Some considerations on the doctrine of Christ

Why the Doctrine of Jesus Christ

Christ Jesus teaches in the scriptures that He is THE way THE truth and THE life.

The scriptures also teach us that Christ Jesus is the Chief Corner Stone, the Foundation of both the Apostles AND the Prophets.

1. Consider that for any truth to be rightly divided THE truth (Christ Jesus) must be first rightly understood. If Christ Jesus is understood in truth, all other doctrines taught in the scriptures will be properly understood.
2. In other words, unless the Foundation of Christianity, Jesus Christ, is properly identified and known, there is no proper foundation, nor building thereupon.

  What is the significance in laying a proper foundation? Wise men build upon Rock, but foolish build upon sand. Wise virgins have oil in their lamps, but foolish virgins have no oil. How do the sandy foundation and lamps without oil manifest themselves?
1. The fruits of sandy foundations and lamps without oil are misunderstandings about sanctification, justification, redemption, the atonement, the resurrection, eschatology, ecclesiology that is that Christ was, is and ever shall be all in all. For in Him are hidden all these treasures bodily.
2. The fruits of a foundation on rock are steadfastness in and understanding of these truths that is the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus.

  Some time back, someone asked all the brethren for their definition of “the church.” I responded with my answer. I was then asked for further clarification as to what I meant in a few of my statements. One of my statements inquired after was where I noted that the church is the visible manifestation of Christ on earth. I was unable to answer this question at that time because I am not sure how everyone understands Christ. Let me try, as simply and plainly as I am able, to explain what I meant by that statement.

  The scriptures teach that Christ is before all things and by Him all things consist…
Christ is from everlasting, before creation. In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We saints were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. He Who chose us is God the Father. God is our God. God the Father is our heavenly Father. God is both the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:17; John 17).

  If God is the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, then Jesus Christ cannot be purely God, but God-man. If our God is Jesus Christ’s God and our Father is Jesus Christ’s Father, then Jesus Christ existed before the foundation of the world, for the Father chose us in Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world.

  How has God revealed himself to his children born under the curse of Adam? There has never been a time when Christ has not manifested himself since the creation whether it was personally as with Adam and Eve, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, etc. or through His brethren, the children of God as Abel, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, etc.
 
  What set these apart from the rest of humanity was that the Spirit of Christ was in them. They were united in Christ before the foundation of the world. Their union was manifested in both their words as well as their deeds. Their words and works we can read and understand from the scriptures. All of their words and works were according to the everlasting covenant that our Lord Jesus undertook as our God-man Mediator before the world was. God’s children’s works are out of heaven (John 5:20 with John 14:12) and are according to the working of God’s mighty power, even the same power that raised Jesus Christ from dead.

  Consider a typical Old Testament work, the building of the Tabernacle and then Temple. Were not all things made according to the pattern of things our Lord showed Moses on the Mount? Was this pattern not an example and shadow of heavenly things? Why did only priests called of God serve the Tabernacle and Temple? Is this not a showing forth of Christ? Why was there a division between the Holy place and the Holiest of Holies that consisted of a veil? Does this not show forth the two-fold nature of our Lord Jesus Christ as God-man Mediator? Do not the scriptures teach us that His flesh was that veil?

  Why did Christ teach the Jews that He was able to destroy the Temple made with hands and rebuild in three days the Temple made without hands (speaking of the Temple of his body?) Why is His body called the tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man? How is it that He is the Head of the body, His church, if He has not been so from before creation? Are not Old Testament saints in Christ? Was Christ not their Mediator? Were we chosen IN Christ before the foundation of the world? If he was not Christ from everlasting, then He is not now. If He is, as the scriptures teach us, before all things and by Him and for Him were all things created, how could He not have preceded the creation?

  If the Father sent Jesus Christ, how did He not exist before he was sent? How did the Father send something that did not exist? Why did Jesus say he came down out of heaven if He did not exist and if He really was not there to begin with?

  If He was brought forth before creation, ever rejoicing with Him who brought him forth  (Pro 8) how can we say that He wasn’t? If we agree that He was brought forth before creation, did the Father bring forth a lesser “God” or the firstborn of every creature?

  That since the creation saints individually as well as collectively are visible manifestations of Christ on earth is evident for all things flow from God through Christ to us. What makes us to differ from any other except Christ Jesus? How do we differ from the children of the devil if not in words and deeds?

  When our Lord Jesus led captivity captive, He gave gifts to men. These gifts identify God’s children from the devil’s. One of these gifts is eternal life. What is eternal life, but to know the true God and Jesus Christ whom the Father sent? Eternal life is a bestowed life given by the Father to Jesus Christ and by Christ to whomsoever the Father chose in Him (John 5 and John 6.) Therefore, wheresoever God’s children have been found since the creation, there was spiritual life, spiritual worship, spiritual words, and spiritual works.

  As to the state of all the foundational doctrines of modern day Christianity, let me please ask for a definition as to what these are. Define who Christ is? There are many christs in this world. We can turn on a radio or TV and listen to the various christs being preached and taught. Brethren, there is but one foundational doctrine, the Lord Jesus Christ. All else flows from our Great Three-one through Him to His elect and redound back through him to our Great Three-One. For as He is, so are we in this world.

  In answer to a dear brother’s questions, I present for consideration the following answers:

1. IF Christ's Manhood/Flesh was from eternity... THEN HE was not "made of a woman" Gal 4:4.  I understand this to mean that Christ Jesus could not have possibly existed before He was made of a woman. I hope I have not misunderstood this point. The scriptures teach that Christ was indeed “made” before he came into the world. John 1:15 and John 1:30 “he that cometh after me is preferred (Greek verb, was made) before me because he was before me.” “After me cometh a man which is preferred (Greek verb – was made) before me; for he was before me. John the Baptist stated twice that the Man Christ Jesus, the Lamb of God was made before him because He was before him. This cannot speak to time because John’s mother Elizabeth was a minimum six months pregnant when the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary; therefore, this man was made and preceded John outside of time.

2. ….could not have been "made sin for us" 2 Cor 5:21 This making does not speak to Jesus Christ’s origin, but His humiliation. Please carefully consider Hebrews 2:14-18.

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on [him the nature of] angels; but he took on [him] the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto [his] brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”

  Let me ask you, brethren, does this scripture speak to origin or form? Are we children because we partake of flesh and blood? Does our flesh and blood make us children? But what does the scripture say? Because the children (already children) are partakers of flesh and blood, he also (He already had a glorious form, John 17) likewise took part of the same. He took upon Himself the form of a servant, was made in the likeness of men, and being found in fashion of a man, humbled himself (How can He be said to humble Himself if He had no previous being?), and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  In such a way was He made sin for us. This being made sin does not speak to His origin, but His form or humiliation. Isa 53. As flesh and blood did not make us children of God, so Jesus Christ’s humiliation did not make Him God-man, but flesh and blood.

3. …was not made like HIS brethren Heb 2:17. I spoke to this in the previous head. Indeed, He was made like unto his brethren that he might seek and save those God’s children that were lost in the fall of Adam. Does this speak of Jesus Christ’s origin or incarnation. Phil. 2.

4. ….was not "her seed." How was He not her seed? Mary bore him nine months, but did she create Jesus Christ or was he made flesh and blood within her?


5. ..and these things should greatly concern "the remnant of the woman's seed" Rev 12:17.... because THEN... HE could not have been The Suffering Substitute bearing our sin and shame as The Perfect Sacrifice and Lamb of GOD... and a Priest without a like sacrifice is no Priest... NOR could HE be The Mediator.... etc. Dear brother, I am afraid I do not understand how you think he could not have been our suffering substitute, sin-bearer, or sacrifice when He was, is, and ever shall be our all in all. I do not deny that He is. I deny that He is of earthly origin, because He teaches that He is not of this world, that He is from above and He is said to be the second man, the Lord from heaven.

  Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. That is, where saints are is where Christ is, in the heavenlies. 1 Cor. 15:48, 49; Eph 1:3; Eph 2:6; Eph 3:10; Heb 3:1; Heb 12:22.