Is Jesus the Christ? This is a big question that needs to be handled carefully so as not to be misunderstood. For Jesus' title is Christ, as in Messiah, Savior or Lord. And the question is meant so as to understand his true identity not in a sarcastic but in a reverent way. We should seek to know the truth of who Jesus really was.
The identity of Jesus has been debated for centuries and even during his own life many disagreed with who he was. He claimed to be the very incarnation of God, the Son of God, and the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. The Bible also teaches that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, and therefore he was both human and divine. He performed miracles and revealed his Spiritual nature in a transfiguration of divine light, and even was raised from the dead. Yet today many still question his identity, and many are indifferent or ambivalent to who he was. This is a pivotal question however for if he really is the Christ, if he really is alive and reigning in heaven today, then he is the Lord of all of life in all the world.
Christians can relish in the grace of God through faith in Christ as they have the greatest gift given to mankind. In Christ we can be Spiritually transformed, saved forever and forgiven completely. Yet we are also called to live under the Lordship Christ in all aspects of life. This includes our vocations, our callings, our work, our careers, our families, our avocations, our recreation, our fun times. And this means good things, it is not a detriment but a fulfillment of our beings. Jesus as the Christ provides, protects, empowers and equips believers with his Word and Spirit. This is an abundant life indeed.
Even more, the sphere sovereignty doctrine (most recently of Kuyper, but also Calvin and Paul) teaches that Christ is sovereign over all spheres of life. And, if we live in this faith that Christ is sovereign over all, we should not participate in or promote the 'city of man'. We will live changed lives and encourage others to live for Christ, not by force, but by faith, faith in obeying Christ's commands, in Spiritual life. We live for Christ in all of his commands, in grace, in love, in discipleship, in obedience, in evangelism, in government, in education, in church and in family. Following Jesus as the Christ means we follow him as Lord in all things to develop his kingdom, to the restoration of all things to God.
This doctrine of Jesus as the Christ reaches out into all aspects of life, so that the secular is penetrated by the Spiritual, that all of life is lived to the glory of God in Christ. Christians bring forth the kingdom of Christ in faith, living for Christ as king of their hearts, souls, minds and strength in all of life. This causes new structures or forms for living, it reforms all of life to God.
We can find eternal life from the divine nature of Christ and we can serve Christ in a cockpit or a pulpit, as a physician or a laborer, as a mother or as a father. They all are vocations from God and can be performed to the glory of Christ. Jesus is the living Christ and not just a historical figure from two thousand years ago. He is alive and he is the Creator and Lord of life, and the King of the universe. Amen.
The identity of Jesus has been debated for centuries and even during his own life many disagreed with who he was. He claimed to be the very incarnation of God, the Son of God, and the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. The Bible also teaches that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, and therefore he was both human and divine. He performed miracles and revealed his Spiritual nature in a transfiguration of divine light, and even was raised from the dead. Yet today many still question his identity, and many are indifferent or ambivalent to who he was. This is a pivotal question however for if he really is the Christ, if he really is alive and reigning in heaven today, then he is the Lord of all of life in all the world.
Christians can relish in the grace of God through faith in Christ as they have the greatest gift given to mankind. In Christ we can be Spiritually transformed, saved forever and forgiven completely. Yet we are also called to live under the Lordship Christ in all aspects of life. This includes our vocations, our callings, our work, our careers, our families, our avocations, our recreation, our fun times. And this means good things, it is not a detriment but a fulfillment of our beings. Jesus as the Christ provides, protects, empowers and equips believers with his Word and Spirit. This is an abundant life indeed.
Even more, the sphere sovereignty doctrine (most recently of Kuyper, but also Calvin and Paul) teaches that Christ is sovereign over all spheres of life. And, if we live in this faith that Christ is sovereign over all, we should not participate in or promote the 'city of man'. We will live changed lives and encourage others to live for Christ, not by force, but by faith, faith in obeying Christ's commands, in Spiritual life. We live for Christ in all of his commands, in grace, in love, in discipleship, in obedience, in evangelism, in government, in education, in church and in family. Following Jesus as the Christ means we follow him as Lord in all things to develop his kingdom, to the restoration of all things to God.
This doctrine of Jesus as the Christ reaches out into all aspects of life, so that the secular is penetrated by the Spiritual, that all of life is lived to the glory of God in Christ. Christians bring forth the kingdom of Christ in faith, living for Christ as king of their hearts, souls, minds and strength in all of life. This causes new structures or forms for living, it reforms all of life to God.
We can find eternal life from the divine nature of Christ and we can serve Christ in a cockpit or a pulpit, as a physician or a laborer, as a mother or as a father. They all are vocations from God and can be performed to the glory of Christ. Jesus is the living Christ and not just a historical figure from two thousand years ago. He is alive and he is the Creator and Lord of life, and the King of the universe. Amen.
