UNDERSTANDING JESUS PART 1 (Young and Yielded teaching series)

UNDERSTANDING JESUS PART 1

(Young and Yielded teaching series) 

Friday, 6th January 2017

Minister: David O. Robinson 

Topic: Understanding Jesus (Part 1) 

Introduction:

That i may know Him (Phil. 3:10) Jesus was, is and will remain the center and central of the Christianity, of the church, of the body of Christ, and of the Governing and administrative operation in heaven/the kingdom of God.

Question, Who is Jesus?, who is the church?, what kind of life did JESUS brought to the church?,  what are the goals follower of Jesus should pursue?

If Jesus is the central of Christianity, one of our duty therefore is to know much about Him in other to teach and preach Him effectively (Acts 5:42): "...they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." The early church themed the gospel (one message) on Jesus. Unlike what we have today; many gospel, messages, themes, etc...

Who is Jesus?

Who is the church?       

(Ekklesia): is the greek word for church, and it means "called out" (Acts 7:38, Gen. 12:3) called out from the nations, called out to worship (Deut. 18:16,31:30 Joshua 8:35) Judges 21:8, Psalm 22:22-25) congregation of worshippers.

The ideal Church in this context is denomination of Christians as distinct from the world, called the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22,): "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,"

(Col. 1:18,24): "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:"

Ekklesia also mean the following:

8-FOLD CHRISTIAN GOAL (Philippians 3:7-21) 

1. To win Christ: 

• (1 Cor. 9:24-27): "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

• (Matt. 7:21-23): "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

1. To be found In Him:

• (Philippians 3:9): "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:"

1. To know Christ in power sufferings and death:

• (Gal. 2:20): "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

• (1 Pet. 4:1): "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God."

1. To attain to the out-resurrection from among the dead:

• (Rev. 20:4-6): "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."

1. To obtain the high calling of God In Christ:

• (Romans 5:10): "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."

• (Romans 8:17): "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

1. To walk in unity:

• (Ephesians 4:1-16): "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 
• But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 
• And he gave some, 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 the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

• (1 Peter 3:8-13): "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 
• And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?"

1. To follow apostolic example:

• (Philippians 4:9): "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."

• (1 Corinthians . 11:1): "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."

• (1 Thessalonians 1:6): "And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:"

• (1 Timothy 4:12): "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

1. To be glorified with Christ: 

• (Colossians 3:4): "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

• (1 Corinthians 15:23): "But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming."

• (1 Corinthians 15:51-58): "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
• Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

• (Romans 8:17): "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."