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CHRIST IS KING |
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Greg Skubal, Rob Jarrard, Pastor LaMay |
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Disciple: the Teacher & Student |
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Introduction Catechizing God’s People
Instructed of God Luke, the beloved physician, writes to his friend, Theophilus, that he might "know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed" (Luke 1:4). Katecheo [Catechize] means to sound down into the ears, resound, to instruct by word of mouth, to teach orally. Apollos, “an eloquent man, and mighty in Scriptures,” was a man who “was instructed [Katecheo] in the way of the Lord,” speaking boldly of Christ (Acts 18:24-25, 28). Paul would "rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also" (1 Cor. 14:19). Those who are "taught [Katecheo] in the word communicate unto him that teacheth [Katecheo] in all good things" (Gal. 6:6). Jesus Christ is the Logos or the Word “who 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. In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1-4); i.e., the Logos articulated clearly, intellectually, by a language we could understand, the truth of God, for in Him the fullness of the Godhead dwells. This truth is revealed to us through the written word, or logos, by the Spirit, writing them upon the very being of our souls. The resurrected Christ came to His disciples saying, "All power is given unto me in heaven and earth" (Matt. 28:18). The Lord our Savior commands His disciples by an authority which cannot be hindered or questioned in any way. His Exousia [power, authority, right] involves His inherent ability and right to command and have that command carried out. Christ has supreme executive power in His Church. The Son of God receives this authority from the Father to give eternal life. Jesus speaks to the Father, saying, "Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee; as thou hast given him power [Exousia] over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him: And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:1-3). Our salvation includes knowledge as revealed to us by the Spirit. Christ’s authority is also seen in his right to bring judgment. Jesus speaks to His disciples, saying, "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man" (John 5:26-27).
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Page 2 Glorify God
All of God’s creation is to praise Him (Ps. 148). They are to "praise the name of the Lord; for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven" (148:13). The people of God have been particularly set apart to praise and glorify Him. For "He exalteth the horn of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord" (14). To praise the ‘name’ of the Lord necessitates knowledge of Him. It is the person of the Lord, as He has revealed Himself in His Scriptures, that brings about praise from His children. To glorify our Lord also requires knowledge. To glorify God is to describe Him as He truly is, in all His honor, splendor, and majesty. Zechariah glorifies the Incarnate Son of God by speaking of Him as He was revealed to him, saying, "Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The Branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord; Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon the throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both" (Zech. 6:12-13). The Son bears the glory as He is The Word in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwells. We glorify Him as we learn of Him as Savior and King.
To be continued |