A Biblical Vision, Part II: Mastering the New Testament Witness to Christ

Ses s i on 3: The Gospe l s : The Man i fes tat i on of Chr i s t , Par t I I 101

A. Jesus Christ in his person represents the Kingdom of God in the here and now.

1. Jesus announced himself to be the promised Messiah through whom all of the effects of the curse, sin, demonic oppression, and social injustice would be overcome.

a. He announced with his coming the Kingdom as present, Mark 1.14-15 – Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, [15] and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” b. He declared himself to be Yahweh’s Servant who would end all oppression in his person, Luke 4.18-19 – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, [19] to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

c. He is the Word made flesh , the actual manifestation of God in human form come to earth, John 1.14-18.

2. Jesus is the presence of the future.

a. The fulfillment of the promise of Abraham, Gal. 3.13-14 – Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us – for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” – [14] so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.