Christ: The Center of Our Faith and Redemption

 

Summary

Christ is the center of our creed, the foundation upon which our faith is built. From the earliest confessions of the church to the present day, the person and work of Jesus Christ remain central to our understanding of God and salvation. The historic creeds, such as those from Nicaea and Chalcedon, affirm the dual nature of Christ as both fully God and fully man. This profound mystery, known as the hypostatic union, is not just a theological concept but a reality that shapes our worship and understanding of redemption.

Philippians 2:5-11 offers a poetic and powerful confession of Christ's humility and exaltation. It reminds us that Jesus, though in the form of God, did not cling to His divine privileges but emptied Himself, taking on human form and becoming obedient to death on a cross. This act of humility was not just an example but the means by which our salvation was accomplished. Through His active and passive obedience, Christ fulfilled the requirements of the law and bore the penalty of sin, securing our redemption.

The humiliation of Christ, as described in the Westminster Shorter Catechism, was not merely an act of embarrassment but a voluntary acceptance of being treated less than His divine dignity deserved. Yet, this humiliation was not the end. God exalted Christ, bestowing upon Him the name above every name, so that every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

This exaltation is a promise to all who follow Christ. Just as He was exalted after His humiliation, so too will those who humble themselves be lifted up. Our confession of Christ is not just a statement of belief but a declaration of allegiance to the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus Christ is the eternal truth, the center of our creed, and the song that we sing.

Key Takeaways:

1. Christ as the Unchanging Truth: Just as a tuning fork provides a constant pitch, Jesus is the unchanging truth in a world of competing voices. His life and teachings set the standard for reality, ensuring that our understanding of God remains clear and harmonious. Without Christ, our perception of truth becomes distorted and disordered. [04:19]

2. The Hypostatic Union: The mystery of Christ's dual nature as fully God and fully man is central to our faith. This union, known as the hypostatic union, is not just a theological concept but a reality that enables our redemption. It is through this union that Christ could fully represent humanity while also being the perfect sacrifice for sin. [18:32]

3. Active and Passive Obedience: Christ's life was marked by both active and passive obedience. His active obedience involved living a sinless life, fulfilling the law's demands, while His passive obedience involved suffering and dying for our sins. Both aspects are essential for our salvation, as they demonstrate His complete submission to the Father's will. [23:21]

4. The Humiliation of Christ: Christ's humiliation was a voluntary act of being treated less than His divine dignity deserved. This act of humility was necessary for our salvation, as it allowed Him to fully identify with humanity and bear the penalty of sin. His willingness to endure such humiliation is a profound demonstration of His love for us. [28:33]

5. Exaltation Through Humility: The exaltation of Christ following His humiliation is a promise to all believers. Just as Christ was exalted after His humble obedience, so too will those who humble themselves be lifted up by God. This principle of exaltation through humility is a central theme in the Christian life, encouraging us to follow Christ's example. [34:59]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:28] - Introduction to Christ as the Center
- [01:30] - Prayer for Understanding
- [03:15] - The Story of Middle C
- [05:01] - Jesus as the Tuning Fork
- [06:43] - Christ in Historical Creeds
- [07:58] - Paul's Confession in Philippians
- [09:29] - The Rhythm of Philippians 2
- [11:04] - The Centrality of Christ
- [12:29] - The Pre-Incarnate Deity of Christ
- [14:17] - The Incarnate Humanity of Christ
- [16:52] - The Mystery of the Hypostatic Union
- [18:32] - The Active and Passive Obedience of Christ
- [21:37] - The Voluntary Humiliation of Christ
- [25:50] - The Exaltation of Christ

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Philippians 2:5-11
- John 1:1
- Isaiah 53:3-5

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Philippians 2:5-11 reveal about the nature and character of Jesus Christ? How does this passage describe His humility and exaltation? [09:29]

2. According to the sermon, how does the story of the tuning fork relate to Jesus being the unchanging truth in our lives? [04:19]

3. What are the two natures of Christ as described in the sermon, and how are they significant to our faith? [16:52]

4. How does the sermon explain the concept of Christ's active and passive obedience? What role do these play in our salvation? [23:21]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of the hypostatic union, as discussed in the sermon, deepen our understanding of Jesus' role in salvation? Why is it important that Jesus is both fully God and fully man? [18:32]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Christ's humiliation was voluntary? How does this voluntary act impact our view of His love and sacrifice? [22:31]

3. The sermon mentions that Christ's exaltation is a promise to all believers. How does this promise influence the way Christians are encouraged to live their lives? [34:59]

4. How does the sermon use historical creeds to support the centrality of Christ in Christian confession? What does this tell us about the continuity of Christian belief? [06:43]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you struggled to see Jesus as the unchanging truth in your life. What steps can you take to ensure that Christ remains the center of your creed and daily decisions? [04:19]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of humility. How can you practice humility in your daily interactions, and what might be the result of such actions in your personal and spiritual life? [32:46]

3. Consider the dual nature of Christ as both God and man. How does this understanding affect your relationship with Him, and how can it influence your approach to prayer and worship? [16:52]

4. The sermon discusses Christ's active and passive obedience. Identify an area in your life where you can actively pursue obedience to God's will. What challenges might you face, and how can you overcome them? [23:21]

5. How can the promise of exaltation through humility encourage you to serve others selflessly? Share a specific way you plan to serve someone in your community this week. [34:59]

6. Reflect on the historical creeds mentioned in the sermon. How can studying these creeds strengthen your faith and understanding of Christ's role in your life? [06:43]

7. The sermon concludes with a call to confess Christ now and forever. What practical steps can you take to ensure that your life consistently reflects this confession? [38:53]

Devotional

Day 1: Christ as the Unchanging Truth
In a world filled with competing voices and shifting ideologies, Christ stands as the unchanging truth. Just as a tuning fork provides a constant pitch, Jesus' life and teachings set the standard for reality, ensuring that our understanding of God remains clear and harmonious. Without Christ, our perception of truth becomes distorted and disordered. His constancy provides a foundation upon which we can build our faith, offering clarity and direction in a world that often feels chaotic. [04:19]

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself swayed by the opinions of others? How can you anchor yourself more firmly in the unchanging truth of Christ today?


Day 2: The Hypostatic Union
The mystery of Christ's dual nature as fully God and fully man is central to our faith. This profound mystery, known as the hypostatic union, is not just a theological concept but a reality that enables our redemption. Through this union, Christ could fully represent humanity while also being the perfect sacrifice for sin. It is through His dual nature that He bridges the gap between God and humanity, offering us a path to salvation and a deeper understanding of God's love and justice. [18:32]

"For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority." (Colossians 2:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: How does the understanding of Christ's dual nature impact your view of His role in your life? What steps can you take to deepen your appreciation of this mystery?


Day 3: Active and Passive Obedience
Christ's life was marked by both active and passive obedience. His active obedience involved living a sinless life, fulfilling the law's demands, while His passive obedience involved suffering and dying for our sins. Both aspects are essential for our salvation, as they demonstrate His complete submission to the Father's will. Through His obedience, Christ not only fulfilled the requirements of the law but also bore the penalty of sin, securing our redemption and offering us a model of faithful obedience. [23:21]

"And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you practice active and passive obedience in your own life? How can you follow Christ's example in your daily decisions and actions?


Day 4: The Humiliation of Christ
Christ's humiliation was a voluntary act of being treated less than His divine dignity deserved. This act of humility was necessary for our salvation, as it allowed Him to fully identify with humanity and bear the penalty of sin. His willingness to endure such humiliation is a profound demonstration of His love for us. By embracing humility, Christ showed us the depth of His love and the extent to which He would go to secure our redemption. [28:33]

"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." (Philippians 2:5-7, ESV)

Reflection: How can you embrace humility in your interactions with others today? What does it mean for you to follow Christ's example of humility in your own life?


Day 5: Exaltation Through Humility
The exaltation of Christ following His humiliation is a promise to all believers. Just as Christ was exalted after His humble obedience, so too will those who humble themselves be lifted up by God. This principle of exaltation through humility is a central theme in the Christian life, encouraging us to follow Christ's example. By humbling ourselves, we open the door to God's grace and the promise of being lifted up in His time. [34:59]

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you." (1 Peter 5:6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle with pride? How can you practice humility in this area and trust God to lift you up in His perfect timing?

Quotes

"Jesus is our tuning fork, ringing out middle C in a cacophonous world of competing truths. His pitch defines total reality and sets every other note in its proper place. Without Him truth, especially truth about God, will be distorted, disordered, and disharmonious. To hear the music of heaven, you must listen to Him." [00:04:38]

"The center of Christian confession is Jesus Christ. He is the center of our creed. From the very first century, where we read of Peter's good confession, to the Apostles' Creed, to Heidelberg and Westminster, to the 21st century Ligonier Statement on The Word Made Flesh, the church confesses best when she confesses Christ." [00:05:21]

"Philippians chapter 2 verses 5 through 11 arguably is the first extended confession of the church. Perhaps it was a song, a congregational hymn of sorts. If you're looking at the NIV translation or perhaps the NAS translation, you will see that those who translated and worked on those translations considered it some sense of poetry because they indent it and put it in the form that you normally would see in poetry in the Scriptures." [00:08:37]

"The mystery, beloved, of the incarnation is that as much as He, Jesus Christ was fully God, He was also fully human. This is the mystery of the hypostatic union, the union of the two personal natures of Jesus. He maintained all the attributes of deity and took on the attributes of humanity." [00:18:00]

"Here is the point that the church has confessed, here is the point that the Scriptures is pushing us into every time we study them and that is never when He became man did He ever stop being God. He was fully God and fully man." [00:19:02]

"In the incarnation and throughout our Savior's life and even His death, we see the voluntary active and passive obedience of our Savior, which accomplishes our salvation. This is the point that Paul makes here in Philippians. He's really, he's really talking here about the active and passive obedience of Christ in verses 7 and 8." [00:22:38]

"Beloved, we are not saved apart from the active and the passive obedience of Christ. We are not saved, except His punishment took our sin, and His life imputed His righteousness. What His passive obedience took away -- our sin, His active obedience guaranteed -- our righteousness." [00:26:05]

"When we confess Christ, we confess a Christ who embraced His humiliation. Verse 8, 'He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.' The Westminster Shorter Catechism question 27 asks this question, right? 'Wherein did Christ's humiliation consist?'" [00:27:11]

"All the time on earth, beloved, Christ could've carried a sign that said, 'I am God.' All of His disciples could've joined arms and marched around with signs that said, 'I am God.' At any moment of His affliction and passion, He could've stood up and declared, 'I am God,' but instead He endured the shame." [00:30:30]

"Christ endured the shame of the cross that we might enter the reign of His glory. That's why we confess Him. That's why He's at the center of our creeds, because He is God and He humbled Himself, taking on the form of a servant, He humbled Himself in becoming a human being." [00:31:57]

"The promise of God has been and continues to be that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, but those who humble themselves will be exalted. And nobody, nobody ever humbled themselves more than Jesus Christ, and therefore no one, no one has ever been more highly exalted than the Lord Jesus Christ." [00:35:20]

"There is only one eternal truth. There is only one truth that rings for all eternity, and that is Jesus Christ. And that is the creed that we confess. It is Jesus Christ now, Jesus Christ tomorrow, and Jesus Christ forever! He is the center of our creed. He is the song that we sing. He is everything." [00:38:14]

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Transcript
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