The Incomparable Christ, 2

~ Just The Facts ~

Multiple millions of people have testified to the uniqueness of Jesus Christ.  Their convictions have led many to suffering, torture, even death.  Others paused to honor Jesus and give Him the glory as they themselves stood in the spotlight.  Statesmen artists, athletes, scientists, peasants, and martyrs have held one thing in common—the transforming power of God through Jesus Christ. 

Most of those who don’t, or won’t, believe in Him at least acknowledge that He was a very good man, or even a prophet or teacher.  However, that doesn’t begin to describe Him.  Perhaps the Nicene Creed, formulated by church leaders in a.d. 325, best articulates His uniqueness: “Jesus, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God.”

If the New Testament is clear about anything, it is this:  Jesus Christ was truly God and truly man.  He is not “a” god, or related to God in some purely ethical sense.  He is called the gate, the true vine, the bread of life, the good shepherd, and the way and the truth and the life.  He is called the bright Morning Star, the chief cornerstone, and the light of the world.  He is the great physician, and the Rock of Ages.  He is the author and completer of our faith, the first and the last, healer of the sick, lover of the poor, matchless teacher, King of kings and Lord of lords.  Above all, He is the Savior of humanity.

Born of a virgin and conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ birth was like no other.  Keeping His divine nature as the eternal Son of God, He took on humanity through His mother.  Fourteen prophecies concerning His birth were perfectly fulfilled.

Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).  He was and is all wise, as God the Father is.  The disciples and all who heard Him were amazed because He taught with such authority.  With divine power He performed miracles of healing, drove out demons, and raised people from the dead.  Like God His Father, He is immortal; He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now sits at the Father’s right hand.

Although Jesus was fully human, He never sinned.  He was crucified, died, buried, and rose again three days later, conquering sin and death, becoming the Savior of humanity.  He will return as King and Judge.

No other prophet or holy man was born of a virgin.  None of them voluntarily died for the world’s sins, none rose from the dead, none displayed miraculous power of such magnitude, and none claimed to be fully divine and fully human.  In Jesus Christ, God reached down to humanity, becoming a man to bring salvation for our sins.

The Scriptures that answer the question “Who is Jesus?” make enormous claims.  Those claims are either true, or they constitute one horrendous lie.  After honestly examining the Scriptures, “no man can entertain an opinion of indifference regarding Jesus.  If he has considered the subject at all, he must worship Christ or crucify Him” (the last quote is from The Inner life of Christ, by Joseph Parker).

The above was taken from The Starting Point Bible and is slightly modified.    

comment:  You may appreciate the earlier ALN blog entitled The Incomparable Christ (March 30, 2010).  

the key question: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This is the most important question you will ever answer. If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).

Messiah, 148

~ Messiah Would Judge Righteously ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“With righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth” (Isaiah 11:4a). 

The Messiah  

Jesus said, “You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.  It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.  I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me” (John 8:15-18). 

The Future Complete Fulfillment

Jesus, the Messiah, said, “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father.  He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.  Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.  Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.  For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man” (John 5:22-27).

Jesus Christ said, “I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.  For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned’” (Matthew 12:36-37). 

Speaking of that future time we read, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water” (Revelation 14:7).

“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, ‘Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication’” (Revelation 17:1-2). 

“The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city!  For in one hour your judgment has come’” (Revelation 18:9-10).

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.  Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands.  And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.  But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.  This is the first resurrection.  Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.  Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4-6).

~~~ EXPLANATORY “MESSIAH” NOTES ~~~   

(1)  Each Saturday ALN posts an example of a Hebrew Scriptures prophecy (or foreshadowing) related to the coming Messiah which was fulfilled in the birth, life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ.

(2)  While extensive it will not be a complete list—there are hundreds of prophecies of the coming Messiah which have been fulfilled by one man—Jesus Christ at His First Coming.

(3)  It is important that there are many more prophecies of the Messiah, yet unfulfilled, which Christians believe will be fulfilled at the time of His Second Coming.  A particularly relevant Scripture verse in this regard is: “Do not despise prophesies” (1 Thessalonians 5:20).

(4)  These posts will typically consist only of Scripture—which speaks for itself.  Sometimes italicized or bold font will be used by ALN for emphasis.

(5)  The numbering of these fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah is used to differentiate individual posts. It is not chronological (either by time of the prophecy or by sequence in the life of the Messiah).  The posting sequence will, for the most part, be in the order that the prophecies appear in Scripture.

(6)  Because of the chosen methodology (#5 above) we will find many specific prophecies repeated multiple times throughout the Scriptures.

(7)  These serial posts are in addition to our regular Tuesday ALN postings on random topics.

(8)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).

God In You, 4of4

~ The Results of God In You ~

God has given us the written Word of God as our instruction manual for daily living.  Consider the result of following its guidance in our daily lives.

Walking As He Walked  ~  “Whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.  By this we know that we are in Him.  He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:5-6). 

Doing The Will Of God  ~  “Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world.  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17). 

His Joy Remaining In You  ~  Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). 

concluding thought to this series:  Interesting to note that the majority of these intimate aspects were given to us by the Apostle John—the disciple who had the most intimate relationship with Jesus Christ!  (c.f. John 20:2; 21:7, 20) 

key principle:  God has no favorites, but He allows us to choose our level of intimacy with Him.  Have you taken full advantage of that opportunity?

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).

God In You, 3of4

~ The Perseverance of God In You ~

The Christian life is a marathon—not a sprint.  Are you careful to “continue on”?

Continuing In His Word  ~  “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:31-32). 

Continuing In Love  ~  Jesus said, “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.  If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.  These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.  This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:9-12).

Continuing In The Son  ~  “Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning.  If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.  And this is the promise that He has promised us — eternal life” (1 John 2:24-25). 

Continuing In The Father  ~  “Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning.  If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.  And this is the promise that He has promised us — eternal life” (1 John 2:24-25).  

Continuing In The Things You Have Heard  ~  “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:14-17). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).