NEW SERIES: GOSPELS / LIFE OF CHRIST
If we are to be conformed to the image of Christ, let’s spend some time getting to know Him. But before you just gain knowledge, let’s make sure that our motives for this knowledge are to know God, not just know about God. In our new series, we will study many things about the Gospels and about Jesus Christ, but purpose now to not just gain a head knowledge, but a heart knowledge of Him.
The following notes are adapted from Mastering the English Bible: The Gospels:
- The Gospels continue the further revelation of God’s ______ plan.
- The Gospels present Jesus Christ as the ______ revelation of God.
(Heb. 1:3) “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh (1 Ti. 3:16). “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (Joh. 1:18)
- The Gospels give a ___-____ _____ of Christ.
Matthew – Christ as God’s ______
Mark – Christ as God’s ______
Key word: Straightaway, immediately, forthwith, etc. See Mr. 1:21, 29, 43; 5:13, 30, 36; 6:45, 50; 8:10.
Luke – Christ as God’s Perfect ______
Worldwide view (Lu. 2:10, 30-32; 3:6).
John – Christ as God’s ______
Purpose: John 20:30-31 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. John gives the I AM sayings of Jesus by which He claimed to be God (Ex. 3:14). The Jews knew that by calling Himself “I am,” Jesus was claiming to be Jehovah God (Joh. 8:58-59). “I am the bread of life” (Joh. 6:48); “I am the light of the world” (Joh. 8:12; 9:5); “I am the door” (Joh. 10:9); “I am the good shepherd” (Joh. 10:11); “I am the resurrection and the life” (Joh. 11:25); “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (Joh. 14:6); “I am the true vine” (Joh. 15:1). John is the only Gospel that mentions the multitude falling down when Christ speaks “I am He” in Gethsemane (Joh. 18:6).
- The Gospels are ______ and ______.
- Two of the Gospels are particularly geared to different ______ of people.
Matthew is written especially for the Jews, while Luke is written especially for the Gentiles.
- The Gospels are not written to give a ______ ______ of Christ’s life.
- The Gospels are the product of ______ ______.
- The Gospels must be interpreted by the ____________
Luke 24:44-45 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures,
- The Gospels have some difficulties that must be interpreted with ______ and ______.
- The Lord Jesus Christ preached and ministered for three years, and doubtless He repeated things
on different occasions, sometimes using different wording and expressions.
- The Gospels often give complementary information about the same account.
- We must understand that the four Gospels were not written to give an exact timeline of Jesus’ life.
- We must understand that Jesus lived under the law (Gal. 4:4).
Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
- We must understand that Jesus limited Himself during His incarnation.
- The Gospels cover the earthly life of Christ, which was ______ years.
- The four Gospels are the only Gospels given by divine inspiration, but there were other gospels, ______ and ______.
- In the Gospels, God has revealed what He __________________about Christ.
Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do — all the words of this law.
John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
- Christ is our ______ (1 Pe. 2:21).
1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: