Lesson 1What is Christ Like? |
We have called ourselves Christians for so long, but do we know what that really means? Most of us will say it means Christ–like and that is correct. Yet, if I asked you to tell me what Christ is like, could you? I do not mean the answer that He is the Son of God. We would call that a surface answer. If I asked you to tell me about your mother, you would give me more than she is the daughter of your grandfather. In this lesson we will try to answer this question about Jesus Christ. The reason I say that we will try is because we can only go as far as God will allow us. Where would you go to find out about Jesus? Most of us would go to the New Testament to find the answer to that question. Look at what Jesus said about this in John 14:6-9.
6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have
seen him.
8. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9. Jesus saith unto him, have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that
hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
In order to answer this question of what Jesus is like, we will use the whole Bible to study the character and attributes of the Father and the Som.
In reading the Old Testament, many people think of God as being a mean person because of all the killing done in His name or for His people. This is far from the truth. In order to show you what type of God He is, examine the names He is called. Now remember that Jesus, God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit are one. Names are very important to the Hebrews because they tell of the person’s character and attributes. As we examine the names of God we must also look at how they are used.
The first Hebrew name we want to look at is Elohim (El-lo-heem′). Elohim is translated God in the King James Version. Before we define this name, let us look at how it is used. In Genesis 1- 2:4, we see this word being used in several forms. Can you tell what these forms are? Remember, we are trying to see what Jesus is like. There is also a shorter name for God that is important. It is the name El that means mighty, strong, prominent. In the scriptures, we see El being used in Genesis 14:18, 16:13; Exodus 6:3. With Elohim we see the power to create, to govern, sovereignty and omnipotence (unlimited authority).
Now that we have looked at these two names and their characteristics, it is time to see if Jesus showed any of these characteristics in His earthly life. I would like for you to see if you can find these characteristics in His life. You can only use the first four books of the New Testaments.
| Mighty | Strong | Governing | Creative | Prominent | Sovereign | Omnipotent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew 14:31 | Matthew 26:64 | Matthew 10:5 | Matthew 9:25 | Matthew 19:2 | Matthew 4:10 | Matthew 8:15 |
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