Christology
Lesson Description
The divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ, addressing how Jesus claimed to be God, C.S. Lewis's "lunatic, liar, or Lord" argument, and why both His deity and humanity are essential for salvation and our relationship with God.
Jason Kennedy
Pastor
The Fundamental Question
Big Idea: "Who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:15)
Scripture to Read:
Matthew 16:13-17 - Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi
John 1:1-14 - The Word was God and became flesh
Philippians 2:5-11 - Jesus was in the form of God but took on human form
The Scene: Jesus took His disciples to Caesarea Philippi—a region steeped in idolatry. He stood against a cave known as "the Gates of Hades" and asked: "Who do you say that I am?"
Reflect:
Who do YOU say Jesus is?
Is He a great teacher? A moral man? Or God?
Why does this question matter so much?
The Truth: This is the most fundamental question you must answer. Everything else in Christianity hinges on how you answer this question.
Thomas Jefferson's Problem
The Story: Thomas Jefferson struggled with Jesus' divinity so much that he created his own version of the Bible. He cut out all of Jesus' miracles and kept only His moral teachings.
The Problem: This absolutely robbed Jesus of who He said He was. Jefferson couldn't get out of his own way. He thought: "There's no way a human being can be God."
But that's exactly what the Bible claims.
Reflect:
Have you ever struggled to believe Jesus is both fully God and fully human?
What makes this concept so difficult for people to accept?
The Challenge: We're trying to understand God with our human minds. That's hard. But the Bible makes it clear: Jesus is both fully divine and fully human.
PART 1: The Divinity of Christ (Jesus is God)
Big Idea: Did Jesus really believe He was divine? Does the Bible actually teach this?
We'll examine four areas:
Jesus' self-consciousness (what He believed about Himself)
The Gospels (especially John)
The Book of Hebrews
Paul's writings
The term "Lord" (Kurios)
Jesus' Self-Consciousness: What Did He Believe About Himself?
Big Idea: Jesus made claims that would be absolutely inappropriate in a Jewish world if He didn't believe He was God.
Example 1: Jesus Forgives Sins (Mark 2:1-12)
The Scene: A paralyzed man is lowered through a roof because the crowd is too large. Jesus looks at him and says: "Son, your sins are forgiven."
The Reaction: The scribes erupt: "He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
Jesus' Response: "Which is easier to say: 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Rise, pick up your bed and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." Then He heals the man.
Why This Matters:
Only God can forgive sins
Jesus claimed this authority
The crowd understood exactly what He was claiming
Blasphemy was punishable by death—and Jesus didn't back down
Reflect:
Why would forgiving sins be considered blasphemy?
What was Jesus saying about Himself by forgiving sins?
Example 2: Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:23-28)
The Scene: Jesus' disciples are plucking grain on the Sabbath. The Pharisees accuse them of breaking the law.
Jesus' Response: "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath."
Why This Matters:
The Sabbath was one of the most sacred laws in Judaism
Jesus is putting Himself ABOVE the law
He's claiming authority over God's law
This is a clear indication of His divinity
Reflect:
What does it mean for Jesus to be "lord of the Sabbath"?
How would the Jewish leaders have heard this claim?
Example 3: "Before Abraham Was, I AM" (John 8:48-59)
The Scene: The Pharisees are arguing with Jesus. They ask: "Are you greater than our father Abraham? Who do you make yourself out to be?"
Jesus' Response: "Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad."
The Jews: "You're not even 50 years old, and you've seen Abraham?"
Jesus: "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."
The Reaction: They picked up stones to kill Him for blasphemy.
Why This Matters:
Jesus claimed pre-existence (He existed before Abraham)
Jesus used the name "I AM"—God's name in Exodus 3:14
The Jews understood exactly what He was saying: "I am Yahweh."
John records seven "I AM" statements in his Gospel, intentionally connecting Jesus to the "I AM" of the Old Testament
The Seven "I AM" Statements in John:
"I am the bread of life" (6:35)
"I am the light of the world" (8:12)
"I am the door" (10:9)
"I am the good shepherd" (10:11)
"I am the resurrection and the life" (11:25)
"I am the way, the truth, and the life" (14:6)
"I am the true vine" (15:1)
Reflect:
Why did the Jews try to stone Jesus after He said "I AM"?
What does it mean that Jesus existed before Abraham?
Action: Read John 8:48-59 slowly. Notice how the conversation escalates and why the Jews react so violently.
Example 4: "But I Say to You..." (The Sermon on the Mount)
Scripture to Read:
Matthew 5:21-22 - "You have heard it said...but I say to you"
Matthew 5:27-28 - "You have heard it said...but I say to you"
What Jesus is Doing:
"You have heard it said...BUT I SAY TO YOU..."
He's adding context to the law
He's elevating Himself to the same level as the Lawgiver (God)
Why This Matters: The only person who could change or add to the law would be God, because He was the one who gave it. By inserting Himself into the law, Jesus is placing Himself in the position of God.
Reflect:
How would the Jewish people have heard these statements?
What authority does it take to say "But I say to you" after quoting God's law?
Jesus Never Denied His Divinity
Key Moments:
Peter's Confession: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16)—Jesus doesn't correct him
Jesus' Trial: When Pilate questions Him, Jesus never denies being God
Judgment Scene: Jesus places Himself on the throne judging the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25)
The Truth: A true and honest study of the Gospels makes it abundantly clear: Jesus knew who He was. His people inferred who He might be, and He never denied it.
C.S. Lewis: Lunatic, Liar, or Lord
Big Idea: You can't call Jesus a "good moral teacher" and reject His claim to be God.
C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity, 1942):
"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.'
That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on the level with a man who says he's a poached egg—or else he would be the devil of hell.
You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon, or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God.
But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."
The Three Options:
Lunatic - He thought He was God but wasn't (insane)
Liar - He knew He wasn't God but claimed to be (evil)
Lord - He is exactly who He claimed to be (God)
There is no fourth option.
What Lewis Said in 1950: "The only person who can say that sort of thing is either God or a complete lunatic. If you think you're a poached egg when you're looking for a piece of toast to suit you, you may be sane. But if you think you're God, there is no chance for you.
He was never regarded as a mere moral teacher. He produced mainly three effects: hatred, terror, or adoration. There was no trace of mild approval."
Reflect:
Why can't Jesus just be a "good teacher"?
Which of the three options (lunatic, liar, Lord) makes the most sense based on the evidence?
Action: Write down your answer: Is Jesus lunatic, liar, or Lord? Why?
The New Testament Calls Jesus "Lord" (Kurios)
Big Idea: The Greek word Kurios (Lord) is the same word used for Yahweh (Jehovah) in the Old Testament.
The Septuagint:
The Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible
Used by New Testament writers
Translated "Yahweh" (God's name) as Kurios
What the New Testament Does:
Calls Jesus Kurios (Lord)
Uses the same word for Jesus that the Old Testament uses for God
This is a clear indication: Jesus is Yahweh
Reflect:
Why is it significant that the same word is used for Jesus and for God?
What were the New Testament writers trying to communicate?
Heresies Defeated: Denying Jesus' Divinity
Big Idea: Throughout history, people have tried to deny Jesus' divinity. The church defeated these heresies early on.
HERESY 1: Ebionism
The Claim:
Jesus was an ordinary person with unusual gifts
At His baptism, He was given special power to be the Messiah
But He was never God
Why It's Wrong: Jesus claimed to be God from the beginning. He didn't "become" the Messiah at His baptism—He always was the Messiah.
HERESY 2: Arianism
The Claim:
Jesus (the Word) was created
Jesus was superior to humans but inferior to God
Jesus was a demigod, not fully God
Who Believes This Today:
Jehovah's Witnesses
Why It's Wrong:
John 1:1 says "the Word WAS God," not "the Word was created"
Colossians 1:16 says all things were created THROUGH Jesus
If Jesus is created, He can't save us
Who Defeated It: Athanasius - one of the greatest theologians in history
Why Jesus' Divinity Matters
Big Idea: If Jesus isn't God, Christianity falls apart.
1. We Have Real Knowledge of God
John 14:9 - "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father."
All the compassion, grace, mercy, and love we see in Jesus—that's what God is like.
2. Redemption is Available to Us
The death of Christ is sufficient for our sins. If Jesus was just a man, His death wouldn't be enough to save the world.
3. God and Humanity Have Been Reunited
Jesus came out of His transcendence into the immanent world and reconnected us back to God.
4. Worship of Christ is Appropriate
If Jesus is God, we can worship Him. If He's not, worshiping Him is idolatry.
Reflect:
How does Jesus' divinity change the way you approach Him?
What would be at stake if Jesus were not fully God?
PART 2: The Humanity of Christ (Jesus is Human)
Big Idea: Jesus was fully human—not just "appearing" to be human, but actually experiencing all of human existence.
Why People Struggle with This: "Jesus cannot possibly have been human because He didn't sin."
The Truth: Sin is not part of what makes us human. Sin is a corruption of humanity. Jesus shows us what humanity was supposed to be.
Why Jesus' Humanity Matters
1. There's a Gap Between Us and God God is transcendent—we can't reach Him. So God became flesh to bridge the gap.
2. Jesus Can Intercede for Us Hebrews 4:15 - "We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."
If Jesus wasn't truly human, He couldn't sympathize with us or represent us as our high priest.
The Bible Clearly Shows Jesus Was Human
Evidence:
He was born (Luke 2)
He grew physically (Luke 2:52)
He needed food (He was hungry)
He was thirsty (John 4)
He was fatigued (John 4)
He didn't know certain things (Mark 9, Mark 13)
Jesus Didn't Know Everything?
Example 1: Mark 9:14-29 (The Boy with the Demon)
Jesus asks TWO questions:
"What are you arguing about?"
"How long has this been happening to him?"
These seem like genuine questions—Jesus appears to lack information in the moment.
Example 2: Mark 13:32 (The Day and Hour)
"But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
Jesus explicitly says He doesn't know when He'll return.
Reflect:
Does this bother you? Why or why not?
How can Jesus be God and not know everything?
The Answer: Jesus had extraordinary knowledge and wisdom, but He was also fully human. Ignorance doesn't mean error—it just means lack of knowledge.
During His earthly ministry, Jesus voluntarily limited His use of divine attributes. This is called kenosis (Philippians 2:7—"He emptied Himself").
Heresies Defeated: Denying Jesus' Humanity
HERESY 1: Docetism
The Claim:
The material world is evil (influenced by Plato and Aristotle)
Therefore, Jesus only APPEARED to be human
He wasn't actually physical
The Word "Docetism": From the Greek word dokeo = "to seem or appear"
Why It's Wrong: If Jesus only appeared to be human, then He didn't truly die. And if He didn't truly die, we're still lost in our sins.
HERESY 2: Apollinarianism
The Claim:
Jesus was only partially human
He had a human body but not a human soul
He was physical but not psychological
Why It's Wrong: If Jesus didn't have a human soul/mind, then:
Temptation wasn't real for Him
He can't truly sympathize with our weaknesses
He can't make true atonement for us
Jesus Was Tempted (But Never Sinned)
The Objection: "If Jesus never sinned, He must not have been tempted that hard."
Leon Morris' Response: "The man who yields to a particular temptation has not felt its full power. He has given in while the temptation has yet something in reserve.
Jesus, being sinless, experienced the FULL FORCE of temptation because He never gave in."
Hebrews 4:15 - "We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."
Reflect:
Have you ever thought Jesus "had it easy" because He's God?
How does understanding that He felt the full force of temptation change your view?
Why Jesus' Humanity Matters
1. Jesus' Death Truly Works for Us
It wasn't some outsider who died for humanity—it was one of us. He could make the appropriate sacrifice.
2. Jesus Can Truly Sympathize with Us
He understands what you go through. He experienced hunger, thirst, fatigue, rejection, betrayal, pain, and death.
He can intercede for us before we even know we need it.
3. Jesus Shows Us True Humanity
Jesus didn't just tell us what humanity is—He showed us.
He's the perfect example of what God intended humanity to be:
Fully loving
Fully compassionate
Fully able to resist temptation
Fully holy
Fully pure
4. Jesus Can Be Our Example
While Jesus didn't come primarily to be a role model, we can see what it looks like to live a life of holiness and godliness.
5. Human Nature (As God Intended) is Good
Sin broke everything. But when we look at Jesus, we see God's original intent for humanity—and it's beautiful.
6. God is Not Distant
He's not transcendent and far away. He is NEAR.
God can be reached because of His initiative. Jesus came down to us.
The Work of Christ: Three Roles
Big Idea: Jesus serves three critical functions.
ROLE 1: REVEALER (The Revelatory Role)
What He Does:
Jesus revealed the Father to us
He revealed heavenly truth
He's both prophet and the fulfillment of prophecy
He's the revealer of the good news (the Gospel)
John 14:9 - "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father."
The prophets gave hints. Jesus gave the full picture.
ROLE 2: RULER (The Rule of Christ)
Big Idea: Jesus is the ruler of the entire universe—past, present, and future.
Isaiah 9:7 - "Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore."
Jesus Rules in the PAST:
John 1:3 - "All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made."
Jesus Rules in the PRESENT:
Colossians 1:17 - "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
Jesus is holding everything together right now.
Colossians 1:18 - "He is the head of the body, the church."
Jesus reigns and rules through the church.
Jesus Rules in the FUTURE:
He is coming again, and He will judge the living and the dead.
ROLE 3: RECONCILER (The Reconciling Work of Christ)
What He Does:
Jesus intercedes for us before the Father (John 17)
He reconciles us back to God
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation."
We were once enemies. Through Christ's death and resurrection, He brings us back into relationship with God.
He presents us as righteous to the Father. He pleads our case.
The Two Stages of Christ's Work
STAGE 1: HUMILIATION (Incarnation and Death)
What It Includes:
His incarnation (coming to earth)
His death on the cross
All His work on earth
Think about it: God came down from heaven in all His glory and dealt with the pain of human existence. It was humiliating.
STAGE 2: EXALTATION (Resurrection and Reign)
What It Includes:
His resurrection
His ascension
Seated at the right hand of the Father
One day, He will bring us home in victory
He's no longer humiliated. He's exalted.
Final Reflection
The Question: "Who do you say that I am?"
Your Answer:
Is Jesus a lunatic?
Is Jesus a liar?
Or is Jesus Lord?
There is no fourth option.
The divinity and humanity of Jesus are essential to understanding your faith.
If He's not fully God, He can't save you
If He's not fully human, He can't represent you
But because He is BOTH, salvation is possible.
Action Steps:
Today:
Answer the question: "Who do you say that Jesus is?"
Write it down. Be specific.
This Week:
Read one of the Gospels (start with Mark or John)
Notice how Jesus claims divinity and displays humanity
This Month:
Study the "I AM" statements in John
Memorize Philippians 2:5-11 (the humiliation and exaltation of Christ)
"Who do you say that I am?"
— Jesus (Matthew 16:15)
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
— Peter (Matthew 16:16)