Tag Express Image of Godhead

Jesus is the LIFE

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“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”

(John 11:25)

One of the great questions of life that everyone eventually asks is, “where are we going when we die?”

We all recognize that we will die physically, and many hope that there’s something more spiritually.

“It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.” (Ecc 7:2)

Jesus statement to Mary, “I am the resurrection and the life,” occurred at the mourning of her brother Lazarus. These become a source of comfort for the living. 

Jesus is LIFE. We’ll examine just a few ways in which He is the LIFE and the comfort that brings to His church.

Jesus is the LIGHT & LIFE.

The Gospel of John opens with this description of Jesus. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:3-5).

This statement made by the inspired Apostle demonstrates that Jesus is the origin of LIFE and Light. The Apostle Paul will make a similar statement to the epicurean and stoic philosophers in Athens.

“For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring” (Acts 17:28).

Since He is the LIGHT & LIFE, all other religions must be Darkness & Death. Jesus is the LIGHT & LIFE

Jesus is the life because He is the IMAGE of the INVISIBLE God.

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist” (Col 1:14-17).

Jesus is God. His presence on earth represented the fulness of the Godhead. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Col 2:9)

Jesus is the IMAGE of the INVISIBLE God.

Jesus is the life because He is FAITHFUL to Forgive.

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

He is faithful to forgive, but this same audience was told at Pentecost… “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? [38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:37-38). What we learn is that Jesus, at the point of His sacrifice, was making available the forgiveness of sins.

Part of the purpose of His miracles of healing was to show that He has the power to FORGIVE. “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house” (Mark 2:10-11).

Jesus is faithful to FORGIVE those that are in Christ. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9).

Jesus is FAITHFUL to FORGIVE.

Finally, Jesus is the author of ETERNAL LIFE.

“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Heb 5:9). “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

What did Jesus Himself say about salvation and eternal life?

(HEAR) Matthew 7:24

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

(BELIEVE) John 8:24

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

(REPENT) Luke 13:3,5

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. [5] I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

(CONFESS) Matthew 10:32 JV

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

(BAPTIZED) Mark 16:16

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

(FAITHFULNESS) Matthew 28:20

Teaching them (baptized disciples) to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Jesus has the words of ETERNAL Life.

–Spencer

Who is Jesus pt2

The Preacher Leave a comment

“And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:5)

We live in a time where there are many Christs being preached.

“For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him” (2Cor 11:4).

We need to know the Real Jesus of the Bible. Last week we made just a few observations about the True Christ. It is impossible for a few articles to say all that could be said about Him. “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen” (John 21:25).

This article will look at a few more things we learn from scripture about Jesus.

Here are the observations from last week:

Jesus is the Savior of the world. “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” (1John 4:14).

Jesus is a Sympathetic and Understanding Savior. “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted” (Heb 2:18).

Jesus is the Son of God. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:2-3).

Who is Jesus? Part 2.

Jesus is the Express Image of the Godhead. “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell” (Col 1:18-19). “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Col 2:9).

While much could be said about this, I want to focus on the fact that Jesus is Divine, He is Deity, He is God. Some religions do not see Jesus as God, but as a created being. This simply is not true. Jesus is God.

The Scriptures teach “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). In this passage Jesus is called “the Word.” Note the Scriptures said Jesus “the Word” was “God.” Some will use their rewritten bibles to argue about “definite articles” and misquote passages in attempt to make Jesus not God, but “a God.” We know better.

The Scriptures affirm the deity and godhood of Jesus. Jesus calls Himself the name “I AM” which is the name used for God (John 8:58; Exo 3:14). Jesus said God is “My Father” which made “Himself equal with God” (John 5:18). Jesus accepted the identification “My Lord and my God!” from Thomas (John 20:28). Jesus’ agreement with Thomas in verse 29 is a shattering deathblow to the false doctrine that Jesus is only “a god.”

“Jesus said to him, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed’” (20:29). Jesus affirmed what Thomas “believed” was in fact the truth; Jesus is “Lord” and “God.”

There are other Scriptures that confirm the deity of Christ. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”. (Isaiah 9:6; Acts 20:28; Matt 1:23; Heb 1:8).

Jesus is the final Judge of the world. While living on earth He did not come to bring judgment at that time. Now that He has Died, was Buried, and is Resurrected, He sits on His Judgment seat and everyone will appear before Him. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2Cor 5:10-11a).

It will be a terrifying thing to appear before Him if we’re found to be disobedient. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb 10:31). But, how can we appear before His throne with confidence? “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). We can know when we know His word.

Jesus said, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). Jesus has given us His Divine word to guide us. “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2Tim 3:15-17). “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

These are comforting words. We can know the Real, Living, & True Jesus.

Do you remember the list from that social media post last week? Could you verify the validity of them? Did you look them up? Here’s what I found.

  • Joy Giver, John 17:13.
  • Eternal life Giver, John 10:28.
  • Strength Giver, 2Cor 12:9.
  • Unconditional Lover, Rom 5:8. (this one is often misleading)
  • Sins forgiver. Mark 2:10.

–Spencer