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March 2024 Printable 240 KB .pdf

MOR-Bible, which is by God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, God's unmerited divine favor be to you. May peace and an absolute end of all strife or trouble, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ to the faithful in Christ Jesus be to you.

We thank God always, on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given to you by Jesus Christ. We thank God that in everything you are enriched by Him in all utterance and in all knowledge. God, our Father, shall absolutely confirm you also to the end that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful by whom you were called to the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

In the February 2024 teaching, we searched the scriptures for the Greek words for our English phrase "in Christ Jesus." We learned the English word "in" is the Greek word év (e-n) means "in, on, at, by, with, a being or remaining within, with the primary ideal of rest in any place or thing, of place, in, within, among, of time, on, upon, expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else." We learned the word "Christ" is the Greek word Christos and means "the anointed." "Christ" is the name of Jesus' changed position from a man, as raised from the dead, and exalted in glory. "Christ" in the church Epistles denotes our position, blessing, and standing before God. In other words, we are not in Jesus but "in Christ." We were reminded that the name "Jesus" is the Greek word Iesous which means Jehovah our Savior and represents Jesus' walk on earth. We learned that to be in Christ Jesus, we must first have Christ in us the hope of glory, according to the scriptures. And we do this by taking the actions laid out in Romans 10:9:

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.

Once you performed Romans 10:9, God creates His Spirit in you which is Christ in you the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27:

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. [Bold added for emphasis.]

God, my Father, put these teachings on my heart to share with the faithful in Christ Jesus. I was recently invited to a friend's church for a Men's Event with about 250 men in attendance. The pastor of the church said a prayer which did not contain any of God's Word and he ended that prayer "in Jesus". Let us read what God's Word declares about a prayer which does not contain any of God's Word. Turn to 1 John 5:14-15:

And this is the confidence that we have in him [God], that, if we ask any thing according to his will [which is His Word], he heareth us:

And if we know that he [God] hears us, whatsoever we ask [according to His Word], we know that we have the petitions [specific request according to His Word] that we desired of him.

Based on these verses, the opposite must be true when we say a prayer without God's Word contained in it. If we ask anything not according to His Word, then He does not hear that prayer.

We must remind ourselves NOT to end a prayer with "in Jesus" as this minister did. The February 2024 teaching explained that the expression "in Jesus" is not a scriptural expression. It occurred once in the Bible in 1 Thessalonians 4:14; however, the Greek word for our English word "in" is "dia" and should be translated "by" or "through Jesus." We know that the adversary is very subtle, sly, and cunning and has manipulated people in believing in Jesus the man which focuses the attention on the cross, the scene of his crucifixion and not on his resurrection, ascension, and seat at the right hand of God. God's Word never says to be "in Jesus." (see January 2024 teaching).

It is written Ephesians 5:20:

Giving thanks always for all [without exception] things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Giving thanks in the name of who? Our Lord Jesus Christ. This is what God's Word says, and that is what it means. In giving thanks in the name of Jesus, this minister was in error by not knowing the scriptures (see Matthew 22:29). It is not my words; if you do not like what God's Word says, then tell God you do not like what His Word declares.

In this month's teaching, we will search the scriptures for some of the usages of the combination of the Greek words Iesous (Jesus) and Christos (Christ) used together for our English phrase "Jesus Christ." We will specifically look at:

• Where is this combination used?
• When we have the combination of the name Jesus Christ, what is the meaning or importance?
  

When we have the combination of "Jesus Christ," the emphasis is on the first word, Jesus. Our thinking is to be focused on what Jesus was on earth to what Christ is in heaven. In other words, we are to remember Jesus' humiliation, sufferings, and death on earth and rejoice in his resurrection, ascension, and exaltation. The phrase or name combination of Jesus Christ means the humbled one who is now exalted, and his name is above every name and anointed. When God's Word says Jesus Christ, it means what? Jesus Christ. That tells me that I must say and use Jesus Christ exactly how God's Word declares!

In the King James Bible, there are only five usages of Jesus Christ in the Gospels; it appears in Matthew (2 usages, 1:1 and 1:18), Mark (1 usage, 1:1) and John (2 usages, 1:17 and 17:3). The number five (5) in God's Word represent grace or God's unmerited divine favor.

When Jesus walked the earth, he humbled himself and obeyed God's Word. Turn to Philippians 2:8:

And being found in fashion as a man, he [Jesus] humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The combination of Jesus Christ is putting the emphasis upon the man who humbled himself and became obedient unto the death of the cross on earth. Continue with Philippians 2:9:

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name. [Bold added for emphasis]

Who highly exalted him? God! Who gave him a name which is above every name? God!

Let us read some scripture on where and what we receive in or by the name of Jesus Christ, the humbled one who is now exalted. God's Word tells us Jesus' name is above every name and anointed. We exhort you to read the context of these scriptures to increase your understanding. We will bold the phrase Jesus Christ in these scriptures for emphasis.

Note: The sources for all Greek-English words are Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, The Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament (Bullinger), Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible, The Word Study Concordance by George V. Wigram and Ralph D. Winter, and Webster's Desk Dictionary of the English Language.

Turn to Psalms 19:7:

The law [Word] of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. [Bold added for emphasis.]

Because Jehovah is perfect, then God's Word must be perfect in every detail. When we read the perfect Word, we must pay close attention to its details. The order of the words in God's Word must be perfect! I exhort you to read the context of the name Jesus Christ and how it is used in God's Word to increase your understanding. We will read usages from Acts, then from the current Grace Administration which we live in.

The book of Acts is the transition from the Christ Administration represented by the Gospels (i.e., Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) to the Grace Administration represented by the seven Church Epistles (i.e., Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians). The book of Acts is the transition between the Old and New Testaments. The book of Acts displays instructions, actions, practices, and works of God in Christ to the believers.

Acts 2:38:

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

In reading this verse, we can ask where Peter said unto them? The answer is on earth. We can then ask in the name of whom should we Repent and be baptized every one of you? We are told in the name of Jesus Christ. By the phrasing of the name, Jesus Christ, we are reminded he is the humbled one who is now exalted, his name is above every name and anointed. And we do this for the remission of what? Sins. And what shall we receive? The gift of the Holy Ghost or holy spirit (see May 2016 teaching). Did this verse say anything about water baptism? No! We are baptized in holy spirit (see Acts 1:5). Bless your heart, we love you.

You see clearly in this verse Peter was here on earth. He was speaking to the people on earth. This is why "Jesus" precedes the word "Christ" in the text. Turn to Acts 3:6:

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Where was this healing performed? On Earth. And in whose name? Jesus Christ, the humbled one who is now exalted, his name is above every name and anointed! This is what God's Word says, and that is what it means!

Let's look at Acts 4:10:

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man [from Acts 3:6] stands here before you whole.

Again, this healing was performed where? On earth. By who's name? Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye (the rulers of the people, and elders of Israel) did what? Crucified. Who raised Jesus from the dead? God! And how does he stand here before you? Whole.

Acts 5:42:

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they [Peter and the other apostles] ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Who did Peter and the other apostles teach and preach unceasingly? Jesus Christ. Did they teach and preach Jesus? No! They taught Jesus Christ. I will say it again, this is what God's Word says, and that is what it means.

Acts 9:34:

And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

Where was Aeneas made whole? On earth. Who made Aeneas whole? Jesus Christ.

Acts 10:36:

The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord [master] of all).

Where were the children of Israel? On earth. Whose name was peace preached by? Jesus Christ.

Acts 16:14-17:

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

And when she was baptized [note: it does not say water baptism], and her household, she besought us, saying, if ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her master's much gain by soothsaying:

The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, these men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

In this record, the devil spirit worked through the damsel and mocked Paul and the other men teaching God's Word by saying these men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. It is clear the devil spirit in the woman knew God's Word. Let's continue this record with Acts 16:18:

And this did she [a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination] many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he [it] came out the same hour [immediately].

Paul told the devil spirit to come out of the damsel in the name of who? Jesus Christ (the humbled one who is now exalted, his name is above every name and anointed). I ask again where was this devil spirit cast out? From the damsel on earth. This is why "Jesus" precedes the word "Christ" in the text.

It is written in Acts 19:13:

Then certain of the vagabond [roving] Jews [Judeans], exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, we adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

This verse tells us that the vagabond Jews did not know God's Word. God's Word repeatedly states that Paul preached the son of God, Jesus Christ (see 2 Corinthians 1:19)! Let's continue with in Acts 19:14-15:

And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know [by experience], and Paul I know [by reputation]; but who are ye?

This devil spirit had profound respect for Jesus Christ and Paul because it had experience of the power of the true God as operated by the ministries of Jesus Christ and Paul. However, it did not know the seven sons of Sceva from experience or reputation. The seven sons had no true knowledge of the Lord Jesus or of Jesus Christ. Acts 19:16 tell us what happens when we do not have true knowledge of Jesus Christ:

And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them [all seven sons of Sceva], and overcame [mastered] them, and prevailed [proved superior] against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Because the seven sons of Sceva had no genuine knowledge of the Lord Jesus or of Jesus Christ, and the devil spirit did not know them by experience or reputation, the devil spirit that was in the man mastered them and proved superior so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded! Let me exhort you to be precise, not merely in your reading and in your study of the Bible, but in your quotation and understanding of it. We do not sit down to interpret the Bible, but we sit down before the Bible that it may interpret to us the will and purposes of God. We do not assume that God never means exactly what He says. When His Word says Jesus Christ, He means Jesus Christ! When His Word says Christ Jesus, that is what it means!

When we have the combination of "Jesus Christ," the emphasis is on the first word so that our thinking can shift from what Jesus was on earth to what he is in heaven. We are to remember Jesus' humiliation, sufferings, and death on earth to his resurrection, ascension, and exaltation. Jesus Christ humbled himself and became obedient even unto death on the cross. Philippians 2:8-9 tells us:

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.

In this month's teaching we learned from the book of Acts, the meaning or importance of the name "Jesus Christ" on earth. All these things are performed and received where? On this earth. This is why "Jesus" precedes the word "Christ" in the text.

Based on these readings, we:

• Have the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).
• Shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost [holy spirit] (Acts 2:38).
• Have physical Healing: In the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 3:6, 4:10, 9:34).
• Should cease not to teach and preach Jesus Christ (Acts 5:42).
• Have peace by Jesus Christ for he is Lord [master] of all (Acts 10:36).
• Can cast out devil spirits in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 16:18).
  

We pray to God, our Father, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment. We pray that you may approve things that are excellent and that you may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. We pray you are filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ the humble one now exalted and anointed unto the glory and praise of God. To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever, Amen.

The Word of God is the Will of God. And the Will of God is the Word of God.

In the Lord,

Ministry of Reconciliation
Son of God through Jesus Christ
Ambassador for Christ

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