In my previous post I noted that it is right and good to believe and say that all lives matter, that every person is equal in dignity and value as a being made in the image of God for the glory of God. Yet there is one whose life matters more than that of any other man, infinitely more, namely the man Jesus Christ. In my next couple of posts, beginning with this one, I will provide evidence from the Bible of His preeminence. Thus, Jesus Christ is preeminent among man because:
He is the radiance of the glory of God, the express image of His nature and character, the One in whom dwells the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form. (2 Corinthians 4:6) (Colossians 2:9)
He is the Alpha and the Omega – the eternal God who is the beginning of all things and the end for which all things exist. (Revelation 1:8)
He is the creator of the universe and all that is in it, sustaining it by the word of His power. (Colossians 1:16-17) (Hebrews 1:1-4).
He created mankind for His glory, that man may enjoy God as God enjoys God. (Isaiah 43:7) (Psalm 16:11)
He is the Light of the World, who came as a man to reveal the light of the glory of God to a world spiritually darkened by mankind’s sin and rebellion. (John 8:12) (John 3:19)
He is the beloved Son of God with whom God the Father is well pleased. (Matthew 3:16-17)
He is the living Word of God sent to deliver us from our self destructive sins. (Psalm 107:20) (John 1:1-2)
He is the Holy One of God, feared by all devils and demons alike. (Mark 1:23-25)
He is the just judge of men and angels. (John 5:22-27) (Revelation 20:11-15)
He is the promised Seed of the women (Genesis 3:15), the destroyer of the works of the devil whose lies brought and keep mankind in bondage to sin and death. (1 John 3:8) (Hebrews 2:14-15)
He is the promised seed of Abraham in whom all the promises of God, including adoption into God’s family, are fulfilled for those who put their faith in Him. (2 Corinthians 1:20) (Galatians 3:26-29)
He is the shield/protector, the exceeding great reward of all who diligently seek Him by faith with all their heart. (Genesis 15:1) (Hebrews 11:6) (Jeremiah 29:13)
He is the one who introduced Himself to Moses as the LORD who was gracious and merciful, long suffering, abounding in loving kindness and truth. (Exodus 34:5-7)
He is the prophet greater than Moses. (Deuteronomy 18:15)
He is the pearl of great price and the treasure hidden in a field that men will give anything to possess. (Matthew 13:44-45)
He is the one who came to seek and save (restore) that which was lost in Adam’s sin, which was the glorious, abundant life with God for which mankind was created. (Luke 19:9-10) (John 10:10)
He is the one who came to deliver men from their allegiance to this present evil world and its ultimate destruction under God’s judgment. (Galatians 1:3-4) (2 Peter 3:7)
He is the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the living God who suffered once for our sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to reconcile us to God. (Matthew 16:15-16) (1 Peter 3:18)
He is the “second Adam”, coming as a man, who unlike Adam, would live the life of perfect obedience required to enter and live in God’s presence, perfectly fulfilling the righteous requirements of God’s law and crediting that perfect righteousness to those who believe. (Psalm 24:3-6) (Romans 5:17-21) (2 Corinthians 5:21)
He is the ‘Lamb of God”, who through His sacrificial death on the cross “propitiates” (satisfies) God’s wrath; his divine judgment of sin which has its end in Hell. He does so on behalf of all, throughout the world, who put their faith in Him. (John 1:29) (Romans 5:9) (Isaiah 53)
He is the Good Sheppard, who laid down His life for His sheep (those who will entrust their lives to Him in dependence on His grace), the ultimate source of all that is good. (John 10:11) (Psalm 107:8-9)
He is the “Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25-26), the first man resurrected from the dead to newness of life (Revelation 1:5); the one who grants eternal life (the glorious life with God for which men were created in the beginning) to all who by faith entrust their lives to Him as Savior and Lord, who will be resurrected, body and soul, to newness of life at Jesus’ second coming. (John 6:40) (Romans 6:23) (1Thessalonians 4:16-18)
“He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him”, and Him alone. (Hebrews 7:25) (John 14:6) (Acts 4:12)
He is the author, provider and completer of our faith in Him, the one through whom we receive all of the spiritual blessings required for our redemption. (Hebrews 12:1-2) (Ephesians 2:8-9) (Ephesians 1:3)
TO BE CONTINUED
Grace and Truth ×