JESUS ONLY
Matthew 17:1-8 “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun; and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. When the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, “Arise, and be not afraid.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
Jesus alone is to be worshiped. He alone is God. He came to earth in the form of man – of sinful flesh. He came to save humanity from the curse of sin and death. The curse is inclusive of all creation. Paul wrote in Romans “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” He writes on “The wages of sin is death; But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Jesus obedience and complete submission to the will of the Father obtained for all creation salvation from the curse of death and the Law “once for all at all times and in all places.” He becomes for all believers and followers of his way of life an example to emulate. A way of life which never go wrong and never fails. A former persecutor, St Paul of Tarsus was radically changed in his attitude and hatred of the followers of the Way. He wrote his greatly inspired appreciation of Jesus Christ “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient, even the death of the cross. Wherefore 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, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
During his life on earth Jesus declared that “all things are given to me of my Father.”
Gospel of Jesus Christ According to St Luke tells of Jesus giving authority to his followers “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing by any means hurt you.”
In the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus said “You shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”He invested his followers and apostles with power over all the power of the enemy as they go proclaiming the Good News, teaching, healing, exorcism of evil spirits, baptizing those who believe, and performing great signs and wonders in His Name.
If all power in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus Christ, then He alone is to be worshiped, invoked in all prayers, obeyed and given true and living worship. I think preachers, teachers, and believers who preach and teach about God are guilty of disobedience and dishonor the LORD JESUS. Theologians, preachers, and teachers who teach a gospel which is another gospel than preached by St Paul are guilty of disobedience and irreverence. Paul said they are to be cursed. They want a Christianity without Christ Jesus. Liturgies, dogmas, theologies and philosophies cannot replace Jesus Christ as the only Savior and LORD.
The Book of Revelation of St John the Divine describes the LORD Jesus as the King of kings and LORD of lords who is “conquering now and still to conquer.” Satan knows that his time is short and is doing everything to circumvent the progress of the Good News. Today Jesus is the only Savior and LORD of all creation. Peter declares “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12) and Paul affirmed it “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” I Tim2:5).
Today he, Jesus Christ, gives to the church “…Apostles; and some prophets, and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for edifying the body of Christ: Till we come in the unity of faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulnes of Christ: …” (Ephesians 4:11-13).
“And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all” (I Corinthians 15:28). Hallelujah! “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
March 24, 2008
