5.' Universal Power is frequently claimed by Christ as His even on earth, although it could not be fuUy exercised until after the Ascension (Lk 10=- II Jn 16"). He is given authority (it.ovala) over all flesh (Jn 17=); 'All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on carl \\ (Mt 2S'8), cf. Jn 3^^=13'*. Accordingly SI. I'.hi .!.■ . ribes Him as ' Lord of all ' (AelO'^'^) ; Hr is -ox.-i ,ill ' (lloO-') ; and the ' head of all principality and power' (Col 2'").
• Dale, Christian Doctrine, p. 87.
t See Sanday-Headlam, Romans, pp. 233-233.
; The Words of Jems, p. 190 (Eni;. tr.).
140 ATTEIBUTES OF CHEIST
ATTRIBUTES OF CHRIST
He is present still witli His Church though invisible (Mt IS-"" 28-", cf. 1 Co 5^), ruling and guiiling (Ac 9'" 22-8 23", and cf. the letters to the Churches, Rev 2.3).
6. Divine Consciousness and Knowledge. — Jesus claimed a unique knowledge of the Father and the exclusive power of revealing Him (Mt 11"). He spoke of heavenlj' things which could only be known by Divine consciousness (Mt IS'"- '", Lk IS'", Jn 3'-' 14'). He was the great Prophet which waste come (Jn 6'^ Ac 3==), the fullest revealer of God's will (He l^), but He differed essentially from even the highest prophets, in that He spoke witli authority as from Himself, and never introduced His message by such words as ' Tims saith the Lord.' ' In him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden ' (Col 2^). He knew (Jn 18^) and made known the details of His Passion and Resurrection (Mk 8^' ff" lO^^ etc., cf. W-^). He foretold the sufferings of His disciples (Mt lO'"), the destruction of Jerusalem (Lk 19"- ■" 21-'), events preceding the end of the world (Mt24||) and the judgment of mankind (see below). Here too may be mentioned His power of knowing the thoughts of men. Such knowledge is described both as rela- tive, acquired [yifuaKeti', cf. Mk 2*), and absolute, posses.sed {eldemi, cf. Jn 6"', Lk 11"), cf. Lk V^- "» 9*'. He seems to be addressed as KapSioyvwaT-qi in Ac 1^, which agrees with what is told as to His supernatural knowledge of the thoughts and lives of persons, cf. Jn 2='- ^ (' He knew all men. . . . he himself knew what was in man '), also Lk 19^, Jn 1« 4'8- 2" 6" 11"- ". It appears also with regard to things (Mt 17=" 2P 26'8, Lk b*-^, cf. Jn 21«). Whether such passages imply absolute omniscience, or onmiscience conditioned by human nature, de- pends uixjn the view taken of the Kenosis (see West- cott.Add. Note on Jn 2=^; Gore, Bamp. Led. p. 147).
7. Self-assertion and Exclnsive Claims.— His works were such as no other man did (Jn 15^), His words shall outlast hea^■en and earth (Mt24^), men will be judged by tlieir relation to Him (Mt n^ W-), and by tlieir belief or unbelief on Him (Mk 16'«, Jn 6* 12**). He requires the for.saking of everything wliich may prove a hindrance to following Him (Mt 8=' KF, Mk 10=', Lk W-% Suffering and loss incurred for His Name's sake will be rewarded in the Regeneration (Mt 19^ ||), even now those who suffer for His sake are blessed (Mt 5'"'). He claims to be the Light of tlie world (Jn 8'- 95 12«), the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jn 14"). Eternal life, spiritual strengtli, and growth can come only from union with Him and feeding on Him (Jn 5*° &"■ 10=« 15^- '- 17=). He is the Giver of rest and peace (Mt 11^, Jn 14-*'). And such claims are endorsed by St. John (Jn 1', 1 Jn 51=) and St. Paul (Ro 8>, Ph 4", 1 Ti 1'^).
ii. Attributes belonging to the Union of THE TWO Natures.— 1. Mediation.— There is a twofold Mediatorial activity ascribed to the Son of God which must be distingvdshed ; that pre- sented in the revelation of tlie Logos (noceeiling from God all-crcatiiii,' and all-^ustaiiiiiiL! ; aii.l tliat exhibited in tlie work ot tlii> ('hri~l, liMclinu li.-ick to God and traii-t.,riMiii,u tin' r.lati..ii ..I <.,iiii.ivt into one of uuiun, tliat Gud may lje all in all.* Tlie former has been already mentioned, the latter appears in passages which speak of Christ as delivering us from sin and Satan (Jn 12^'- ^-, He 2'^- '*, 1 Jn ?fi- "), as obtaining for us eternal life (Jn 3'^'- 6^', Ro 6=^ etc.), as procuring the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit (Jn U'"- ^, Ac 2^, Tit 3*- '= etc.), conferring Christian graces (1 Co 1"-, Eph p. J etc.), and acting as our representative High Priest (He 4'^ T-^'- etc.).t The title 'Mediator' (AieffirTjs) occurs in 1 Ti 2\ He 8« 9'" 12".
2. SoYereignty.— One object of Christ's coming wiis to found a world-wide Imperishable society, called tlie Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God. He was foretold in prophecy as King (Zee 9^ cf. Mt 215). He Himself spoke of His Kingdom (Mt 13" 16-8, Ljj 223") and accepted the title from Pilate, but explained that it was ' not of this world ' (Jn 18^- ^). Satan tempted Him to ante- date it by a short but sinful method (Mt 4"- "). He is ' King of Kings and Lord of Lords ' (Rev ig'", cf. 11'^).