The importance of Christology is to know about the work of Christ, the life of Christ, His relation to us, His love for us, what He did for us, His humanity, and His deity.
What we presume to know at this point, because of our prior study of God's Revelation and what we've learned about Interpretation, is that the Bible is True in its teaching about Jesus Christ, God the Son. We also presume, because of our study about God the Father, is that God is deity. Upon this foundation we will build our understanding from God's Revelation about God the Son.
Christ in Eternity Past
This looks at what Christ was and did before His birth.
His Deity
He was fully God. Because He was God, He was eternal. He has "God likeness"; the same character as God. Consider these proofs of His deity.
Certain Direct Statements that Prove His Deity.
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God.
Was is the imperfect tense of the present tense, "I am" which is used by God the Father to reveal Himself as eternal deity. This same term, here in John 1:1 is applied to Christ as "the Word" or the expression of God, and also as fully God. He is not "a God" simply because an article is not present in the sentence; this lack of article implies He is God in essence, not particularly as an object. The concept of "a God" is an erroneous English-ism attempting to be applied to a Greek construct that does not support that meaning.
Was with God indicates, from the preposition used, a nearness in proximity, of being "toward" or "face to face with" God. This verse shows a "oneness" of the deity, yet separateness of persons within the deity structure (Father and Son, as combined with other Scripture).
John 1:14
Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.
Became (or "was made" or "came to be") speaks of the humanity that Christ took on at His incarnation. This construct is in direct contrast to the terminology used to describe Christ's deity.
John 8:58
Jesus said to them, “I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I am!"
Here again we see the contrast of the same two terms found in John 1:1 and 1:14. "Came into existence" is the same root word as John 1:14 "became flesh." The "I Am" of 8:58 is the present tense of the imperfect form found in 1:1 translated as "was."
Micah 5:2
As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, seemingly insignificant among the clans of Judah—from you a king will emerge who will rule over Israel on my behalf, one whose origins are in the distant past.
Distant past, translated here and sometimes translated "from everlasting," indicate a time frame that is difficult for humans to grasp. This is one of the strongest usages of language in Scripture to bring out the concept of "eternal existence."
His Heavenly Origin Necessitates His God-Likeness.
John 3:31 - Jesus is from Heaven
The one who comes from above is superior to all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is superior to all.
John 6:38 - Jesus is from Heaven
For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.
1 Peter 1:20 - Known before the foundation of the world
He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake.
His Pre-incarnate Work. He Did Something Before that Bears Out His Deity.
John 1:3 - Jesus created all things
All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
Hebrews 1:10-12 - Hebrews 1 context is about Jesus. "You founded the earth in the beginning..." This New Testament selection is an applied quote from Psalm 102:25-27.
10 And,
“You founded the earth in the beginning, Lord,
and the heavens are the works of your hands.
11 They will perish, but you continue.
And they will all grow old like a garment,
12 and like a robe you will fold them up
and like a garment they will be changed,
but you are the same and your years will never run out.”
He Possesses Certain Attributes or Qualities of Deity.
Omnipotence (all powerful): Matthew 28:18 -- "All authority" -- Greek "power" (a word from which we get our English word for dynamite).
Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
Omniscience (all knowing): John 2:25 - He knew what was in man
He did not need anyone to testify about man, for he knew what was in man.
Omnipresence (everywhere present): John 1:48 (saw Nathanial under the fig tree)
Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
His Titles
Word: John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God.
Image: Colossians 1:15 - He is the image of God in likeness and representation. We know and understand God the Father through the image presented to us by Jesus.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation...
Lord (Kurios): Romans 10:9-10 - We confess that Jesus is Lord.
9 because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.
Only / First Begotten / Unique (one of a kind): Colossians 1:15 & John 1:3
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation...
3 All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
Son of God / Son of Man: Philippians 2:6; Matthew 1:23; Matthew 3:17; Psalm 2:7
2:6 who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped...
1:23 Look! The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will name him Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.”
3:17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my one dear Son; in him I take great delight.”
2:7 The king says, “I will announce the Lord’s decree. He said to me: ‘You are my son. This very day I have become your father.
Worship Is Ascribed to Him
Acts 7:39
John 20:28
Matthew 14:33
He Possesses Qualities of God
John 5:21, 26 (Sovereign Life Giver)
Miracles (7 signs of John)
John 15:26 (He sends the Holy Spirit)