The glorious mystery of the person of Christ - God and Man

Here will folow my notes on John Owens work by the above title... enjoy!

Preface

Jesus Christ – precious to some, a rock of stumbling to others. Those who delight in him must work for his glory, holding the truth concerning him: “This, and no other, is the design of the ensuing treatise.” (p. 5)

Chap. 1: wanted to work through early church material but did not have resources/ time to do so. So surveyed that which was at hand and written on Matthew 16:18.

Chap. 2: opposition to the person of Christ and the faith of the church, which started small has torn from all Christ all that is his – “his natures, divine or human…their properties… [And] actings… his person [or] the union of his natures therein.” (p. 8) Owen then gives an overview of faithfulness to doctrine and of heresy concerning Christ. The latter which was a) predicted y the scripture and b) testimony to Christ’s power and faithfulness as these gates of hell did not prevail.

The obligation of defending doctrine of Christ belongs to church rulers and all believers: “according unto their call and abilities” (p. 9) but since Nicea: “Christians began greatly to be resolved into the authority of men, and as much, if not more weight to be laid on what was decreed by the fathers there assembled, than on what was clearly taught in the Scriptures.” (p. 10)

Chap. 3: The eternal generation of the Son was to be believed but not inquired into said the church fathers: “But I speak of the person of Christ…[not] whereof his person is composed, but as unto its substance therein by virtue of a substantial union” (p. 15).

Chap 4: Jesus is the foundation of the vocation, sanctification, justification and eternal salvation of the church: 1. coz he always was such in respect of his relationship to the Father. 2. coz he is the only way to each of these things. 3. coz he was incarnate for this very means. (p. 18)

Chap 5: Jesus is “the image and great representative of God.” (p. 18) Wherein God teaches us and represents himself to us.

Chap. 7: It was the Word which became flesh for “no other could declare unto us the things of God, but his own proper Word.” (p. 20)

Chap 9: 1. The divine nature is in each member of the Trinity and is to be worshipped. Worship one, worship all. 2. We can petition the persons by name but not make one request to the Father then the same to the Son etc. 3. Christ, as God-man is the proper object of all divine worship and honour.

On 1. “The same glory, in every individual act of its assignation or ascription, is directed unto each person jointly and distinctly, on the account of the same divine nature in each of them.”

On 2. If we repeated the petition to another person in the Godhead “it would thence follow, that the person unto whom we make that request in the second place, was not invocated, not called on” in the first place. (p. 22)

On 3. “It is that which they principally contended for , and argued from, in all their writings against the Arians.” (p. 23)

Chapter 1

Peter’s confession – twisted by Rome. But in its proper meaning “compriseth eminently the whole truth concerning the person and office of Christ” (p. 30) Christ is the rock on which the church is built – proved.

Chapter 2

The attacks of hell on the church built on the faith concerning Jesus’ “person, office, and grace.” (p. 35) The devil uses agents of heathens firstly and then apostates (the first like a lion, the second like a serpent – through heresy). Such heresy includes:
Gnosticism, losing sight of “sin, or danger of punishment” (p. 38)
A denial of Jesus’ divine nature 1. He was not pre-existent to the virgin birth – “it is not want of understanding to comprehend doctrines, but hatred unto the things themselves, whereby such persons are seduced.” (p. 39). 2. Arians, distorted the proclamation of Christ’s divine nature. 3. his human nature was opposed.
Vehement opposition against the hypostatical union – Nestorian heresy.
Other ways the gates of hell are opposed to the church:
Socinian heresy.
When “a natural religion, or none at all, pleaseth them better than faith in God by Jesus Christ.” (p. 41)
When outward profession is excluded by some.
Many who are keen for doctrine, who declare no erroneous concepts, “who yet manifest themselves not to have that regard unto him which the Gospel prescribes and requires.” (p. 42)
“Dangerous and noxious insinuations concerning what our thoughts ought to be of him, are made and tendered.” (p.42)
Preaching Christ is a term of reproach.
“Horrible profanes of life-that neglect of all gospel duties…I know not whether it were not more for the honour of Christ, that such persons would publicly renounce the profession of his name, rather than practically manifest their inward disregard unto him.” (p. 43)