JESUS IS BOTH LORD AND CHRIST - PART 10

God has declared that this same JESUS whom you crucified is both Lord and Christ. Crucified, though innocent yet bearing our guilt. Raising Himself from death to life for our justification, this same Lord and Christ redeemed us to an abundant life. Peter, along with others was asked a question by Jesus. "Who do men say that I, the son of man, am?" The responses differed. However, Peter got it right declaring, "you are the Christ the Son of the Living God."

Jesus replied, "Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but My Father which is in Heaven. He revealed this to you. Upon this rock (this pronounced confession) I will build my church - assembly -congregation -temple and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. As many as received Him, to them gave He the power (Spirit) enabling them to become the sons of God. Yes. He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, conceived of the Holy Spirit condescending into His own created world, clothing Himself in flesh, fashioned like earth’s inhabitants.

He walked, so to speak in our shoes, as a man tempted and tried in all points like we are, yet He was without sin. For greater was He who dwelt within Jesus than he that is in the world (Satan). This body of believers are the Jesus people. This is My Church. This Church has a corner stone like all other buildings under construction, but in this case the builder and maker is God. He Himself is the corner stone. He also selected/elected the necessary required materials for the establishment of that which He envisioned.

As it is written, after the crucifixion, I will return and build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen down. However, this time He prepares for Himself a believing chosen body consisting of living, believing stones ordained of God, and grafted into the tree of life. Jesus, the Lord Himself furnishing this temple of believers to become His permanent body habitation. His bride, the embodiment of God Himself dwelling in His redeemed Son, who had been lost but is now found.

There is only one body and there is only one spirit. You are now the natural body of Christ, and of His spirit have you received His bones and His flesh. To Saul He said, "Saul,  Saul. Why are you persecuting me?" Who was Saul/Paul persecuting? His church. Of His spirit have all believers received. He will not leave us comfortless. He inhabits us. He will never forsake us. He has given to us His Word. We are to go into all the world and preach His Word. Whosoever sins we remit, they are remitted. Whosoever sins we retain, they are retained.

How indebted we are to those who have never heard. We have retained their sins having never granted to them the opportunity to accept so great and so free - Salvation. It is within this context that we diligently deliver the wholesome words of life, thereby enabling faith to be expressed toward Jesus, and allowing others to receive remission of sin from Him who alone has suffered, bled and died.  He, granting freely the gift of eternal life.

For this gift is not obtained by works. It cannot be purchased. Delivered and administered to us by our great High Priest, whose ministry is intransmissible. He sacrificed Himself once and once for all. We remember what God our Savior did on the cross when we partake of the symbolical emblems of bread and wine. We do not endeavour to re-enact this. We are not cannibals. There is no transubstantiation. He was once offered with that one sacrifice and Heaven’s door flew open. With arms wide open, He’ll pardon you. That sacrificial life, in God’s eyes were as if it had occurred today. That is why the Scriptures state - He ever lives to make intercession for us. Recall that there is only one mediator between God and man. Peace in Jesus name.