The Savior – The Person of Jesus Christ

The Offices of Christ – Prophet, Priest, and King

 

Revelation 19:16

And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written,

“KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” NASB

 

Jesus the King

Jesus is a King like no other king. He is the King of Heaven, much less the earth. Jesus testified of this before Pilate when He said,…….   

John 18:37 – 37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”  NASB

Indeed when the Scripture describes Jesus Kingship, it speaks of it in a way which is unmistakably the greatest of all.

Revelation 19:16 – 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” NASB

Psalm 48:1-2 – Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, His holy mountain. 2 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion in the far north, The city of the great King. NASB

He is the King of all Kings and the ruler of all other kings.

Revelation 1:5-7 – 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood, 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. Even so. Amen. NASB

His Kingdom is the largest dominion of all kingdoms because He possesses the entire heavens and earth. His authority is higher than every other because He is Himself the ONLY Sovereign. He is the supreme authority and possesses dominion over all others.

Ephesians 1:19-23 – 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all. NASB

His throne will last forever and His dominion will never end.

Hebrews 1:8 – 8 But of the Son He says, “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom. NASB

Daniel 7:13-14 – 13 “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. 14 “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed. NASB

At this point in time Jesus is at the right hand of God in Heaven. He is awaiting the plan of God to unfold as the Church is preaching His Gospel to the nations. His rule is currently a spiritual rule from Heaven in which subjects come willingly to Him and surrender to His Lordship by 

faith in Him and all that He has accomplished. He rules in the hearts of people in this Church age and has invited all people to come to Him and pay Him homage as King and Lord. During this time of Christ’s spiritual rule, as people come to Him, they endure with much reproach the suffering of Christ. However this reproach will turn to Glory when Christ returns!

2 Timothy 2:10-13 – 10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. 11 It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him; 12 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself. NASB

Romans 8:17 – 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. NASB

2 Thessalonians 1:10 – 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed —  for our testimony to you was believed. NASB

These shall also be rewarded when Christ comes and takes His throne forcibly to rule upon the earth. They shall be kings and priests and possess His authority to rule with Him upon the earth.

Daniel 7:27 – 27 ‘Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.’ NASB

Revelation 2:26-27 – 26 ‘And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; 27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father; NASB

Revelation 5:10 – 10 “And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” NASB

After we have examined these things, it should be no surprise to us to find out that Christ’s earthly Kingship was planned and decreed by God from eternity. Indeed as Jesus told us, He was born to be a King.

Psalm 2:6-7 – 6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” 7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, ‘Thou art My Son, Today I have begotten Thee. NASB

Micah 5:2 – “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” NASB

Isaiah 9:6-7 – 6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. NASB

He will subdue and rule the nations along with His saints, and they shall be lifted up in the eyes of all their enemies. Their enemies shall come and bow down before the Lord and give Him Glory and render obedience to Him. (Rev 22:5, Luke 19:17-19)    

Psalm 22:27-28 – 27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, And all the families of the nations will worship before Thee. 28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s, And He rules over the nations. NASB

Psalm 66:3 – Say to God, “How awesome are Thy works! Because of the greatness of Thy power Thine enemies will give feigned obedience to Thee. NASB

More than this Jesus will be a benevolent King like no other king that has ever reigned! Grace and Truth will thrive on the earth under His reign! The widow will have a husband and the orphan a father! He will bring peace to the earth and subdue all evil under His feet and the world will be filled with His Glory to the ends of the earth.

Habakkuk 2:14 – 14 “For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea. NASB

Micah 4:3 – 3 And He will judge between many peoples And render decisions for mighty distant nations. Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they train for war. NASB

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus, Our Great High Priest

Because of the fall of man and his becoming the object of God’s disfavor and wrath because of sin, it is necessary for us to have a mediator between God and man. Here lies the awesome power of Christ’s cross toward mankind, saving him from God’s wrath by accomplishing for mankind what he could have never done on his own.

1 Timothy 2:5-6 – 5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time. NASB

Christ became this mediator for us and fulfilled the ministry of the Priesthood to us. In this priestly work, Jesus did everything right and He satisfied the requirements of the Holy Father perfectly. He was a holy and undefiled sacrifice which appeased God’s wrath “once for all.”

Hebrews 7:26-27 – 26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. NASB

Because Jesus priestly work was holy and undefiled, His work was sufficient to make us perfect in God’s sight forever. There is no other sacrifice needed except for the “One” that has been offered by Christ. It is the final priestly work needed to mediate between God and man, so when Christ had completed it, He “sat down at the right hand of God.”

Hebrews 10:11-14 – 11 And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. 14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. NASB

Jesus priestly work has cleansed us in such a way that we have been completely sanctified, washed and cleansed from the guilt and shame of our sins. So the scripture declares..

1 Corinthians 6:11 – 11 And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. NASB

In this, we can have great assurance in the salvation that Jesus has worked for us. It is indeed complete and comprehensive. Jesus priestly work on the cross is perfectly complete so that our sins are completely forgiven in a way that we stand before God holy and blameless and beyond any reproach.

Colossians 1:21-22 – 21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach  NASB

Because Christ has died one time for the sins of all of His people, He therefore has provided a complete and eternal reconciliation with God and He Himself is the mediator between God and man forever. God will never again have His holy anger aroused by our sins because of the perfect priesthood of Christ. This intercession is not only “one time” at salvation, but is an ongoing ever-present intercession which satisfies God and provides a way of eternal reconciliation to God.

Hebrews 7:23-27 – 23 And the former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers, because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but He, on the other hand, because He abides forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.  26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. NASB

1 John 2:1-2 – 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. NASB

Therefore we can have confidence in approaching God because Jesus has perfectly interceded for us with God and opened a way for us to approach God and find help from Him for all of our needs.

Hebrews 10:19-22 – 19 Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. NASB   

Hebrews 4:15-16 – 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need. NASB

In Christ’s human nature He has faced the limitations and sufferings which are common to man. Because God has in Christ become a man and walked where we walk and experienced our suffering, He is therefore able to relate to and sympathize with our weakness. With Jesus we will find a compassionate and loving priest, the true heavenly Priest of God Most High, who cares for us and who is sympathetic to our needs and opens His heart of mercy to help us. 

Hebrews 2:17-18 – 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. NASB

Let us therefore learn the great benefit that is ours through the Priestly ministry of Jesus our Lord. He has performed everything necessary to reconcile us to God so that now we have peace with God through Him and help in our time of need from Him.

Romans 5:1-2 – 1 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. NASB

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Savior – The Person of Jesus Christ

The Offices of Christ – Prophet, Priest, and King   

 

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,

glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. NASB

 

Jesus the Prophet

There have been many true prophets of God through the ages. Most of their prophecies are recorded in the Bible and are considered the very “Words of God.” But of all of the prophets who have ever lived, there are none greater than the Lord Jesus Christ. He is “the prophet” which was prophesied by Moses to come.

Deuteronomy 18:18-19 – 18 ‘I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 ‘And it shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him. NASB

Of Jesus’ prophetic office, the New Testament speaks of it as the final “Word” from God concerning His plans and purposes for the world.

Hebrews 1:1-2 – God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. NASB

Jesus possesses this final prophetic office because He is, God Himself. He has come and given us a witness of God far beyond any other revelation from any other prophet, being the very Word of God Himself. Jesus is the living Word of God.

John 1:1-2 – 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. NASB

John 14:9 – Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, ‘Show us the Father’? NASB

Jesus is Himself the revelation of God in the flesh.

John 1:14 – 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. NASB

Jesus, being the greatest prophet in History, gives us wisdom and understanding like no other prophets who have gone before or ever will come again. He is the very “Light of the World.”

John 8:12 – Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.”  NASB

This means that He Himself is “that which causes the eye to see (definition of light).” That is the real eyes of the heart, where our innermost secrets and thoughts are exposed. The wisdom and understanding that Jesus gives us about God and human nature is far more profound than that of any other prophet. Jesus teaches us the true value of things, both physical and spiritual. He teaches us true wisdom and how to assess our lives in this world and in relation to God.

Matthew 6:25-27 – 25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? 26 “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? NASB

Matthew 10:28-31 – 28 “And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows. NASB

 

Jesus teaches us to see and judge our own hearts according to His perfect values, and this helps us to make a right assessment of our lives and how to correct our way. He guides our path like no other.

Matthew 5:27-28 – 27 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. NASB

Luke 6:45 – 45 “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. NASB

Jesus doesn’t just deal with external issues of behavior, with a list of rules and commandments, but shines light into our hearts so that we can see the motives and intentions of our hearts. He explains the meaning of the commandments to us. He does this so that we can be changed down deep inside and have an inner virtue which is genuine and real.

Hebrews 4:12 – 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. NASB

 

Jesus gives us insight into the unseen spiritual world and the eternal kingdom of God like no other, because He came from there. He shines light on the things we cannot see with our physical eyes, but can only understand with the eyes of our heart. What prophet ever promised us eternal life by believing in Him, or told us we must be born again in order to see the Kingdom of God? What prophet ever spoke of the final judgment of the world with such clarity and insight?

John 3:12-13 – 12 “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how shall you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 “And no one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven, even the Son of Man. NASB

Matthew 16:27 – 27 “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds.  NASB

John 3:14-15 – 14 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;  that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life. NASB

Jesus has opened our understanding into eternity so that now we know everything we need to know to be reconciled to God forever. He has spoken to us about how our soul can be saved from death. His way of salvation results in a completed and fully restored relation to God.

Matthew 16:24-26 – 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 “For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. 26 “For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? NASB

John 14:6 – 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. NASB

Jesus is indeed the prophet of prophets and the final word from God. He has explained our origin, our reason for existence, and given us instruction about all the details of life and death in a very clear and concise manner. In Him we know everything we need to know about our life and our death.

Colossians 2:2-3 – 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. NASB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Savior – The Person of Jesus Christ

The Humility and Exaltation of Christ – Part 3

Psalm 2:8-12

Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth.

Worship the Lord with reverence, And rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son,

lest He become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled.

How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! NASB

 

Ruler of the Nations

What is more is that this man Christ Jesus will reign as King over all the earth from His throne in Jerusalem. Jesus will be the ruler of the nations of the earth, and ALL the nations will come and worship the Lord and acknowledge His Lordship. This will happen during the Millennium.

Psalm 86:9-10 – 9 All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord; And they shall glorify Thy name. 10 For Thou art great and doest wondrous deeds; Thou alone art God. NASB

Psalm 22:27-28 – 27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, And all the families of the nations will worship before Thee. 28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s, And He rules over the nations. NASB

There will come a day yet future when God will establish Christ’s throne and kingdom and He will rule all other nations. His kingdom will never end or be destroyed.

Daniel 7:27 – 27 ‘Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.‘ NASB

Daniel 2:44 – 44 “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever. NASB

In this Kingship, all the nations of the earth will come and pay homage to Jesus the King. This is God’s warning to all the king’s of the earth.

Psalm 2:8-12 – 8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Thine inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Thy possession. 9 ‘Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, Thou shalt shatter them like earthenware.‘” 10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth. 11 Worship the Lord with reverence, And rejoice with trembling. 12 Do homage to the Son, lest He become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! NASB

Christ will yield exceeding great power over them and they shall live under His rule or be destroyed. He will Judge the nations with justice and they will obey Him.

Psalm 110:5-6 – 5 The Lord is at Thy right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath. 6 He will judge among the nations, He will fill them with corpses, He will shatter the chief men over a broad country. NASB

The kings of the earth will be in subjection to Him and will serve Him. The extent of this rule will be worldwide including men from every tribe and language.

Psalms 72:10-11 – 10 Let the kings of Tarshish and of the islands bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. 11 And let all kings bow down before him, All nations serve him. NASB

Daniel 7:13-14 – 13 “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. 14 “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed. NASB

Zechariah 14:16-20 – 16 Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths. 17 And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, there will be no rain on them. 18 And if the family of Egypt does not go up or enter, then no rain will fall on them; it will be the plague with which the Lord smites the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths. 19 This will be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths. NASB

His throne will be located in Jerusalem and from Mount Zion Jesus the King will reign over all the earth! At this time God will restore His people Israel to Himself, and they will dwell in the land of Israel which He promised to them.

Ezekiel 20:40-41 – 40 “For on My holy mountain, on the high mountain of Israel,” declares the Lord God, “there the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land; there I shall accept them, and there I shall seek your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your holy things. NASB

Micah 4:7 – 7 “I will make the lame a remnant, And the outcasts a strong nation, And the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion From now on and forever. NASB

Ezekiel 37:21-22 – 21 “And say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God,” Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; 22 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations, and they will no longer be divided into two kingdoms. NASB

There God’s people Israel will have Peace as the Prince of Peace their Messiah has brought them great security.

Zechariah 14:8-11 – 8 And it will come about in that day that living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter. 9 And the Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one. 10 All the land will be changed into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; but Jerusalem will rise and remain on its site from Benjamin’s Gate as far as the place of the First Gate to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s wine presses. 11 And people will live in it, and there will be no more curse, for Jerusalem will dwell in security. NASB

So it will be in the latter days, Jesus the King will be highly exalted in the sight of all nations and kingdoms, and they will give Him glory and serve Him.  This will happen during the Millennium, the 1000 year period of Christ physical Rule upon the earth with His Saints. During this time Satan will be bound and have no influence upon mankind.

Revelation 20:1-3 – And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. NASB

Toward the end of the Millennium, there will be a final rebellion against Christ by the nations, at which time He will destroy them forever, along with Satan. This will be the final doom of Satan and all the wicked, and the Eternal State will be ushered in.

Revelation 20:7-10 – 7 And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. NASB

In this Eternal State there will no longer be any sin in God’s Kingdom and the inhabitants of the earth will rest in peace forever.

Revelation 21:24-27 – 24 And the nations shall walk by its light, and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it. 25 And in the daytime (for there shall be no night there) its gates shall never be closed; 26 and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; 27 and nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. NASB

To clarify questions of timing and distinctions between the Millennium and the Eternal State, please see the chart below.    

 

 

 

The Savior – The Person of Jesus Christ

The Humility and Exaltation of Christ   

 

Philippians 2:9

Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and

bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,

 

The Exaltation of Christ – Jesus, the Highest Name

Jesus left the Glory of Heaven to humble Himself and become obedient to death on a cross. The Humility of Christ is an example of God’s character like no other. But consider that the lowly state to which Christ humbled Himself is not fit for a king. Should Jesus remain in that low estate to which He condescended forever, even though the Scripture should promise that “humility comes before honor?” (Prov 15:33) Jesus will of course be a man forever, having taken the nature of man, but He shall not be a humbled man, but One who is greatly exalted.

Philippians 2:9-11 9 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. NASB

See here that God has exalted Christ in His humanity and given Him a name among men and angels which is “above every name.” Because Jesus became obedient to death to serve God’s purpose in redemption as a man (Phil 2:6-11), God has “therefore also highly exalted Him!” Consider the nature of this exaltation, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father” See here that now Jesus the man will be exalted by all His creatures, and they shall be made to publicly confess His Lordship and pay homage to His great name, and this to “the glory of God the Father!” Consider what a contrast this is with His humiliation at Calvary. Jesus, who was scorned, shamed and beaten to death by men, shall now be their exalted King and Sovereign Judge! Thomas Watson comments..

“Christ shall judge his judges, he shall judge Pilate that condemned him; kings must leave their thrones and come to his bar. And this is the highest court of judicature, from whence is no appeal….See the different state of Christ on earth and in heaven. Oh how is the scene altered! When he was on earth, he lay in a manger; now he sits on a throne. Then he was hated and scorned of men; now he is adored by angels. Then his name was reproached; now, `God has given him a name above every name.’ Then he came in the form of a servant, and as a servant, stood with his basin and towel, and washed his disciples’ feet; John 13:3, now he is clad in his princes’ robes, and the kings of the earth cast their crowns before him. On earth he was a man of sorrows; now he is anointed with the oil of gladness. On earth was his crucifixion; now his coronation. Then his Father frowned upon him in desertion; now he has set him at his right hand. Before, he seemed to have no form or beauty in him; Isa 53:3; now he is in the brightness of his Father’s glory. Heb 1:1. Oh what a change is here! `Him has God highly exalted.’”

 

Seated at God’s Right Hand

The Scripture speaks in many places of His exaltation now at the “right hand of God.” The term “right hand” means that God has given Him the greatest honor, dignity, and power, as princes set the next in honor and authority to themselves at their right hands: It was esteemed the place of the highest honor to be seated at the right hand of a prince. So, to be seated at the right hand of God, means only that Jesus is exalted to the highest honor of the universe. So we are told in Scripture that when Jesus ascended into Heaven, He sat down at God’s right hand!

Mark 16:19 – 19 So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. NASB

Hebrews 12:2 – 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. NASB

Further, He has now been seated at Gods’ right hand and is awaiting the complete subjection of His enemies “under His feet.”

Psalm 110:1 – 110 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet.” NASB

This place of honor is in fulfillment of Jesus prophecy to the Jews and the High Priest at His trial. There the Lord told them the truth, namely that they would see Him “sitting at the right hand” of God!

Matthew 26:62-65 – 63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” NASB

The Scripture describes the full extent of this honor which the Father has bestowed upon Him. His Exaltation is of such nature that it is “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named.” This is to say that the extent of His authority is infinite, being equaled to God Himself.

Ephesians 1:19-23 – 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all. NASB

So not only did He possess this Sovereignty from all eternity as God the Son, but now the man Christ Jesus sits at the throne of God with a name among His creatures that is exalted above every name! And they shall give Him the glory due His name, and not a single creature shall fail to glorify Him and confess His Sovereign Glory and pay homage to Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Revelation 5:9-14 – 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 “And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” 11 And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” 13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” 14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped. NASB

 

 

 

 

The Savior – The Person of Jesus Christ

The Humanity of Christ   

 

Hebrews 2:17

Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things,

that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God,

to make propitiation for the sins of the people. NASB

 

The Humanity of Christ – What Does the Bible Say?

Most people agree that Jesus was a man. This is one of the most widely embraced facts in all of history. Hardly anyone would question this because the historical evidence is overwhelming. However the theological implications regarding Jesus humanity have been questioned and scrutinized for centuries. It is important for us to understand how the Scripture reveals the Humanity of Christ so that we can have a biblical and therefore accurate view of who Jesus Christ is. In this consideration it is important to understand that even though Jesus was God incarnate as we have seen, He was also born of a woman and was fully man. The Scripture makes this very plain.

Luke 2:7 – And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. NASB

Galatians 4:4 – 4 But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, NASB

Jesus was seen and known as a man by those around Him and He is spoken of in the Scripture as a man. This is a very obvious fact. In Matthew the folks from His own hometown speak of Him as the man everyone knows.

Matthew 13:54-57 – 54 And coming to His home town He began teaching them in their synagogue, so that they became astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom, and these miraculous powers? 55 “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 “And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” NASB

Because Jesus was a man, He had a normal human body just like all men. He was born as a baby, grew up with a normal childhood and matured as a man. Jesus had the regular human weaknesses that accompany all human beings just like us. He is spoken of in Scripture as being thirsty, becoming tired and sleeping and also became hungry. In fact, after being beaten and crucified, He died just like all other people.

John 4:6 – and Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. NASB

Matthew 4:2 – 2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. NASB

John 19:28 – 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I am thirsty.” NASB

Luke 23:46 – 46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit.” And having said this, He breathed His last. NASB

Along with His normal body, He had a normal mind and emotions which are seen in many places in Scripture. He faced the whole range of human emotions just as we have. This is also clear in Scripture.

Hebrews 2:17 – 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. NASB

 

Tempted yet Sinless

In fact, even though Jesus possessed a fully divine nature, the Scripture affirms that he was tempted “in all things as we are” and yet was “without sin.”

Hebrews 4:15 – 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. NASB

Matthew 4:1-4 – Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'”  NASB

Hebrews 2:18 – 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. NASB

But how can this be? If Jesus had a divine nature and was fully God, does not the Scripture affirm that God cannot be tempted by evil. Indeed it does….

James 1:13 – 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. NASB

There has been much debate over this question through the ages, but the dilemma is not unclear in Scripture. It is clear that in His divine nature, Jesus could not be tempted, therefore we must conclude that He was in fact tempted in His human nature. It must be very much like the temptation of Adam, as Adam had not sinned prior to the fall, yet when tempted he fell. Jesus unlike Adam, did not fail in His temptation, but triumphed over the works of the devil, remaining steadfast in His obedience to God, and was “yet without sin.” Scripture plainly declares that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life.

1 Peter 2:21-22 – 21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; NASB

1 John 3:5 – 5 And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. NASB

In fact this is a very important part of our salvation in the fact that Jesus possessed for us what we call “representative obedience” before God as our substitute. Thus Jesus is able then to impart to us through “imputation” His perfect righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21 – 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. NASB

Romans 5:18-19 – 18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. NASB

Because Jesus was sinless, He was therefore able to offer Himself as a “substitute sacrifice” on our behalf, because He did not need to die for His own sins. Therefore when He offered Himself for us, He was able to atone for all sin, including all the sins of all the people.

Hebrews 7:26-27 – 26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. NASB

So then Jesus has become for us a High Priest who is able to “sympathize with our weakness,” having experienced our humanity and the sufferings and weaknesses that accompany our daily lives. He is the perfect “mediator between God and man,” being fully human and fully God.

Hebrews 4:15 – 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. NASB

1 Timothy 2:5 – 5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ

Jesus, NASB

 

Jesus our Example

More than this, He has also become for us an “example of obedience to God” in all of life. He came and faithfully revealed God to us in a way that makes it crystal clear to us what God is like, and how God would desire for us to respond to the daily circumstances that we face in life. In Jesus example we learn to live and to love in the way God intended for us from the beginning.

John 13:15 – 15 “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. NASB

Ephesians 5:1-2 – Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. NASB

 

 

 

The Savior – The Person of Jesus Christ

The Deity of Christ   

 

Hebrews 1:3

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins,

He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; NASB

 

The Deity of Christ – What Does the Bible Say?

It is no surprise to one who has read the New Testament that Jesus is affirmed in Scripture as God Himself. Indeed anyone who embraces the “Trinity” (that God is One being expressed in three persons), would affirm this teaching. Jesus is God the Son, the second member of the Godhead, with all of the divine attributes of God. This is explicitly taught in Colossians 2:9.

Colossians 2:9 – 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, NASB

In seeking then a biblical understanding of Jesus, let us consider that Jesus is not just a man, but is indeed the God-man. As we have stated already, He is “fully man and fully God.” The Bible teaches that He is God in the flesh and makes emphatic and explicit statements about Christ’s Deity, using the term “theos” (God) to speak of Him.

John 1:1-2 – 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. NASB

Titus 2:13 – 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; NASB

Romans 9:5 – 5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. NASB

John 20:28 – 28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” NASB

Hebrews 1:8 – But of the Son He says, “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever,

And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom. NASB

2 Peter 1:1 – Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: NASB

At times when referring to Jesus, the Bible uses names of God to refer to Christ. An example of this in the Old Testament is in Isaiah 9 where the coming Christ child is spoken of as the “Mighty God” and “Eternal Father.” See also Isaiah 40:3, Micah 5:2.

Isaiah 9:6 – For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. NASB

We might also note here that in John 12:41, John speaks of Isaiah’s vision of God in chapter 6 as a vision of the exalted Christ upon His throne in Heavenly glory.

Isaiah 6:1-3 – In the year of King, Uzziah’s death, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” NASB

In many places, the term “Lord” is used to refer to Jesus. This term Lord is known in the Old Testament as the very title of God Himself, a translation of the word “Yahweh” or “Jehovah.”  In Greek the term is “kyrios” and can be used of a polite greeting or as the title denoting authority. But in these passages speaking of Jesus, the term implies the very title of God.  

            Luke 2:11 – 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the

Lord. NASB   

Matthew 22:41-46 – 41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?” They said to Him, “The son of David.” 43 He said to them, “Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying, 44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Until I put Thine enemies beneath Thy feet”‘? 45 “If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?”  46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question. NASB

1 Corinthians 12:3 – 3 Therefore I make known to you, that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. NASB

Revelation 19:16 – 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” NASB

There are also clear passages in the New Testament speaking of Jesus Christ as the very image of God, that is, the physical, visible image of God in human flesh.  

            Colossians 1:15 – 15 And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. NASB

2 Corinthians 4:4 – 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. NASB

Or consider statements in Hebrews chapter one where He is referred to as the “exact representation of God’s nature,” and also the very radiance of the glory of God. In these passages Jesus Christ is also seen as the One who created the heavens and the earth and is sustaining the universe by His own power.

Hebrews 1:3 – 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; NASB

Hebrews 1:10-11 – 10 And, “Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of Thy hands; 11 They will perish, but Thou remainest; And they all will become old as a garment, NASB

The New Testament in many places makes explicit statements about the fact that Jesus is the “One through whom the world was made,” describing Him as the very Creator of all things.

Hebrews 1:2 – 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. NASB

Hebrews 2:10 – 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. NASB

1 Corinthians 8:6 – 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. NASB

These texts which speak of Jesus as Creator, also describe the extent of His creation being universal. His work of creation includes “everything that has come into being.”

John 1:1-3 – 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. NASB

Colossians 1:16 – 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities —  all things have been created by Him and for Him. NASB

Jesus Himself made many claims to deity. When He claims to be the “son of Man”, He describes Himself as the fulfillment of the Messianic Prophecy of Daniel chapter 7:13-14. In the vision this Messiah, is given the highest place of dominion and authority, and comes “on the clouds of Heaven.” Jesus claims this unique distinction Himself when testifying before the High Priest…

Matthew 26:64 – 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” NASB

This coupled with the many verses of Scripture which ascribe the highest authority to Christ, demonstrate His Deity.

Matthew 28:18 – 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. NASB

Revelation 19:13-16 – 13 And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations; and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” NASB

There are many Scriptures not mentioned here which clearly describe Jesus as Divine. One more example would be in Philippians chapter 2 where He is described as “existing in the form of God,” and then spoken of as holding the place of Highest authority.

Philippians 2:5-11 – in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, …… 9 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. NASB

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Savior – The Person of Jesus Christ

The Pre-Existence of Christ  

 

John 6:38

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will,

but the will of Him who sent Me. NASB

 

The Pre-Existence of Christ – What Does the Bible Say?

The fact that Jesus the Son of God existed before His incarnation upon the earth is a fact clearly taught in the Bible. Because Jesus is God, He has always existed and there never was a time when He had a beginning of days. He was God and with God in the beginning.

John 1:1-3 – 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. NASB

He therefore existed as God the Son eternally in Heavenly glory before He came to earth. He was always rejoicing in the perfection of His own nature, with the Father and the Spirit for all eternity. He speaks of this “glory” He had before the world began.

John 17:5 – 5 “And now, glorify Thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. NASB

2 Corinthians 8:9-10 – 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. NASB

Jesus Christ existed before all created things and this fact is repeated in Scripture several times.

Colossians 1:17 – 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. NASB

Even the Old Testament speaks of Him existing from eternity.

Micah 5:2 – 2 “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” NASB

Jesus claimed to have existed before Abraham, who lived in 2100 B.C.

John 8:58 – 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” NASB

Jesus also claims to have come down from Heaven. That is before He walked the earth, He was in Heaven with God.

John 3:13, 31 – 13 “And no one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven, even the Son of Man…31 “He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all NASB

John 6:38 – 38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. NASB

John 6:62 – 62 “What then if you should behold the Son of Man ascending where He was before? NASB

This is also affirmed by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 15:47 – 47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. NASB

When the Bible speaks about Jesus, it says He “came forth from God” and “was sent” by God the Father to us. That is, He was with God in the beginning, and left Heaven to come down to earth and live and walk among us.

Matthew 10:40 – 40 “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent

Me. NASB

John 8:42 – 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me; for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. NASB

John 13:3 – 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God, and was going back to God, NASB

John 16:28 – 28 “I came forth from the Father, and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again, and going to the Father.” NASB

All of this happened by God’s plan, at the perfect moment in history, in the “fullness of time,” so that God’s plan could be fulfilled and we could be redeemed.

Galatians 4:4 – 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, NASB

In this doctrine of the Pre-Existence of Christ we clearly see that Jesus is not like us. He is indeed the Lord of Eternity from outside of time and space. There is no one like Him indeed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

This teaching is a part of a 9 month series called “The Savior, The Cross, and The Gospel” ….

 

See the Outline here….. http://www.abqhcf.com/lessons/2007/handouts/dz/The_Savior_The_Cross_and_The_Gospel_Brochure.pdf

 

This teaching can be heard on audio here:

 

http://www.abqhcf.com/sermons/2007/discovery/10-21-2007_SundaySchool.mp3

 

 

 

If you would like to know how to know Jesus Christ and be ransomed from your sins and receive eternal life…..click here

 

http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/2425

 

 

If you have comments or questions, please do respond to shaan@heavenslight.org

The Savior – The Person of Jesus Christ

The Incarnation and Virgin Birth

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,

glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. NASB

 

The Incarnation – What Does the Bible Say?

When considering the person of Jesus Christ from the Bible, one soon learns that Jesus is extraordinary. This is because He is the One unique person in all of history in whom God became “incarnate.” This is to say that God became “incarnated” as a man in the person of Jesus Christ by the agency of the virgin birth.

John 1:14 – 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. NASB

So when we consider the nature of Jesus from Scripture, we find that He is “fully man and fully God.” The Bible teaches that He is God in the flesh.

1 John 4:2-3 – 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. NASB

This is what distinguishes Jesus Christ from every other religious leader, Jesus is in fact God Himself, come into the world to be with us and manifest God to us in a way that we can understand clearly by taking on our very nature. The name Immanuel is a title for Jesus meaning “God with us.” God took on a human nature in Jesus Christ.

Matthew 1:23 – 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” NASB

 

The Virgin Birth

The Bible clearly speaks of the fact that Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary by the Holy Spirit and that He did not have a human father.

Matthew 1:18-20 – 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” NASB

This divine miracle is remarkable indeed. It clearly speaks of the nature of the baby to be born, that it will be divine. This child will be Holy and without the iniquity of an earthly father being passed to Him. He will be the very Son of God!

Luke 1:35 – 35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. NASB

So we see that Jesus not only had a human mother, Mary, but His father is God Himself. This is a thing of wonder indeed. The humanity and the deity of Christ are clearly seen in the fact that Jesus is the son of man, being born of Mary, and the Son of God, being conceived of the Holy Spirit. Thus, God took on a human nature and became a man.

Galatians 4:4 – 4 But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, NASB

This was absolutely necessary for Jesus to come into the world to die as a substitution for our sins. No one other man could ever do this for us because Jesus was the only One without sin, and therefore able to die in our place. This doctrine of the Virgin Birth is always and continually under attack for this very reason. If we forsake this fundamental teaching of Scripture, the doctrine of substitutionary atonement loses its foundation of a “lamb without blemish”, and we are therefore left with a less than perfect Savior to die in our place.

 

 

 

This teaching is a part of a 9 month series called “The Savior, The Cross, and The Gospel” ….

 

See the Outline here….. http://www.abqhcf.com/lessons/2007/handouts/dz/The_Savior_The_Cross_and_The_Gospel_Brochure.pdf

 

This teaching can be heard on audio here:

 

http://www.abqhcf.com/sermons/2007/discovery/10-14-2007_SundaySchool.mp3

 

 

 

If you would like to know how to know Jesus Christ and be ransomed from your sins and receive eternal life…..click here

 

http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/2425

 

 

If you have comments or questions, please do respond to shaan@heavenslight.org