Christ, the embodiment and fullness of God.
All things are delivered to me by my Father: and no man knows who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. Luke 10:22.
For I would that ye know what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:1-3.
When Christ was on earth, he was the expressed image of the invisible God. Christ, as the firstborn of every creation, is one of the many wondrous mysteries of godliness which speaks of God as being manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on the world, received up into glory. 1Timothy3:16. Note: the title given to Christ while on earth as the Son of God (Luke 1:35) was the manifestation and evidence of the efficacy of the creative power of the word of God to provide the seed of the woman. This was the temporal and visible presence of God with us - Emmanuel (Matthew 1:23) as promised by the mouth of the prophet Isaiah, which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. Luke 3:38.
God was in Christ Jesus, reconciling the world unto himself. The word" being God in the flesh, or being made flesh" and dwelled among us, should give the same power of heirship to all those who believed in his name, and received him as their Lord and Savior. You are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26.
After the fall and the judgment issued by God in the Garden, Christ was prophetically announced to Satan as the one who is to come after him to bruise his head, having the garments of vengeance for clothing (Isaiah 59:17) to destroy and undo the wickedness of the old serpent against humanity. Genesis 3:15.
Abraham was promised that Christ should spring from his loins. Jacob knew by revelation that Christ would be of the tribe of Judah. David knew that his Lord and Savior Christ should be the son of David in the flesh. Prophet Micah, by prophetic power, declared that Christ should be born at Bethlehem, though his going forth has been from of old, from everlasting. The prophet Isaiah declared his birth and divinity, his unending existence and headship describes him as the everlasting Father. Isaiah 9:6.
Much more, the demonic spirits from the invisible world confessed to his deity or divinity. They acknowledged his incarnation as the Son of God - and unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, thou art the Son of God. Mark 3:11. Note: Mary's conception of Christ by the Spirit of God entitled the Lord as the Son of God in the flesh.
The name of Jesus implies Jehovah Everlasting Savior of Universal Sinners and Sin. God so much loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.
Is it not written, thou shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins? Matthew 1:21.
Jesus is the code name of God on earth, given for his mission to reconcile the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. 2 Cor. 5:19. 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.
The name of Jesus was given from heaven before his birth as the name of God on earth because Jehovah's own arm brought him the salvation of his people. Isaiah 59:16.
The heaven and the earth were created by the word of God which became flesh to dwell among us by which he - God upholds all things by the word of his power.
The name of Jesus is the seal of God’s authority, revealing his supremacy as the God of heaven and earth, and of every created being. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Great indeed is the mystery of godliness. Philippians 2:9-11.
This is the fundamental truth about the One true God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent, operating or manifesting himself in three distinctive functions as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The all-powerful God. The Omnipotent God, the One who can do all things. Omnipresence, the God who is everywhere at any time. The God of all knowledge is the Omniscience Creator. Canst thou by searching find out God? Can thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. Job 11:7-9.
God is a spirit with a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body. John 4:24.
God is the word, meaning that he expresses or demonstrates himself to create the world while, at the same time, showing himself as the creative Spirit or power of the word.
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, nothing was made without him. And the word was made flesh, dwelling among us. This shows Christ as the word spoken by God in creation, by whom he also made the worlds, - that Christ came down from heaven to earth to speak unto us in these last days. Hebrews 1:1-3.
Now, you clearly understand the reason why the winds and the waves of the sea obeyed Christ in reverence and recognition of the origin of their creation and operation when he commanded them to calm down while he was with his disciples at sea in the boat. He was before Abraham. He was before all things, and by him, meaning by Christ or the Word made flesh all things consist. Colossians 1:17.
The manifestations or visibility of the things spoken by God were the demonstration of the active force or the power of God’s creation. Through faith, we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Hebrews 11:3.
The name of Christ was not made known in heaven before the world was made or before the fall of man, until the first begotten of God was brought into the world. Christ is the word of God spoken in creation, and he was the Spirit of God hovering over the surface of the waters, - and the Lord is that Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17.
The Lord further reveals that the words he has spoken unto us, they are Spirit, and they are life. John 6:63. Who is the word? Who is the Spirit? This proves to us that in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead. Colossians 2:9.
So, whenever the Father speaks, the Word spoken manifests the Father’s desire through the quickening and creative power of his Spirit, for God is a Spirit, and where the word of the King is, there is the manifestation of his creative power, the Spirit of God. Ecclesiastes 8:4 a.
Therefore, we see the three that bear record in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7.
God made man by the skillfulness of his hand from the clay or dust of the earth, but he spoke the creation and other created beings into existence, decreed things to be.
He spoke, and it was done: he commanded, and it stood fast. Psalms 33:9.
God sent his word to the Virgin Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus, that she should be overshadowed by the power of the Spirit to conceive and bring forth Christ, who is called the Son of the most high. Luke 1: 32.
When the Highest gave his word, Christ, by miraculous conception, came into the world by the spirit of God, that we might behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Note: whenever the word of God comes to you, consider it as Christ's visitation to you, (a) either for a blessing, like in the case of Mary who received and believed the word she sent by the angel of God (b), or for chastening and correction, like in the case of king Nebuchadnezzar (c), or for the re-assurances of his purposes and his presence with you, for he has promised never to leave you, nor to forsake you.
Scripture says that Christ was the Lamb foreordained before the foundation of the world. This indicates that God had blood kept up in heaven's bank in preparatory, prior to the foundation of the world, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world. 1 Peter1:19-20.
Christ's blood was shed from the foundation of the world, indicating the point in time at which a particular process, event, or activity starts: and all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8.
Christ was an eternal offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor made ready from eternity before anything was made. Ever before any created being on earth came into existence, he was the Lamb slain. Ever before the transgression and expulsion of man from the Garden of Eden for the sin not yet committed, so that in Christ Jesus, all who were made sinners by the transgression of the first Adam, who were dead in sins and trespasses, called sinners from the womb, should found their salvation and righteousness in Christ Jesus who is the Bishop and Shepherd of their soul. Note: after the fall, Adam gave birth to children of his kind, that is, of sinful and corrupt nature; but the incarnation of Christ as God’s ‘holy thing’ on earth is designed to give birth to sons and daughters after God’s kind, who should be partakers of his divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lusts by the same power of the Spirit that brought Christ on earth to be born of the Spirit. Being born again, not of the corruptible seed, but the incorruptible seed of the word of God which lives and abides forever.
The blood of Jesus is a wondrous mystery. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 12:11.
This text indicates that the blood of the everlasting covenant which was shed before the world was made was a preemptive sacrifice, - serving or intended to preempt or forestall something, especially to prevent attack by disabling the enemy.
Also, it is the signatory mark of God's ownership to serve as indemnity or insurance policy against any loss or damage to things made or created by his word, that is Christ. The blood, not only serve for insurance purpose, but also with the capacity to serve as instrument of spiritual warfare.
An instrument of defense to win any spiritual litigation against the enemy, but the blood was kept secret in heaven, not revealed or allowed to be used until there was a war in heaven and was used in the combat to defeat Satan in his rebellion against God.
Secondly, on earth, for its reconciliatory purpose when the Lord formerly made peace through the blood of his cross to reconcile all things unto himself, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. Colossians 1:20.
Can you just think of the moment when God, for the first time, called the attention of angel Michael to the availability of the blood of the Lamb as a weapon to fight, attack and defend in the battle against the Dragon and his angels in heaven?
Michael and his angels were not aware of the existence of the blood of the Lamb until war and confusion broke out before the throne of God in heaven, and access was given unto them for the application of the blood of the Lamb who was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was shed from the foundation of the world – Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever before you formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Psalms 90:1-2.
Satan presented himself before Christ as the god and rightful owner of this world; boasting, all this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. Luke 4: 6.
Meanwhile, the certificate of true ownership, having the seal of the blood of the Lamb shed before the foundation of the world is Christ, by whom all things were made; visible or invisible, thrones or dominions, principalities or powers, things in heaven, or things on earth.
After the death of on the cross, one of the soldiers pierced him with a spear, and blood and water issue suddenly out of his side. John 19:34.
He was declared to be Son of God (a) by the centurion and other men. Matthew 27:54: (b) he was declared to be the Son of God according to the spirit of holiness, by his resurrection from the dead. Romans 1:4.
Here again, we see the testimonies of the three that bear witness on earth (a) the Spirit, by which our Lord was conceived through Mary: (b) the water, and the blood that gushed out of his side, – for they shall look upon him whom they have pierced. Zachariah 12:10.
These three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.1 John 5:8-12.
If you don't know or have Christ in your life, you don't know God, but alienated from the life of God through the blindness of your mind and the ignorance that is in you.
This is the eternal rejection and condemnation of anyone who claims to have the knowledge and relationship with the Father without the Son, for no one comes to the Father, except by Christ. John 14:6.
The Father made great encomium about the Son as God who changes not, by whom the world was made, and by whom the present heavens and earth shall also be dissolved by fire. 2 Peter 3:5-7.
But unto the Son he (God) says, thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. You loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of your hands: they shall perish; but thou remain; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shall thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. Hebrews 1:8-12.
Herein was the cause of strife, the envy, the confusion and the madness of the many of the Jewish brethren of Christ in the flesh as they sought after fault to accuse him of blasphemy that he made himself equal with God, even from everlasting. John 10:33.
I came from the Father and entered into the world (John 16:28), meaning that he is the God of Christ, and he is the Christ of God in the world of men. I am not of this world, you are of this world. I am from above, not of the dust, you are from beneath, of the dust. John 8:23. I and my Father are one. The inseparable eternal word. John 10:30.
The angels are far more excellent and superior in creation than man, though, they don’t worship man, but they also don’t receive any form of worship from man, nor should anyone worship an angel of God – it is forbidden. Nevertheless, by inheritance, Christ obtained a more excellent name than the angels (Heb.1:4) as the God by whom the angels were made to be, and by him shall they be preserved throughout all eternity, so, when God brought his first begotten into the world, he says, let all the angels of God worship him. Hebrews 1:6.
By inheritance, I mean by Christ position and power over all the created beings: for by Christ God made the worlds. Hebrews 1:2.
Because of our relationship with us through redemption by his blood, we are technically grafted into the vine. This is a royalty position over the angels (Matthew 18:10), for he has made us kings and priests unto God his Father. Revelation 1:6. There is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 1 Corinthians 8:6.
Through the present position of our relationship with Christ Jesus, we are not made better than the angels, that we should be worshipped by them the same way that they worship Christ while he was on earth, but as heirs of salvation with the privilege status of coheirs with Christ, we are in the position of grace or favour to receive the ministrations or services of God's holy angels. Hebrews 1:14.
From one of the three temptations Satan present to Christ, he demanded worship from his God.
Satan, whose specialist is to blind the minds of the unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4) has his own mind blinded to the divinity of the person of Christ as the God of all creation by asking for worship from his creator. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be yours. Luke 4:7.
Consider the prevailing power and the effects of the eternal word over the three temptations when God’s impersonator - Satan came face to face with the Word of God personified, - Christ, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. Philippians 2:6.
Little did Satan knew or realized that he was before the Lord of hosts who once ordered his banishment and debasement before his throne from God heaven down to the earth, and by whose blood he lost the previous battle in heaven.
But the sword of the spirit drawn out from what was written in the scripture pierced so hard and deep into Satan’s soul with no room to think twice, ‘thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God’ and ‘thou shall worship the Lord thy God’ as to leave him clueless with what to expect in his future encounter with the God whose throne he vainly coveted after in heaven and was defeated, but pursued him down to fight him on earth. First, Christ to defeat and to destroy Satan's works on earth. Second, to send him to hell throughout all eternity at the time appointed by God.
There was no throne install for Christ in heaven before the accomplishment of our redemptive work on the cross. But after his death and resurrection, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. Heb.1:3 c.
After his death and resurrection was God said to his Christ, sit thou at my right hand, till I make thy enemies thy footstool.
This was his exaltation. Christ throne being set up at the right hand of God in heaven is the symbol and honor of his life, death and resurrection as the Son of man. This was the reward of the sacrifice and pain of his love: to him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Revelation 3:21.
Christ is now seated in heaven as our merciful and faithful high priest, the great intercessor, and the mediator between God and man (I Timothy 2:5-6): for he must reign, until all his enemies are put under his footstool. Psalms.110:1.
The glory of God shall endures forever. 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.
Whatever God desire, this shall Christ be or become. Christ is the word, and when God commanded, it stood fast.
When he - God prepared the heavens, I – Christ was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: when he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: when he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth.
God is the Almighty, the only wise God, but Christ is the wisdom and power of God.
Whatever God was (in the beginning was the word, the word was with God and the word was God. John 1:1), Christ was, – the word was made flesh and dwells among us. John 1:14.
Whatever God is (God is light, and in him is no darkness. 1 John 1:5), Christ is, - I have come as light in the world, that whosoever believes in me should not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. John 12:46.
Whatever God is to become shall his Christ stoop for or descend to that God may be all in all 1 Cor.15:28.
Likewise, in Christ Jesus, the spirit filled believer is an embodiment of Christ on earth, for Christ is living in him. He is the member of Christ's body, and of his flesh.
The early believers were rightly named as Christians at Antioch because they resembled Christ in their behaviors and representatives of him; having learnt to live and act like him, and were filled up to live and walk daily in the spirit.
God appointed Christ as the heir - next in line of all things. Hebrews. 1:2.
First, this position is applicable because he is the Son of man, the head of the church, the second Adam. Second, this position is worthy of Christ as the first-begotten of the creation of God by whom all things, not only comes into existence, but by him are all things holds together. Colossians 1: 6 b.
The termination of the present heaven and the earth, their renewal or renovation are under the operation of the determined counsel of the eternal word of God, this is the power of Christ. 2 Peter 3:5-7. Note: when all things shall discontinue or be terminated, the word of God once made flesh, but is now alongside the Father in heaven, with all the family in heaven, altogether with the elects which God has redeemed from the four-corners of the earth by the blood of the everlasting covenant shall live forever.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14.