The Person of Christ, from “The Great Doctrines of the Bible” by Evans

(One Solitary Life, by Rev. James Allan Francis, 1926)

He was born in an obscure village, a child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty. Then for three years, he was an itinerant preacher.

He never had a family. He never owned a house. He never set foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place he was born. He never wrote a book or held an office. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness.

While he was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends deserted him. He was turned over to his enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying his executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had, his coat. When he was dead, he was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave.

Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today he is still the central figure for much of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as this one solitary life.

Notes: (1) “The Great Doctrines of the Bible” by Rev. William Evans, Ph.D., D.D. is a well-respected reference material for Bible students, pastors, missionaries and laymen. You can read the entire book from Google (click the picture of the book cover), or download the complete zipped e-book. (2) Surf to the index of lessons and online quizzes from Evans. (3) The most important ideas and statements from this part of Evans’ book are listed in the “Basic truths” section below.

THE PERSON OF CHRIST.

The close kinship of Christ with Christianity is one of the distinctive features of the Christian religion. If you take away the name of Buddha from Buddhism and remove the personal revealer entirely from his system; if you take away the personality of Mahomet from Muhammadanism, or the personality of Zoroaster from the religion of the Parsees, the entire doctrine of these religions would still be left intact. Their practical value, such as it is, would not be imperilled or lessened. But take away from Christianity the name and person of Jesus Christ and what have you left? Nothing! The whole substance and strength of the Christian faith centres in Jesus Christ. Without Him there is absolutely nothing.--Sinclair Patterson.

From beginning to end, in all its various phases and aspects and elements, the Christian faith and life is determined by the person and the work of Jesus Christ. It owes its life and character at every point to Him. Its convictions are convictions about Him. Its hopes are hopes which He has inspired and which it is for Him to fulfill. Its ideals are born of His teaching and His life. Its strength is the strength of His spirit.--James Denney. (From “The Great Doctrines of the Bible” by Rev. William Evans, Ph.D., D.D.)

Basic truths

[1] “Take away from Christianity the name and person of Jesus Christ and what have you left? Nothing! The whole substance and strength of the Christian faith centres in Jesus Christ.”

[2] “From beginning to end, in all its various phases and aspects and elements, the Christian faith and life is determined by the person and the work of Jesus Christ.”


Further study (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] Study guides and online quizzes in Christology (interim curriculum)

The articles on Christology from “Jesus: A Biblical Defense of His Deity” by Josh McDowell and Bart Larson are part of the interim curriculum. We have prepared these study guides which you can use in two ways: (1) Read the study guide first so you can have an overview of the article; and (2) After reading the article, try answering the study guide questions to test your comprehension. Online, interactive quizzes with automatic scoring are also available.

Index of study guides

1. Appendix
2. Jesus Christ Is God
3. Jesus Christ Possesses the Names and Titles of God
4. Jesus Christ Possesses the Attributes of God
5. Jesus Christ Possesses the Authority of God
6. God Became Man in Jesus Christ
7. We Have the Witness of the Early Church
8. What Are Some Common Objections to the Deity of Christ?
9. Is Jesus Christ Your Lord?
10. How the Authors Discovered New Life in Jesus Christ

[2] Materials by John F. Walvoord

• The Person and Work of Christ — Part I: The Incarnation of the Son of God
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part II: The Person of the Incarnate Christ
• The Incarnation of Christ — Part III: The Person of the Incarnate Christ
• The Person of Christ — Part IV: The Earthly Life of the Incarnate Christ
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part V: The Ministry of Christ in His Life on Earth
• The Humiliation of the Son of God
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part VII: The Impeccability of Christ
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part VIII: Christ in His Suffering and Death
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part IX: Redemption
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part X: Propitiation
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part XI: Character and Results of Propitiation
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part XII: Reconciliation
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part XIII: Reconciliation
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part XIV: Christ in His Resurrection
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part XV: Christ in His Resurrection
• The Person and Work of Christ — Part XVI: Christ in His Resurrection

[3] The Person of Christ, by Charles T. Buntin , M.S., M.A.R. (also available in Spanish)

[4] Christology: Jesus Christ, by Greg Herrick Th.M., Ph.D.


Sermons on John 1:14 (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] The Critical Chapter, by Douglas James Wilson

[2] Baby, Creator, Savior, Lord, and King! By Phillip W. Mansfield

[3] Logos, by Timothy Grant

[4] John #05 Became Flesh, by James (Jim) L. Goforth, Jr, New Life Baptist Church

[5] #3 Showing God's Light, by Matthew Starin, Baptist World Mission

[6] Beginning at the Beginning 2 - Salvation on the Heels of Rebellion, by Richard DeRuiter

[7] Before the Beginning, by Charles Leman Eldred

[8] Christmas According to John, by Michael Stark, New Beginnings Baptist Church

[9] The Centrality, Supremacy, and Superiority of Jesus Christ, by Daniel Radke

[10] The Word of God - Jesus is God, by Tom Daugherty, Trinity Theological Seminary

[11] Positive Identification, by Charles Leman Eldred

[12] Once In an Eternity, by Pastor Jeremy Stephens, Southview Baptist Church

[13] The Deity/Humanity of Jesus, by Robin Fernandez

Sermons on Philippians 2:6 (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] Incomparable Supremacy, by Pastor Jeremy Stephens, Southview Baptist Church

[2] A Stranger at the Door, by Joe Vinson, Southeast Baptist Church

[3] The Uniqueness of Jesus Christ, by Sam Jones

[4] Humiliation Before Exaltation, by Marvin L Jackson

[5] 122407 Christmas Eve Reason for Season 3 Cradle Cross Crown, by Donald L Hardaway

[6] Why God Became Man, by Randy D. Starkey, East Bend Baptist Church

[7] Sermon illustrations on the Kenosis

[8] Master Violinist Goes Unrecognized, by Bruce W. Logue


Note: This ministry does not necessarily endorse or share all the views and opinions expressed in the materials, resources or links mentioned in these posts. Please always refer to the Articles of Faith and Biblical distinctives of Baptists when you study these materials.