Four (More) Reasons Why Christ Came to Earth
The Suffering Servant
The author identifies the obedience of Christ as the most inclusive concept available for describing the redeeming work of Christ. This obedience is normally divided into two parts: active obedience and passive obedience.
Why It Matters That Jesus Was Really Human
The incarnation of Christ meant that in Christ God became man. This article discusses two ways in which the humanity of Jesus matters
The Humiliation of Our Mediator
Humiliation to Exaltation
This article traces the humiliation of Christ on earth as well as his exaltation in his resurrection and ascension.
If You Want to Enter Life, Keep the Commandments
God's Obedient Son
This article is about the baptism of Christ and His temptation. The author shows how Christ's baptism served to confirm His person and work, while His temptation showed Christ to be the last Adam and the true Israel (Matthew 3:13-Matthew 4:11; Luke 3:21-Luke 4:13).
The Resurrected Body of Christ: John 20:27 and Hebrews 2:10
Looking at the glorified body of Christ descrdibed in John 20:27 in relationship to Hebrews 2:10, this article shows that Jesus's glorified body has scars and wounds on it. This is crucial in order to show the permanence of the priesthood of Christ. Christ's glorified body reassures us that just as Christ's sufferings were and are eternally purposeful, so are ours; scars and wounds are not contrary to perfection.
Ten Things You Should Know about the Healing Ministry of Jesus
How should we think about biblical healing? This article explains that the healing ministry of the Lord Jesus can help us in thinking about healing.
Was Jesus Married to Mary Magdalene? Revisiting a Stubborn Conspiracy Theory
This article discusses the persistent conspiracy theory that the Lord Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene. The author critiques the arguments of the latest proponent, Simcha Jacobovici, showing how his arguments are often from silence or unsubstantiated.
Christ’s Active and Passive Obedience
Was Jesus Capable of Sinning?
This article considers whether the Lord Jesus in his human nature was capable of sinning. It shows that he was fully capable of suffering, but not of sinning.
The Servant of the Lord in the Teaching of Jesus
Did Jesus see himself as the servant referred to in Isaiah 53? This understanding of Jesus' view of his mission has come under attack. This article concerns itself with a response to the work of C. F. D. Moule, C. K. Barrett, and Morna Hooker who are all critical of the view that finds Jesus' self-understanding steeped in Isaiah 53.
He Suffered
The suffering of Christ is essential to the comfort of the believer in his suffering. This article examines the nature of Christ's suffering, the reason for it, and how it relates to the believer’s suffering.
The Life and Death of Jesus: A Theophany
This article explains with several examples how from beginning to end, the incarnation of Christ was a theophany.
Three Reasons Jesus's Miracles Still Matter Today
This article gives three reasons why the miracles of Jesus are still relevant today: they show that he is fully God, fully human, and the one and only Messiah.
The Joy of the Lord Jesus
Jesus' Growth in Knowledge and Wisdom
Is Jesus omniscient? In the Bible Jesus is portrayed as growing in knowledge. This article explains how this can be reconciled with the truth that Jesus is God and thus omniscient. The answer is found in Christ being true man and true God as taught in Philippians 2:5-8. This truth is a mystery.
The Suffering of Christ and the Sovereignty of God
Why did Christ suffer? His suffering was part of God's plan before the foundation of the earth. From Revelation 13:8 this article makes its argument.
Christ's Glory in His Sufferings and Descension into Hell
Obedience: Jesus Christ Fulfilled His Father's Redemptive Will
This article show how the total obedience of Christ is essential for our salvation.
The Suffering Servant
Christ's Humiliation
Part of Christ's humiliation was becoming a man in a sinful world in order to save his sinful people. The Lord of glory "made Himself of no reputation" (Phil. 2:7) by becoming one of us. Jesus Christ had to undergo the humiliation of being born in this world because he, as the Second Adam, had to be truly of the earth while still being of heaven.
Temptations of Jesus (Part 1)
This article looks at the biblical meaning of the word "temptation." In his human nature, Jesus was temptable. Because of this human nature, Christ is able to sympathize with believers. At the same time, however, he remained sinless.
Temptations of Jesus (Part 2)
Christ's victory over the devil's temptations (Matthew 4, Luke 2) is significant for believers. The devil intended his temptations to work against Christ's mission, but Christ was victorious over him because of the Spirit and the word of God. Believers are to follow Jesus' example in resisting temptation.
Ancient Evidence for Jesus from Non-Christian Sources
Is the claim of the historical Jesus real? While we have enough proof in the Bible about Jesus, this article looks at external evidence to show the historicity of Jesus. The article looks at the claims of Tacitus, Pliny, Josephus, and the Babylonian Talmud.
The Serpent-Conquering Last Adam and True Israel
This article explains that Christ's victory over the devil in the temptation narrative was his initial victory, after which he went around Israel casting out demons. This was how the Lord Jesus was "binding" the devil. Christ is the last Adam and true Israel, coming to take possession of the inheritance by expelling all the enemies of God.
The Suffering Son
This article demonstrates that the Lord Jesus had to suffer throughout his whole life and not just on the cross. For he had to display perfect submission and love to God, and he had to become the merciful and sympathetic high priest.
Christ Our Passover
The author in this article looks at the representation of Christ's suffering for his people in the Passover lamb. He notes the reasons why such a type was used to represent Christ, and also observes other traits of lambs that are not directly represented in Christ. The various laws and regulations related to the sacrifice of this Passover lamb are also shown here to be reflected in the actual suffering of the Lamb of God.
The Substitute Keeping the Law
This article explains how no mere human being can enter heaven on his own merits. The perfect obedience of Christ to the law is what makes the believer fit for heaven.
The Baptism of Jesus according to the Gospel of Mark
What is the significance of the baptism of Jesus according to the Gospels? Mark 1:9-11 relates the baptism of Jesus. Edwards considers the significance and function of this baptism in Mark. The baptism is related to the coming of the kingdom of heaven. Edwards further works out the significance of Jesus' baptism for our understanding of him as Son of God.
Exactly What Year Was Christ Born? An Historical Perspective
Anointed Affections
The author of this article looks at Psalms as the depiction of all parts of a religious emotional life. WIth this in mind, and with the conviction that all of Scripture speaks about Christ, this article looks at how the Book of Psalms reveals the emotions of Christ, such as his anger, compassion, grief, hope and joy.
The Transfiguration of Jesus: Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-10; Luke 9:28-36
Torrance gives an exposition of the three texts where Jesus' transfiguration is recorded in the Gospels, emphasizing their reading in their immediate literary context: Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-10, and Luke 9:28-36.
Jesus' Miracles: Types of Spiritual Realities
This article explores the thesis that the healing miracles of the Lord Jesus are really spiritual parables for us. It offers five observations, drawn from Herman Ridderbos' The Coming of the Kingdom, about what the miracles teach us, concluding with the note that Jesus took the sickness of his people upon himself at the cross.
The Sin-Bearing, Curse-Removing True Israel
This article shows how Jesus Christ is the new and true Israel. It gives thought to how the covenant curses and the cross of Christ are interconnected.
Advance! Advance in Submission
We read from Hebrews 5:8-9 that Jesus grew in obedience. This means that Jesus had to obey the fifth commandment. This article explains the submission of Jesus to his parents in his obedience and honouring of them. It explains the implications of this for the believer.
John's Witness to the Historical Jesus
This essay reflects on the Gospel of John's witness to the historical Jesus.
Could Christ Have Sinned?
This article addresses the question of whether Christ could have sinned, a crucial question in Christology. To wrestle with the question, one has to do justice to these truths: Jesus never actually sinned, he was tempted, and God cannot sin. Wellum demonstrates that Christ was unable to sin (he was impeccable).
What Does Bultmann Understand by the Acts of God?
In the early 1960s Rudolf Bultmann was arguably the most influential theologian in Germany. It is imperative to attempt to understand Bultmann's theology. This paper is such an attempt. It focuses on understanding the paradox at the heart of Bultmann's theology, i.e., the place where God acts is in the sphere of human existence. How should we understand this language of the "act of God"?