When Christ resurrected and then ascended, the Father seated Him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church (Ephesians 1:20-22). This answers the question; why do Christian’s emphasis Jesus so much? Because He is supreme over all others and beyond compare in every way. Therefore, it is the Christian’s pleasure to explore Christ’s being, His character, His position, His purposes, His works, and His reign.
Making much of Christ is as natural to a believer as breathing. We seek to glorify Christ not because we must, not because we have been instructed to, and certainly not because we have been coerced, but because we desire to. This desire compels the Christian to employ all they have; their intellects, their abilities, skills, energies, gifts, and their possessions, in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 4:11). A believer should never need to be instructed to consider Jesus (Heb 3:1), they can’t help but think of Jesus because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus (Php 3:8).
Just as Christ is superior to angels (Heb 1:4), so He is also superior to mankind, even though He came to this world in the form of a humble human servant (Php 2:6-8). God temporarily placed Jesus in a position lower than the angels (Heb 2:7) for the purpose of going to the cross. There, Jesus willingly suffered execution so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone, making propitiation for the sins of the people (Hebrews 2:9, 17). It is through Christ’s death in our place that He was able to appease God’s wrath for our sin, making peace with God possible (Romans 5:1). By believing this, sinners are justified and declared innocent by God. Therefore, God has elevated Christ to the highest place, having crowned him with glory and honour, putting everything in subjection under his feet (Hebrews 2:7-8).
Even though Christ is exalted above everything and everyone in heaven and on earth, He is still able to sympathize with our weaknesses, as one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Christ lives as our high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens, interceding for those He sacrificed His life for (Hebrews 7:25-26). It’s no wonder then, that though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:8-9).
So, when considering Christian living, it goes without saying that the obvious evidence of faith is the happy pursuit of Christlike character expressed through actions. Christians are not those who profess to know God but deny him by their works (Titus 1:16). Believers welcome the world’s observation as an opportunity to give testimony to Jesus through their lives. Conduct that communicates Christ should never be considered a burden, rather, it is the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s fruit that the Lord Jesus Christ lives within (Galatians 5:22-23).
With these brief thoughts in our minds, we can agree with Paul in his closing benediction of Romans 16:27, to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
To be continued…
