How Did Christ Live? by Dennis Preibe 2pm

Main ideas / concepts taught

• Purpose of the talk: Explain how Christ lived—especially how Jesus could live without sin—and what believers can learn about righteousness by faith and overcoming sin.
• Key biblical foundation: Philippians 2:5–11, described as a “premier” and highly complete passage covering Christ’s humility, incarnation, obedience, death, and the universal confession of Christ’s lordship.
• Central question of the outline: What did Christ “empty himself” of? (Using KJV language: “made himself of no reputation,” linked to “emptied himself.”)

Major theology claims (Christ’s voluntary self-limitation)

The talk argues that Jesus emptied himself of divine prerogatives/powers, such as:

• Omnipotence (power): Jesus declares dependence rather than acting independently (e.g., “I can of mine own self do nothing”).
• Memory/knowledge: Jesus grows in wisdom/knowledge during childhood (as described from Ellen White sources).
• Foreknowledge: Jesus does not know the “day and hour” of the second coming (“neither the son… but the father”).

It further emphasizes that Jesus’s life shows that, as a true human, he relied on God rather than operating as God using divine attributes.

How Jesus understood his mission

• Not by storing prior divine knowledge, but through faith, Scripture, and Holy Spirit guidance.
• A proposed example framework: Scripture impressions (such as Isaiah 53 imagery of the suffering lamb) guided Jesus as his mission became clear.

Why Christ’s humanity matters for believers

• The talk claims many Christians worship an “invented/paper Christ” who did not truly share humanity’s limitations.
• It argues that Jesus must have been able to be tempted in ways truly relevant to humans; otherwise, the example and hope for believers collapses.

Doctrine emphasis: righteousness by faith as lived experience

Jesus’s obedience is presented as arising from:

• Trust + study + prayer
• leading to the Holy Spirit’s indwelling power
• producing godlikeness

Believers are taught they must maintain “connection with the Father” so righteousness continues.

---

Methodology / instructional elements (structured)

1) Use Scripture + prayer to seek “the mind of Christ”

• Pray for the miracle of having Christ’s mind (anchored in Philippians 2:5).
• Rely on the Holy Spirit to understand Scripture and apply it personally.
• Expected outcome: thinking and choosing like Jesus—humility, obedience, and dependence on God.

2) “How did Jesus live without sin?”—follow the pattern of dependence

The talk offers a mechanism (later expanded via a diagram concept) for victory over sin:

• Trust in God
• Study Scripture
• Prayer (including “night” communion with the Father)

Result:

• the Holy Spirit brings divine strength
• Jesus’s “divine nature” (communicated through the Spirit) supports godly living
• believers can experience the same “godlikeness” as Christ’s life

3) The talk’s logic for what “Christ emptied himself of”

• Begin with Philippians 2:7 (“emptied himself” / “made himself of no reputation”).
• Connect “emptying” to Jesus’s statements of dependence, such as:
  • “I can of mine own self do nothing”
  • seeking not his own will but the Father’s will
• Then argue that the emptying includes:
  • power, knowledge/memory, and foreknowledge

Conclusion: Jesus is sinless not because he was incapable of temptation due to divine foreknowledge, but because he chose and depended on God.

4) Ruling out common misconceptions about temptation and sin

The speaker contrasts two views:

• “Christ could not sin” (presented as a mainstream Christian view)
• vs.
• “Christ did not sin” (presented as the speaker’s preferred view, emphasizing real risk and real temptation)

Applied to believers:

• Jesus’s temptation was real.
• Victory comes through divine power (Holy Spirit) rather than excuse or incapability.

5) Instructional soteriology: interpreting “flesh” / fallen nature

• Teach that when Romans 8:3 says “flesh,” it means fallen nature (Greek sarx).
• Use Romans 8:3 + Philippians 2:7 (“likeness of men,” “form of a servant”) to argue:
  • Jesus took fallen human nature, not merely a “similar” likeness.
• The talk addresses and rejects the claim: “similar to, but not exactly like us.”

6) How the Holy Spirit takes control (difference between Jesus and believers)

A practical model is described:

• Jesus
  • Born with fallen heredity
  • but the Holy Spirit controlled him from birth
  • so he did not develop sinful propensities/habitual sin the way humans typically do.
• Believers
  • may have similar fallen heredity
  • but can receive the Holy Spirit’s controlling presence at the new birth
  • enabling the same pattern of victory and obedience.

7) Practical application: memorizing a “summary paragraph” of righteousness by faith

• The speaker presents a paragraph (from Ellen White) intended to be memorized.
• The aim is to avoid getting stuck in theological jargon and instead focus on lived dependence:
  • “continual communion”
  • seeking strength “in the secret place of prayer”
  • receiving life from God to impart life to others

8) Encouragement toward perfection / end-times expectations (framed for later)

• Mentions Revelation’s concept of a final perfected people (144,000) who stand without a mediator after probation ends.
• Indicates later sessions will address:
  • inspiration’s teaching on perfection
  • and the distinction between biblical inspiration and popular claims.

---

Speakers / sources featured

Speakers / people

• Dennis Preibe (primary speaker)
• Unidentified male assistant / attendee (brief interjections, e.g., agreeing with points and helping with logistics)

Biblical sources

• Philippians 2:5–11 (central)
• Philippians 2:5, 2:6, 2:7 (key verse references)
• John 5:30
• Luke 2:52
• Mark 13:32
• Romans 8:3
• Hebrews 4:15
• 1 John 4:1–3 (spirit/“Antichrist” test)

Ellen White / Spirit of Prophecy sources referenced

• Desire of Ages (multiple citations, including page numbers such as 336, 70, 78, 147, 122, 363; exact pages quoted throughout)
• Patriarchs and Prophets (referenced: 561)
• Testimonies for the Church (referenced: Volume 4, 30 and 31; and another reference such as Volume 3, 567)
• Additional minor references including a “Textbook on Jesus Christ,” plus statements attributed to Ellen White.

Other historical/theological references

• James White (mentioned regarding the meaning of “flesh”)
• Dosetists / Docetists (view that Jesus did not truly take a bodily nature)
• “Signs of the Times” (Oct. 29, 1894) (quotation about the human will of Christ and wilderness temptation)