

Spirit(dependance)

- This subordnation is not eternal, essential attribute of the pre-incarnate Sonof God who is the 2nd Person of the Trinity.

- Subordonationism is the claim that because the Son was sent by the Fatherand the Spirit proceeds from the Father they are not Ontologically equal to

the Father (heresy of the 2nd / 3rd cent)

The Ministry of Jesus Christ

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(Mat 4:12 - 17)

1. Kingdom of god

- Gods Eternal rule-Universal

- Emphasis is on Gods Sovereignty or royal rule; sense of realm (territorialkingdom) is secondary

2. Has come near

- means God is taking over as King- To enter the kingdom of God is to come under his rule

3. Its arrival

- IS already and accomplished fact (mk 1:15)

- Currently operative reality (Lk 17:21)

4. Its scope- Total control( mk 4:35 -8:26)- Cosmic (spiritual world, nature)

5. Its character

shalom: the total conditions that make for a comprehensive peace and

flourishing, including justice and righteousness

6. Jesus relation to the kingdom of God- He embodies the personal presence of God as Ruler

- Acceptance of his claims, deeds necessary to enter

- repentance necessary (Jn 3:3, 5-6)

C. The ruler of the people of God

(Lk 9:18-22)1. Reconstituting Israel AroundHimself (mat 19:28-30)

2. Gathering the scattered people of God

(jn 10;11-18) sheep not of this pen

3. reign of God is also the reign of Christ

My kingdom ( Lk 22:29-30

D. The healer from God (Mk5)Healing the demon possessed man

-release from Satans stranglehold

-healing the chronically ill woman and a dead girl-physically healing (emotional and spiritual as well)

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E. The Intercessor for Gods People (Lk 22:31-32 and Jn 17)

Lk 22 simonsimon, satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But ihave prayedfor you simon that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back

strengthen your brothers.

-Jn 17 priestly prayer- for disciples- for the Church

F. Revealer of the LIVING God (Jn 14:1-11)jn 5:26,40

6:576:61-63

14:6

H. An important Theological Schema: threefold office

prophet speaking the words of the Father- spoke the words of the Father, removes our sinful ignorance by his words

Priest

singular sacrifice was greater than the sacrifices of the Jewish people

King