Christ is then that bridge between God and man, fully
God and fully man, without whom the believer in God would be in the same
predicament as other religions where their god is so distant from man that
there is no connection, no compassion for man’s suffering, no understanding of
the human heart, fears, and affections.
God reveals Himself to special select people under the
Law and to all believers under Grace.
Amos
3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing,
but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
John
14:26 But the Comforter, which is the
Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all
things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto
you.
(To deny this is to say that the so-called ‘Great
Commission’ of the end of Matthew does not apply to every believer but only the
Apostles).
The Lord Jesus Christ, while walking in biological flesh on the
earth, also had a human spirit, a human will, being fully man and fully God.
This spirit also manifested itself to us.
Luke
22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be
willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
There was a great argument in the Roman Empire’s church regarding
whether Christ even had two natures. Some focused on His divinity while others
His humanity. The issue was somewhat settled at the Council of Chalcedon in
451AD in Bithynia in Asia Minor, in what is the country of Turkey today. It was
understood that Christ was one person with two natures, divine and human, God
in the flesh. This does not mean that they just figured that out but that they
declared the other ideas as incorrect.
The Son of God is God in the flesh. In eternity;
1Corinthians 15:27 For he
hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under
him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto
him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things
under him, that God may be all in all.
Notice in verse 4, the importance of the resurrection. The
resurrection of Christ and the promise of our resurrection and our eternal life
is the centerpoint around which Christian faith revolves. Without the
resurrection Christianity becomes a mere philosophy of living and Christ only a
great teacher or even a madman. The resurrection seals the deal, so to speak.
We should celebrate it in our hearts every day not just at Easter. It is how we
know Christ was God in the flesh and it is the basis on which the authority of
the apostles rests.
Romans 1:6 includes us down through history as also the called
of Jesus Christ including us in the command and authority to fulfill
Matthew 28:18-20, called The Great Commission.
Saints has special meaning in the Bible and that is not special
individuals honored by the Roman Catholic Church and given special mystical
powers after their deaths. Saints are sanctified ones, called to be
holy, God’s chosen people, either the Gentiles who still worshipped the true
God or the Israelites in the Old Testament or the Christian in the New
Testament.
Deuteronomy 33:2 And he
said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined
forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his
right hand went a fiery law for them. 3
Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat
down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.
Acts 9:13 Then Ananias
answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to
thy saints at Jerusalem:
And yet, these are all sinners, imperfect, depending completely on
God’s goodness, His mercy, and His grace.
Job 15:15 Behold, he
putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.
Paul wishes for God’s grace, His unmerited favor, to the church at
Rome, and peace with God which is one of the main points of the Bible and the
reason for God’s sacrifice on the Cross at Calvary. Having peace restored with
our Creator after living in a state of rebellion should be our first duty. Here
in the next passage quoted, Paul further explains peace with God and the union
of Jew and Gentile to form the church.
Ephesians 2:1 ¶ And you
hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to
the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the
spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation
in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh
and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 ¶ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great
love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when
we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are
saved;) 6 And hath raised us up
together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the
exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should
walk in them.
11 ¶ Wherefore remember, that ye being in time
past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is
called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ,
being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants
of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were
far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 ¶ For he is our peace, who hath made both one,
and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity,
even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of
twain one new man, so making peace; 16
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross,
having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And
came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access
by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now
therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the
saints, and of the household of God; 20
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy
temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also
are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
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