 |
|
| Volume 20 Number 3 March 2018 | Page 2 |
|
|
| Volume 20 Number 3 March 2018 | Page 2 |
Louis Rushmore, Editor
Mortals must participate with the Godhead to obtain forgiveness of sins. In the absence of biblically authorized human involvement in one’s salvation, a person remains a spiritual castaway (John 3:18). God’s saving grace is available to all men (Titus 2:11), but it must be properly appropriated to oneself.
Under Christianity, several New Testament passages relate to man’s part to receive human salvation. They are not mutually exclusive. Neither do various verses regarding redemption present multiple-choice options. Instead, Scriptures work together in providing instruction about correctly addressing mankind’s sin problem. They complement each other. Psalm 139:17 illustrates the collective worth of God’s Word on any subject. It reads, “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” (NKJV).
Faith saves (John 3:15, 36), but faith alone does not save (James 2:24). Rather, believers have “the right to become the children of God” (John 1:12). Baptism saves, though most of the religious community denies that plain biblical teaching (1 Peter 3:21; Acts 22:16). Yet, merely going through the act of immersion in water for the remission of sins does not save one from sins (Acts 19:1-7; Luke 3:3). Grace saves, but in relationship to one’s faith (Ephesians 2:8). Mercy saves, but in relationship to one’s baptism (Titus 3:5). Confessing Christ saves (Romans 10:9-10), but does it save apart from faith, baptism, grace, mercy or any other contributor to human redemption? No! Repenting of one’s sins pertains to one’s salvation, too (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30). Hope (Romans 8:24), endurance (Matthew 10:22; Revelation 2:10) and being born again (John 3:3-5) are involved in redemption also.
Obedience to the Gospel—that system of faith (2 Corinthians 5:7; Jude 3)—saves as well (Hebrews 5:8-9). That book of faith—Romans—is sandwiched between references to the relationship between obedience and biblical faith (Romans 1:5; 16:26). Faith stands erect between the bookends of obedience. Furthermore, obedience and the grace of God are inseparably linked together (Romans 1:5). “The Grace of God Demands the Obedience of Faith” (Whitten). The grace of God—that unmerited favor—is not unconditional. By the grace of God, He withholds from us what we truly deserve, only when we obey the Gospel and continue to abide therein. Everyone who does not obey the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17) puts himself or herself beyond reach of God’s grace.
Works Cited
Whitten, Eddie. “The Grace of God Demands the Obedience of Faith.” Spiritual Sword. 17.4 July 1986, 16-18.
The Three-Fold Office of Our Lord
Rodney Nulph, Associate Editor
Jesus Christ was certainly a man, but oh so much more than a man! Jesus was both fully Divine (God) and fully human (man). This embodiment of humanity and Deity is known among theologians as hypostatic union. Obviously, nowhere else has this dual nature ever been reality than in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Since Jesus became man for us, while still remaining God, it makes Him uniquely qualified to perform certain duties for those who are redeemed by His blood. There were three main offices that were necessary to bridge the gap between sinful man and Almighty God—prophets who exclusively spoke for God, priests who exclusively sacrificed to God and kings who exclusively supervised under God. Jesus fulfilled all three of these offices perfectly!
Christ as Prophet
A prophet of God is one who reveals God, speaks for God and communicates God’s truths to the people. God’s prophets both forthtold (preached current situations) and foretold (predicted future situations). Undoubtedly, Jesus flawlessly performed this when He came to “reveal the Father” (Matthew 11:27) and to reverberate God’s will (John 8:28; 12:49-50). God revealed to Moses that some future day Moses’ prophecies would no longer be authoritative, but the “Prophet like unto Moses” (Deuteronomy 18:15) would be the prophet that mankind would heed. Years later, the Holy Spirit guided Peter to quote Moses and apply that prophecy to Jesus Christ. Additionally, Jesus refers to Himself as a Prophet (Matthew 13:57-58; Luke 13:33). Truly, never a prophet spoke like the Prophet Jesus (John 7:46)!
Christ as Priest
The priests were those in the Old Testament who were responsible for offering sacrifices to God in order to atone for sin. However, every priest, until Jesus, had to first offer sacrifice for the priest’s cleansing and then for the people (Hebrews 4:15; 7:27). Jesus made one sacrifice for mankind, and that was the final sacrifice! As our High Priest, Jesus stands between us and the Father, as our Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). It could be said that both the prophet and the priest stand between God and sinful man. In the case of a prophet, he delivers the Word of God from the top down. In the case of the priest, he delivers the sacrifices of people to God from the bottom up. So, Jesus is a Prophet who delivers the Word of God to humanity, and He is also the Priest who delivers His sacrifice, on our behalf, to God the Father.
Christ as King
A king is someone who has the authority to reign over a group of people. Interestingly, Jesus is referred to as King throughout Holy Writ. The Messianic prophet of old testified to this fact (Isaiah 9:6-7). God through Daniel promised that Jesus would be King and reign over His kingdom (Daniel 7:14). When the Magi inquired about the young Christ child, they understood His Kingship when they said, “…Where is he that is born King of the Jews…” (Matthew 2:2b). Jesus Himself recognized this office before Pilate as He conversed, “And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest” (Matthew 27:11). Jesus’ Kingship declares several important things. First, He has a kingdom—the church (Matthew 16:18-19; Colossians 1:13). Second, He has the authority to reign and judge (Acts 17:31; Revelation 19:11). Third, He is supreme over everything (Colossians 1:18). It is little wonder why Paul would refer to Jesus as “…the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15).
The work of the Messiah, in many ways, was completed while He was upon this earth. However, Jesus remains active in His church and in His creation (Colossians 1:13-18). As Prophet, Jesus speaks to humanity through His Word. As Priest, Jesus sacrificed for the atonement of our souls (Hebrews 9:12; Revelation 5:9). As King, Jesus reigns over His eternal kingdom, the church. No question about it, He was a man, but oh so much more than a man. He is Prophet, Priest and King!