Do You Know Jesus? by Andrew Mitchell (heb12-2@msn.com)
Introduction
We sing a song, "Do you know my Jesus?" How would
you answer that question? Most would probably say, "Yes",
and not think much about it. But I'm asking you to give it a
little more consideration.
I'm sure you may know "of" Jesus, but do you really
"know" Jesus? Jesus had questioned even one of his own
disciples, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast
thou not known me, Philip?" (Jn. 14:9) If Jesus questioned
Philip in this manner, then is it too much out of the way for
us to question whether we truly know and understand Jesus?
There are even couples who have been married for years, and yet it is amazing how much they still do not know about their spouses. Or should I say, they refuse to know and learn about them? On one occasion, God said of his own people, "they refuse to know me?" (Jer. 9:6)
Is it possible that you really don't know Jesus as well as
you think you do? Create in your heart a new curiosity for Christ,
and imitate the short Zacchaeus who "sought to see Jesus
who he was" (Lk. 19:3)
It is beyond the scope of this series of short articles to tell
all you need to know "about" Jesus, but I hope I can
lead you in the right direction toward a better understanding
of him. Let your desire be as those Greeks who came to Philip
saying, "Sir, we would see Jesus." (John 12:21)
It is my prayer for you as Paul did for the Ephesians, "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Eph. 3:17-19)
His Names
Savior. Jesus, the "name which is above every
name" (Phil. 2:9) means "Savior" and was so named
because he would "save his people from their sins."
(Matt. 1:21). There is salvation in "none other name"
(Ac. 4:12). Jesus himself said he came "to seek and to save
that which was lost." (Luke 19:10)
Christ. "Messiah" (Jn. 1:41) or "Christ"
(Mat. 16:16) means "anointed one" because he was chosen.
Peter said that God has now made Jesus "both Lord and Christ"
(Acts 2:36).
Son of God. Jesus is "declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead" (Romans 1:4). The confession the eunuch made was, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." (Ac. 8:37). The "rock" on which Jesus said he would build his church, was the statement Peter made, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Mt. 16:16).
Lamb of God. Under the Old Testament, lambs were offered as sacrifice for sins, but Jesus is the ultimate and final sacrifice as a lamb "without spot" (Heb. 9:14). When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God" (Jn. 1:36).
Immanuel. This is translated, "God with us" (Mat. 1:23). This means that he had the fullness of deity in bodily form (Col. 2:9); the "word" that "was God" (Jn. 1:1), "became flesh and dwelt among us" (Jn. 1:14).
Lord. This means "master; to whom one belongs". After Thomas' faith was reassured by touching the risen Christ's wounds, he answered, "My Lord and my God" (Jn. 20:28).
Mediator. "For there is one God, and one mediator
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a
ransom for all, to be testified in due time" (1 Tim. 2:5-6).
I'll continue to give more about Jesus in the next article.
His "I am" Statements
Now allow Jesus to describe himself in his "I am" statements
that appear in the book of John. I urge you to study each of these
in their contexts.
I am the bread of life. "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." (John 6:35)
I am the light of the world. "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)
I am the door of the sheep. "Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep." (John 10:7) "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." (John 10:9)
I am the good shepherd. "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." (John 10:11) "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine." (John 10:14)
I am the resurrection and the life. "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)
I am the way the truth and the life. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
I am the vine. "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman." (John 15:1) "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5)
USE YOUR BIBLE (Selected from Plain Talk)
THE CHARACTER OF AN INFIDEL (Psm. 10:4-11)
Some attitudes and thoughts of the Infidel are here described:
Vs. 4, "He will not require it." God doesn't really
mean what He says
Vs. 6, "I shall not be moved -- have no adversity"
Self-confident, I don't really need God.
Vs.11, "God hath forgotten. He hideth His face." God
will never know about my sins.
Other Indications of In-Fidel-"Lack of Faith":
I. Accept Only What Appeals to Senses, Reason...
Rom. 4:16-f. Abraham, believed against hope.
If reason must prove God, God becomes subject to man.
II. The Stubborn, Who Will Not See...
Blinded by the God of this world, 2 Cor. 4:4
Satan takes the seed away. Lu. 8:12
Stubbornness is as Idolatry. 1 Sam. 15:23
III. Having the Form, but Denying the Power. 2 Tim. 3:1-8
Hold to Bible terminology, but not to principles.
Neo-orthodoxy Modernism -- "playing" at God-service.
Social gospel, perverts purpose and end of gospel.
Vs. 8 -- "reprobate concerning the faith."
IV. Inactive Members -- Lack Faith...
Heb. 2:12, 17-19 Believe-not, disobedient. (See A.R.V.)
Heb. 12:1 The sin that so easily besets -us, unbelief.
Deny the faith -- 1 Tim. 5:8
Shipwreck the faith -1 Tim. 1:19
In One Sense, All Non-Christians are UNBELIEVERS.
1 Cor. 6:1-6 Unbelievers versus Saints.
1 Cor. 14:23-25 Unbelievers attend services.
It is difficult to imagine any one who truly believes in God, and His word, who would continue to ignore both God and His word. Easy to understand how some may be searching for further information, intent on doing God's will as rapidly as each new point is discovered. Beware less delay mean infidelity.
Change your thoughts and you change your world. ---Norman
Vincent Peale
Do not eat the bread of a miser, Nor desire his delicacies; For
as he thinks in his heart, so is he. "Eat and drink!"
he says to you, But his heart is not with you. The morsel you
have eaten, you will vomit up, And waste your pleasant words.
(Prov. 23:6-8)
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