To Know Christ

The blessings of redeeming love, our Savior compared to a precious pearl. He illustrated His lesson by the parable of the merchant seeking goodly pearls “who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Christ Himself is the pearl of great price. In Him is gathered all the glory of the Father, the fullness of the Godhead. He is the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His person. The glory of the attributes of God is expressed in His character. Every page of the Holy Scriptures shines with His light. The righteousness of Christ, as a pure, white pearl, has no defect, no stain. No work of man can improve the great and precious gift of God. It is without a flaw. In Christ are

...hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:3.

He is

...made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30.

All that can satisfy the needs and longings of the human soul, for this world and for the world to come, is found in Christ.

A knowledge of Christ means our eternal life. It is more important than anything else in this world. Paul was led to exclaim:

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. Philippians 3:8.

Knowledge of Christ is the means by which the sinner being re-created

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Colossians 3:10.

Through this knowledge we partake of the divine nature.

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. 2 Peter 1:3.

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Ephesians 3:19.

We are commanded to grow, to increase in the knowledge of Christ.

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18.

Consider Christ.

We are told to consider Christ; to keep Him in mind and contemplate His life of ministry on earth and in heaven.

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. Hebrews 3:1

It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we meditate on His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will grow, and we will be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross.

By considering Jesus continually it will transform us and make us like the one we adore.

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18.

Paul tells us how important the knowledge of Christ was to him as a minister.

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2.

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. Ephesians 3:8.

There is salvation in none other.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12.

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.

He is to be lifted up in all His beauty.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:14-15.

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:24.

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30.

We should honor the Son as we honor the Father

For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. John 5:21-23.

Christ existed before His birth in Bethlehem, and all things were created through Him

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. Colossians 1:14-16.

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2.

Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. John 8:42.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:1-3.

The Word was with God in the beginning?so far back in the days of eternity as to be far beyond the grasp of the mind of man. He was before this world and before the angels, “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Colossians 1:17-19

The ages comprehended in this phrase cannot be grasped. It is not for us to know when or how Christ was begotten; but we know that He was the Divine Word before this world was created.

The last prayer of Christ (John 17) also reveals that Christ existed with the Father before the worlds were created.

And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. John 17:5.

Christ is Divine

In many places in the Bible Christ is called God.

God has, in direct address to the Son, called Him by the same title.

Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; the scepter of Thy kingdom is a right scepter. Psalm 45:6.

The casual reader might take this last verse to be simply the Psalmist's ascription of praise to God, but when we turn to the New Testament, we find that it is much more. We find that God the Father is the speaker and that He is addressing the Son.

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Hebrews 1:8.

This name was not given to Christ in consequence of some great achievement, but it is His by right of inheritance. Speaking of the power and greatness of Christ, the writer to the Hebrews says that He is made so much better than the angels, because:

He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Hebrews 1:4.

A son always rightfully takes the name of the father; and Christ, as “the only begotten Son of God,” has rightfully the same name. A son, also, is, to a greater or less degree, a reproduction of the father; he has, to some extent, the features and personal characteristics of his father; not perfectly, because there is no perfect reproduction among mankind. But there is no imperfection in God, or in any of His works, and so Christ is the “express image” of the Father's person. (Hebrews 1:3) As the Son of the self-existent God, He has by nature all the attributes of Deity.

Christ is Worthy of Worship.

And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. Hebrews 1:6

Christ at His Incarnation,

took human flesh, degenerated by thousands of years of sin.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 1 John 4:1-3 .

For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:16-17.

Man is composed of a concrete portion and an abstract portion. We call these body and mind or flesh and spirit. The mind is our identity, it is who we are. Christ had a divine mind. It was His identity, it was who He was. He had this mind in a fleshly body. Just as we can have this same mind that was in Christ Jesus, in our fleshly bodies.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2.

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. Ezekiel 36:26-27.

Christ did not exercise divine power that we can not also have.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12.

When Jesus was awakened to meet the storm, He was in perfect peace. But He rested not in the possession of almighty power. It was not as the “Master of earth and sea and sky” that He rested peacefully. That power He had laid down, for He said, “I can of Mine own self do nothing.” John 5:30. He trusted in the Father's might. It was in faith?faith in God's love and care?that Jesus rested, and the power of that word which stilled the storm was the power of God.

He came in human flesh for a number of specific reasons:

1. That God could communicate to man through Christ

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19.

2. That He could reconcile man and God

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5.

Communication was cut off between man and God because of sin. To intercede, to mediate, to restore that communication, is a great object in the plan of salvation. He began this work from the moment Adam fell.

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2.

He was:

...the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8.

3. That He could be tempted as a man

It was necessary to see God's character tested by our earthly, sinful environment in order to really know God. If Christ used His divine power for Himself, there could have been no temptation for Him.

...for God cannot be tempted... James 1:13.

For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. Hebrews 2:18.

4. That He could be our perfect example

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps. 1 Peter 2:21.

5. That He could die for man

Divinity cannot die, so Christ had to lay down the powers of His Divine nature so that He could die.

That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:14-16

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Hebrews 2:9

6. That He could be a prophet and priest before reigning as king

? Jesus while on earth held the office of a prophet.
The glory of God must be veiled for man to behold God. Christ took humanity, laying aside His glory that He might speak to man on behalf of God. This is the work of a prophet.

This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. Acts 7:37.

? When He ascended, He took up the work of priest.
To be a priest?one who speaks to God on behalf of men?He had to take on our human nature.

For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:16-17.

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Hebrews 4:14.

? And when Jesus comes again He will reign as king

And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, king of kings, and lord of lords. Revelation 19:16.

Jesus exercised no power we cannot have. He had trials, was tempted, and knows by experience what we have to go through. We can overcome in the same way, and by the same power that He overcame with.

Christ at His Ascension

Shortly before His ascension, Christ said “all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18) He is not lacking any power. This includes the power to be with us wherever we are. Though Christ still bears His humanity, He says:

...lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Matthew 28:20.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20.

Christ did not lose any of His divine powers. He is just as much divine now as He ever was. He can still be with us each, wherever we are. He is our Comforter.

How is Jesus with His children all over the earth and at the right hand of the Father at the same time? The same way as His Father can be: in Spirit.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. Psalm 139:7-8.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Psalm 139:2.

With human technology, the internet, I can be seen and heard and both see and hear many people all over the earth from one specific location wherever I am located. My voice, my image, my thoughts may be present in many places while physically, I am in one place. It can be said that my spirit is present with others miles away from where I am physically. How much more can God and Christ hear, and see, and communicate, and even act anywhere and yet still have a physical form, a body in the temple in heaven?

Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our Faith

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Hebrews 12:1-3.

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