The Person of Christ Jesus
Once an unbeliever, once an atheist, but now a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, the man C.S. Lewis spoke these words when asked: Why do you believe in Christianity more than any other world religion? He said, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else.” Without the person of Christ, then Christianity makes no sense. No other religion has anyone comparable to Jesus.
When Peter and John were arrested for healing a lame beggar and for teaching and proclaiming in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, they were put in prison overnight. On the following morning, they were brought before the high priest and other officials to give testimony for why they persisted in their teaching and preaching. The Bible records:
“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health.
(The Acts of the Apostles 4: 8-12 NASB)
He [Jesus Christ] is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS,
but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone.
And there is salvation in no one else;
for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
God proposed in heaven that fallen man would receive eternal life as a free gift of grace through faith in the redeeming blood of His only begotten Son. Pause to re-read that statement, not because of the syntax in how it was written but because of the enormity of what the LORD has done for us (fallen man).
Christ is our blessed HOPE.
He is a present HOPE.
Jesus is a present possession.
Christ is an expectant HOPE, and excited HOPE, and a confident HOPE.
The Son of God is a sure HOPE, an unwavering HOPE.
The person of Christ Jesus is the never-failing Word of God, proclaimed by the prophets long ago. That was the testimony Peter and John were proclaiming.
“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
(The First Letter of John 5: 11-12 NASB)
He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”
Pretty amazing within its simplicity.
Without the person of Christ, then Christianity makes no sense. If the blood of Jesus has been applied to our sins, then we have received God’s free gift of eternal life. However, if the blood of Jesus has not been applied, then the person remains in his sins, and he has not received God’s salvation.
Thus, in closing, let us turn to the Old Testament, to a historical narrative about the night before the children of Israel made their exodus from Egypt. The LORD spoke to His servant Moses,
“Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying,
(Exodus 12: 3a & 6-7 NASB)
‘On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves,
. . .
“You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight.
Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts
and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.”
Did you ever read this account and wonder why God instructed His people to do this? Did God need a sign marking the homes where His people lived? Did God fear that He would make a mistake?
GOD DID NOT NEED A SIGN.
GOD KNEW.
He knew who lived inside each home located in Egypt. So, what was the purpose of this action? Why did the children of Israel need to kill an unblemished lamb and then smear the blood on the two posts near the door and the wood above the door? The Word of God explains with clarity—WHY.
“The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”
(Exodus 12: 13 NASB)
It is the blood of Jesus applied that gives us salvation.
Through the blood of God’s Only Begotten Son have we received God’s free gift of eternal life.
The Person of Christ Jesus.
The children of God obeyed, demonstrating their unwavering faith in God and His protection. This was a step of trust. The Bible tells us: “it is the LORD’S Passover.” (Exodus 12: 11b NASB)
The person of Christ Jesus—
The never-failing Word of God.
The person of Christ Jesus—
Our blessed HOPE and our present HOPE, a present possession.
The person of Christ Jesus—
Our expectant HOPE, our excited HOPE, and our confident HOPE.
The person of Christ Jesus—the Son of God—our sure and unwavering HOPE.
Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.
“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
(The Acts of the Apostles 4: 12 NASB)