18 April 2023 - Jesus is the Christ

Jesus the Christ, means the anointed One, the Messiah. When Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was, Peter answered, in Matthew 16:16 (NLT) Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

John 1:17 (NLT) For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ combines His name (Jesus) with His title (Christ), meaning Jesus, the anointed One, or Jesus, the Chosen One. There have been many great leaders throughout history. Some were prophets, priests, or kings anointed with authority from God, but none were ever called Christ.

In ancient Israel, when someone was given a position of authority, oil was poured on his head to signify his being set apart for God’s service. Kings, priests, and prophets were anointed in such a fashion. Anointing was a symbolic act to indicate God’s chosen one. Jesus’ title of Christ means He is God’s Anointed One.

Acts 10:38 (ESV) how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

The truth that Jesus is Christ is essential to saving faith. Without Him there is no power that can save us. Only through Jesus Christ we can have an eternal life with Christ.

John 20:31 (NIV) But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

1 John 5:1 (NIV) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.

John 11:27 (NKJV) She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

1 John 2:22 (NKJV) Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.

To believe that Jesus is the Christ is to believe that He is the Anointed, the Messiah of the prophets, the Saviour sent of God, that He was, in a word, what He claimed to be.

1 Corinthians 12:3 (NKJV) Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

I conclude with 1 John 5:1 (MSG) Every person who believes that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah, is God-born.