Theological Term of the Week: Christology

christology
The branch of theology that investigates what scripture teaches about the person and work of Jesus Christ, including his deity, humanity, preexistence, incarnation, sinlessness, death, resurrection, ascension, and more.

• A little christology in scripture:

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:5-11 ESV).

• From the Westminster Confession of Faith:

Chapter 8

Of Christ the Mediator


1. It pleased God, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and man, the Prophet, Priest, and King, the Head and Savior of his church, the Heir of all things, and Judge of the world: unto whom he did from all eternity give a people, to be his seed, and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.

2. The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon him man’s nature, with all the essential properties, and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin; being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance. So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. Which person is very God, and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man.

3. The Lord Jesus, in his human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified, and anointed with the Holy Spirit, above measure, having in him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; in whom it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell; to the end that, being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, he might be thoroughly furnished to execute the office of a mediator, and surety. Which office he took not unto himself, but was thereunto called by his Father, who put all power and judgment into his hand, and gave him commandment to execute the same.

4. This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake; which that he might discharge, he was made under the law, and did perfectly fulfill it; endured most grievous torments immediately in his soul, and most painful sufferings in his body; was crucified, and died, was buried, and remained under the power of death, yet saw no corruption. On the third day he arose from the dead, with the same body in which he suffered, with which also he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father, making intercession, and shall return, to judge men and angels, at the end of the world.

5. The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience, and sacrifice of himself, which he, through the eternal Spirit, once offered up unto God, hath fully satisfied the justice of his Father; and purchased, not only reconciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father hath given unto him.

6. Although the work of redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till after his incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefits thereof were communicated unto the elect, in all ages successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices, wherein he was revealed, and signified to be the seed of the woman which should bruise the serpent’s head; and the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world; being yesterday and today the same, and forever.

7. Christ, in the work of mediation, acts according to both natures, by each nature doing that which is proper to itself; yet, by reason of the unity of the person, that which is proper to one nature is sometimes in Scripture attributed to the person denominated by the other nature.

8. To all those for whom Christ hath purchased redemption, he doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same; making intercession for them, and revealing unto them, in and by the Word, the mysteries of salvation; effectually persuading them by his Spirit to believe and obey, and governing their hearts by his Word and Spirit; overcoming all their enemies by his almighty power and wisdom, in such manner, and ways, as are most consonant to his wonderful and unsearchable dispensation.

Learn more:

1. GotQuestions.org: What is Christology?
2. Christianity.com: What Is Christology? Definition and Importance
3. W. Robert Godfrey: Why should Christians study Christology? (video)
4. Keith Mathison: Why Christology Is Important
5. Ligonier Ministries: The Ligonier Statement on Christology
6. Greg Herrick: Christology: Jesus Christ
7. Stephen Wellum: The Necessity of Doing “Christology From Above”
8. B. B. Warfield: The Person of Christ

Related terms:

• communicatio idiomatum
• deity of Christ
• eternal sonship
• extra-Calvinisticum
• humanity of Christ
• hypostatic union
• impeccability
• every term under person, teachings, and work of Christ in the theological term index

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Sunday Hymn: How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds

How sweet the name of Je­sus sounds
In a be­liev­er’s ear!
It soothes his sor­rows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

It makes the wound­ed spir­it whole,
And calms the trou­bled breast;
’Tis man­na to the hun­gry soul,
And to the wea­ry rest.

Dear name! the rock on which I build,
My shield and hid­ing place,
My nev­er fail­ing trea­su­ry filled
With bound­less stores of grace!

By Thee my pray­ers ac­cept­ance gain,
Although with sin de­filed;
Satan ac­cus­es me in vain,
And I am owned a child.

Jesus! my shep­herd, hus­band, friend,
O pro­phet, priest and king,
My Lord, my life, my way, my end,
Accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the ef­fort of my heart,
And cold my warm­est thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I’ll praise Thee as I ought.

Till then I would Thy love pro­claim
With ev­ery fleet­ing breath,
And may the mu­sic of Thy name
Refresh my soul in death!

—John Newton

Sunday Hymn: Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder

Let us love and sing and won­der,
Let us praise the Sav­ior’s name!
He has hushed the law’s loud thun­der,
He has quenched Mount Si­nai’s flame.
He has washed us with His blood,
He has brought us nigh to God.

Let us love the Lord who bought us,
Pitied us when ene­mies,
Called us by His grace, and taught us,
Gave us ears and gave us eyes:
He has washed us with His blood,
He pre­sents our souls to God.

Let us sing, though fierce temp­ta­tion
Threaten hard to bear us down!
For the Lord, our strong sal­va­tion,
Holds in view the con­quer­or’s crown:
He who washed us with His blood
Soon will bring us home to God.

Let us won­der, grace and jus­tice
Join and point to mer­cy’s store;
When through grace in Christ our trust is,
Justice smiles and asks no more:
He who washed us with His blood
Has se­cured our way to God.

Let us praise, and join the chor­us
Of the saints en­throned on high;
Here they trust­ed Him be­fore us,
Now their prais­es fill the sky:
Thou hast washed us with Your blood;
Thou art wor­thy, Lamb of God!

Hark! the name of Je­sus, sound­ed
Loud, from gold­en harps ab­ove!
Lord, we blush, and are con­found­ed,
Faint our prais­es, cold our love!
Wash our souls and songs with blood,
For by Thee we come to God.

—John Newton