DIVINE SONSHIP AND SAVING GRACE OF THE MESSIAH (CHRIST)

By Venerable Dr. Ifechukwu U. Ibeme. Websites: http://www.scribd.com/ifeogo ; http://priscaquila.6te.net ; Comment on The Chapel of Grace Blog: http://thechapelofgrace.wordpress.com CONTENTS: The Enigma of the Messiah or Christ The Basis For and Meaning of the Messianic Hope Jesus as Gods Anointed Messiah (Christ) What Does This Mystery of the Messiahs Salvation Imply in Practice? Christs Justifying Grace, Gods Just Law and Postmodernism

THE ENIGMA OF THE MESSIAH OR CHRIST

To Christians and non-Christians today, theologians and lay alike, the word Christ means nothing but the second name of Jesus of Nazareth and the epithet Messiah is the euphemism for a utopian political leader. Why Jesus is called Christ and what the Christ means is taken for granted so much so that its meaning is getting lost. According to the Scriptures, God had for long undertaken to send the Christ (i.e. the Anointed or the Messiah) Who shall eschatological be the human Son of and divine Lord of David, the divine Son of Man, the divine Son of God and the Suffering Delightful Servant, as well as the historical Jesus of Nazareth, the human son of Virgin Mary, and the human son of man. What do these mean and how is the Christ all these being fully human and fully divine, fully eternal and fully temporal, begotten in heaven, born of a virgin and begotten from the dead? Jesus recognized this enigma and even posed the question to the Jewish scholars and law experts without getting any response from them (Luk 20:41-44). He then lived, ministered, died, but resurrected without seeing corruption in hades (Act 13:34-39) and ascended to reign over all forever from the heavens right hand on high (Act 2:31-36). By these accomplishments, Christ answered the enigma with unequalled and unquestionable humility, purity and power, leaving the Apostles behind as His well instructed and commissioned witnesses (Luk 1:1-4; and Luk 24). <<Back to Top>>

THE BASIS FOR AND MEANING OF THE MESSIANIC HOPE

In ancient Israel a temporary Messiah or Christ was anyone anointed to chief offices of the High Priest (like Aaron and his succeeding descendant High Priests Lev 6:20,22; 8:12; 1Chro 19:26), the King (like Saul, David and his succeeding descendants) and some Prophets in charge of the national prophetic guild (like Elisha 1Kin 19:16). Anointing to high office in ancient Israel was usually accompanied by a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit to empower the Lords Anointed for the specific ministerial burden (1Sam 10:1 -6; 16:13-14). Nevertheless, outpouring of the Holy Spirit for commission, function or office did not only come with anointing oil, but also by laying on of hands (Num 27:18; 1Tim 4:14; 2Tim 1:6) or directly by divine permission without mediation of oil or hands (Num 11:18; Deut 34:9; Judg 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25). Such mediate anointing and laying on of hands as well as immediate divine impartation of power and the Holy Spirit for special assignment was usually confirmed by prophecy, power or some proof signs (Isa 61:1; Luk 4:18; Act 10:38). Of the three commissions done by anointing, that for kingship was the most celebrated. The designation the Lords Anointed applies to these three officials (Kings, Priests and Prophets) but also to the people of God as a whole (1Chro 16:22; Psa 105:15; Heb 11:26) but the king was particularly called the Lords Anointed (i.e. the Lords Christ) 1Sam 2:10; 12:3-5; 26:9,11,16,23. Israelite Kings were inaugurated with anointing and trumpet proclamation ceremony (1Kin 1:34, 45) which marks the beginning of annual calendar of the new sovereign. In addition God gave the Davidic Kings the designation of Sons to whom God is their Father (1Chron 22:10; Psa 89:20-35). Thus the Fatherhood of God was first revealed as special relation by which God relates to the Kings of Davids dynasty. As this Father-Son relationship with God was extended to all Israel through Davidic Kings, so is this extended to all Christian believers through Jesus Christ (Isa 63:16; 64:8; John 1:12-13).

DIVINE SONSHIP AND SAVING GRACE OF THE MESSIAH (CHRIST) by Venerable Dr. Ifechukwu U. Ibeme.

During the glorious reign of David and early part of Solomons legendary reign, Israel experienced unequalled national godliness, unity and prosperity, with tributary dominance over their surrounding nations, coupled with intellectual and maritime entrepreneurial prominence as far as Tarshish in Western Europe, Sheba in Horn of Africa and the Ophir coastlands of the Indian Ocean and the Gulf. Since the post-Solomon division and decline of Israel into insignificance, the prophets (both major and minor writers of both Israel north and Judah south) from Isaiah (Isa 11) to Malachi (Mal 4) have all prophesied the coming of a post-exile Davidic King Who will rule the whole world and reign forever to fulfil Gods covenant promise to David (Psa 2; 45:6-7; 110) prophesied by Nathan (1Sam 7) and expertly sung by Ethan (Psa 89) the son of (E)Zerah (1Kin 4:31; 1Chron 2:6). Since their return from exile long before Jesus time, all Jews shared this expectation of a Davidic Messiah or Christ Who will reign over all and live forever with authority from the right hand high of divine power. What was mostly missed was the point that this Messiah would suffer sacrificially as Gods Delightful well-pleasing Servant (Isa 42), even unto literal humiliating death but powerful literal resurrection to endless life (1Tim 6:1416; Rev 1:9-20) with actual ascension to sit in heaven and reign as the Saviour and the Devine Son (Luk 24). The Jews were unable to resolve not only the human and divine Christ but also the Messiah being both the Saving Son and Suffering Servant. Christ repeatedly and insistently taught this to His disciples both before His death (Mat 16:13-23) and after His resurrection (Luk 24:6-8, 19-27). <<Back to Top>>

JESUS AS GODS ANOINTED MESSIAH (CHRIST)

The historical facts of the genealogy and birth of Jesus answer to how the Christ is the biological son of David, the son of Mary and the son of man. That the Christ is the divine Son of Man and the Son of God is great mystery that requires understanding of prophetic revelation, angelic declarations and divine intervention as confirmed by scriptural and apostolic witness (1Tim 3:16). While Mark and John omitted the Jesus biological son of David genealogy, John included more details about the eternity and divinity of the Christ who is God and specially begotten Son of God that took up human nature to give eternal salvation and divine sonship privileges to whosoever believes in Him (John 1:1-14; 3:1-18). Jesus of Nazareth by His proven power over death and gravity and His prevailing power of endless life is incontrovertibly the designate everlasting Messiah or Christ Who alone must be believed, obeyed and followed by all for eternal life (Act 2:; 1Tim 6:12-17). Jesus is the One Anointed by God to be the eschatological divine Son Who is the ultimate Saviour of all and eternal Lord of all, Whose Reign is forever and Dominion is without geographical boundaries and Whose Authority and Power are unlimited (Isa 9:6; Jer 23:5; Dan 7:13-14; Luk 1:33; Matt 28:18; Phil 2:6-11; Heb 1:5-9). The four Gospels were written to present scriptural prophetic proof and angelic testimony and witnessed historical evidence to show that Christ is the promised everlasting Son of God, the Lord of all and Saviour of the world. This is seen particularly in Saint Lukes Gospel account where he recorded stupendous occasions when Angels visited or Voice spoke from heaven to declare the divine Sonship of Jesus: To Mary at the miraculous virgin conception of Jesus to be born as the Messianic Son of David (Luk 1:3235). To the watching shepherds at the manger birth of Jesus (Luk 2:10-12). To the crowd of John the Baptists followers at the baptism of Jesus (Luk 3:21-22). To the Apostles at the transfiguration of Jesus (Luk 9:34-35; 2Pet 1:16-19). To the disciples gathered at the ascension of the risen Jesus (Act 1:9-11). In their Gospel accounts, Matthew and Luke presented Jesus Sonship as the genealogical and eschatological Son of David and therefore the messianic divine Son of God, Who is Anointed (Christ-ed/Messaiah-ed) to INCARNATE, BE BORN, SUFFER, RESURRECT and REIGN FROM HEAVEN forever as the Saviour of all and Lord of all. Saint John in his Gospel account and Saint Paul in his Epistles and teachings, further clarified that Christ is not only DIVINE and ETERNAL but is also UNIQUELY BEGOTTEN as the Son of God (John 3:16): In eternity as the uncreated but creating Divine Word (John 1:1-4; Col 1:15-17) In time by taking-up human flesh (incarnation John 1:14).
DIVINE SONSHIP AND SAVING GRACE OF THE MESSIAH (CHRIST) by Venerable Dr. Ifechukwu U. Ibeme.

In heaven by resurrection and ascension (exaltation) to the Fathers heavenly right hand (Act 17:31; Rom 1:4) and is undisputedly called THE FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD (Psa 2:7; Act 26:23; 1Cor 15:20; Col 1:18-19; Rev 1:5). No human, king, prophet, priest or even Angel shares, nor will ever share this incontrovertible UNIQUE FIRST BEGOTTEN-NESS with Christ. Divine Sonship and Christhood of Jesus is not a private interpretation or teaching cunningly devised by the Church; it was prophesied long ago in the Jewish Scriptures and the Sonship and Christhood of Jesus were miraculously declared by Angels and proved by Christ himself (2Pet 1:15-21). The doctrine of the Trinity of the Godhead and the Two Natures of the Christ encapsulated in the Nicene Creed are meagre but most commendable effort of the United Apostolic Universal Church to grasp or unravel this great scriptural mystery in unison. On the Day of Pentecost the Apostle Peter declared boldly to the Jews in Jerusalem: Acts 2:29-36 (29) "Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and that his tomb is among us to this day. (30) Therefore, since he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him with an oath to put one of his descendants on his throne, (31) he looked ahead and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ: 'He was not abandoned to Hades, and his flesh did not experience decay.' (32) It was this very Jesus whom God raised, and of that we are all witnesses. (33) He has been exalted to the right hand of God, has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, and has poured out what you are seeing and hearing. (34) For David did not go up to heaven, but he said, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, (35) until I make your enemies your footstool."' (36) Therefore, let the entire house of Israel understand beyond a doubt that God made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!" Later, during his missionary journeys, the Apostle Paul also declared boldly to the Greeks in Athens: Acts 17:28-31 (28) For we live, move, and exist because of him, as some of your own poets have said: 'For we are his children, too.' (29) So if we are God's children, we shouldn't think that the divine being is like gold, silver, or stone, or is an image carved by human imagination and skill. (30) Though God has overlooked those times of ignorance, he now commands everyone everywhere to repent, (31) for he has set a day when he is going to judge the world with justice through a man he has appointed, and he has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead." <<Back to Top>>

WHAT DOES THIS MYSTERY OF THE MESSIAHS SALVATION IMPLY IN PRACTICE?

The Apostles have these to say about our proper response to the saving grace that comes through the Christ: 1 Peter 1:6-17 (6) In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you have to suffer various kinds of trials, (7) so that the genuineness of your faith, which is more valuable than gold that perishes when it is tested by fire, may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (8) Though you have not seen him, you love him. And even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, (9) because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (10) Even the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours, carefully researched and investigated this salvation. (11) They tried to find out what era or specific time the Spirit of Christ in them kept referring to when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. DIVINE SONSHIP AND SAVING GRACE OF THE MESSIAH (CHRIST) by Venerable Dr. Ifechukwu U. Ibeme. 3

(12) It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you in regard to the things that have now been announced to you by those who brought you the good news through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. These are things that even the angels desire to look into. (13) Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep a clear head, and set your hope completely on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. (14) As obedient children, do not be shaped by the desires that you once had in your ignorance. (15) Instead, just as the one who called you is holy, be holy in every aspect of your life. (16) For it is written, "You must be holy, because I am holy." (17) If you call "Father" the one who judges everyone impartially according to what he has done, you must live in the fear of the Lord as long as you are strangers here. Hebrews 10:26-31 (26) For if we choose to go on sinning after we have received the full knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, (27) but only a terrifying prospect of judgment and a raging fire that will consume the enemies of God (28) Anyone who violates the law of Moses dies without mercy "on the testimony of two or three witnesses." (29) How much more severe a punishment do you think that person deserves who tramples on God's Son, treats as common the blood of the covenant by which it was sanctified, and insults the Spirit of grace? (30) For we know the one who said, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will pay them back," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." (31) It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God! The grace of our Lord Christ is His blood covenant grace which grants undeserved pardon, privileges and power to every penitent believer, which grace also demands great spiritual and moral responsibility from those saved and sanctified as a result of such manifold grant. The gentile Church, under the syncretising influence of the TRADITIONS of ancient heathen cultures and the TRENDS of modern heathen cultures, seems to have borrowed the word grace from the Scripture only to give it unscriptural and cultural meaning that implies licentiousness and dissipation rather than righteousness and regeneration (Gal 5:3; Tit 2:11-12; 1Pet 2:16; Jude 4). Cultural rationalisation and arbitrary speculation must give way to contextual interpretation of biblical revelation in matters of saving truth and faith of Christ. When ideas about divinities do not derive from the Scriptures, they don't really serve any useful purpose in eternity. Gentile heathenish misconceptions give unscriptural interpretation of Gods law and bring confusion between our personal good WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS and priestly ritual WORKS OF THE LAW (Eph 2:8 -10; Tit 3:58), between MORAL PRECEPTS in the commandments, concessions and counsels (spirit) of the law and MEDIATORIAL POWERS in the cleansing ceremonies (works) of the law. It is true that the sacerdotal sanctifying works of the Law cannot give eternal life but the saving sanctifying works of Christ do, yet the moral standards and righteous judgments of Gods law are binding on all nations and peoples till the final judgment (Mat 16:27; Rev 20:12). The Apostles insisted that whereas our good works do not save us (Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:5), yet good works are expected of those us after we are saved (Eph 2:10; Tit 3:8). Scripture also teach that the temporal sacerdotal works of the law by animal blood and priests in the shadow tabernacle cannot save eternally nor purify consciences but the saving work of grace by Christs blood Who is the High Priest in the real heavenly sanctuary cleanses the conscience and saves to the uttermost eternally (Heb 8:1-6; 9:11-15). These distinct truths confuse modern heathen minds; consequently todays Church has veered off biblical truth and is sliding down the path of error with unprecedented alacrity. <<Back to Top>>

CHRISTS JUSTIFYING GRACE, GODS JUST LAW and POSTMODERNISM

DIVINE SONSHIP AND SAVING GRACE OF THE MESSIAH (CHRIST) by Venerable Dr. Ifechukwu U. Ibeme.

The Jews in their arrogance mistook the LAW for legalism instead of guidance to divine truth; The Church in her ignorance has also mistaken GRACE for libertinism instead of enablement for purity. Christs GRACE grants undeserved LIBERATION from sin, self and Satan granting undeserved PRIVILEGE of being indwelled and led by the Holy Spirit for our purity; however, Grace forbids unreserved LICENSE and carnality (Rom 6:15 and 8:1-9; Gal 2:17 and 5:13,16-18; 1Pet 2:16). Apparently, the Church in her euphoria is unaware that Christs GRACE when spurned, brings GREATER JUDGMENT than the LAW could bring (John 15:22-24; Heb 10:28-31; 2Pet 2:17-20). Christs GRACE does not only save believers from the penalty, power and presence of their sins but also translates them from Abrahams netherworld bosom of paradise below (Luk 16:22-26) unto Christs heavenly presence of paradise above for the resurrection of eternal glory (2Cor 5:6-8; Rev 6:10-11). On the other hand Christs JUSTICE has further condemned the netherworld hell and death of hades to the damnation of second death in the eternal hell of lake of fire (Rev 21:13-15). Christ, the Bringer of Grace declared the balance between God's loving goodness in salvation and God's wrathful severity in damnation. John 3:16-18 (16) "For this is how God loved the world: He gave his unique Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life. (17) For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. (18) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God's unique Son. St Paul, the Apostle of Grace also gave a warning or teaching against the erroneous presumption that Grace excludes Righteousness or that Love excludes Wrath. Some even mistake Grace for Predestination irresistible election. This is Gentile lopsided error and not wholesome Scriptural truth. Romans 11:21-22 (21) For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also not spare you. (22) Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness: otherwise you also shall be cut off. 1Corinthians 10:1-6 (1) For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the fact that all of our ancestors were under the cloud, and they all went through the sea, (2) and they all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, (3) and they all ate the same spiritual food, (4) and they all drank the same spiritual drink, for they continually drank from the spiritual Rock that went with them, and that Rock was Christ. (5) But God wasn't pleased with most of them, and so they were struck down in the wilderness. (6) Now these things became examples for us so that we won't set our hearts on evil as they did. As the Scriptures warn, Grace is NOT LICENSE (Jude 1:4) to remain as we were and do the possibilities we could, but unmerited ACCESS into Gods presence and supernatural ENABLEMENT to do the impossibilities we couldnt. It is by Grace that all believers in Christ are redeemed from their depraved nature and brought into His Divine Nature (2Pet 2:3-4) so they begin to live in the supernatural. New Testament (Saving) GRACE is Gods full and free answer to Human Depravity.... So Grace as the WORK OF SALVATION finished in Christ, FULFILS the rituals of the Law (Mat 5:17-20) and ESTABLISHES the promises and precepts of the Law (Rom 3:31) for us to inherit the PROMISES of the Law and even better promises. Todays world of postmodern paganism is angrily rebellious against God and abhors (THEOSTUGEIA Rom 1:30) the worship of the Holy and Only God because they learn that according to Gods Law, righteous wrath is incurred by their sinful lawlessness. This new heathenish vogue that detests any responsibility for their wrongDIVINE SONSHIP AND SAVING GRACE OF THE MESSIAH (CHRIST) by Venerable Dr. Ifechukwu U. Ibeme.

doing is the product of rebellious hatred against parental discipline which has become trendy vogue amongst boomer youths since the hippie countercultural movement in 1960s is a fulfilment of 2Tim 3:1-5. In Postmodern hippie culture someone is hailed to be cool if one does not frown at anything as immoral or sinful; the only detestable wrong is when one says that someone else is wrong. Postmodernists are not angry at their sins but angry at Gods Law and every absolute standards of morality and truth or any father figure that would point their sins out or frown at it; yet it is NOT Gods good Law BUT our evil sins that messed us up before God (Rom 7:7-13). Postmodern heathenish existentialism and agnosticism have become a press-gang driving the Church so hard to deny the divine revelations of Scripture, confuse the truth about Law and Grace to end up derailing into lopsided fallacies of antinomianism and libertinism license to get what I want and do what I want that has progressively worsened both Church and the world by day. The SAVING GRACE of Christs Cross is primarily the DIVINE POWER THAT DESTROYS SIN AND ENDOWS HOLINESS (Rom 6:11-15) which God grants favourably through Christ. Postmodern Christianity would promote the preaching of power to overcome diseases, failure and poverty but not power to overcome sin; rather silence should be kept about sin and holiness because it makes the proud, rebellious and sin-loving Gentiles feel angry, depressed and humiliated. The post-evangelical Church of postmodern culture teaches the heathen error and lie that SOBER WATCHFULNESS against falling into sin and CONTRITE PENITENCE are what is meant by SIN CONSCIOUSNESS in Heb 10:2-4. Strangely, they think and teach that SEARED CONSCIENCE wilful refusal to examine ones life with Scriptural law (1Tim 4:1-2; Jude 1:4) is a virtue instead! The truth that agrees with Scripture is that SIN CONSCIOUSNESS is not WATCHFULNESS TO AVOID WILFUL SIN; SIN CONSCIOUSNESS is not the terror of falling into the hands of the living God (Heb 10:26-31) and SIN CONSCIOUSNESS is not the contrition FOR SECRET AND UN-CONFESSED SIN. SIN CONSCIOUSNESS is the failure to realise Gods pardon for sin or the feeling that such pardon for sin is lost. Post-evangelicals would teach people to confess positively about being healed, being able to do all things, and about getting all they want but would not teach about positively confessing to sin no more or to be holy. Thank God, we have the true precepts of COMPREHENSIVE divine revelation CONTEXTUALLY documented in the Scriptures that we need no modern heathenish presumptions or unfruitful humanist ideas. God help us all. <<Back to Top>>

Updated December 30, 2013 by Ven. Dr. I. U. Ibeme Copyright PriscAquila Publishing, Maiduguri, Nigeria. Click here for PriscAquila Christian Resource Centre http://priscaquila.6te.net

DIVINE SONSHIP AND SAVING GRACE OF THE MESSIAH (CHRIST) by Venerable Dr. Ifechukwu U. Ibeme.