Prof. Johan Malan, University of the North, South Africa
Abstract: A review of the deity, names, titles and work of the Lord Jesus.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible except where otherwise indicated. Only very archaic terms have been substituted, between brackets, with correlating terms from the New King James Version (NKJV). All pronouns referring to the Godhead are capitalised. Edited by Bernard and Kathleen Reeves of London.
Amid all the false religions originating from the kingdom of darkness, the counterfeit Jesuses emerging from distortions of Christianity, the deadness of many apostate churches, and the deceiving spirits that lead millions of nominal Christians astray, the Lord Jesus Christ still stands out as the only shining light of a morally and spiritually dark world. He is the only real and lasting solution to an increasingly depraved human race that lies in the sway of Satan. Only in Jesus Christ and His unique gospel of salvation is true life to be found for all who are spiritually dead and slaves to sin:
· He is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” (Jn. 14:6) to all who find themselves on the broad way that leads to destruction, and who cannot escape the alluring deceptions of Satan who blinds their mind and spirit. To all who come to Him He offers deliverance and life abundant.
· He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. You do not need to continue struggling with the bondage of your sins and iniquities, and to make futile efforts to rid yourself of the increasing bondage to sin which ultimately leads to death and hell.
· He is the eternal and immovable Rock of the Ages upon whom we can build our lives. The decadent nations of the world are challenged to come to Christ and base their constitutions, social systems and moral norms on Judeo-Christian law in these troubled times.
It is of vital importance to know the Lord Jesus Christ personally – not only as Lord and Saviour, but also as the true Friend who will never forsake you, the Shepherd who will lead and guide you, the Bridegroom who will come again to take you to heaven, the world’s coming King and also the many other roles in which He is revealed in the Bible. After the life-changing day in which you confess your sins and invite Him into your heart, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour (2 Pet. 3:18).
The apostle Paul was firmly determined to gain more knowledge of and an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, and dedicated himself to realising this objective. He said: “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord… that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being [conformed to] His death” (Phil. 3:8,10). That should be the great motivating power in our lives:
“…till we all come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:13-14 NKJV).
The Lord Jesus Christ reveals Himself in all His fullness through His personal and descriptive names recorded in the Bible. If we already know Him as Lord, Saviour and Lamb of God, a study of the meanings of His other wonderful names will lead us into to a deeper knowledge and greater appreciation of the Man of Calvary. To behold the glory of the One who has a Name above all names will enrich your spiritual life and motivate you to love Him with all your heart.
In the Old Testament there are two primary names used for God: Yahweh and Elohim. Each has a special significance. Elohim is the first name to be used, and is mentioned well over two thousand times. Though the name Yahweh (the eternal I Am) is paramount, there is a special significance about the name Elohim that God does not wish us to miss. In his book, Your Quest for God (p. 45-46), Dr. Richard Bennett explains the meaning of this name as follows:
“In the English language we talk in the plural if we wish to speak of more than one. And we use the singular if we refer to just one. But the Hebrew language can be even more precise, for it uses the dual when referring to two and then the plural when referring to more than two. The distinction between dual and plural (between ‘two’ and ‘three or more’) is very significant in the first name in the Bible that is used for God. ‘Elohim’ is in the plural. However, in another clear statement about God the Bible also says: ‘The Lord our God is one Lord’ (Deut. 6:4). So in the very first verse in the Bible, which is God’s revelation of Himself to man, we are introduced to a three-in-one and a one-in-three concept of God. ‘In the beginning God [Elohim] created the heaven and the earth’ (Gen. 1:1). This tri-unity has sometimes been called the Trinity.”
The term ‘one’ which is used in Deuteronomy 6:4 to describe the Lord (Yahweh) our God (Elohim), is echad in Hebrew, which refers to a composite unity as opposed to an absolute unity. In Ezek. 37:15-22, God uses the word echad in referring to the unification of the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah to become one nation; i.e. a composite unity.
That ‘Elohim’ is a composite unity referring both to one in the singular sense and more than two in the plural sense is shown by the personal pronouns used for God, who said regarding the creation of humans: “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness… So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them” (Gen. 1:26-27). The Triune God can indeed say: “Let Us make man,” and then, “…male and female created He them” (emphasis added).
Before His incarnation as Son of God, the Word ever was, still is and ever will be the eternal, self-existent God. The apostle John refers to Him as the Logos, or the Word: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… All things were made by Him…” (Jn. 1:1,3). Paul says: “For by Him were all things created… And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist… For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell” (Col. 1:16,17,19).
A clear statement about the Triune God is made by the apostle John in his first Epistle: “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one” (1 Jn. 5:7).
The names of the Lord Jesus Christ can be divided into four categories, i.e. His personal name, His names as God, His official name and official titles, and finally His descriptive names which emphasise His various attributes or works:
The name Jesus (The Lord [Yahweh] is Salvation; Heb. Yeshua) was given by the Lord Himself to Jesus. An angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph and said:
“Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins” (Mt. 1:20-21).
To meet the divine qualification to be the Saviour of Israel and of the whole world, Jesus had to be the perfect God-man. He had to become man and be born of a human generation (the royal lineage of David) to be the Son of man. That would qualify Him to be a substitute for human beings and atone for their sins. For this very reason, Jesus could not be begotten by any man so as not to inherit the depraved nature of fallen humanity (“there is none that doeth good, no, not one” – Ps. 14:3). Jesus was begotten by God the Father through the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit so that He, as man, could also be the Son of God. That is why He was born from a virgin:
“The virgin’s name was Mary… And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Lk. 1:27,35 NKJV).
Although the Almighty Creator, the Word so graciously humbled Himself to come into the world He had made, taking upon Himself the lowly form of a human being as Jesus, both Son of God and Son of man, and subjected Himself to the will of God the Father (Mt. 26:39) to be our Saviour.
In the Old Testament the Lord God (Yahweh Elohim, the three-in-one and one-in-three Triune God) declared Himself to be the eternal, self-existent “I AM THAT I AM” (Ex. 3:14). In John 8:58 Jesus declared, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.” He is the self-existent God, co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father and the Holy Spirit! The apostle John confirms this statement: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… all things were made by Him… in Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not… And the Word [became] flesh, and dwelt among us… full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:1,3-5,14). He laid aside all His glory and power as God the Creator, and, out of love for sinful humanity, humbled Himself to become a Man, so as to be able to atone for our sins by dying for us on Calvary’s cross!
Though He accepted all the limitations of being Man, there are glimpses of His divine glory, as confirmed when the apostle Paul says of 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… He is before all things…” (Col. 1:15-17). The Triune God has spoken to us in the Person of the Son “Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His Person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:1-3). His deity also shone through when He, as Man, said, “I and My Father are one” (Jn. 10:30) and, “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father” (Jn. 14:9). When he saw the risen Christ, doubting Thomas was completely convinced and reverently declared, “My Lord and my God” (Jn. 20:28).
Indeed, Jesus, the Word, though Man, is both Lord (Kurios – Acts 10:36) and God (Theos – Rom. 9:5). It is important to address Him by these titles when we pray to Him or speak to others about Him. Before His crucifixion, resurrection, ascension and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit it was usual to address Jesus only as Master (Didaskalos, Kathegetes, Rabbi, or Epistates). Only His disciples were aware that He was the promised Messiah (Mashiach or Christ) and the Son of God (Mt. 16:13-17). After His glorification, His full Godhead was revealed and then He was not only addressed as Master, but as Lord and God.
Peter refers to Jesus as both “Lord” and “Christ” (1 Pet. 1:3), while Paul refers to Him as “Lord” (Eph. 1:15) and also as “the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Tit. 2:13). John says that “Jesus Christ… is the true God, and eternal life” (1 Jn. 5:20).
Even unbelievers speak of Jesus as a prophet, but we should always connect this personal name to His deity (i.e. Lord Jesus), or to His official name (Jesus Christ), or to both names (Lord Jesus Christ). In view of the widespread denial of His virgin birth and His deity we should always worship the Lord Jesus and proclaim Him as Lord and God.
As unbelievers often take the name of Christ in vain and even Christians use that name on its own when referring to Him in a rather formal and impersonal way, we should always join it to His personal name. Those who use the name of Christ on its own give the impression that they may not know Him personally, so do not use His personal name.
We should remember that there is “none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,” but the name of Jesus (Acts 4:12). Call on the name of Jesus while always honouring Him as Lord and God.
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11 NKJV).
We have a further revelation of His greatness than the disciples had when He was here. They were amazed at His power and authority, but did not realise His true greatness and glory. On the sea they exclaimed, “What [kind] of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” (Mk. 4:41).
The Holy Spirit gives believers more insight into the unsearchable riches of the greatness, omnipotence and the saving grace of their Saviour, “that ye… may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:17-19). There is no need to remain in ignorance of the greatness of Christ and His love for us.
The Lord Jesus is also The Anointed One (Heb. Mashiach, Gr., Christos, Eng. Messiah or Christ). According to a messianic prophecy, He was to be anointed for His unique mission to save humanity and the world: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD [Adonai Yahweh] is upon Me; because the LORD hath anointed Me to preach good tidings” (Is. 61:1; cf. Lk. 4:16-21).
Christ is an inclusive official title that combines eight titles, roles, or offices for which the Lord Jesus was anointed and sent forth (Gr. apostello – sent forth) into the world.
The eight offices for which Christ was anointed, and the titles associated with them, are as follows:
The most important reason why Jesus Christ was anointed and sent into the world, was to redeem fallen humanity from their sins. To be able to do this He had to come in the likeness of men so that He could offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins by shedding His blood and physically dying on the cross. He had to become the sacrificial Lamb of God:
“For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and of goats to take away sins. Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me… Then I said, Behold, I come – in the volume of the Book it is written of Me – to do Your will, O God… By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:4-5,7,10 NKJV).
The spiritual law that “without shedding of blood [there] is no remission” (Heb. 9:22; cf. Lev. 17:11) was impressed on Israel 1500 years before the coming of the Messiah. Thousands of sacrificial animals were offered according to the Old Testament laws in order that the Levitical priests could offer them to atone for the sins of the people.
All these sacrifices were only types or shadows which looked forward to the coming sacrifice of the Lamb of God in the fullness of time. It was John the Baptist who announced the coming of that divine Lamb: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29).
His perfect, once-for-all sacrifice gave efficacy to and superseded inadequate, repetitive Old Testament types: “[Christ] needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins and then for the people’s: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself” (Heb. 7:27).
Isaiah prepared the people of Israel long before the time for the great sacrifice of the Messiah as the ultimate Lamb of God:
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed… He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He [was led] as a lamb to the slaughter” (Is. 53:5,7).
Do you give due recognition to the atonement for sins that the Lamb made through the shedding of His blood and the giving of His life on the cross? Have you accepted it in faith and was your life completely changed? Consider the deep significance that this sacrifice should have to you. At the institution of the Holy Communion the signs of the bread and the wine were meant to be a poignant reminder of the broken body and shed blood of the Lamb (Lk. 22:19-20). We need to ask ourselves whether we vividly call to mind the Lord Jesus and the great sacrifice which He made on our behalf. No contemplation of Him is adequate without appreciating the profound significance of His shed blood:
“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood… that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Rom. 3:25-26).
Our salvation and rebirth is based on the blood:
· We are justified by His blood, and saved from wrath through Him (Rom. 5:9).
· In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace (Eph. 1:7).
· We are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish or spot (1 Pet. 1:18-19).
· Jesus Christ washed us from our sins in His own blood (Rev. 1:5).
· We are beneficiaries of a new testament (or covenant) in the blood of Christ (1 Cor. 11:25).
Our continued cleansing is also based on the blood:
· If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin (1 Jn. 1:7).
· The blood of Christ purges our consciences from dead works to serve the living God (Heb. 9:14).
It is evident that the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus as the Lamb of God who gave His life for a dying world, forms the basis for all His offices. Because He paid the ransom for our sins, He confirmed the promises of His prophetic ministry that He would save and lead His people, and ultimately also reign with them. It enables Him to serve as High Priest, Mediator between God and man, Shepherd, Head of His redeemed church, and King over His inheritance. He is also qualified to be Judge of His own servants appointed by Him, and on judgement day will judge all who have rejected or neglected His atoning sacrifice on the cross.
In the book of Revelation it is as ‘the Lamb’ that He is named 26 times as the One who will, during the great tribulation, judge the world which has rebelled against Him. The kings and their subjects will flee to the mountains, hide in the caverns, and call on the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Rev. 6:16-17). On the other hand, there will be many who were faithful to the Lamb and who will, in deep gratitude, exclaim:
“Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:9-10).
Many people trust in a ‘popular gospel,’ not firmly based upon the blood atonement of the Lamb. They have various substitutes which are false foundations, e.g. a covenant theology based upon baptismal regeneration (salvation through baptism), moral reform (salvation by purity), or works holiness (salvation by good works). We must abandon any self-justification by works and honour the Lamb for the perfect sacrifice He offered on the cross as the only atonement for sins, and also for the continuous cleansing and sanctifying power of His precious blood.
A prophet is a person whom God inspires to declare His word, His will and His judgements. Jesus Christ was no ordinary prophet, but the One of whom Moses prophesied, “A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you” (Acts 3:22). He did this in His sermon on the mount, His parables, the Olivet discourse and in all His ministry. He revealed truths that were unknown before: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world” (Mt. 13:35). “People were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as One having authority” (Mt. 7:28-29). Officers sent to arrest Him did not, declaring, “No man ever spoke like this man!” (Jn. 7:46; NKJV).
In Deut. 18:20-22 God gave strict rules to prophets who were only to speak His word to the people – nothing was to be added or taken away, nor was His word to be distorted or incomplete. This is why all biblical prophecies are 100% reliable and the true words of God. A false prophet and his prophecies were to be rejected: “But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak… that prophet shall die.”
Jesus, of whom it was said, “A great Prophet is risen up among us” (Lk. 7:16), spoke only the Father’s words:
“For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father who sent Me, He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak” (Jn. 12:49-50; see also Jn. 17:8).
In the Old Testament, the High Priest was the mediator who stood between the people and God. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, he entered the Holy of holies to make atonement for Israel’s sins. No other priest was allowed to enter the sanctuary where the Ark of the Covenant was.
Jesus Christ is the High Priest and Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 8:1-6, 9:15). To hold this office He had to identify with humanity by becoming man Himself, thus subject to temptation, so able to feel for and help the tempted:
“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. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to [help] those who are tempted” (Heb. 2:17-18; see also Heb. 4:15-16).
Jesus was not a Priest of the Levitical order, since the Levitical priests were mortal men succeeded by others. Also, they were sinful, and first had to offer sacrifices for their own sins before they could offer them for others and the nation. Jesus has a perfect, unchangeable priesthood!
“(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by Him that said unto Him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death; but this Man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people’s: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore” (Heb. 7:21-28).
If you know this Mediator, Advocate and High Priest who can sympathise with your infirmities, having already atoned for your sins, and who ever lives to make intercession for you – do you realise your responsibility to follow in His footsteps, to live a holy life, consecrated to God, and come to the throne of grace to find help in time of need? Do you enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, the new and living way He has opened for us through the veil to the mercy seat? (Heb. 10:19-22). Are you a regular visitor here?
We are a royal priesthood who are called to proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvellous light (1 Pet. 2:9). A priest must convey God’s word to the people (preach), and also intercede at the throne of grace on behalf of them (pray). He must be holy and not sin, nor grieve the Holy Spirit. If he does, he must repent immediately and be restored at the throne of grace:
“These things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and He is the propitiation for our sins” (1 Jn. 2:1-2).
As the Shepherd of His flock, Jesus Christ is totally committed to their well-being, since He has redeemed them at such a great cost: “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:11). He gives them this firm assurance: “I am the door of the sheep… by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (Jn. 10:7,9).
It is to be appreciated that if He sacrificed His life for the sheep, He will also provide in their every need. That includes protection against their arch-enemy, the devil, who is a thief and a murderer:
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10).
The Shepherd leads His sheep by showing them the way, and they follow Him (Jn. 10:4). If they stay near the Shepherd and obey His voice, they will be safe, but if they are wayward and go astray, the devil will attack and scatter them (Jn. 10:12). If they are separated from Him they must return to Him and He will restore them: “For ye were as sheep going astray; but have now returned to the Shepherd and [Overseer] of your souls” (1 Pet. 2:25).
The Shepherd remains faithful and will always meet His obligations towards His flock:
“The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me” (Ps. 23:1-4).
We live in an evil world that lies in the sway of the devil (1 Jn. 5:19). Temptations, Satan’s attacks and deadly perils often come our way. The Shepherd allows trials that are necessary to test our faith. In them we must cling firmly to Jesus Christ, “that great Shepherd of the sheep” (Heb. 13: 20). Psalm 23 ends by assuring us of our Shepherd’s presence with us when death is near. Goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives, and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
We must never allow any bitterness in our hearts if things do not work out as we had hoped. The Lord’s ways are higher than our ways and we can be assured that He will make all things, even afflictions and disappointments, work together for good to those who love and trust Him and faithfully dedicate their lives to Him (Rom. 8:28).
The Shepherd also cares for us by raising up able under-shepherds to lead, teach and guard the flock:
“And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints” (Eph. 4:11-12).
The pastors, assisted by the church elders, are shepherds of the local church. They do not only teach the Word of God and preach the Gospel, but have pastoral duties to encourage and motivate the flock, to guide in all important decisions, to counsel any with spiritual or practical problems, pray with the sick and bereaved, shepherd wayward Christians and warn against moral and spiritual dangers:
“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Pet. 5:2-4).
As the Son of man, Jesus is the Servant of God who came to earth to do the great work of salvation. His coming as Servant was foretold in several Old Testament prophecies:
“And now, saith the LORD that formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob again to Him… It is a light thing that Thou shouldest be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth” (Is. 49:5-6).
“Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of His Servant?” (Is. 50:10).
“By His knowledge shall my righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities” (Is. 53:11).
A servant should display humility and submission in the service of his master. God’s Servant, Jesus, showed us the perfect example! He also strongly warned His disciples against self-exalting pride:
“Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your [servant]: and whosoever of you will be [great among you], shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be [served], but to [serve], and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mk. 10:42-45).
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God… made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And… as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:5-8).
The office of Jesus as Head of the church was a mystery that was only revealed after the church was established. The bond between Him and the church is likened to a marriage relationship:
“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the Head of the church: and He is the Saviour of the body… This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Eph. 5:23,32).
Ephesians 5:25-27 states that Christ gave Himself for the church to sanctify and cleanse it, to present her to Himself holy and without blemish. He is the church’s heavenly Bridegroom and “when He appears we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” and, having this hope, must purify ourselves “even as He is pure” (1 Jn. 3:2,3) so that when He presents her to Himself she will not have spot or wrinkle to mar her pristine beauty.
The concept of holiness also means to be set apart for the service of the Lord. In this context we are seen as members of the body of Christ. We all fulfil different but complementary duties in achieving the mission and functions of Christ’s church on earth:
“For as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and everyone members one of another” (Rom. 12:4-5; see Rom. 12:6-8 and 1 Cor. 12:12-31 for an exposition of the functions of members).
Perform your task and calling only in the power and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. “For by one Spirit we are all baptised into one body” (1 Cor. 12:13). You must also realise that the authority for your spiritual calling is in Christ who is the Head. In Him you are in a position of victory:
“The God of our Lord Jesus Christ… raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:17-23).
The Lord Jesus has all power in heaven and on earth, and worthily holds the office of King. God has given humanity a free will, but not the right to use it to disobey Him! In this dispensation, the nations have rebelled against His authority. God gave humanity the ability to choose between good and evil. In practice, the wrong choices predominate since most people, like sheep, have gone astray, and love darkness more than light because their deeds are evil (Jn. 3:19). Satan has blinded their minds (2 Cor. 4:4) and deceived them into walking in darkness. In result “the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 Jn. 5:19 NKJV).
We live in an evil world and Christians are often hated, oppressed and rejected because of their faith (Jn. 15:18-19; 16:33; Lk. 6:22-23,26). We are strangers and pilgrims in a world that largely rejects the true God (Heb. 11:13; 1 Pet. 2:11) but are to shine as lights in the world in the midst of a wicked and adulterous generation (Phil. 2:15; Mt. 16:4).
We are members of a kingdom that is not of this world. The Lord Jesus is our King and we experience His peace in our hearts. But our lives in this world are characterised by conflict against the adverse and hostile forces of darkness (Mt. 10:34). Satan and his kingdom are actively targeting Christians in an effort to harm the kingdom of heaven.
The situation will dramatically change when Jesus Christ comes to reveal His kingdom on earth and to reign as King:
“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever” (Rev. 11:15).
From the viewpoint of His position as King, three very important events will occur at the Second Coming of Christ:
1. The enemies of God will be destroyed during the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 19:11-21).
2. The throne of David will be restored in Jerusalem, from which the Lord Jesus will rule (Acts 15:16-17).
3. The worldwide millennial reign of Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords will be instituted, with Jerusalem as capital (Mic. 4: 1-3; Jer. 3:17; Rev. 20:1-3,6).
We have to accept and serve Jesus Christ now as the rejected King if we wish to be accounted worthy to reign with Him in the millennium. We should demonstrate to the world that we serve a King who can really change the lives of those who come to Him for salvation and eternal life.
Our citizenship is in heaven from where we expect the coming of Jesus Christ as King of kings very soon. He will destroy the power of the principalities and rulers of the darkness of the present world and set up His millennial kingdom on earth. The Sun of Righteousness will rise over a troubled world and completely dispel every vestige of darkness and unrighteousness (Mal. 4:2).
The Lord Jesus is the righteous Judge and we can rely on Him to fulfil His office justly when, after the rapture but before His millennial reign, He judges believers at His judgement seat, the Bema (Rom. 14:10). Their works and lives will be assessed and rewards given to all who served Him faithfully and lived holy lives (1 Cor. 3:10-15). The apostle Paul said: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day” (2 Tim. 4:7-8).
“For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad (2 Cor. 5:10). So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12).
Christians are not saved by works, but by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8). However, after we are saved by grace, the Lord has need of us in extending His kingdom on earth. But He does not only call us and command us to do this work, but also gives us the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to be His witnesses effectively (Acts 1:8).
It is regarding this aspect of our lives that we must give account to Him. Any works that are not truly the fruit of the Spirit but done unspiritually in our own strength will result in our appearing empty-handed before the Lord, though we will be saved “yet… as by fire” (1 Cor. 3:15). Others will receive the various crowns the Lord will award them, but there will be no excuse for servants who hid their talents (Mt. 25:24-25). Even if truly born again, their negligence will result in them standing empty-handed at the judgement seat.
The next occasion when Christ sits as a Judge is to judge the nations of the world at His Second Coming (the Appearing) when He comes “with ten thousands of His saints (Jude v.14-15) who “will reign with Him a thousand years” (Rev. 20:6).
“When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats” (Mt. 25:31-32).
After the millennium He will judge the nations and all unbelievers of all time, who will appear at the awesome great white throne on the final judgement day (Rev. 20:11-15):
“God… hath appointed a day, in which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; wherefore He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30,31).
“God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11).
You cannot escape having to bow the knee to Jesus: He is either your Saviour who gives you eternal life or will be your Judge who condemns you for sin and unbelief.
There are also a number of descriptive names of the Lord Jesus in the Bible. In these names, emphasis is placed on specific aspects of His Person and work. In this way we can know more about Him and understand Him better, so able to love Him more. The following is not a comprehensive list of descriptive names, only some of the most common ones:
One of the most telling symbols of the kingdom of heaven is that of light. God Himself dwells in unapproachable light whom no man has seen (1 Tim. 6:16). In His perfect holiness He is exalted and far removed from the sinful lives of mortal humans on earth.
Jesus came as the Light from on high to shine on those who live in darkness (Lk. 1:78-79). He could truly say:
“I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12).
The fact that so many people still walk in darkness can only be attributed to their unregenerate hearts that draw them away from Him who is the light of the world:
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they [were done] in God” (Jn. 3:19-21).
The true bread and water of life that alone can satisfy the deep spiritual needs of humanity come from heaven:
“For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto Him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst” (Jn. 6:33-35).
We are not only dependant on Jesus for new birth, but also for spiritual nourishment to sustain the new life. He is Himself our fresh manna from heaven daily, to build us up in our most holy faith. We ‘feed’ on Him through His word – which is why He so memorably said, “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (Jn. 6:63). He still invites all who are spiritually needy to come to Him:
“If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his [heart] shall flow rivers of living water” (Jn. 7:37-38).
Jesus is the Rock of Ages (cf. Is. 26:4 margin) that was cleft for us. His body was pierced when He died (Jn. 19:34) and from His death great blessings flow to us. Horeb’s rock was a prophetic type of Christ and His death. God said to Moses:
“Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink” (Ex. 17:6).
When the soldier pierced the Saviour’s side there came out blood and water (Jn. 19:34). This was symbolic of His blood cleansing us from the guilt and power of our sins and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit later. These blessings were typified by the water flowing from Horeb’s cleft rock (see 1 Cor. 10:1-4; Jn. 7:37-39). We can all drink of His great mercies, His forgiving love, and His renewing grace.
“Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures. For with Thee is the fountain of life” (Ps. 36:8-9).
Jesus Christ, the Rock of Ages, is a firm foundation to build our lives on. If you build your life upon Him as the Rock, you will be safe for time and eternity!
“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11 NKJV).
A wise man builds his house on the Rock (Mt. 7:24-25). The Lord Jesus is his rock and fortress. Since he trusted Him for salvation, he is established on the Rock of Ages:
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust… and my high tower” (Ps. 18:1-2).
Some claim there are many ways to God, but Jesus is the only way to God, since no one can come to God the Father but by Him (Jn. 14:6). He is not only the Way, but said, “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved” (Jn. 10:9). There is no other way to heaven but through Jesus, the door! Also there is no other name given to us whereby we must be saved, except that of Jesus Christ! (Acts 4:12).
He is also the Truth, and the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, who glorifies Christ, brings us to His word which is truth, reveals things to come and guides us into all truth! (Jn. 16:7-14). Further, Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life (Jn. 11:25-26). Only by Him can someone who is dead spiritually in sins and iniquities be made alive in Him:
“Reckon… yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:11).
Sinners are subject to the punishment of death for their sins, which means eternity in hell. Because Christ received the punishment for our sins, by virtue of His sacrifice for sin we can have a free pardon and the gift of eternal life:
“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).
“The chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed” (Is. 53:5).
He died that we may live. Because He rose from the dead on the third day, trusting Him as Saviour, we have the gift of eternal life and can rise from spiritual death to “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4). Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life for lost, sinful, spiritually dead humanity!
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5).
The vine is used as a symbol of the most sacred things: the juice of its fruit being a type of Christ’s blood, and its main stem and branches being the perfect figure of the mystery of godliness – Christ’s union with His people.
The expression “in Me” refers to our justification and union with Him when we are grafted into the vine. The expression, “I in you,” refers to our deeper union with Christ, in our sanctification, when He becomes our entire life.
Another truth conveyed here is communion with Christ: “Abide in Me and I in you” (v. 4). We must maintain close fellowship with Him – we must not play ‘fast and loose’ but practice a moment-by-moment dependence upon Him. Paul says: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him” (Col. 2:6). Abiding in Him depends upon our obedience: “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love… that your joy might be full” (Jn. 15: 10,11).
“But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30) “…ye are washed… sanctified… [and] justified” (1 Cor. 6:11).
Jesus Christ is not only our wisdom, righteousness, justification and redemption, but also our sanctification. He sets the standards for holy living and enables us, by the Holy Spirit, to make continuous progress to higher levels of sanctification. He promises we shall live as overcomers if we are obedient to Him. The golden rule is, “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16).
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1).
“We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called… Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:23-24).
Reverence for God and the Lord Jesus is the beginning of wisdom. Your mind is enlightened to understand God’s love in the provision of salvation for sinners. Christ is the true Solomon, the wisdom of God. To reject Christ is to despise wisdom, and those who do so are utterly foolish:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov. 1:7).
Through Christ Jesus, God gives us the spirit of wisdom and enlightens our understanding so that we may fully appreciate the riches of His glorious inheritance in His people (Eph. 1:17-18). We must therefore seek to increase in wisdom as we “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18), “in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3).
In the last chapter of the Bible Jesus says of Himself: “I am the root and offspring of David, and the bright and morning star” (Rev. 22:16). As the Root of David, His deity is emphasised – He is David’s Lord! As the Offspring of David His humanity is emphasised – He is the Son of David (Lk. 20:41-44). He is the promised Messiah, who was born of the house and lineage of David, of the tribe of Judah; the Seed of Abraham, from which all nations would be blessed (Gen 22:18).
The morning star is a prophetic symbol of hope, the herald of a new day that will dawn over this dark world. In Jesus we have a bright future hope! We can look beyond the anxiety, hardships and sin of the present world to a new world in which righteousness reigns. Do you have this vision of a future hope? If it is dark all around, Jesus, the Morning Star, assures you that He, as the Sun of Righteousness, will shortly rise on “the perfect day” (Prov. 4:18):
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star [the morning star] arise in your hearts” (2 Pet. 1:19).
The spiritual union between Jesus Christ and His blood-bought saints is so intimate that He likens it to a marriage relationship. He calls Himself the Bridegroom and the true church His bride. At the rapture He will be literally united with His betrothed bride, never to be separated from her.
Will you be one of the members of the bridal church who will be arrayed in fine linen, which is “the righteousness of the saints” (Rev. 19:7-8)? If so, you should persevere with a life of holiness and dedication to the Lord, and guard against backsliding into spiritual adultery. Paul said to the Christians in Corinth:
“I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent [deceived] Eve through his [craftiness], so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor. 11:2-3; see also 1 Thes. 5:23).
Paul said, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard… the things …God hath prepared for them that love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9). It is hard for us to imagine the glory and magnificence of the scene when the Bridegroom presents the bride to Himself:
“Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into Thy lips: therefore God hath blessed Thee forever… Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows. All Thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made Thee glad.
“Kings’ daughters were among Thy honourable women: upon Thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir… So shall the King greatly desire thy beauty: for He is thy Lord; and worship thou Him… The King’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is [woven with] gold. She shall be brought unto the King in [robes of many colours]; the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto Thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the King’s palace” (Ps. 45:2-15).
At the cross, Christ conquered Satan, death and hell! He spiritually disarmed the powers behind this world, triumphing over them (Col. 2:15) and will soon do so literally! (Rom. 16: 20). He is the Conqueror who frees from Satan’s power and makes us “more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37). “If the Son… shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (Jn. 8:36).
Are you still in bondage to Satan through sins, addictions, the occult, etc? You need to accept Christ, the only Saviour who can forgive your sins, cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1:8-9) and set you free to live a new life of victory over Satan and sin as you “put on the armour of light” (Rom. 13:12-14) and reject any kind of bondage:
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Gal. 5:1).
“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ” (2 Cor. 2:14).
“Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57).
You can indeed be more than a conqueror in Christ!
In this booklet we have considered some of the most important names and titles of the Lord Jesus, but by no means all – one book lists well over 200 of them! Most of the names we have considered relate to His incarnation as Man but, as His deity is so much under attack these days, it may be helpful to list some of the names which relate to His eternal existence as God, though it will not be possible to consider their significance fully here. Scripture names Him as:
The “I AM” (the unsearchable, timeless, self-existent One; Jn. 8:58; cf. Ex. 3:14-15) – so He is one of the glorious divine Persons of the Triune Godhead, the Lord God, Yahweh Elohim, and is Himself Yahweh (the ever-existing One). In Gen. 17:1 the same Lord (Yahweh) declared to Abraham, “I am the Almighty God” (El Shaddai), so the Word is Himself “the Almighty God.” He is also “the Lord” (Mt. 22:41-46, Kurios; cf. Ps. 110:1, Adon); “The Same” (the self-existent One who does not change, Heb. 1:12, 13:8, Ho Autos; Ps. 102:27, ‘attah hu’); “The Mighty God (Gibbor El – Is. 9:6); “The Word” (Jn. 1:1,14, Ho Logos; Rev. 19:13); The Creator (Jn. 1; Col. 1; Heb. 1); “The Originator of Life” (Acts 3:15, Ton Archegon tes Zoes); “Alpha and Omega, The Beginning and the End, The First and the Last” (Rev. 1:8, 22:13). Thomas, with his doubts completely dispelled when seeing the risen Christ, exclaimed in a sincere statement of faith: “My Lord and my God” (Jn. 20:28).
We are living in the end-times, shortly before the Second Coming of Christ, and Satan, who “deceiveth the whole world” (Rev. 12:9) and his minions are intensifying their attacks against the Christian faith, the Bible and, above all, against the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Satan’s efforts to destroy Him at the cross having been thwarted by His resurrection and ascension, he soon turned to perverting the truth of Christ’s glorious Person, throwing widespread doubt on His virgin birth and deity.
Some 700 years prior to the birth of Jesus, Isaiah prophesied, “a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Is. 7:14). This was confirmed by the angel who appeared to Joseph to announce the birth of Jesus, quoting this prophecy, adding that this name means “God with us” (Mt. 1:23). At a stroke this proves the deity and virgin birth of Jesus – two crucial doctrines which have been under ever-increasing attack during the past two centuries. Scripture also declares that He is “the image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15). In the words of one of Charles Wesley’s magnificent hymns:
Let earth and heaven combine, angels and men agree,
To praise in songs divine the incarnate Deity,
Our God contracted to a span, incomprehensibly made Man;
He laid His glory by, He wrapped Him in our clay,
Unmarked by human eye, the latent Godhead lay;
Infant of days He here became,
And bore the mild Immanuel’s name.
In Handel’s magnificent work, “The Messiah,” the choir sings those memorable words, “Say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!” (Is. 40:9). Prophesying the coming of the Messiah, Isaiah says, “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces… and it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord (Yahweh); we have waited for Him, and He will save us… we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation” (Is. 25:8-9). That is further confirmation, if any were needed, that the Messiah would Himself be God!
In the very literal J.N. Darby Version, Heb. 1:1-2 says, “God… has… spoken unto us in [the person of the] Son…,” about which the margin note says, “Literally, ‘in Son’… It is God Himself who speaks; not by another; not as the Father nor in the Person of the Father; not merely by the Holy Spirit… but as Himself a divine Person, and that Person the Son.” Clearly, it is the Triune Godhead, the self-existent “I AM THAT I AM,” Yahweh Elohim of the Old Testament (Ex. 3:14,15) who has spoken and that the “Spokes-Person” is Jesus Christ as Himself God! Heb. 1:3 says that He is “the brightness of His (God’s) glory and the express image of His Person.” In his “Notes, Explanatory and Practical on the New Testament, Vol. IX” (1848), Dr. Albert Barnes so memorably comments on the deity of Jesus:
“On earth He was the brightness of the divine glory, and the express image of His Person. It was by Him, eminently, that God was made known to men – as it is by the beams of the sun that that is made known. He bore an exact resemblance to God. He healed diseases – like God. He raised the dead – like God. He wielded the power which God only can wield, and He manifested a character in all respects like that which we should suppose God would evince if He appeared in human flesh, and dwelt among men. And this is saying much. It is in fact saying that the account in the Gospels is real, and that the Christian religion is true. Uninspired men could never have drawn such a character as that of Jesus Christ, unless that character had actually existed.
“The attempt has often been made to describe God, or to show how He would speak and act if He came down to earth… But Christ is GOD IN HUMAN NATURE. The form is that of man; the Spirit is that of God. He walks, and eats, and sleeps as a man; He thinks, and speaks and acts like God. He was born as a man – but the angels adored Him as God. As a man He ate; yet by a word He created food for thousands, as if He were God. Like a man He slept on a pillow while the vessel was tossed by the waves; like God He rose, and rebuked the winds and they were still. As a man He went, with affectionate interest, to the house of Martha and Mary. As a man He sympathised with them in their affliction, and wept at the grave of their brother; like God He spoke, and the dead came forth to the land of the living. As a man He travelled through the land of Judea. He was without a home. Yet everywhere the sick were laid at His feet, and health came from His touch, and strength from the words of His lips – as if He were God. As a man He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane; He bore His cross to Calvary; He was nailed to the tree; yet then the heavens grew dark, and the earth shook, and the dead arose – as if He were God. As a man He slept in the cold tomb – like God He rose, and brought life and immortality to light. He lived on earth as a man – He ascended to heaven like God.
“And in all the life of the Redeemer, in all the variety of trying situations in which He was placed, there was not a word or action which was inconsistent with the supposition that He was the incarnate God. There was no failure of any effort to heal the sick or to raise the dead; no look, no word, no deed that is not perfectly consistent with this supposition; but on the contrary, His life is full of events which can be explained on no other supposition than that He was the appropriate shining forth of the divine glory, and the exact resemblance of the essence of God. There are not two Gods – as there are not two suns when the sun shines. It is the One God, in a mysterious and incomprehensible manner shining into the world in the face of Jesus Christ. As the wax bears the perfect image of the seal – perfect not only in the outline, but in the filling up – in all the lines and features, and letters, so is it with the Redeemer. There is not one of the divine perfections which has not the counterpart in Him, and if the glory of the divine character is seen at all by men, it will be seen in and through Him.”
How can anyone fail to be moved and completely won over to faith in Him by such an eloquent testimony to the divine glory of the Person of Christ, who is indeed “God… manifest in the flesh” (1 Tim 3:16) and who bears such a galaxy of glorious names? In conclusion let us remind ourselves of that great hymn of Isaac Watts:
Join all the glorious names of wisdom, love and power,
That ever mortals knew, that angels ever bore;
All are too mean to speak His worth,
Too mean to set my Saviour forth.
We are either going to be forever with Him as Saviour, Lord, King, and God, or forever without Him in eternal darkness and anguish. He is the incomparable Christ, who said, “He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life” (Jn. 6:47). Only He is worthy of our trust. If the reader has not yet trusted Him, may he or she do so now! As Frances R. Havergal entreats:
“Why will you do without Him? Is He not kind indeed? Did He not die to save you? Is He not all you need?”