The different forms of Christ

As you may know, the Godhead is divided into 3 persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  

So it is with Christ.   He is presented in the scriptures in different forms.  It is important to do this if we are going to "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  2 Timothy 2:15.  It is very important to see this.

1.  In the Old Testament, God is presented as the God of Israel who managed His chosen nation with law and commandments under Moses.  The message (gospel) for them was to obey the law or suffer dire consequences.  He also used the prophets to speak to Israel.
2.  Jesus of Nazareth.  When the right time came, Jesus appeared to the nation of Israel as the Messiah with the express mission to offer the Kingdom of God to them. (In fact, there was no offer to the Gentiles here - Jesus was only interested in the lost sheep of Israel - See Matt 10:5,6,7 and Matt 15:24 - In fact, here he called the woman from Canaan a dog, but he made and exception, and healed her.) This continued after His death until the end of the Acts period (see Acts 28:28)  This offer was rejected by Israel and their Messiah was put to death.  
3.  Paul's gospel: Christ in you.  Paul says a vital thing in 2 Cor 5:16: "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more." He goes on to qualify the fact that those (in Christ) are new creatures altogether!  Jesus (us being in Christ) is now in a different form.  A note here:  Paul, never ever speaks of Jesus of Nazareth and the miracles he did.  Why?  Those were signs that He was the Messiah to Israel. Christ is now shown differently ..."yet now henceforth (from now on) know we him NO MORE!  You see, Paul's gospel has a completely new flavour to it.  Further more Paul says clearly that we have to be established according to HIS GOSPEL (Romans 16:25)  

Jesus is still the SAME JESUS but we need to see Him in a different way.

He is presented as US AS HIM!  He now dwells in us (Col 1:26,27,28)  Vs 28, it clearly says that this is the Christ we are meant to preach.

What a liberating secret this mystery is!!!  (Col 1:26)  This is the message of sonship.