Ephesians 1 Hebrews 9
The world is beautiful but something is badly wrong. Is there an explanation and more importantly, is there a solution?
The Westminster Confession and Catechisms sum up what the Bible teaches. Christians believe that God created everything and it was good. He provides generously that all might live and thrive. He rules ultimately over everything that happens, we must all answer to Him one day. The first humans rebelled and disobeyed and we’re just like them so everything is compromised and spoiled for now. The world is fallen, living under a curse.
BUT, praise God, there is an answer, the Maker has come to our rescue! He didn’t have to but this is grace, God’s undeserved kindness in forgiving, saving and blessing flawed people like us. Cat 20 puts it like this:
‘From all eternity and merely because it pleased Him God chose some to have everlasting life. These He freed from sin and misery by a covenant of grace and brought them to salvation by a redeemer.’
In ancient times ‘redemption’ meant literally paying for slaves to be set free. At one point many young people from Jerusalem were taken captive and forced to serve the king of Babylon. The prophet Isaiah foresaw a day when those ‘redeemed’ by God might be free to return home with great rejoicing.
But redemption doesn’t come cheap. It requires a significant price be paid. Our sin against God has stacked up a debt we are unable to pay. How can we be rescued from the slavery and death sin brings? Who will pay for our redemption?
Cat 21: ‘The only Redeemer of God’s chosen is the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God Who became man.’
The cost of our salvation is Jesus, the eternal Son becoming one of us, living among us, ministering to us and being willing to suffer on our behalf.
Cat 23: ‘As our Redeemer, Christ is a prophet, priest and king in both His humiliation and His exaltation’.
Cat 24: ‘As a prophet Christ reveals the will of God to us for our salvation by His Word and Spirit’
Prophets in the Bible are individuals inspired by God the Spirit to be His spokesmen. They declared God’s messages to people, sometimes warning, sometimes promise. Jesus was known as ‘Rabbi’ - ‘Teacher’. He announced, ‘The kingdom of heaven is near! Repent and believe the good news!’ By word and example He taught the paths of righteousness. He promised everlasting life but also predicted judgement.
We are often frustrated by things we’re told. Is this accurate, is it true, can we trust these sources? Jesus is the Truth. Here is the message of ultimate reality from the lips of God Himself.
Ok so what about Jesus as a Priest? Picking up on passages like Ephesians and Hebrews Cat 25 states, ‘As a priest, Christ offered Himself up once as a sacrifice for us to satisfy divine justice and to reconcile us to God and He continually intercedes for us’.
In the Old Testament the Priest’s job was to stand between sinful people and a holy God. The priest would bring the people’s offerings and prayers to God and bring God’s assurance of cleansing and help to the people.
Sinful people dare not approach God in His holiness, we need a priest, a go-between, someone to speak and act on our behalf. In Jesus we find the great High Priest. Human yet sinless, His suffering on the cross made complete atonement for our sin. His offering on our behalf allows us to approach God safely and even call Him ‘Father’! And in heaven our risen, living Redeemer prays constantly for His followers on earth. Christians have the greatest ‘friend’ in the ‘highest place’!
How encouraging to think of our Redeemer as not only Prophet and Priest but also King! Cat 26: ‘As a king, Christ brings us under His power, rules and defends us and restrains and conquers all His and all our enemies.’
All authority in heaven and on earth now belong to Him. The ascended, reigning Lord Jesus is building His global church and the gates of hell stand no chance! Christ delivers us from evil and commissions us to serve, making disciples from all nations.
Christians have much more than a vague belief in some kind of ‘god’. We trust very specifically in Jesus Christ, Son of God, Prophet, Priest and King Who humbled Himself to suffering and death but is exalted, risen and ruling at God the Father’s right hand.
What benefits do we receive from such faith?
Cats 36/37/38:
‘The benefits that in this life go with or come from justification, adoption and sanctification are the assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Spirit and growing and persevering in grace to the end of our lives.
When believers die their souls are made perfectly holy and immediately pass into glory. Their bodies which are still united to Christ rest in the grave until the resurrection.
At the resurrection, believers, raised in glory, will be publically recognised and declared not guilty on the day of judgement and will be made completely happy in the full enjoyment of God forever.’
This is who Jesus is and what He has done, praise His name.
Well, in the light of all this Biblical truth, what about us, what should we do?
We should do what Jesus said, repent and believe!
And then…enjoy!
The world is beautiful but something is badly wrong. Is there an explanation and more importantly, is there a solution?
The Westminster Confession and Catechisms sum up what the Bible teaches. Christians believe that God created everything and it was good. He provides generously that all might live and thrive. He rules ultimately over everything that happens, we must all answer to Him one day. The first humans rebelled and disobeyed and we’re just like them so everything is compromised and spoiled for now. The world is fallen, living under a curse.
BUT, praise God, there is an answer, the Maker has come to our rescue! He didn’t have to but this is grace, God’s undeserved kindness in forgiving, saving and blessing flawed people like us. Cat 20 puts it like this:
‘From all eternity and merely because it pleased Him God chose some to have everlasting life. These He freed from sin and misery by a covenant of grace and brought them to salvation by a redeemer.’
In ancient times ‘redemption’ meant literally paying for slaves to be set free. At one point many young people from Jerusalem were taken captive and forced to serve the king of Babylon. The prophet Isaiah foresaw a day when those ‘redeemed’ by God might be free to return home with great rejoicing.
But redemption doesn’t come cheap. It requires a significant price be paid. Our sin against God has stacked up a debt we are unable to pay. How can we be rescued from the slavery and death sin brings? Who will pay for our redemption?
Cat 21: ‘The only Redeemer of God’s chosen is the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God Who became man.’
The cost of our salvation is Jesus, the eternal Son becoming one of us, living among us, ministering to us and being willing to suffer on our behalf.
Cat 23: ‘As our Redeemer, Christ is a prophet, priest and king in both His humiliation and His exaltation’.
Cat 24: ‘As a prophet Christ reveals the will of God to us for our salvation by His Word and Spirit’
Prophets in the Bible are individuals inspired by God the Spirit to be His spokesmen. They declared God’s messages to people, sometimes warning, sometimes promise. Jesus was known as ‘Rabbi’ - ‘Teacher’. He announced, ‘The kingdom of heaven is near! Repent and believe the good news!’ By word and example He taught the paths of righteousness. He promised everlasting life but also predicted judgement.
We are often frustrated by things we’re told. Is this accurate, is it true, can we trust these sources? Jesus is the Truth. Here is the message of ultimate reality from the lips of God Himself.
Ok so what about Jesus as a Priest? Picking up on passages like Ephesians and Hebrews Cat 25 states, ‘As a priest, Christ offered Himself up once as a sacrifice for us to satisfy divine justice and to reconcile us to God and He continually intercedes for us’.
In the Old Testament the Priest’s job was to stand between sinful people and a holy God. The priest would bring the people’s offerings and prayers to God and bring God’s assurance of cleansing and help to the people.
Sinful people dare not approach God in His holiness, we need a priest, a go-between, someone to speak and act on our behalf. In Jesus we find the great High Priest. Human yet sinless, His suffering on the cross made complete atonement for our sin. His offering on our behalf allows us to approach God safely and even call Him ‘Father’! And in heaven our risen, living Redeemer prays constantly for His followers on earth. Christians have the greatest ‘friend’ in the ‘highest place’!
How encouraging to think of our Redeemer as not only Prophet and Priest but also King! Cat 26: ‘As a king, Christ brings us under His power, rules and defends us and restrains and conquers all His and all our enemies.’
All authority in heaven and on earth now belong to Him. The ascended, reigning Lord Jesus is building His global church and the gates of hell stand no chance! Christ delivers us from evil and commissions us to serve, making disciples from all nations.
Christians have much more than a vague belief in some kind of ‘god’. We trust very specifically in Jesus Christ, Son of God, Prophet, Priest and King Who humbled Himself to suffering and death but is exalted, risen and ruling at God the Father’s right hand.
What benefits do we receive from such faith?
Cats 36/37/38:
‘The benefits that in this life go with or come from justification, adoption and sanctification are the assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Spirit and growing and persevering in grace to the end of our lives.
When believers die their souls are made perfectly holy and immediately pass into glory. Their bodies which are still united to Christ rest in the grave until the resurrection.
At the resurrection, believers, raised in glory, will be publically recognised and declared not guilty on the day of judgement and will be made completely happy in the full enjoyment of God forever.’
This is who Jesus is and what He has done, praise His name.
Well, in the light of all this Biblical truth, what about us, what should we do?
We should do what Jesus said, repent and believe!
And then…enjoy!
RSS Feed