The document discusses the unique relationship between Christianity and Jesus Christ, emphasizing that Christ is central to both revelation and redemption. It critiques the pluralistic view of religious equivalency and asserts that through Christ, God's actions have been uniquely mediated to humanity. Ultimately, it affirms that there is no need for further revelation or redemption beyond what is provided through Jesus, as He is the exclusive way to God.

3. NT prepositions describe our relation to Christ: Through Christ In Christ Under Christ With Christ For Christ To Christ Like Christ Reasons for this series:

4. Cultural Reasons Society becoming increasingly pluralistic Society is drifting from Christian moorings Hold other religions as equally valid with Christianity “ Many ways” to God, Paradise, Heaven, Nirvana Mohammed, Joseph Smith, etc. offer different ways We must affirm that Christianity is unique Not just one religion among many Uniqueness centered in person of Jesus Christ

5. Theological Reasons Forty years ago, discussion was nature of God John Robinson's "Honest to God" Led many to lose faith in personal God Nebulous concept of impersonal "Ground of Being" Today, theologians attack the person of Jesus We affirm that Christ is central to Christianity Books like "The Myth of God Incarnate" & "Jesus, Son of Man" question Jesus' deity Suggest that we've deified an ordinary mortal

6. Practical Reasons We claim to be Christians We’re engaged in a continuing search to learn how we may know & serve him better Couple grows to know & love of one another until One is indispensible to the other Life is inconceivable without the other Christian grows in knowledge of Christ until Christ is indispensible to the Christian Life without Christ is inconceivable

7. "Through Christ" introduces the concept of mediation God's actions on our behalf have not been remote & from a distance They have been mediated among us – through Christ

8. John 1:1-5 NIV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

9. John 1:10-14 NIV He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

10. John 1:16-18 NIV From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

11. Colossians 1:15-20 NIV He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

12. Colossians 1:15-20 NIV 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

13. Hebrews 1:1-4 NIV In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

14. God has taken the initiative on man's behalf – through Christ Revelation God has dealt with our ignorance through Christ Redemption God has dealt with our iniquity through Christ Hebrews develops these thoughts:

15. Revelation Christ is superior to Moses, who revealed God to Israel

16. Hebrews 3:1-6 NIV Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.

17. Hebrews 3:1-6 NIV 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

18. Redemption Christ is superior to Aaron, whose sacrifices redeemed Israel to God

19. Hebrews 7:26 NIV Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

20. Christ – God's agent of revelation God has spoken

21. Hebrews 1:1-2 NIV In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.

22. This theme is common to OT & NT Speech is communication between persons Idols have mouths, but cannot speak Our God has no mouth, yet speaks

23. Differences between God's speaking in OT & NT Time "old days" contrasts with "last days" Mode "through prophets" in dreams, visions, etc. contrasts with "through Christ" in the flesh Content part & progressive (Gk. polumeros - "in many parts") contrasts with complete revelation in Christ

24. Christ is the center & circumference of our faith Magnificence of God's activity on our behalf is seen in magnificence of Christ

25. He is the radiance of God's glory Hebrews 1:3 NIV The Son is the radiance of God's glory ... Gk. apaugasma is light radiating from the sun God’s glory radiates in the world through Christ

26. He is "the exact representation of God" Hebrews 1:3 NIV The Son is ... the exact representation of his being... Gk. character is impression made by die or seal Jesus is an exact reproduction of God in the world The personalities of Christ & God are distinct But each fits perfectly with the other Christ is God's counterpart in the world

27. Hebrews 1:2-3 NIV ... in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 ... sustaining all things by his powerful word...

28. In relation to the world, Christ is: Heir Fully human, while not ceasing to be fully divine Creator Creating loaves and fishes to feed the hungry Sustainer Forgiving sinners, touching the untouchable, healing the sick, warning hypocrites, submitting to death, rising to life, commissioning the church All are revelations of God's will in the world

29. Christ – God’s agent of redemption Jesus came to reveal God to us He came also to redeem us to God Our problem not ignorance, but iniquity

30. Jesus is our mediator both in revelation and redemption There are no priests left Christians are all priests Christ is our High Priest Hebrews 1:3 focuses on redemption Hebrews 1:3 NIV ... After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Gk. katharismos is a word from OT priesthood Has to do with sacrifices of cleansing

31. Gk. poiesamenos translated “after he provided” is interesting Aorist, middle participle of poieoo Middle voice insists that Christ, himself, in his own person, made purification for our sins Not like OT priests who offered another He offered himself Aorist tense points to the fact that he has completed the work of purification, so that no further purification for our sins is needed Full redemption is available through Christ There is no further need for priests or sacrifices

32. Hebrews 10:19-25 NIV Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

33. Hebrews 10:19-25 NIV 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

34. Romans 5:1-2 NIV Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

35. Romans 5:10-11 NIV For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

36. What have we said? God has revealed himself to man God has redeemed man to himself In both revelation & redemption, God has taken the initiative through Christ

37. Both revelation & redemption are complete through Christ Appropriately described by Gk. hapax – “once-and-for-all” Not by the Gk. polumeros – “partial and incomplete” Inconceivable that there could be more complete revelation & redemption than that through Christ No more need for OT priests, post-NT prophets like Mohammed, nor latter day saints We have more to learn; God has no more to teach We have more to receive; God has no more to give

38. Our emphasis must be Christ – his absolute uniqueness and adequacy Through Christ, God's revelation is complete Adding words of our own to enhance that revelation diminishes the importance of Christ Through Christ, man's redemption is complete Adding works of our own to accomplish redemption diminishes the importance of Christ Through Christ God has revealed himself once-and-for-all God has redeemed us once-and-for-all

39. How will you respond to Christ? There is no other word from God There is no other way to God John 14:6 NIV ... I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.