Thursday, 21 March 2024
JESUS IS THE CHRIST
But what about you? he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ" (Mark 8:29 NIV).
In Acts 17:1-3, Luke explained how Paul and his companions journeyed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, eventually reaching Thessalonica. There, they entered a synagogue, and for three consecutive Sabbaths, Paul engaged in discussions with the Jews.
With copious scriptural inferences, he presented a compelling case, setting forth and proving that it was necessary for Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead. But here’s the most beautiful assertion Paul made. He told them that Jesus, whom he proclaimed and preached unto them, was indeed the Christ.
That was His message — that Jesus is the Christ! This is too important; never underestimate the power of this truth. Jesus is Christ, the Son of God. If you would believe that, all the blessings in Christ will be yours because that is what He said.
However, to believe that Jesus is the Christ, you must first believe that Jesus came in a physical body. In 1 John 4, the Apostle John in his writings warned against false teachers, having encountered some who came up with a strange doctrine, denying the reality that Jesus came in the flesh.
Therefore, He emphasized that Christians should test the spirits to determine whether they are from God. But here’s a key criterion: "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God" (1 John 4:2).
In the verses above, the translators erroneously assumed “Jesus Christ” should be used instead of the actual original rendering, which is “Jesus as the Christ.” The New English Translation got it right; it says, "By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God."
Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in flesh is from God. So, Jesus as the Christ came in the flesh, in the physical body. And we know that His body died — He was crucified, buried but gloriously resurrected. This is important for salvation. Praise God.
PRAYER: Blessed Lord Jesus, you’re the Christ who came in the flesh, died, was buried and resurrected to usher us into a life of righteousness, victory, excellence and glory. You’re the complete embodiment of Deity. I worship and thank you for revealing yourself through your Church. Your glory is everlasting. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 17:1-3; Luke 9:20 NKJV
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 4:1-13 & Deuteronomy 18-21
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 1:24-32 & Psalm 89