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The Question Is: What Is Christ To Mankind? [Posted 4/9/2011]
Beginning To Understand Jesus Christ Our Savior And Lord
The Door
Jesus Christ to those still lost in their sin is a door whereby they enter can be forgiven and receive eternal life.
John 10:9
“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture”
Those that enter shall be well supplied, and defended, and led "Beside The Still Waters Of Salvation.” Once through the door it is a place of safety and repose as to "Green Pastures And Still Waters" for nourishment and refreshing.
The Way
Jesus calls Himself “The Way” and we are to follow Him to the Father and receive forgiveness.
John 14:6
“Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Christ Is The Way:
By His doctrine – only Jesus has the Words of Eternal Life (see John 6:68)
By His example – Christ suffered for us as an example to follow (see 1 Peter 2:21)
By His sacrifice – Jesus was the only Perfect Sacrifice (see Hebrews 9:8-9)
By His Spirit – the indwelling Holy Spirit guides us into all truth (see John 16:13)
The Light of the World
Because Jesus is the Light of The World we are to Walk In The Light and be a light.
John 8:12
“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life”
He that follows Me – as one does a light going before him. As the Israelites did the pillar of bright cloud in the wilderness.
Those who have entered into living fellowship with the Living One awake from all death slumber and darkness’
They “walk in the light, as he is in the light;”
They “become light in the Lord” and with the Lord become torch bearers to the rest; and, more than all (Matthew 5:14), are themselves “the light of the world.”
The Bread Of Life
Jesus tells His disciples and believers today to eat of the Bread of Life and be satisfied.
John 6:35
“And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst”
Jesus Is The Only All-sufficient And Ordained Source Of Supply for what the soul craves. Please understand that only Jesus can provide this conscious and abiding satisfaction forevermore.
Our Peace
When we come to Jesus in faith believing we obtain peace with God and then as we learn to truly rest in the Lord Jesus we experience the peace of God in our daily lives.
Ephesians 2:14
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation
Peace comes with reconciliation not only with God, but with each other. The best way to produce peace between alienated minds is to bring them to the same Savior.
Our Savior
Almighty God offers us forgiveness of our sins and eternal life if we would come in faith to His Son, Jesus believing that He is the promised Savior.
2 Timothy 1:10
“But has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel”
The purpose to save sinful man was long conceived and then concealed in the Divine mind, but the Savior, Jesus came that He might make it known to mankind by His life, death, burial and resurrection. The sacrifice of Our Savior, Christ Jesus along with His resurrection is the great and glorious Gospel.
Our Lord
Although Jesus Christ is our Savior, we are never commanded to call Him “Savior.” But we are commended to call Him Lord and as our Lord we must Obey Him.
John 13:13
“You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am”
Lord is applied to one who rules and Jesus sits on His throne beside God. He waits for the day when God says return as Lord of Lords and King of kings and rule the earth with a rod of iron.
This title “Lord” is often given to God as being the Proprietor and Ruler of all things and it is given to Christ many hundred times in the New Testament.
Our High Priest
Our High Priest is Jesus and He is in heaven on His throne and we must Look Up To Him because He intercedes for us.
Hebrews 7:26
“For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens”
There was that in our character and circumstances which demanded that the high priest for us must be personally holy. We have in the person of the Lord Jesus such a High Priest.
There is no truth and no proposition more susceptible of proof, than Jesus is exactly fitted to High Priest for those who came to Him in faith. Those who choose not to come will face Jesus as their Judge.
Our Shepherd
True sheep hear the Shepherd’s voice and follow Him closely.
John 10:11
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep”
Jesus is the Faithful and True Shepherd, who is willing and able to do all that is necessary to defend and save the flock. The Shepherd that cared for His flock would hazard His own life to defend them. The Good Shepherd leads the sheep where there is always fresh grass and pure sweet water and they have peace as they are nourished forevermore.
Our Example
Jesus has set the perfect example as to what pleases Father God; thus we should closely Follow Him.
John 13:15
“For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you”
It is the manifest design of Jesus here to inculcate a lesson of humility that we should all take seriously as we assimilate this great lesson. He teaches us by His example that we ought to condescend to the most humble offices for the benefit of others and to please Father God.
The King of Kings
A believer should have a heart that yearns to see Jesus and so we Wait/Watch with great anticipation for His appearing as King of kings.
Revelation 19:16
“And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”
This verse is talking about Jesus’ glorious appearing to reign on earth for 1,000 yrs along with all the saints.
But the Apostle Paul writes a great admonition in Titus 2:13-14 of how we are first to be looking for Jesus to come and take His church home.
“Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”
Let us be found faithful and unashamed at His appearing.
The Question Is: What Do I Need To Know From Reading The Bible? [Posted 3/14/2011]
Knowledge That Increases
The Apostle Peter tells us in the first chapter of his second letter that believers are to “make every effort to supplement their faith . . . with knowledge . . . For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Knowledge Of God
Believers are to increase in the knowledge of God as they begin to walk worthy of Him and begin to be fruitful in every good work/
Colossians 1:10
“So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
This knowledge of God will begin to influence the believer’s conduct and will lead to its true end of practical obedience.
Knowledge Of Christ
Every believer’s goal should be increasing in the knowledge of Christ and becoming like Him in character, as we walk in fellowship with Him
Matthew 11:29
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls”
Christ is our Example from which we may draw the lessons for life that pursues holiness. Jesus is the Master Teacher and we should learn from him and no other teacher.
Knowledge Of His Will
As you study Go’s Word the best way of increasing in the knowledge of His will is by doing it.
Colossians 1:9
“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”
It is by Father God’s will that Christ became our Substitute and died for our salvation. It is His will that we should believe on Christ, and, as we shall presently understand, take after Him in our character. “Spiritual Wisdom” is conversant with things eternal and immutable reflecting the character of Almighty God.
Knowledge Of His Love
Believers are to be increasing in the knowledge of Jesus’ love by being taken up with Him who loves us.
Ephesians 3:19
“And to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Increasing our spiritual maturity in the knowledge of Christ’s love, in the sense of an inward personal experience of it — its freeness, its tenderness, its depth, its patience — is the great dynamic of the Gospel.
Knowledge Of His Power
Believers are increasing in the knowledge of Jesus’ power by trusting Him fully for everything spiritual and everything for their daily lives.
Philippians 3:10
“That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”
It is not an acquaintance with facts as external, nor an intellectual conviction of their reality, but an appropriation of them (so to speak) as an influencing power into the very being of Him who knows them.
Knowledge Of His Glory
Believers are increasing in the knowledge of Jesus’ glory when they are looking to Him and He becomes the focus of their life.
2 Corinthians 4:6
“For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
There is an implied comparison between the creation of light and the dawn of the Gospel Light, and each of these was meant for the good of all of mankind. Those that come to the Light in faith then can walk in the Light and be a Light unto the world.
Knowledge Of His Purpose
Increasing in the knowledge of His purpose as we are taught by the Spirit through the Word
John 16:13
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
Believers as they study His revelation will learn how they concern Christ and the future of the world, those who believe in Jesus and those who do not believe in Jesus. The indwelling Holy Spirit will bring guidance to our mind into the truth in all its completeness and in all its parts.
The Question Is: Why should I study the Bible? [Posted 3/11/2011]