Who is the Christ? What is the relationship between Christ and sinners? What
is the importance of Him receiving sinners?
Who is the
Christ?
The Christ of the New Testament is the same person referred to in the
Old Testament as the Messiah. Let's look at a prophecy in the Old Testament.
Micah 5:2
"But you, Bethlehem
Ephrathah, though you are
little among the thousands of Judah, yet
out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings
forth are from of old, from
everlasting."
Christian countries know well that Jesus of Nazareth was
actually born in Bethlehem Ephrathah in Judea. Millions each year sing carols
about the birth of the Baby Jesus. "...Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from
everlasting."
Isaiah 7:14
"Therefore
the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold,
the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." [God-with-us]
This ruler is more than a mere man! The virgin's
child would be called "God-with-us".
This ruler would be both God and man! The Hebrew word mashiah translated in English as Messiah
comes from another Hebrew word mashach.
Mashach means anointed; for example a king or a priest anointed by God via one
of his prophets. Mashiah specifically refers to the Messiah.
What is the
relationship between Christ and sinners?
It is important to know that Jesus Christ of Nazareth was never a
sinner! The Holy Scriptures record that Jesus committed no sin; He knew no
sin and that He had no sin in Him.
Yet His daily contact with sinners did not defile him in any way. Every other
person is classified as a sinner!
Romans
3:22-23
"(22)
...For there is no difference;
(23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
(23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
1 Peter
2:21-22
"(21) For
to this you were called, because Christ
also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His
steps"
(22) "Who
committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth"
2 Corinthians 5:21:
"For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
1 John 3:5
"And
you know that He was manifested to take
away our sins, and in Him there is
no sin." In 1 John 3:5 we learn that Christ was
revealed to take away our sins. In the next chapter in 1 John 4:14 we are told that,
"...the Father has sent the Son as Saviour of the world."
Let's have a look at1 Timothy
1:15:
"This is a faithful saying and worthy of
all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came
into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."
Romans 5:6-9
"(6) For
when we were still without strength, in
due time Christ died for the ungodly.
(7) For
scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone
would even dare to die.
(8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
(8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
(9) Much
more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath
through Him."
Romans 8:1-3
"(1) There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do
not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
(2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the
law of sin and death.
(3) For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did
by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin:
He condemned sin in the flesh"
Have a look at the great revelation given to us in verse 3. God sent His sinless
Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.
Why? On account of sin! Jesus Christ of Nazareth was born of the virgin - Mary.
The Scriptures tell us in Hebrews
4:14-15:
"(14) Seeing
then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
(15) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
(15) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Why did Jesus come? He came to show us the love and grace of God towards
guilty sinners. He came to personally clear the debt of our sins on a Roman
cross at Calvary. He was the only person capable of doing this as He was without
sin! Therefore, when He offered Himself to God as my substitute, His sacrifice
on my behalf was acceptable to God; for now and for eternity. He came into the
world to save sinners!
What is the
importance of Him receiving sinners?
The importance of Jesus Christ receiving sinners is that His sacrificial
death on our behalf at Calvary was not in vain! Millions upon millions of
people have believed in Jesus, the Son of God and have been saved from the
penalty of sin and death.
If you come to Him with an open mind and an open heart He will save you!
I have spoken too many, many saved souls over the years and not one of them has
said that Christ rejected them. He will not reject you!
John 6:37
"All
that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and
the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out."
Jon Peasey
Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com
[All
Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted.
Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted
for clarity. Words in bold type
emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or
elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate
directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]
[If you
have any questions or comments you are invited to contact me via the comments
section below.]
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