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THE BEAUTY OF JESUS
August 8, 1999
DOCTRINE AND GOAL: The Beauty of Jesus. HE is PRECIOUS to those who BELIEVE and HOW. May this knowledge inflame in our hearts a response of obedience and bring forth the fruit of a Holy Life wholly dedicated to HIM.
Lord and savior mighty God, open up the eyes of our souls that TODAY we might see the beauty of Jesus. That seeing HIM who is LORD and God and Savior and redeemer we maybe filled with love for him and hatred of ALL that is opposed to HIM. May the filth and odiousness of SIN be truly filthy and odious in our eyes that we would hate its very presence in US. That because we are so taken with YOU or glorious God and Lord -- sin in us will be most heinous and detested for the separation it puts between us. May the Beauty of Jesus so enrapture our souls that we will hunger and thirst for nothing but HIM who satisfies the thirst of those who thirst for righteousness.
Consider the following verses expressing a knowing of this beauty:
Read in the context of Psalm 73.
Psa 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
The psalmist was musing over the worldly advantages enjoyed by the UNGODLY. Look what they have! How can this be??? How do they in their ungodliness enjoy these things now when I who am a Christian who follow and obey the living God have not?? O! But wait it is not his things I want BUT HIM, HIMSELF!!! Him and Him alone is my desire. I say to my GOD, "Not thine by thee!!!!"
Now NOTE: He is indeed precious to the TRUE BELIEVER. But NOT TO ALL mankind -- not to each and every man but to YOU who believe his is precious.
1 Peter 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
Precious: Something precious is something of great value, highly esteemed, treasured, and prized.
Is Christ this to ME? Woe is me if He is NOT precious to me above all things! This Jesus who was RICH in heavenly glory and splendor -- this Jesus who humbled himself and submitted to becoming poor -- Though HE is from eternity past -- though he is from everlasting -- though he was IN the beginning -- though all THINGS were made by HIM -- though he is indeed VERY GOD OF VERY GOD yet He humbled himself and became POOR -- born in a stable -- laid in a manger -- born of a virgin in humble circumstances, laying his glory down to take on the seed NOT of angels but of Abraham, this Jesus who was RICH became poor that we might be RICH in his grace.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Heb 2:14 ¶ Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
1 ¶ Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
Luke 9:58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Philippians 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Precious Savior! Precious Lord! Precious Lamb of God who takes away my sin! Whom have I in heaven but THEE! There is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.
BUT WAIT! Before I consider the Beauty of Jesus I see something in this verse 1PE 2:7, but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
He is not precious to all, His beauty is not seen to the unbelieving eye. His beauty is not the WORLDLY kind!! What kind of Jesus we seek, what kind of beauty we value are questions of utmost importance. Do we know him aright? Do we see if eyes of faith -- a pure faith, divine and given by God?
NO BEAUTY THAT WE SHOULD DESIRE HIM:
ISA 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Do you look for a beautiful Jesus portrayed in the elaborate paintings of a fine artist? Do you see a Jesus imagined in your mind - one who is handsome and beautiful according to the dictates of this world? Are you looking for a money giving Jesus? A Jesus who caters to our flesh - Popular and witty -- glamorous and spectacular along the lines of Hollywood and glamour magazines. Is this YOUR Jesus?
Jesus is beautiful and precious to the eyes of faith ---
BUT here in prophetic writ we are plainly told there is NO BEAUTY. NO BEAUTY in HIM, Nothing in his physique that we should desire him. IN FACT he is despised and rejected of MEN. No BEAUTY in HIM.
What contrast --- Whom have I in heaven but thee -- there is none upon earth that I DESIRE BUT THEE. Yet he hath no FORM nor COMELINESS -- NO BEAUTY -- Isaiah 53:2-3 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (NIV - I do not accept this translation but use it here to provide a modern rendition of the words form or comeliness.)
THEY REVILED HIM:
John 9:28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.
John 9:29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
John 18:40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.
John 19:5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!
John 19:14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
John 19:15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
OPEN THE EYES OF YOUR SOUL DEAR BROTHER and SEE Him in all his beauty -- Not as you imagine him to appear but as the Holy Word Of God gloriously unveils HIM:
Beautiful in his Majesty:
The Mount of Transfiguration:
Luk 9:28-29 ¶ And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. {sayings: or, things} And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
Jesus Prays:
John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
John 17:24 ¶ Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
In the Revelation:
Rev 5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
Isaiah sees HIS Glory:
Isa 6:1 ¶ In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. {his...: or, the skirts thereof}
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. {one...: Heb. this cried to this} {the whole...: Heb. his glory is the fulness of the whole earth}
4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. {door: Heb. thresholds}
5 ¶ Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. {undone: Heb. cut off}
NT confirmation -this was the Pre-incarnate Glory of Christ which Isaiah saw:
Joh 12:39-41 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
Peter perceives this glory:
Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
The apostle who laid his head upon the bosom of Christ:
Rev 1:12-18 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
His Glory and His Humiliation Made known in New Testament Light from OT Prophecies.
Heb 1:1-13 ¶ God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
4 ¶ Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
He was in the FORM OF GOD - EQUAL:
Phi 2:6-7 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
He is the ONLY Potentate -- He dwells in unapproachable light.
1Ti 6:15-16 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
He is the light of the city - the great city the the HOLY JERUSALEM::
Revelation 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
JESUS BEAUTIFUL in His HUMILITY -- HE PURGED OUR SINS:
To the eye that has been opened to behold its own SIN, the depth of depravity, the enmity between GOD and himself, To this eye JESUS WHO PURGES from SIN is MOST wonderfully beautiful indeed.
Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Heb 1:3 -- When he had by himself purged our sins.
Phil 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 ¶ Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Isa 53:4¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Eph 2:1-7 ¶ And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 ¶ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Colossians 2:13 ¶ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Rom 5:6-8 ¶ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us
Beautiful in all his Offices:
Messiah - Christ - The anointed one. Anointed and Fit to execute perfectly over US, For us and for HIS GLORY: Prophet, Priest and King.
I quote at length from the able commentator of the early 1800's, John Gill:
….but in Christ they all meet; he is a Prophet mighty in deed and word, a Priest after the order of Melchizedek, and is King of kings and Lord of lords. The case and condition of his people required him to take upon him and execute these offices. They are dark, blind, and ignorant, and need a prophet to enlighten, teach, and instruct them, and make known the mind and will of God unto them; they are sinful, guilty creatures, as all the world are before God, and need a Priest to make atonement for them; in their unconverted state they are enemies to God, and disobedient to him, and need a powerful Prince to subdue them; to cause his arrows to be sharp in their hearts, whereby they fall under him, and become willing to serve him, in the day of his power: and in their converted state are weak and helpless, and need a King to rule over them, protect and defend them. And though there are many other names and titles of Christ, yet they are all reducible to these offices of Prophet, Priest, and King: and it may be observed, that these are executed by Christ in the order in which they are here put: he first exercised the prophetic office, which he entered into upon his baptism, and continued it throughout his life: at his death, as a Priest, he offered himself a sacrifice to God for the sins of his people, and now ever lives to make intercession for them; and upon his ascension to heaven, was made and declared Lord and Christ, and sits as a King on his throne, and has been ever since exercising his kingly office; and will do so more apparently hereafter….[John Gill, A BODY OF DOCTRINAL DIVINITY, Book V, Online Bible 8.0]
Prophet:
Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord is to us a Prophet. Most precious and beautiful indeed he is to our eyes. Can you not say with the blind man who now sees: "one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see." John 9:25. Were we not blind, unable to understand, ignorant of the peril of HELL FIRE, ignorant of my own exceeding sinfulness. OH HOW I need a prophet like JESUS to illumine my eyes.
Known as the prophesied prophet:
John 6:14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
Made known by Moses:
Deuteronomy 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
Deuteronomy 18:15 ¶ The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
Peter declares this much after raising the lame man: - Jesus is that prophet.
Acts 3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
Stephen also as he preaches Jesus to those about to stone him:
Acts 7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
Jesus as a Prophet preached that which was given to HIM:
John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
John 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
John 12:50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
MUCH MORE COULD BE SAID REGARDING HIS QUALIFICATION: Jesus having the SPIRIT without measure, and the evidences of the many miracles which he did -- OF WHICH ALL THE BOOKS IN THE WORLD COULD NOT CONTAIN.
John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
AS PROPHET HE TOLD OF THOSE THINGS TO COME BOTH CONCERNING HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION and EVEN BEYOND.
Matthew 16:21 ¶ From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Matthew 20:18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
Matthew 20:19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
FUTURE YET TO COME:
Matthew 24:1-51 ¶ And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
Matthew 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
PROPHET WHO Brought the WORD and the Gospel.
Consider SERMON on the MOUNT when the law was made known in the full spiritual sense:
Mat 5:1+++
Luke 4:43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
Matthew 4:23 ¶ And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Teaching with Authority:
Matthew 7:29 For he taught them as [one] having authority, and not as the scribes.
Spoke as GRACE poured forth:
Psalms 45:2 Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
Luke 4:22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?
He remains our prophet today -- bringing forth the GOSPEL to our ears by his MINISTERS and by HIS GLORIOUS SPIRIT.
BEAUTIFUL and PRECIOUS PROPHET:
OUR PROPHET -- DOES NOT YOUR HEART BURN WITHIN YOU AS THE GOSPEL UNFOLDS -- CAN You not say -- I WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE!!!
Priest:
Jesus our Saviour is a PRIEST SENT BY GOD:
A propitiation making atonement and satisfaction for sin:
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
HE MADE THIS ATONEMENT and DIED the DEATH and SHED HIS BLOOD according to the purpose and PLAN of GOD!
Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
They DID TO HIM ONLY WHAT GOD determined in his own wise COUNSEL and LOVE:
Acts 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Acts 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
THIS JESUS is a PRIEST FOREVER:
Psalms 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Jesus offered himself willingly according to God's Will:
Heb 10:5-7 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 ¶ Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
He came in the FLESH:
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
He made an offering -- THE SACRIFICE WHICH SATISFIES:
Hebrews 5:3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.
He is the PRIEST and the offering:
Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
John Gill Teaches the truth that Jesus is The PRIEST, the Altar, and the Sacrafice:
it was his human nature which was the sacrifice; the divine nature was the altar on which it was offered, which sanctified the gift or offering, and gave it a virtue and efficacy to atone for sin; it was through the "eternal Spirit" he offered up himself, [John Gill, Body of Divinity, Book V, Online Bible 8.0][
It was OUR SINS that were PURGES.
Heb 1:3
HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEP:
John 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
HE DIED FOR US - WE HAVE RECEIVED THE ATONEMENT IN HIM:
Rom 5:6-11 ¶ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
IN HIM WE HAVE FORGIVENESS -- Without HIM WE DIE:
Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
King:
WE MUST ACCEPT CHRIST in ALL of HIS OFFICES. Those that will have HIM As PRIEST MUST BOW TO HIM AS KING. HE is not a divided Christ, we do not come on our terms, but HIS.
His KINGSHIP speaks of BOTH OBEDIENCE, LOYALTY and SUBMISSION as well as PROTECTION AND PROVISION. Jesus is THE KING OF KINGS, and HE IS A GOOD KING.
JESUS IS KING in TWO -SENSES.
John Gill writes:
Christ is king in a twofold sense: he is a king by nature; as he is God, he, is God over all; as the Son of God, he is heir of all things; as he is God the Creator, he has a right of dominion over all his creatures: and he is king by office, as he is mediator; and accordingly he has a two-fold kingdom, the one natural, essential, universal, and common to him with the other divine persons; the kingdom of nature and providence is his, what he has a natural right unto, and claim upon; it is essential to him as God; dominion and fear are with him; it is universal, it reaches to all creatures visible or invisible, to all in heaven, earth, and hell; it is common to the three divine persons, Father, Son, and Spirit, who are joint creators of all the creatures, and have a joint rule, government, and dominion over them; and as Christ is the creator of all, nothing that is made being made without him, but all things by him, he has a right to rule over them. This kingdom of his extends to angels, good and bad; he is the head of all principality and power; of the good angels, he is their creator, lord, and king, from whom all worship, homage, and obedience are due unto him; and who are at his command to do his will and pleasure; and whom he employs as ministering spirits in nature, providence, and grace, as he pleases: and the evil angels, though they have left their first estate, cast off their allegiance to him, and rebelled against him, yet whether they will or no they are obliged to be subject to him; and even when he was manifest in the flesh, they trembled at him, and were obliged to quit the possession of the bodies of men at his command, and could do nothing without his leave. Men also good and bad, are under the government of Christ as God, who is Lord of all; he not only is king of saints, who willingly become subject to him; but even those who are sons of Belial, without a yoke, who have cast off the yoke, and will not have him to reign over them; whether they will or not, they are obliged to yield unto him; over whom he rules with a rod of iron, and will break them in pieces as a potter's vessel; so easy, so inevitable, and so irreparable is their ruin and everlasting destruction by him. This his kingdom rules over all men, of all ranks and degrees, the highest and the greatest; he is King of kings, and Lord of lords; he sets them up and puts them down at his pleasure; by him they reign, and to him they are accountable. [John Gill, Body of Divinity, Book V, Online Bible 8.0]
He is the King of Kings, he sets UP and brings DOWN, he made all that there is and without HIM nothing was made that was made. As God and Creator he is KING OVER ALL.
he is a king by nature
he has a right of dominion over all his creatures
Christ is the creator of all, nothing that is made being made without him, but all things by him, he has a right to rule over them.
This his kingdom rules over all men, of all ranks and degrees, the highest and the greatest; he is King of kings, and Lord of lords; he sets them up and puts them down at his pleasure; by him they reign, and to him they are accountable
BUT THE KINGLY OFFICE OF CHRIST WHEN WE SPEAK TODAY IS MORE LIMITED -- HE IS KING OF SAINTS [Rev 15:3]. Rules over those who willingly submit to HIM as they ADORE HIM and LOVE HIM for He first loved them.
Prophetically determined to be KING:
Psalms 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
God the Father appointed to Jesus a kingdom:
Luke 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
Declared by God the Father to a throne:
Hebrews 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
He is the Prince of Peace:
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Kings may be arrayed with robes of majesty BUT JESUS ROBED WITH MAJESTY ITSELF:
Psalms 93:1 ¶ The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
JESUS our King who conquered us by his love. He has all power in Heaven and in Earth.
Col 1:12-13 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
L.R. Shelton writes:
Yes, Christ has this kingly office both in name and in reality, for what He has revealed to us as Prophet, and what He has purchased for us as Priest, He applies to us as our King. How? By subduing our souls by His Spirit, by ruling over us as His Subjects, and by Ordering all things in the kingdom of His Providence for our good. [L.R. Shelton, The Preciousness of Christ to His People, P 16, Mt. Zion Publications]
AS KING he set us FREE -- Destroying the works of the devil:
1Jo 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Even from the beginning this KING was PROPHESIED:
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
A KING WHICH CASTS OUT the prince of this world.
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Making a spoil of them and a TRIUMPHAL SHOW:
Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
AS KING He SUBDUES US by HIS SPIRIT:
Phil 2:12-13 ¶ Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Joh 3:27 A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
Hebrews 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
AS KING He protects His subjects:
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
As King he provides for His Subjects:
As King we His Subjects are to be in Subjection to Him:
All in all -- Our Hope in Glory - the only name under Heaven -- MOST BEAUTIFUL AND PRECIOUS INDEED
Philippians 1:21 ¶ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Colossians 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
THE END
1Cor 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
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