Christology is the branch of Systematic Theology that seeks to study the person and work of Christ. Why is Christology important? Here are four reasons.
1) Because all the Scriptures bear witness to Christ
The Scriptures, as a whole, have only one main character around whom all the biblical stories circulate: Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, His coming is promised and in the New Testament, it is fulfilled. Furthermore, Jesus affirmed with authority that the Scriptures bear witness to Him. Therefore, an accurate knowledge of the person and work of Christ will help us to have a better picture and understanding of the Scriptures and will lead us to grow in His image. (Read: Luke 24:27; 24:44; John 5:39)
2) Because the church has given it great importance
The church has always considered the doctrine of Christ important. In the Gospel of John, we find solid teaching of the divinity of Jesus. In the councils of the Church, we see great development of the doctrines about the person of Christ (for example the First Council of Nicea and the Council of Chalcedon). And in the Protestant Reformation, we see great interest in the work of Christ (from which arises the motto “Solus Christus”). Therefore, understanding the Christological development of the church of the past will help us in our present and future. (Read: John 1:1-18; 20:30-31)
3) Because the enemies of Christianity attack it
John wrote the fourth Gospel in response to the heresy that rejected the fact that Jesus is the Christ. In the same way, the councils (Nicea, Chalcedon, etc) and creeds (Nicene, Athanasius, Apostolic) were responses to heresies that were beginning to develop around the person of Christ (Arianism, Apollinarism, Nestorism, Euthychianism, etc). Therefore, knowing these heresies and the defense that was given will help us to defend our faith. (Read: 1 John 2:22; John 20:30-31).
4) Because our salvation is in Christ
All of salvation revolves around the person and work of Christ, so it is of great importance to study the depths of His two natures, divine, and human, as well as to study His redemptive work that was completed on Calvary’s cross, and the impact it had on sinners and the world in general. If we seek wisdom, we will find it in the person and work of Christ. (Read John 3:18; 14:6; 1 John 5:1; 1 Corinthians 1:24)
Christ is the fulfillment of the promises of the Bible, the head and agent of transformation of the Church, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God! (1 Corinthians 1:24)