Picturing Theology

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P i c t u r i n g T h e o l o g y

The Center and Circumference: Christianity Is Jesus Christ (continued)

and splendid detail. If you back away from the rendering of the Declaration, however, you can see the image of George Washington emerge from the writing. It was done with the proper shading and sculpting to reveal the person of Mr. Washington from the rendering of the Declaration. In my mind, the Bible has a single dominating purpose–to reveal the glory of the person of Jesus Christ, so that, through faith in him, we might become one of the Father’s children! All that we do at TUMI is to find ways to declare the majesty and might of the Person and Work of Christ, and how it relates to being an urban disciple and doing urban ministry through urban churches among the poor. Hundreds of names, types, images, and metaphors refer to Christ in Scripture: • He is the Bread of life - the One of total nourishment and strength • He is the Second Adam - the head of an entire new race of humanity • He is the Resurrection and the Life - the One whose name alone can conquer death and corruption • He is the Lord of all - the chosen ruler of God to restore God’s reign • He is Prince of Peace - the One whose power alone will restore peace to our troubled world Jesus is the key to understanding the person and work of Almighty God.

II. Next, We See that this Text Reveals that Jesus Is the Finished Redemption of God. Jesus Alone Is God’s Anointed Prophet and Priest to Bring Us Back into Relationship to God.

A. Jesus is the only way to be reconciled with God; no other person or name exists that can bring us into new and redeemed relation with God. Look again at Colossians 1.17-20 (ESV) - And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. [19] For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, [20] and through him to reconcile to himself