But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in
thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine
heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the
heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not
be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the
same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call
upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in
whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they
have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they
preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of
them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Romans 10:8-15 KJV
It's
right there on our logo and serves as the mission statement of the Redemption
Centre Church.
"Christ
revealed...in us and to the world!
No
doubt we have given it a passing glance and never bothered to ponder on what it
means to us as a local church, as a functional group within the church and as
an individual member of the Body of Christ.
If
we take time to ponder its meaning and significance we will find that there
much more depth to it than it seems at a first glance.
Christ
revealed is more than just an academic knowledge of an outstanding historical
personality. It’s more than in-depth knowledge of a physical personality. It
goes beyond the natural into the spiritual, beyond sense knowledge into
revelation knowledge. When revelation knowledge breaks through you will never
be the same again!
Three
things about this statement will suffice for the present!
We sincerely desire a revelation of the Christ in us!
We sincerely desire a revelation of the Christ through
us!
1. WE SINCERELY DESIRE A REVELATION OF THE CHRIST TO
US!
Many
are curious about Jesus and would most likely be pleased to meet Him. The
Greeks visiting Jerusalem requested to see him maybe out of curiosity or
interest in His teaching.
The same came therefore to Philip, which was of
Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. John 12:21 KJV
Herod
wanted to see Him hoping like so many to see a physical miracle
And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is
this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him. Luke 9:9 KJV
And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for
he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things
of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Luke 23:8 KJV
Zacchaeus’
desire to see Jesus lead to a revelation of who Jesus really was, and resulted
in a profound change in lifestyle and loyalty
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which
was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus
who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And
he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to
pass that way. Luke 19:2-4 KJV
In
John’s gospel chapter 4 the Samaritan woman at the well of Sychar on meeting
with the LORD sitting there, progressively saw a man, a Jew, a prophet and then
finally the Christ! It was her revelation of Him as Christ (Messiah) that
brought a change in her life and lifestyle and influenced her neighbors.
Revelation
of the Christ produces belief in Him, leading to salvation and translation into
His Kingdom as saints and children of God!
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:10 KJV
2. WE SINCERELY DESIRE A REVELATION OF THE CHRIST IN
US!
Paul
said to the Galatians My little children, of whom I travail in
birth again until Christ be formed in you, Galatians 4:19 KJV
To
the Corinthians he said But we all, with open face beholding as in a
glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to
glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV
Receiving
a saving revelation of the Christ is only the beginning! There is a whole new
revolution prepared for those who have received a revelation of Christ.
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and
from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would
make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles;
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man,
and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in
Christ Jesus: Colossians 1:26-28 KJV
It
moves beyond the Christ in the physical to Christ in the spirit!
Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh:
yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we
him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are
of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us
the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the
world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed
unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as
though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye
reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that
we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 KJV
It
is a revelation of the Christ in us until people are able to call us Christians
not just because we are baptized and are members of a local church, but because
they see Christ in us…in our walk, in our talk, in our total lifestyle.
3. WE SINCERELY DESIRE A REVELATION OF THE CHRIST
THROUGH US!
We
desire a revelation of the Christ in us until people are able to call us
Christians not because we are baptized and members of a local church but
because they see Christ in us…in our walk, in our talk, in our total lifestyle.
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to
himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not
imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of
reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did
beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2
Corinthians 5:18-20 KJV
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall
they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?
as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of
peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:13-15 KJV
Jesus
instructs us in our need to reveal Him to the world when He said: Ye
are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick;
and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine
before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is
in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 KJV
As
individuals we are to shine so that Christ is revealed to the world. As a
functional group within the church we are to shine and as a local church we
cannot afford to keep that light constrained within the walls of the church
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and
read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of
Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the
living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 2
Corinthians 3:2-3 KJV
Let
us prayerfully consider and contemplate this need for revelation as we strive
to live in such a manner that Christ will be revealed…in us and to the world.