Biblical Foundations

  Christopher W. Martin © 2017

  I. Why Study Christology

A. The Modern View of the Old Testament “Problem”

B. The View of Old Testament in Church History

C. Jesus View of the Old Testament

· Luke 4:18-21

· John 5:39

· Luke 24:25-27

· Luke 24: 44-45

D. The Scarlet Thread?

II. The HUGE, HUGE, HUGE Question: Why Didn’t Jesus’ Incarnation Occur Thousands of Years Earlier? 

· The False Premise of the Question:

· The Key to Interpreting Scripture

· Incomplete Answers:

o #1: God’s View of Time?

o #2: A Lesson for Us?

o #3: A Lesson for the Angels?

o #4: Global Conditions

· The Complete (But Unsatisfying) Answer: (Galatians 4:4-5)

· What We can Learn through God’s “Delays”

o A Demonstrated Will for Waiting (Genesis 15:16)

o That We May Better Understand God (Romans 9:22-23 & 2 Peter 3:7-9)

o Because He Loves You That Much! (Ephesians 2:4-7)

III. Conclusions

· Understanding the Bible’s Primary Theme

· The Old Testament: A Deliberately Incomplete Book

· Our Unchanging God

· All Scripture is God-Breathed

Great Discipleship

Matthew 28:16-20

Christopher W. Martin © 2017

I. Intro: What is the Primary Purpose of the Church and its Members?

II. What is Great Discipleship?

A. Availability (v.16)

Being a Disciple First

Obedient Yielding

Beware of the Myth:

B. Premised on Worship (v.17)

A Note on Worship

Beware of the Myth:

A Note on Doubt

C. Based on Great Authority (v. 18)

Beware of the Myth:

D. Encompassing a Great Mission (19-20b)

A Note on “Going…”

A Note on “Baptizing…”:

A Note on the Trinity:

A Note on “Teaching…”:

Beware of the Myth:

E. Without Walls (i.e. Great in Scope) (19a)

Beware of the Myth:

F. Never Forgetting His Great Promise (20b)

III. The Implications of Great Discipleship

A. The Past?

B. Our Present?

C. Your Future?

IV. Application: The Promise of His Presence

Strength

teadiness

Solace

The Last Words of Jesus

Matthew 27: 33-54

Christopher W. Martin © 2017

I. The Context of the Cross

Profound Silence

Profound Agony

II. Seven Words of Life from the Tree of Death

1. A Word of Prayer & Pardon (Luke 23:34)

 Jesus’ Prayer:

A Note on the Greek perfect verb tense

“Father”

“Forgive Them”

Ignorance

Lessons from the Cross

The Heart of Christ

The Supernatural Power of Forgiveness

The Hazards of Unforgiveness

2. A Word of Assurance (Luke 23:43)

 Two Thieves & Two Prayers:

A Picture of Worldly Arrogance

 A Picture of Repentance & Faith

The Thief’s Surprising Actions:

The Thief’s Remarkable Faith:

 “Lord” “Remember Me”

“When you come into Your Kingdom”

 The Thief’s Amazing Future:

“I solemnly assure you”

2 

“Today, You”

 ‘Will be with Me in Paradise”

A Final Note on Theology

3. A Word of Compassion (John 19: 26-27)

 The Trigger?

Jesus’ Words:

“Dear Woman, Here is Your Son”

“Here is your Mother”

Theological Significance

His Holiness

His Position

His Compassion

Epilogue at Ephesus

4. A Word of Wonder (Matthew 27:45-46; Mark 15:33-34)

The Wonder of the Darkness

The Wonder of the Question

 “My God, My God”

 “Why?”

"Have You Forsaken Me?”

The Wonder of the Silence (Psalm 22)

The Wonder of the Abandonment

2 Corinthians 5: 21

Galatians 3: 13

3

Theological Reflections:

 My God

Forsaken

5. A Word of Passion & Prophecy (John 19: 28; Matthew 27:48; Mark 15:36)

Jesus’ Genuine Humanity

Jesus Understanding of Scripture (Psalm 22:14-15 & Psalm 69:21)

 A Picture of Hell (Luke 16: 24; see also John 7:37-38)

A Final Note on the Hyssop

6. A Word of Victory (John 19: 30; Matthew 27:50; Mark 15:37)

 His Suffering was Finished

Jesus’ Cry of Triumph: “Tetelestai”

The Sacrificial System was Finished

Hebrews: “Once for All”

Satan was Finished

7. A Word of Submission (Luke 23: 45-46)

The Timing

Jesus’ Decision:

“Father”

“Into Your Hands”

His Total Control

III. Conclusions

His Focus

His Bible

The Miracles of Calvary (Part I)

Matthew 27: 45; 50 - 54

Christopher W. Martin © 2017

I. The Miracle of Darkness (v. 45) (Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44)

A. What it was:

Solemn Silence

 The Removal of the Light

B. What it was Not:

1. Eclipse?

2. Volcano or Storm?

C. Reliability of the Record.

1. OT Prophecy (Amos 8:9)

2. The Historical Record

D. Lessons from the Darkness

1. God’s Confirmation of Jesus’ Role

2. God’s Recognition of Jesus’ Suffering

3. God’s Opinion of Sin

II. The Miracle of the Veil (v. 51) (Mark 15:38)

A. The Significance of the Veil

1. It’s Role

2. It’s Message

3. It’s Thickness

B. The Tearing of the Veil

1. The Direction of the Tearing

2. The Timing of the Tearing

C. The Reliability of the Record

The Silence of Christ’s Enemies

 The Faithful Priests (Acts 6:7)

D. Lessons from the Veil

1. The New Atonement for Sin (Heb. 9: 25-28)

2. The New Approach to God (Heb. 10: 19–23)

III. The Miracles of the Earthquake & the Opened Graves (v.51)

A. The Extent of the Earthquake

B. The Reliability of the Record

C. The Significance of the Earthquake

1. The Response of the Earth (Romans 8:19-22)

2. The Answer to Mt. Sinai

D. The Significance the Open Graves

1. The Exhibition

2. The Symbolism

IV. The Miracle of the Resurrection of “Many Saints” (v. 52-53)

A. The Nature of their “Appearing”

B. The Significance of Their Resurrections

C. The Reliability of the Record

Early Believers?

“The First Fruits?” (1 Corinthians 15:21-27)

Fools & Wise Men

Matthew 2: 1-12

Christopher W. Martin © 2015

The Arrival of the Magi (v. 1-2) 

Bethlehem of Judea

Herod the King

Magi from the East

The Agitation of Herod (v. 3-8) 

The Chief Priests

The Scribes

 The Adoration by the Magi (v. 9-12)

Gold

Incense

Myrrh

Application

The Virgin Birth

Matthew 1: 18-25

Christopher W. Martin © 2015

1)

2)

3)

The Word of God seen:

In Print  In the Flesh

Isaiah 7:14

A Jewish Look at Jesus Matthew 1: 1-17

Christopher W. Martin © 2015

Jewish Perspective on the Messiah

Ancient

First Century

Today

Highlights from the Genealogy of Jesus

Abraham  (Genesis 12: 1-3  &  Genesis 22:18)

Judah (Genesis 49: 8-10)

Tamar

Rahab

Boaz

Ruth

David (2 Samuel 7:11-15 & Isaiah 11: 1-3)

Bathsheba 

Joseph

 Textual Questions

Completeness & the “Question of 14”:

What About Luke’s Genealogy?

Jeremiah 22: 24-30

Life Lessons

God Always Keeps His _______.

Godliness isn’t _____________.

Mercy & Compassion are Jesus’ ______. 

Throughout her life, Marge Caldwell had no hesitation to pass the baton of faith on to anyone who wanted to carry it forward in Jesus’ name.

Can you say her name without smiling? Each Christian is here to exhibit God’s qualities; Marge’s were, among many others, beauty 

and grace. Even her last moment here was wrapped with a graceful breath—in a way that only a true lady could have left this earth. At 

times like this, we think of the things people who have passed to heaven have left with us. Marge left an invaluable, unique legacy that 

transcends generations. 

Marge’s books, mostly written for young ladies, are no longer in print, but some are available used from Amazon. Beth Moore mentions 

Marge Caldwell in a video Bible study (The Patriarchs) . Beth Moore calls Marge Caldwell her “mentor.” Others have called her an 

encourager, a Baptist Erma Bombeck, and spiritual mother.  

Marge started counseling at the center when she was 70 years old. Prior to the center’s opening, Brother John Bisagno would 

frequently find her counseling in a small room off of the Green Room. When it was decided to start a church counseling center, Brother 

John said he wanted Marge to be a part of it. Marge even went to audit classes at the university level to further her education in 

preparation for the new center, which began in 1983 with Dr. Charles Poor and Marge Caldwell. Additionally, in 2004, Marge and 

Chuck were delighted as The Gay Caldwell Roper Center for Counselor Education of HFBC was founded in Marge’s honor.

Her laughter rang with contagious joy. But we will still hear her echo in our hearts saying, “Oh my soul! Can you believe it?” She was 

always so excited about it all. Her laughter rang with contagious joy. But we will still hear her echo in our hearts saying, “Oh my soul! 

Can you believe it?” She was always so excited about it all.