The God-Man: The Person and Work of Christ Jesus

By J.D. Williams

For those who truly desire a comprehensive understanding of the exigency of the incarnation, centrality of the cross and the sine qua non of the resurrection...This is a must read! Dr. Williams brilliantly weaves together orthodox theology with practical application resulting in a work meaty enough for the scholar yet digestible and building for the everyday church goer. -- Bishop Donald Clay, Petra International Ministries, Pittsburg, PA This book is an important contribution to the 21st century Christian community. It presents a strong unapologetic biblical methodical argument of The God Man, Jesus, based on Scripture with strong visual illustrations. As such, ministers and lay persons would greatly appreciate and benefit biblically and theologically in regards to the natures and function of The God Man. Therefore, I strongly encourage and recommend everyone to read this book which presents a clear succinct understanding of The God Man. ""De Lafayette Awkward, Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div. & Th.M), Hebrew University of Jerusalem (ABD), Pastor of New Lots Community Church, Reformed Church in America In 451 the Council of Chalcedon meet and confirmed that Christ had two natures: one divine and the other human. Over the centuries the concept of the "God Man" has confused, intrigued and escaped the logic of theologians, preachers, and students. In his book "The God-Man", Elder J. D. Williams seeks to explain his concept through comprehensive exploration and exposition. Elder Williams has provided an excellent text that includes research, sermons and illustrations that are designed to enlighten the mind, while providing further dialogue among those who wish to gain a deeper understanding of the term the "God-Man". --Rev. Dr. Carl L. Washington, Jr. Pastor, New Mount Zion Baptist Church Former Moderator, United Missionary Baptist Association President, Empire Baptist Missionary Convention Dr. J. D. Williams is a profound pedagogue who's deep and contemplative studies are captured within these pages. His insightful perspective regarding the revelation of the mystery between God and Christ is a must read for all in search of a more weighty theological enlightenment. -- Bishop Eric R. Figueroa, Sr. Presiding Prelate, New Life Covenant Fellowship Senior Pastor, New Life Tabernacle

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 29, 2019
• ISBN: 9781642994599

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The God-Man

The Person and Work of Christ Jesus

J.D. Williams

Copyright © 2018 by J. D. Williams

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Acknowledgments

Soli Deo Gloria!

Special thanks to my beloved wife, Janice, and our children who served a supporting role in so many ways by helping and encouraging me to pursue the course and finish this book project. I also thank my beloved SJBC family who first heard these sermons and have become better acquainted with the Christ of our Salvation.

Foreword

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!’ Matthew 16:13–16 (NIV)

One day after church, while riding home in the car with my granddaughter, she asked, Nana, why near the end of every sermon do you talk about Jesus?

I asked her, What do you mean?

She said, You know the part when you start saying, (she begins to recite almost verbatim) ‘I’m talking about the man named Jesus who was born of a virgin named Mary. Who walked the earth for three years as a natural man, teaching and preaching about the kingdom of God and telling everyone, You must be born again. Who went to Calvary’s cross where he was crucified and died for your sin and mine and was buried and placed in a borrowed tomb where he lay for three days. But early, early in the morning on the third day, God raised him from the dead with all power in his hand, and he is now seated on the right hand of God. And whomever confesses with their mouth and believes in their heart that he died for their sin and accept him as their personal savior shall be saved!’

Somewhat amazed and amused that she could mimic me so well, I responded by telling her, I have to remind everyone every chance I have that if Jesus had not died and saved us from our sin then, we would be lost forever with no way of being reunited with God and going to Heaven when we die. So I keep repeating it hoping someone will believe and be saved.

After a few quiet minutes without saying a word, she said, I think I get it, Nana. I believe, but tell me, who is Jesus again?

My granddaughter’s response is that of a lot of people who hear the celebration at the end of many sermons and say I believe but are in need of hearing once more, apart from the celebration moment, who Jesus is.

When Pastor J. D. Williams asked me to write the foreword to his book, The God-Man, I humbly accepted this task after much prayer; and once I received the manuscript, I knew why. From the moment I held the book, I felt I was holding a sacred document.

Initially, I planned to put it next to my bed on a stack of folders and other books that I keep as my to-do pile, easily accessible to me so I can read or work on them while sitting or lying in bed. Strangely, I had a feeling I should not put this book with my other to-do items. Instead, I set it in my special do now place. From the moment I read the title and the prologue, I knew I was holding something that could be of great value to the masses of Christians and seekers of the truth to give them a greater understanding of who Jesus is and how this illumination could help transform their lives spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.

As a pastor/teacher of over twenty-five years, Christian educator, and dean of the Eastern Baptist Association (over 100 churches) and the Empire State Missionary Baptist Convention (over 250 churches), my primary responsibility is equipping and empowering our congregation and individuals across New York State to go and make disciples. Therefore, one of my main duties is to ensure that our churches are exposed to sound biblical doctrine and teaching through our local, regional, and state Christian education congresses and retreats. It is also my responsibility to develop age-appropriate curriculum, from preschool to adults, and provide resources and training for ministry and faculty development. The challenge to find books and materials that meet the standards of being scripturally sound, doctrinally correct, and understandable for the majority of the persons we teach has been an endless task. However, over the years, I’ve found one particular area that has been lacking in the spiritual arsenal of our congregations and individual members, which is exposure to sound biblical scholarship and teaching in the area of Christian apologetics. After reading this book, I can say that The God-Man has been a Godsend.

First Peter 3:15 says, But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence (NASB).

The Christian apologist is one who answers questions and objectives and points people to Jesus. Matthew Slick, president and founder of Christian apologetics and research wrote: It’s been said that apologetics is like a field. In the center of the field is a garden. This garden has one door, and that door is Jesus. There is one path that leads to that door. Inside the garden is eternal life in the presence of God. Outside the field, however, are rocks, boulders, thorns, thistles, valleys, hills, and many false paths that lead nowhere. The apologist resides in the field and points people to the true path so they can find the garden. The apologist seeks to remove the intellectual thorns and emotional rocks that prevent people from finding the true path to God.

There are many people, professed believers and unbelievers, who are walking a false path to God. We need to only look around at our families, communities, and world to see the many different paths that people have taken trying to reach the garden in this field called life; but because they are ignorant of the way, the truth, and the life through Jesus Christ, they will never find their way to God.

To this end, Pastor Williams has managed to meet all the criteria of a true Christian apologist in his book. He presents sound biblical scholarship based on the apostolic standard view of the person of Jesus Christ and his relation to the Father. In the midst of a twenty-first century crisis of an unprecedented falling away from God and the church and increasing moral decay in society, The God-Man has present day relevancy to the body of Christ. In his book, Pastor Williams addresses key heretical teachings of major sects, cults, philosophies, ideologies and religions that negate the need for a savior and the work of Christ’s atonement for sin, which threatens to cut away at the root of our faith and God’s saving message to the world.

In part 1 of the book, Pastor Williams brilliantly presents a historic and theological approach to the person of Christ. He then couples theory with praxis wherein he equips his audience with the biblical knowledge needed to refute and answer the false doctrine and alternative paths presented daily in this postmodern world. At the same time, the reader is invited to experience a spiritual transformation of the heart as Pastor Williams clearly outlines its practical application to our daily walk as believers in the simplest of language accompanied with study questions and visual illustration for additional edifications.

In part 2 of the book, Pastor Williams gives an enlightening commentary from the Book of Romans focusing on what Jesus did and why he did it. Both part 1 and 2 become the foundation of the series of twelve inspiring and powerful messages, highlighting the truth in defense of the gospel against heretical teaching and helping one to develop a more personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Pastor J. D. Williams, whom I have known for over twelve years, is a twenty-first-century apologist par excellence. This pastor/teacher/writer has been preaching for over forty-seven years and pastoring over forty-three years, twenty two of which serving as senior pastor/teacher