Jun 17
25
Jesus of Nazareth
When a man gives evidence of being awakened by the Holy Spirit and brought to inquire of us, “What must I do to be saved?”, we have the answer from the inspired words of the Apostle Paul: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” The answer is so old that with many it seems out of date and so simple that with many it seems to be not enough. But it is still and always will be fresh, and new, and the only way to God. No man can devise a better answer for “He that believeth on the Son hath life and he that believeth not on the Son shall not see life.”
(1) Who is Jesus of Nazareth? He is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. The Scriptures reveal that the Living God is a triune God – three in one, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God said, “Let us make man.” I John 5:7 declares, “There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” John 1:1,14 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God . . . and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth.” God sent His Son into the world made in the likeness of sinful flesh, made of a woman, made under the law. Christ said, “I and my Father are one.” Again He said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is to believe that He is the Lord Jesus Christ. “If ye believe not that I AM, ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:24. This is the same I AM of Exodus 3:14 where God said to Moses, “I AM that I AM” and of John 8:58 when Christ said, “Before Abraham was, I AM.” Jesus of Nazareth is not just a messenger of God, a religious reformer, a prophet – He is Immanuel, “God with us.”
(2) What did Jesus of Nazareth do? He did what no man has ever done or ever can do; He pleased the Father! Paul said, “They that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:8. Jesus of Nazareth was in the flesh and He pleased God for the Father said, “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” He pleased the Father because “though tempted in all points, He was without sin.” He knew no sin, neither was guile found in Him. In the flesh He was subject to the ceremonial law, the moral law, the law of the home, the law of the land and the law of love. He was tried by Satan, by man and by God. The verdict: “I find no fault in Him!” Having lived before God a perfect life, being born and lived without sin – His work was not done! He must die! He must die as all those whom He represents, and with whom He is numbered, deserve to die, and must die – under the wrath of God! “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” John 3:14. Everything He did in His life and death was according to the Old Testament Scriptures, I Cor. 15:1-4. He was betrayed, denied, despised and rejected, spat upon, nailed to a cross between two thieves, deserted of the Father, made His soul an offering for sin, buried and rose again! He fulfilled every type, picture and symbol set forth in the law of Moses. To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is to believe that He is The Christ, the Redeemer, who fulfilled all things written in the law of Moses, in the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning Him.
(3) Why did Jesus of Nazareth do these things? The answer is found in Romans 3:26 – “to declare God’s righteousness, that God might be just and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus.” God is love and His love will be expressed and manifested, but not at the expense of His justice God is merciful and delights to show mercy, but not in such a way that His righteousness is compromised. “The Lord is longsuffering and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty.” “If mercy is shown to me, it must meet and satisfy truth. If peace is granted to me, it must be in agreement with God’s righteousness, holiness and justice.” Psalm 85:10. If God accepts a man, that man must have a perfect righteousness before the law. In Christ believers have that perfect righteousness, for in the flesh He pleased God and honored the law for every believer. Romans 5:19. If God receives a man into His fellowship, that man’s sin must be punished by death – “The soul that sinneth must surely die.” Christ, our substitute and sin offering, died in our stead satisfying fully all that God’s justice required. We are holy and unblameable in His sight, our sins have been paid for, and by His stripes we are healed. God can be just and completely justify all for whom Christ died. The obedience and death of Christ was not a display of love and sacrifice to impress men, but it was “unto the Lord”; it was “before the Lord”; it was “God in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.” We in heart will be reconciled to God when the Holy Spirit regenerates us and sheds abroad the love of and for God in our hearts!
(4) Where is Jesus of Nazareth now? “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sin. ” Acts 5:30-31. He is seated, having finished the work given Him to do, at the right hand of the Majesty on High. He is our great High Priest who intercedes for us; the one Mediator between God and men. It is this Living Lord who has all authority over all flesh, who gives eternal life to as many as the Father has given Him and this eternal life is to know by experience God through Jesus Christ. When we say “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,” we are confronting men with a living sovereign Lord alive forevermore, reigning at the right hand of the Father, given all authority now and forever, having been exalted and installed there by way of the bloody cross and in virtue thereof! Do you believe?
Henry Mahan.
Throughout scripture, God’s people are described as faithful. When the Lord describes the commendation the believer will receive upon entering glory, He says His words shall be, “well done, thou good and faithful servant.” What is faithfulness? Here is the most simple definition. Faithfulness believes, and can be believed.
In the passive sense, faithfulness can be believed, trusted, and relied upon. Faithfulness is very predictable. You are in for no surprises with the faithful because there is a consistency of character. Remember Paul’s words, “It is required in a steward that a man be found faithful.” The best example of a steward is the executor of a will. If you want your will executed properly, what do you look for in a person to do it? Talent? Genius? Charisma? In reality, nor only are those things not needed. They may be a hindrance. What you want is faithfulness! This is what God requires of all of His children. Faithfulness!
In the active sense, faithfulness believes! What do “believers” do? They believe! They believe God! They believe everything God says! If any portion of God’s Word is presented to me, and I say, “I don’t believe that”, then I am an unbeliever. A believer believes all that God says. Are you faithful? Do you believe? Can you be believed? If you are a believer, the answer is yes to both of these questions. If the answer is no, what is the only conclusion that can be drawn? You are an unbeliever. Believers believe and can be believed! Lord, make me faithful!
Todd Nibert.
Faith without works ...
Faith is not known by the feelings it produces or necessarily by the doctrines it professes, but by the actions it takes. False religions are as capable as the gospel of producing states of emotional ecstasy, but they are still false religions. There are many people and even entire churches who profess a faithful and solid creed, but are devoid of saving faith. Living, saving faith always produces action in those who possess it. An idle faith is a dead faith and will not bring salvation to the one who possesses it.
But we must not think that the deeds or works which faith produces are in any way meritorious or supplemental to the righteousness of Christ. They are not works of law or even works of morality, but works of faith. That is, they are deeds and actions which are based on the truths which faith believes.
Since faith believes the gospel of Christ, faith actually trusts the soul to Christ. Since faith believes that all other religions but that of Christ are false, it leaves all other religions.
Since faith believes that Christ is more valuable than anything or anyone else, it will forsake mother, father, sister, brother, – even life itself – for the sake of Christ.
Since faith believes that Christ is glorious and worthy of all honor and praise, it will gladly confess Him openly before the world. Since faith believes that Jesus Christ is Lord over all, it willingly and gladly submits to His rule and follows the Lamb wherever He goes.
Joe Terrell.
True Faith
Todd Nibert
True faith is in a Person. “Abraham believed God. ” Paul said, “I know Whom I have believed. ” I do not trust the finished work of Christ. I trust Him who finished the work. Faith is not believing that Christ died for me. I may believe that He died for me when it may be that He did not. Faith is believing that He in His life, death, resurrection, and Person is able to save me. Faith is a reliance upon Him! Faith is not believing a doctrine, proposition, or historical event, although all of that is involved in faith. Faith is believing a Person! Faith is not giving assent to the Truth, although it does give assent to the Truth! Living faith trusts the Living Lord. What we believe is determined by who we believe. If we believe Him, what we believe will be settled. It is impossible to believe Him and not believe sovereign grace! As Henry Mahan said, “We do not come to Christ through doctrine, we come to true doctrine through Christ.
Christ is Salvation.
“All spiritual blessings that sovereign, gracious God has for sinners are IN our Lord Jesus Christ, BY the merits and blood of our Lord, and FOR the glory of our Redeemer. Simply put, CHRIST IS SALVATION!
It is Christ, not the cross, who saves.
It is Christ, not the church, who justifies.
It is Christ, not my faith, nor my confession, nor my profession, who unites me to God.
It is the Master, not the mother, who is our Mediator.
It is His blood that cleanses, His obedience that sanctifies, His love that will not let me go, His faithfulness (not mine) constant and steadfast, and His promise, spoken to Peter but true of every believer, “I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU.”
Henry Mahan.