Pastor Terrie Beede initiated session 13 of the "Studies in Theology" series at Calvary Chapel Milwaukee, marking the beginning of the study on "The Doctrine of the Son, Part 1: The Person of Christ in the Old Testament". The series continues to draw its foundational guidance from 1 Timothy 4:16, which instructs ministers to "take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine" and "continue in them". This commitment ensures ministers faithfully execute their charge, leading to their own salvation and that of their hearers by nourishing them in truth.
This session followed previous studies covering an introduction to theology, the existence of God, the Trinity (in three parts), the doctrine of Scripture, the attributes of God (in four parts), and the doctrine of God the Father. The study of God the Son aligns with Article Four of the Calvary Chapel Milwaukee statement of faith, which affirms belief "in the person of Jesus Christ, God's only begotten son, conceived by the Holy Spirit," including His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, teachings, substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension, perpetual intercession, and personal visible return to Earth.
The session's approach to studying Christ involved primarily allowing the Old Testament to speak for itself, with an emphasis on deriving doctrine directly from scripture rather than reading preconceived ideas into it. It was noted that Jesus Himself, after His resurrection, "beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself," demonstrating that the Old Testament alone provides a sufficient foundation for faith in His finished work.
The discussion highlighted the necessity of a correct understanding of Jesus Christ, referencing historical errors such as dynamic monarchianism (Jesus as a man in whom the spirit worked) and nominal trinitarianism (Christ as divine but a lesser deity), underscoring that any attack on the Trinity ultimately attacks Christ's deity or humanity.
Key aspects of the Son of God in the Old Testament explored were:
• The Pre-incarnate Son of God (The Angel of the Lord): This mysterious figure in the Old Testament is seen to possess divine authority, receives worship, forgives sins, and carries God's name (e.g., Exodus 23:20-21, Joshua 5:13-15, Judges 6:11-23). Scholars agree these are theophanies, pre-incarnate manifestations of the second person of the Godhead, Jesus Christ, before He became man. The Angel of the Lord is depicted as both mighty and terrible in judgment, and full of grace and mercy, foreshadowing the Christ of Revelation.
• Foretold Deity: The Old Testament implicitly foretells the deity of Christ.
◦ The Protoevangelium (Genesis 3:14-15) speaks of the "seed of the woman" who would bruise the serpent's head, hinting at both the humanity and divine nature of the coming Redeemer.
◦ The Seed of Abraham (Genesis 12:3, 18:18, 22:18) prophesied that through Abraham's "seed," all nations would be blessed, further narrowing the focus to a specific individual.
◦ The Son of God was foretold to occupy roles of Prophet, Priest, and King, offices traditionally held by men but uniquely fulfilled by the divine Son. Examples include Moses as a prophet (representing God to man) and a faithful priest after the order of Melchizedek (representing man to God).
• Foretold Humanity: The Old Testament also foretells Christ's humanity.
◦ Isaiah 7:14 prophesies the virgin birth of "Immanuel," meaning "God with us," affirming both humanity and deity.
◦ Prophecies describe His human characteristics: being born into ordinary social status, possessing a human mind, soul, and emotions (e.g., Isaiah 53:3-4, describing Him as a "man of sorrows" who bore grief and faced rejection). He experienced mortality, pouring out His soul unto death.
◦ He is presented as the perfect, sinless man (Isaiah 53:9, 11) and referred to as the "Son of Man" in Daniel 7:13, a title Jesus would later apply to Himself.
The session concluded by reiterating that the Old Testament clearly presents the person of Christ, both His deity and humanity, for those who search the scriptures with open eyes and ears.