Christian Disciplines - Part 4, Prayer

5 Basic Christian Disciplines from Text: A. (1) Word of God, v2-3a; (2) Prayer, v3b; (3) Gospel Works, v3c; (4) Fellowship, v3d; (5) Witness, v3e

Christ’s Example in Prayer
References: Matt 6:46-48 (cf. Jn 6:15); Mk 1:35; Lk 4:42; Jn 17

Question: If Jesus is God, was the Lord Jesus praying to Himself?

Nature of Christ:

a. 1689 LBC, “…was made of a woman of the tribe of Judah, of the seed of Abraham and David according to the Scriptures; so that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion; which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man.”

• without conversion (Jesus, as perfect Man was not becoming God)

• without composition, or without mixture (Jesus, wasn’t partly human and partly deity who made up one unique new super being)

• without confusion (Jesus wasn’t only divine & only appeared to be human [1 Jn 1:1; 4:2-3; Jn 1:14]; He was two persons; He was not merely human & appeared to be similar to God [Arius- claimed Jesus was not eternal; condemned at council of Nicea, 325 AD])

b. Theology – “hypostatic union” – Athanasius (c.296-373)

c. Council of Chalcedon (451 AD), Jesus is fully, perfect Man and fully, eternal God: two distinct natures inseparably joined in one person.

ANSWER: Therefore, when Jesus prayed, He prayed to the person of the heavenly Father, as perfect, sinless Man, by the power and leading of the Holy Spirit.