Threefold offices
Prophet to our ignorance, Priest to our guilt, King to our rebellion. Preach all three or the congregation gets a partial Jesus.
Lesson 6 · Course 52
The Person of Christ
The Son’s deity, eternal generation, offices, virgin birth, kenosis, and hypostatic union.
At a glance
Summary
The Son’s deity, eternal generation, offices, virgin birth, kenosis, and hypostatic union. Jesus is the second Person of the Trinity — equal with the Father in essence, subordinate in office as the Sent One. He accepted worship. The New Testament ascribes creation to Him.
Big ideas
What to teach and remember
- Jesus is the second Person of the Trinity — equal with the Father in essence, subordinate in office as the Sent One. He accepted worship. The New Testament ascribes creation to Him.
- Eternal generation: He has always been the Son. He did not become Son at baptism or resurrection. Christophanies are pre-incarnate appearances (the Angel of the LORD).
- Three anointed offices: Prophet (speaks), Priest (sacrifice and intercession), King. Oil pictures the Spirit; Christ means Anointed One. Do not give the priest’s work to the prophet.
- The virgin birth is necessary for His sinlessness (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14). Liberal theology does not require it; the gospel does. Joseph was not His biological father.
- Kenosis (Philippians 2:7) is self-emptying: veiled glory, accepted human limits, surrendered independent use of comparative attributes — not a surrender of deity.
- Hypostatic union (Chalcedon): one Person, two natures, fully God and fully man, without mixture or separation. Tempted for real, yet without sin. That is the Christ we preach.
Key terms
People, places, and words that matter
False views of kenosis
He did not empty Himself of being God. He veiled glory, took servant form, and refused independent use of attributes that are His by nature.
Biblical testimony for the virgin birth
Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14, the infancy narratives, and the need for a sinless last Adam. This is gospel structure, not seasonal decoration.
Christophanies
Christophanies is pre-incarnate appearances (the Angel of the LORD)
Joseph
Joseph is not His biological father
Trinity
Jesus is the second Person of the Trinity — equal with the Father in essence, subordinate in office as the Sent One.
Structure
Outline / timeline
- Threefold offices
- False views of kenosis
- Biblical testimony for the virgin birth
Must remember
Facts to keep straight
| Quiz score | 100% (1 attempt) |
|---|---|
| Key claim | Jesus is the second Person of the Trinity — equal with the Father in essence, subordinate in office as the Sent One. He accepted worship… |
| Key claim | Eternal generation: He has always been the Son. He did not become Son at baptism or resurrection. Christophanies are pre-incarnate… |
| Key claim | Three anointed offices: Prophet (speaks), Priest (sacrifice and intercession), King. Oil pictures the Spirit; Christ means Anointed One. Do… |
Compare
Side-by-side contrasts
Three anointed offices
- Prophet (speaks)
- Priest (sacrifice
- intercession)
- King
Clarify
- Kenosis (Philippians 2:7) is self-emptying: veiled glory, accepted human limits, surrendered independent use of…
- Not: a surrender of deity.
For the pulpit
Sermon hooks
- That is the Christ we preach.
- Preach all three or the congregation gets a partial Jesus.
Quiz drill
Quiz drill / review · open to practice · 10 items
Quiz score: 100% · 1 attempt
1. Jesus never allowed people to worship Him.
FalseHe received worship. A mere rabbi would have stopped it.
2. The New Testament authors ascribe the work of creation to Christ.
TrueJohn 1:3; Colossians 1:16 — the carpenter is the Maker.
3. Jesus has always been the Son of God.
TrueEternal Sonship. The manger is not His beginning.
4. A Christophany was a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ.
TrueThe Angel of the LORD is not a footnote; it is the Son before Bethlehem.
5. The three anointed offices of Jesus Christ are prophet, priest, and king.
TrueSpeak, sacrifice, reign — the whole Christ for the whole church.
6. The prophet fulfilled his office by offering sacrifices and making intercession.
FalseThat is the priest. Keep the offices clean in the pulpit.
7. Even those embracing a liberal theological posture affirm the absolute necessity of believing in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.
FalseLiberalism often shrugs. We cannot.
8. Jesus was the biological son of his father, Joseph.
FalseJoseph is legal father, not biological. The conception is of the Holy Spirit.
9. Part of Jesus’ self-emptying was His surrender of the independent use of His comparative attributes.
TrueKenosis is veiling and dependence, not subtraction of deity.
10. Jesus is totally God and totally human at the same time.
TrueOne Person, two natures. If either is lost, so is our salvation.
Essay themes
If you preach or review
Threefold offices
Prophet to our ignorance, Priest to our guilt, King to our rebellion. Preach all three or the congregation gets a partial Jesus.
False views of kenosis
He did not empty Himself of being God. He veiled glory, took servant form, and refused independent use of attributes that are His by nature.
Biblical testimony for the virgin birth
Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14, the infancy narratives, and the need for a sinless last Adam. This is gospel structure, not seasonal decoration.