A Study of Theology III – Part 2

THEOLOGICAL DICTIONARY

Christology

Attributes of God

John 3:13

A Study of Theology III – Part 2 (Dr. Thomas Figart)

In this installment, Dr. Figart explores some of the attributes, titles and works of the preincarnate Son of God.

 

A Study of Theology III – Part 2

By Dr. Thomas Figart

 

1. The Saviour (con’t)
2. The Attributes of the Son of God
3. Omnipresence.

1).        Jn. 3:13 He claimed to be on earth and in heaven at once!

2).        Jn. 14:23 He abides in every believer, yet He is seated at the right hand of the Father’s throne in heaven. cf. Eph. 1:20-21.

1. Omniscience.

1).        Jn. 2:24-25; 6:64 He knew what was in man, and He knew from the beginning.

2).        Jn. 13:1,11 He knew His time to leave the world; He knew who would betray Him.

1. Omnipotence.

1).        Col. 1:15-17; Jn. 1:3 He created all things.

2).        Matt. 28:18 He has all authority in heaven and on earth.

12. Immutability. cf. Psalm 102:25-27 with Heb. 1:10-12. Creation wears out, but He does not change with time.
13. Fulness of the Godhead Col. 2:9; cf. Jn. 17:5 He possessed the fulness of the Godhead while on earth; yet, His glory as God, was hidden from man.
14. Titles of the Preincarnate Son: Names of God are used in the O.T. to describe Messiah as deity.
15. Jehovah. Cf. Isa. 6:5 with Jn. 12:42 Isaiah saw Jehovah of Hosts; John says Isaiah saw His glory (the glory of Jesus) and spoke of Him. See also Zech. 12:4, 10 cf. Jn. 19:37.
16. Elohim. Cf. Isa. 40:3 with Lk. 3:4-6. Both Jehovah and Elohim are used in Isa. 40:3; Christ fulfilled this in Lk. 3:4-6. See also Ps. 45:6-7 cf. Heb. 1:8.
17. The Preincarnate Son as the Angel of Jehovah.
18. The Angel of Jehovah is a Theophany (from Theos and phainos); A visible, outward manifestation of God, in any of the three Persons. Examples:

1).        First Person, the Shekinah Glory, Ex. 33:22-23; Ezek. 1:28

2).        First & Second Persons together, Ezek. 10:1-8; Zech. 1:12-13.

3).        Third Person, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. Lk. 3:22.

1. The Angel of Jehovah is called Jehovah.

1).        Gen. 16:7-13 He is definitely identified as Jehovah in v. 13.

2).        Gen. 22:11-18 He speaks as being God (Elohim) v. 12 and as LORD (Jehovah) in v. 16.

1. The Angel of Jehovah is also identified as a distinct Person from Jehovah.

1).        Gen. 24:7; Num. 20:16; Judges 2:1-4; Isa 63:9 Jehovah actually sends the Angel of Jehovah.

2).        Zech. 1:12-13 Jehovah of Hosts actually speaks with the Angel of Jehovah.

1. The Angel of Jehovah must be the Second Person.

1).        In the N.T. it is always the Second Person who is visible in human form Jn. 14:8-9.

2).        The Angel of Jehovah never appears after the incarnation of Christ. It is “an angel of the Lord.” Matt. 2:13; 28:2; Lk. 1:11; Acts 12:7, 23. Matt. 1:20, 24 probably refers to Gabriel; cf. Lk. 1:26.

3).        Just as the Angel of Jehovah was sent by Jehovah in Gen. 24:7, so in John 17:18, Christ is sent by the Father.

4).        John 1:18 claims that no one had ever seen the Father, and since the Holy Spirit never appeared in human form, thus, the Angel of Jehovah must have been a preincarnate appearance of the Son of God.

5. Divine works of the Preincarnate Son of God.
6. His part in the eternal plan of God. Eph. 1:4-11.

1).        The scope of the plan of God. His eternal purpose includes creation, providence and preservation, permission of sin, provision salvation and judgment of men and angels. Reformed Theology restricts this by their covenant idea of God’s eternal purpose, distinguishing a covenant of redemption among the Persons of the Trinity, a covenant of works between Adam and Eve and God, and a covenant of grace between believers and God Thus, the essence of the eternal purpose is redemption, which makes it soteriological.

2).        The ultimate design of the plan of God is the glory of God (doxological). The putting down of all Satanic opposition, the entire millennial reign of Christ (1 Cor. 15:24-28) and even sickness (John.11:4), are all for the glory of God. Since Christ did not die for angels, there must be more to the plan of God than salvation, important as that is.

3).        The specific plan for salvation within the eternal purpose of God. The point here is that salvation was not an afterthought as a desperate attempt to salvage fallen man. Instead, it was the considered wisdom of God; and the preincarnate Son of God was a participant in that plan. 2 Tim. 1:9; 1 Pet. 1:18-20; Rev. 13:8

17. His work in creation. Jn. 1:1-4; Col. 1:15-17.
18. His work in providence, guiding, governing and preserving the universe. Isa. 63:9; Heb. 1:3.