Sie sind auf Seite 1von 12

DIVINE SONSHIP AND SAVING

GRACE
OF THE MESSIAH (CHRIST)
By Venerable Dr. Ifechukwu U. Ibeme.
Websites: http://www.scribd.com/ifeogo ; http://priscaquila.6te.net ;
Comment on The Chapel of Grace Blog: http://thechapelofgrace.wordpress.com

CONTENTS:
The Enigma of the Messiah or Christ
The Basis For and Meaning of the Messianic Hope
Jesus as Gods Anointed Messiah (Christ)
What Does This Mystery of the Messiahs Salvation Imply in Practice?
Christs Justifying Grace, Gods Just Law and Postmodernism

THE ENIGMA OF THE MESSIAH OR CHRIST REVEALED


To many Christians and non-Christians today, learned and unlearned, even clergy and lay
alike, the word Christ is coming to mean nothing but the second name or surname of
Jesus of Nazareth and the epithet Messiah is fast becoming a mere euphemism for
utopian political leader. Why Jesus is called Christ and what THE CHRIST or THE MESSIAH
means is taken for granted so much so that its meaning is getting lost. In fact, the Christ
the world knows (in acceptance or in rejection) today is out of sync with the Scriptures.

According to the Scriptures, God had for long undertaken to send the CHRIST (i.e. the
ANOINTED or the MESSIAH Isa 61:1-3; Dan 9:24; Luk 4:18-19) Who shall be the
eschatological HUMAN Son of David and DIVINE Lord of David (Psa 110:1; Mat 22:41-45),
Root and Shoot of David (Rev 5:5; 22:16), as well as the HUMAN-DIVINE Son of Man (Dan
7:13-14), the ROYAL-DIVINE begotten Son of God (Psa 2:7; Mat 3:17; John 3:16), the
Suffering Delightful Servant of God (Isa 53; Mat 12:17-21; Luk 24:26) and the
Immanuel Who shall be the divine presence among Gods people (Isa 7:25; Mat 1:23). The
Messiahs anointing is because He is the Prince of peace who reconciles humanity to God
and humanity to humanity (2Cor 5:17-21; Eph 2:12-19; Col 1:20) and the Royal-Priest who
is the propitiator for all humanity (Heb 2:17) as well as the royal judge of all for all eternity
(Dan 7:13-14; John 5:25-29; Act 17:30-31).

The Apostles were multiple witnesses to the historical fulfilment (Act 10:36-43) of all these
prophesied mysteries in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, Who was born of the Blessed Virgin
Mary on the first and actual Christmas over 2000 years ago. What do these divine and
human, historical and eternal Son and Christ mean? And how is the CHRIST all these
being fully human and fully divine, fully eternal and fully temporal, begotten of God the
Father in heaven beyond time, born of a virgin on earth within time and begotten from the
dead by God the Father within time? O! How great is the mystery of Christ!

Jesus recognized this enigmatic mystery and even posed the question to the Jewish
scholars and law experts to explain how the Davids son in also Davids Lord (Psa 110:1),
without getting any response from them (Luk 20:41-44). He then lived, ministered, died,
but resurrected without seeing corruption in hades (Psa 16:10; Act 13:34-39) and
ascended from the Temple sanctuary on earth to mediate propitiation and minister in the
actual RIGHT-HAND in heavens Sanctuary before God (Psa 16:11; Heb 8:1-2; 9:11, 23, 24)
where He makes intercession for believers (Heb 7:25).

DIVINE SONSHIP AND SAVING GRACE OF THE MESSIAH (CHRIST) by Venerable Dr.
Ifechukwu U. Ibeme. 1
The Christ also ascended with Davids temporal throne on earth (Luk 1:31-33) to reign
forever from Gods eternal right hand on high throne in heaven (Act 2:31-36). HIS
REDEEMED CHURCH SHALL BE OF ISRAELITES AND GENTILES ALIKE (Isa 49:6; Luk 2:30-32;
Eph 2:13-22; 3:4-11). Together with His universal triumphant Church, Jesus shall reign in
righteousness and peace over all peoples of all kingdoms and over all creation forever
(Eph 1:20-23).
Matthew 1:22-23
(22) Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet,
saying,
(23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name
Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Luke 24:25-27, 44-48


(25) Then he said unto them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have
spoken:
(26) Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
(27) And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the
things concerning himself.
..........
(44) And he said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you,
that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in
the psalms, concerning me.
(45) Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
(46) And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it was fit for Christ to suffer, and to rise from the
dead the third day:
(47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name AMONG
ALL NATIONS, BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM.
(48) And you are witnesses of these things.

By these accomplishments, Jesus Christ answered and fulfilled all the messianic enigma
with unequalled and unquestionable humility, proof, purity and power, and also left the
Apostles behind as His well instructed and commissioned witnesses (Luk 1:1-4; and Luk
24). Under the sun, no other witness about Christ is more authentic or more authoritative
than the written witness of the Apostles who always stayed with and were taught by Christ
before and even after His resurrection (2Pet 1:13-21; 1John 1:1-4).
<<Back to Top>>

THE BASIS FOR AND MEANING OF THE MESSIANIC HOPE


In ancient Israel a temporary tenure Messiah or Christ was anyone anointed to chief
offices of the High Priest (like Aaron and his succeeding descendant High Priests Lev
6:20,22; 8:12; 1Chro 19:26; though all the sons of Aaron are also anointed as assistants to
the Chief Priest Exo 30:30; 40:13-15), the King (like Saul, David and his succeeding
descendants ) and some Prophets in charge of the national prophetic guild of the Sons of
the Prophets (like Elisha 1Kin 19:16 and other Prophets 1Chron 16:22; Psa 105:15).
Anointing to high office in ancient Israel was usually accompanied by a special outpouring
of the Holy Spirit to empower the Lords Anointed (i.e. the Lords Christ) for the specific
ministerial burden (1Sam 10:1-6; 16:13-14). Nevertheless, outpouring of the Holy Spirit for
commission, function or office did not only come by anointing with oil, but also by
laying on of hands (Num 27:18; 1Tim 4:14; 2Tim 1:6) or directly by divine permission
without mediation of oil or hands (Num 11:18; Deut 34:9; Judg 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25).
Such MEDIATE anointing with oil and laying on of hands as well as IMMEDIATE divine
impartation of power and the Holy Spirit for special assignment were usually confirmed by
prophecy, some power signs or proof signs (Isa 61:1; Luk 4:18; Act 10:38).

Of the three commissions done by anointing in ancient Israel, that for kingship was the
most celebrated. The designation the Lords Anointed (i.e. the Lords Christ) applied to
DIVINE SONSHIP AND SAVING GRACE OF THE MESSIAH (CHRIST) by Venerable Dr.
Ifechukwu U. Ibeme. 2
these three officials (Kings, Priests and Prophets) but also to the people of God as a whole
(1Chro 16:22; Psa 105:15; Heb 11:26) but the king was particularly called the Lords
Anointed (i.e. the Lords Christ) 1Sam 2:10; 12:3-5; 15:1,17; 26:9,11,16,23; 2Sam 2:4-7;
5:17. Israelite Kings were inaugurated with anointing and trumpet proclamation ceremony
(1Kin 1:34, 45; 2Sam 5:3) which marks the beginning of annual calendar of the new
sovereign. In addition, God gave the Davidic Kings the covenant designation of ADOPTED
SONS to whom God is their adoptee Father (1Chron 22:10; Psa 89:20-35) in anticipation
for Him Who alone from eternity is the only FIRST-BEGOTTEN SON (Psa 2:7; 87:27; John
1:18; 3:16-18; 17:5; Rom 8:9; 1John 4:9) and for the Church of the Risen Christ (1Pet 1:3)
who shall be cleansingly REBORN SONS by water, the Spirit and the Word (John 3:3-5;
Tit 3:5; 1Pet 1:23) and authorized as ADOPTED SONS through the Holy Spirit (John 1:12-13;
Rom 8:14-15; Gal 4:5-7). Thus the Fatherhood of God was first revealed as Gods special
relationship with the Kings of Davids dynasty as His sons. As this Father-Son relationship
with God was extended to all Israel through Davidic Kings, so also is the Father-Son
relationship with God extended to all Christian believers through Jesus Christ (Isa 63:16;
64:8; John 1:12-13; 20:17; Rom 8:29). Christian sonship to God is co-sonship with Christ
and implies co-heritage of the Kingdom with Christ, co-regency in the Kingdom with Christ,
co-suffering with Christ and co-glory with Christ (Rom 8:14-17).

During the glorious reign of David and early part of Solomons legendary reign, Israel
experienced unequalled national godliness, unity and prosperity, with tributary dominance
over their surrounding nations, coupled with intellectual and maritime entrepreneurial
prominence as far as Tarshish in far Western Europe, Sheba in Horn of Africa and the Ophir
coastlands of the Indian Ocean and the Gulf. Since the post-Solomon division and decline
of Israel into insignificance, the prophets (both major and minor writers of both Israel
north and Judah south) from Isaiah (Isa 11) to Malachi (Mal 4) have all prophesied the
coming of a post-exile and eschatological Davidic King Who will rule the whole world and
reign forever to fulfil Gods covenant promise to David (Psa 2; 45:6-7; 110) prophesied by
Nathan (1Sam 7) and set to expert music by Ethan, the renowned intellectual (Psa 89) and
son of (E)Zerah (1Kin 4:31; 1Chron 2:6).

Since their return from exile long before Jesus time, all Jews knew and shared this
expectation of the divinely anointed Davidic Messiah or Christ Who will reign in Gods
heavenly and eternal KINGDOM (first in REDEMPTIVE GRACE and finally in RETRIBUTIVE
GLORY) over all peoples (Israelites and Gentiles) and all creation, while He lives forever
with divine authority (dominion and Lordship) from the right hand of majesty on high of
heavenly divine throne of power. The knowledge of limitless GLORIOUS dominion/reign of
the Kingdom of God and its power and purpose of GRACIOUS deliverance/redemption for
Israelites and Gentiles by the Messiah (Isa 49:6; Act 13:47) is as old as Israel (Psa 47:7-9;
103:19-22; Dan 4:17, 25, 32-35; Eph 1:20-22; Php 2:9-11).

What was mostly missed was the point that this Messiah would first suffer sacrificially as
Gods Delightful well-pleasing Servant (Isa 42), even to the extent of literal humiliating
death before His powerful literal resurrection into endless life (1Tim 6:14-16; Rev 1:9-20)
with actual ascension to sit in heaven (Right Hand ... on High Heb 1:3) and reign as the
Lord and Saviour and the Divine Son (Luk 24). The Jews were unable to resolve not only the
human and divine Christ but also that the Messianic ANOINTING includes the Saviour being
both the SOVEREIGN SON Messiah and the SUFFERING SERVANT Messiah. Christ repeatedly
and insistently taught about this Messiahs suffering-cum-exaltation to His disciples both
before His death (Mat 16:13-23) and after His resurrection (Luk 24:6-8, 19-27). More than
these, the Jews missed the point that the Messiah would redeem (rescue and recruit) His
one royal-priesthood not only from Israel but from all nations (Eph 3:4-7) to inherit His
Kingdom and reign with them on earth and also in eternity. Christs Cross brought Gentiles
in to share the same citizenship or one commonwealth with Israel (Eph 2:11-22), but

DIVINE SONSHIP AND SAVING GRACE OF THE MESSIAH (CHRIST) by Venerable Dr.
Ifechukwu U. Ibeme. 3
Christs blood also overtook the temporal terrestrial hope of Promised TERRITORY through
the Law to bring in the eternal heavenly hope of Paradise GLORY through the Gospel.

Christ came and corrected the Jewish error of nationalistic, materialistic,


temporal and geopolitical concepts about the Kingdom of God. Christ taught
that the Kingdom is spiritual, non-nationalistic or territorial (Luk 13:28-29),
increasingly unfolding (Mat 13:31-33; Mar 4:2632; Luk 13:18-21), not far-fetched
but near at hand (Luk 10:9-11), and ever present (Mat 25:34). This Gospel
revelation of special insight, that the Church of royal-priesthood through Christs blood is
for the universally inclusive, un-partitioned and united co-regency. The Apostles
specifically pointed out that this New Testament Church of Christ is a co-heritage of
Israelites and Gentiles together with Christ in the same singular and heavenly Kingdom
(Reign, Dominion and Lordship) of God (Eph 2 and 3).
Ephesians 2:11-16
(11) Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh who are called
"uncircumcision" by the so-called "circumcision" that is performed on the body by human hands
(12) that you were at that time without the Messiah, alienated from the citizenship of Israel and
strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
(13) But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of
Christ.
(14) For he is our peace, the one who made both groups into one and who destroyed the middle
wall of partition, the hostility,
(15) when he nullified in his flesh the law of commandments in decrees. He did this to create in
himself one new man out of two, thus making peace,
(16) and to reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by which the hostility
has been killed.

Ephesians 3:4-7
(4) When reading this, you will be able to understand my insight into this secret of Christ.
(5) Now this secret was not disclosed to people in former generations as it has now been
revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit,
(6) namely, that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the
body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.
(7) I became a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God's grace that was given to me by the
exercise of his power.

The New Testament is NOT about a NEW Kingdom but about the provision of a
NEW REDEMPTIVE ENTRANCE open to all by Gods GRACE through Christs blood
whereby any SUBJECT UNDER the Kingdom could become REGENT IN the
Kingdom. Israel was used by God as a specific revelation of divine grace and glory to
lighten the Gentiles and prepare them for the universal access to be ultimately provided
through Christ (Act 13:44f).
Acts 13:44-49
(44) And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
(45) But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spoke against those things
which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
(46) Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first
have been spoken to you: but seeing you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of
everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
(47) For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set you to be a light of the Gentiles,
that you should be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
(48) And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as
many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
(49) And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
<<Back to Top>>

DIVINE SONSHIP AND SAVING GRACE OF THE MESSIAH (CHRIST) by Venerable Dr.
Ifechukwu U. Ibeme. 4
JESUS AS GODS ANOINTED MESSIAH (CHRIST)
The historical facts of the genealogy and birth of Jesus answer to how the Christ is the
biological son of David (Mat 1:1-17), son of Mary (Luk 3:23-38), the Seed of the woman
(Gen 3:15) and the Son of man (Dan 7:13). That the Christ is the divine Lord of David (Mar
12:35-37), the Son of Man and the Son of God is great mystery that requires
understanding of prophetic revelation, angelic declarations and divine intervention as
confirmed by scriptural and apostolic witness (1Tim 3:16). While Mark and John omitted
the Jesus biological son of David genealogy, John included more details about how the
eternity and divinity of the Christ who is God and specially begotten Son of God took up
human nature to give eternal salvation and the privileges of Kingdom-heritage sonship to
whosoever believes in Him (John 1:1-14; 3:1-18).

Jesus of Nazareth by His proven power over death and over gravitational forces and His
prevailing power of endless life is incontrovertibly the designate everlasting Messiah or
Christ Who alone must be believed, obeyed and followed by all for the gift of eternal life
(John 3:16; Act 2:32-36; 1Tim 6:12-17). Jesus is the One Anointed (i.e. Christ-ed) by God to
be the eschatological divine Son Who is the ultimate Saviour of all and eternal Lord of all,
Whose Reign is forever and Whose Dominion is without geographical boundaries and
Whose Authority and Power are unlimited (Isa 9:6; Jer 23:5; Dan 7:13-14; Luk 1:33; Matt
28:18; Phil 2:6-11; Heb 1:5-9). The Christ Himself insisted that He is ONE with the Father
(John 10:30-33) and is to be worshipped equally with the Father as One God (John 5:21-27).

The four Gospels were written to present scriptural prophetic proof, angelic testimony and
witnessed historical evidence to show that Christ is the promised everlasting Son of God,
the Lord of all and Saviour of the world. This is seen particularly in Saint Lukes Gospel
account where he recorded stupendous occasions when Angels (Heavenly Messengers)
visited or Voice (Heavenly Message) spoke from heaven to confirm the divine Sonship and
resurrection of Jesus:
To Mary at the miraculous virgin CONCEPTION of Jesus to be born as the Messianic
Son of David (Luk 1:32-35).
To the watching shepherds at the manger BIRTH of Jesus (Luk 2:10-12).
To the crowd of John the Baptists followers at the BAPTISM of Jesus (Luk 3:21-22).
To the Apostles at the TRANSFIGURATION of Jesus (Luk 9:34-35; 2Pet 1:16-19).
To the women at the empty tomb on Christs RESURRECTION morning (Mat 28:1-7;
Mark 16:5-4; Luk 24:4-5; John 20:11-13)
To the disciples gathered at the ASCENSION of the risen Jesus (Act 1:9-11).

In their Gospel accounts, Matthew and Luke presented Jesus Sonship as the genealogical
and eschatological Son of David and therefore the messianic divine Son of God, Who is
ANOINTED (Christ-ed/Messaiah-ed) by God to INCARNATE, BE BORN, SERVE, SUFFER,
RESURRECT and REIGN FROM HEAVEN forever as the Saviour of all and Lord of all (John
3:16). Saint John in his Gospel account and Saint Paul in his Epistles and teachings, further
clarified that Christ is not only DIVINE and ETERNAL but is also UNIQUELY BEGOTTEN as the
Son of God above all:
In eternity as the uncreated but creating Divine Word (generation also called THE
FIRSTBORN OVER ALL CREATION John 1:1-4; Col 1:15-17).
In time and on earth by taking-up human flesh (incarnation John 1:14).
In heaven by resurrection and ascension (exaltation) to the Fathers heavenly
right hand (John 17:5; Act 2:31-36; 17:31; Rom 1:4); thus undisputedly called THE
FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD (Psa 2:7; Act 26:23; 1Cor 15:20; Col 1:18-19; Rev 1:5).
No human, king, prophet, priest or even Angel shares, nor will ever share this
incontrovertibly and supremely UNIQUE FIRST BEGOTTEN-NESS with Christ.

DIVINE SONSHIP AND SAVING GRACE OF THE MESSIAH (CHRIST) by Venerable Dr.
Ifechukwu U. Ibeme. 5
Divine Sonship and Christhood of Jesus was severally and historically prophesied by many
holy prophets which was fulfilled historically being witnessed by many Apostles and
disciples, not a private interpretation or teaching cunningly devised by the Church; the
Sonship and Christhood of Jesus was not only prophesied long ago in the Jewish Scriptures
but was miraculously declared by Angels and proved by Christ himself (2Pet 1:15-21). The
doctrine of the Trinity of the Godhead and the Two Natures of the Christ encapsulated
in the Nicene Creed are meagre but most commendable effort of the United Apostolic
Universal Church to grasp or unravel the Truth of this great scriptural mystery in unison.

On the Day of Pentecost the Apostle Peter declared boldly to the Jews in Jerusalem:
Acts 2:29-36
(29) "Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and
that his tomb is among us to this day.
(30) Therefore, since he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him with an oath to
put one of his descendants on his throne,
(31) he looked ahead and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ: 'He was not
abandoned to Hades, and his flesh did not experience decay.'
(32) It was this very Jesus whom God raised, and of that we are all witnesses.
(33) He has been exalted to the right hand of God, has received from the Father the
promised Holy Spirit, and has poured out what you are seeing and hearing.
(34) For David did not go up to heaven, but he said, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my
right hand,
(35) until I make your enemies your footstool."'
(36) Therefore, let the entire house of Israel understand beyond a doubt that God
made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!"

Later, during his missionary journeys, the Apostle Paul also declared boldly to the Greeks
in Athens:
Acts 17:28-31
(28) For we live, move, and exist because of him, as some of your own poets have said: 'For we
are his children, too.'
(29) So if we are God's children, we shouldn't think that the divine being is like gold, silver, or
stone, or is an image carved by human imagination and skill.
(30) Though God has overlooked those times of ignorance, he now commands everyone
everywhere to repent,
(31) for he has set a day when he is going to judge the world with justice through a man he has
appointed, and he has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead."

When Saint Paul (1Tim 6:14-16) and Saint John (Rev 17:14) referred to Christ (Who is our
atoning Lamb) as the only Potentate Lord of lords, Who alone possesses everlasting
honour, power and immortality, they were acknowledge Jesus as One with God for only
God is Lord of lords both in the Law of Moses (Deut 10:17) and the Psalms of David (Psa
136:3). The Book of Revelation makes known to us that even the Angelic armies of heaven
acknowledge Jesu as the Lord of lords (Rev 19:11-16) and that the glorified Christ insists
from beginning to end of the Book that He is the Alpha and Omega (Rev 1:8,11; 21:6;
22:13)!
GREAT IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS IN CHRIST JESUS!
<<Back to Top>>

WHAT DOES THIS MYSTERY OF THE MESSIAHS SALVATION


IMPLY IN PRACTICE?
IN CHRIST, the fully divine Word took up fully human Flesh by His conception and birth
(John 1:1-18) and took His human body into divinity by resurrection from death. Christ
fulfilled all unimaginable prophecy and fulfilled all impossibilities of the Law. The historical
fact that Christ through His INCARNATION and EXALTATION, broke the intractable barrier
DIVINE SONSHIP AND SAVING GRACE OF THE MESSIAH (CHRIST) by Venerable Dr.
Ifechukwu U. Ibeme. 6
between divinity and humanity has now made the grace available for humans whosoever
believes in Christ to be taken into divinity (2Pet 1:3-4) through Regeneration and
Resurrection (John 1:12-13; Eph 2:6; 1Pet 1:3, 23). The price for solving this intractable
enigma is Christs death in which He shed a sinless blood to atone or propitiate for the
divine wrath toward sinful depravity and sinful guilt of all humanity towards the holy Lord
God. This is what the so great salvation (Heb 2:3) in Christ is all about; and since this
game-changing propitiation is incontrovertibly true historically and divinely approved
stupendously, then humanity could IN CHRIST certainly partake in the divine nature
realistically, not only in temporal and physical matters but also in eternal and spiritual
matters. In grace and truth, in love and holiness, in power and righteousness, believers are
sons and heirs, as well as envoys and viceroys) of God in both this and coming ages (Eph
1:17-23; 2:7). No wonder the Angels (who had peeped into this stupendous mystery 1Pet
1:12) exclaimed in their joyous carol on the first Christmas in Luk 2:14:
Glory to God in the highest heaven!
On earth, peace and goodwill towards humanity!

What then should be our response to this great mystery and gracious offer?
The Apostles have these to say about our proper response to the saving grace that comes
through the Christ:
1 Peter 1:6-17
(6) In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you have to suffer various
kinds of trials,
(7) so that the genuineness of your faith, which is more valuable than gold that perishes when
it is tested by fire, may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
(8) Though you have not seen him, you love him. And even though you do not see him now,
you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
(9) because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
(10) Even the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours, carefully
researched and investigated this salvation.
(11) They tried to find out what era or specific time the Spirit of Christ in them kept referring
to when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
(12) It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you in regard to the
things that have now been announced to you by those who brought you the good news through
the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. These are things that even the angels desire to look
into.
(13) Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep a clear head, and set your hope
completely on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
(14) As obedient children, do not be shaped by the desires that you once had in your
ignorance.
(15) Instead, just as the one who called you is holy, be holy in every aspect of your
life.
(16) For it is written, "You must be holy, because I am holy."
(17) If you call "Father" the one who judges everyone impartially according to
what he has done, you must live in the fear of the Lord as long as you are
strangers here.

2 Peter 1:1-11
(1) From Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a
faith that is as valuable as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior,
Jesus Christ.
(2) May grace and peace be yours in abundance through the full knowledge of God and of
Jesus our Lord!
(3) His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness
through the full knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and
excellence.

DIVINE SONSHIP AND SAVING GRACE OF THE MESSIAH (CHRIST) by Venerable Dr.
Ifechukwu U. Ibeme. 7
(4) Through these he has given us his precious and wonderful promises, so that through
them you may participate in the divine nature, seeing that you have escaped the
corruption that is in the world caused by evil desires.
(5) For this very reason, you must make every effort to supplement your faith with moral
character, your moral character with knowledge,
(6) your knowledge with self-control, your self-control with endurance, your endurance with
godliness,
(7) your godliness with brotherly kindness, and your brotherly kindness with love.
(8) For if you possess these qualities, and if they continue to increase among you, they will
keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in attaining a full knowledge of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
(9) For the person who lacks these qualities is blind and shortsighted, and has forgotten the
cleansing that he has received from his past sins.
(10) So then, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election certain, for
if you keep on doing this you will never fail.
(11) For in this way you will be generously granted entry into the eternal kingdom of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 10:26-31
(26) For if we choose to go on sinning after we have received the full knowledge of the truth,
there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
(27) but only a terrifying prospect of judgment and a raging fire that will consume the
enemies of God
(28) Anyone who violates the law of Moses dies without mercy "on the testimony of two or
three witnesses."
(29) How much more severe a punishment do you think that person deserves who
tramples on God's Son, treats as common the blood of the covenant by which it
was sanctified, and insults the Spirit of grace?
(30) For we know the one who said, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will pay them back," and
again, "The Lord will judge his people."
(31) It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!

The GRACE of our Lord Christ is given as His blood-covenant GENEROSITY which specially
but specifically GRANTS humanity undeserved but not permissive PARDON, PRIVILEGES
and POWER to every penitent believer, which grace also teaches and demands great
spiritual and moral responsibility from those saved and sanctified as a result of such
manifold grant (Luk 12:47-48; Tit 2:11-14; Heb 10:26-31). It is unfortunate that the Gentile
Church, under the syncretising influence of the TRADITIONS of ancient pagan cultures and
the TRENDS of modern heathen cultures, seems to have borrowed the word grace from
the Scripture only to give it unscriptural and cultural meaning that implies licentiousness
and dissipation rather than righteousness and regeneration (Gal 5:3; Tit 2:11-12; 1Pet
2:16; Jude 4). In matters of saving TRUTH and our faith of Christ, cultural
rationalisation and arbitrary speculation (which are fallible and temporal) must
entirely give way to contextual interpretation of biblical revelation (which is
infallible and eternal). When historical TRADITIONS, ideological THOUGHTS, popular
TRENDS and personal TENDENCIES about divine matters do not derive wholesomely from
the Scriptural TRUTH, then they don't really serve any useful purpose in eternity. Due to
human depravity, human reflections hardly tantamount divine revelation. Beware of any
popular culture or personal claim that obscures and opposes plain contextual Scripture,
because old TRADITIONS, prevailing THOUGHTS, new TRENDS and personal TENDENCIES
are hardly the same thing as eternal TRUTH witnessed to by the Scripture.

It is true that the SACERDOTAL SANCTIFYING WORKS OF THE LAW cannot give eternal
life but the SAVING SANCTIFYING WORK OF CHRIST does (Heb 10:4), yet the moral
standards and righteous judgments of Gods law are unchanging and binding on all nations
DIVINE SONSHIP AND SAVING GRACE OF THE MESSIAH (CHRIST) by Venerable Dr.
Ifechukwu U. Ibeme. 8
and peoples from Eden till the final judgment (Mat 16:27; Rev 20:12). The Apostles insisted
that whereas our good works do not save us (Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:5), yet good works are
expected of us after we are saved (Eph 2:10; Tit 3:8). Scripture also teaches that the
temporal SACERDOTAL WORKS OF THE LAW mediated through animal blood (by Aaronic
Priests in the shadow earthly Tabernacle/Temple) cannot save eternally nor purify
consciences but the SAVING WORK OF CHRIST finished through His gracious blood (by
Himself Who is the High Priest in the substantive heavenly Sanctuary) cleanses the
conscience and saves to the uttermost and eternally (Heb 8:1-6; 9:11-15). This distinct
TRUTH confuses modern heathen minds; consequently todays Church has veered off
biblical TRUTH and is sliding down the path of unscriptural error with unprecedented
alacrity due to their personal TENDENCIES, denominational TRADITIONS, revisionist
TEACHINGS, existentialist THOUGHTS and postmodernist TRENDS.
<<Back to Top>>

CHRISTS JUSTIFYING GRACE, GODS JUST LAW and


POSTMODERNISM
The Jews in their arrogance mistook the LAW for institutional legalism and externality
instead of guidance to divine truth;
The Church in her ignorance has also mistaken GRACE for individual libertinism and
spontaneity instead of divine enablement for purity.
Ritual cleansing works provided by the OT have been superseded by the Spiritual saving
work provided by the Cross of the NT. On the other hand, Moral truth and precepts of both
OT and NT are not divergent but in agreement, only that their bases of operation vary.
The elementary moral standards of OT Laws and regulations demand elementary
LEGALITY and compliance based on institutional SUPERVISION.
The advanced moral standards of NT Love and holiness deserve advanced LOYALTY and
commitment based on spiritual SUBMISSION.

LAW DOES NOT GIVE POWER OR HEAVENLY ACCESS, BUT GIVES SPIRITUAL
TRUTH.
GRACE DOES NOT GIVE MORAL LICENSE, BUT GIVES POWER AND HEAVENLY
ACCESS.
We need GRACE for divine power and heavenly access but still need moral (not
ritual) LAW for spiritual truth.

Gentile heathenish misconceptions especially in recent times, give careless and


unscripturally technical interpretation of scriptural words (e.g. works of the Law, works of
righteousness, law/Word of God/Christ/Spirit/life, law of sin/death, the Law and Grace)
thereby breeding confusion in distinguishing between the following:
between our personal good WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS which we do, and
priestly ritual WORKS OF THE LAW which is done for us (Eph 2:8-10; Tit 3:5-8);
between ritual CODE of WORKS of the Law to cleanse the body CEREMONIALLY, and
spiritual CREED of WORD of the Law to illuminate and guide the heart MORALLY.
between personal MORAL PRECEPTS in the commandments, concessions and
counsels of the Law (i.e. spirit of the law), and priestly MEDIATORIAL POWERS in
the cleansing ceremonies of the Law (i.e. works of the law);
between temporal or external cleansing of shadowy RITUAL LAW of SACRIFICES
performed repeatedly by sinful Levites with ANIMAL BLOOD provided by sinners,
and eternal or internal cleansing of substantive REDEMPTIVE GRACE of SALVATION
perfected once-for-all by the sinless Christ with His PRECIOUS BLOOD provided by
God (Heb 9:23-25; 10:8-14).

Apparently, the Church in her euphoria or vanity is unaware that Christs GRACE
when spurned, brings GREATER JUDGMENT than the LAW could ever bring (Luk

DIVINE SONSHIP AND SAVING GRACE OF THE MESSIAH (CHRIST) by Venerable Dr.
Ifechukwu U. Ibeme. 9
12:47-48; John 15:22-24; Heb 10:28-31; 2Pet 2:17-20). Christs SAVING GRACE grants
undeserved LIBERATION from (and POWER over) sin, self and Satan for eternity,
as well as undeserved PRIVILEGE of being indwelled and led by the Holy Spirit
for our purity; however, GRACE forbids unreserved LICENCE and carnality (Rom
6:15 and 8:1-9; Gal 2:17 and 5:13,16-18; 1Pet 2:16).

Christs GRACE does not only save believers from the penalty, power and presence of their
sins but also translates them from Abrahams Promised Land and netherworld bosom of
Paradise BELOW (Luk 16:22-26) unto Christs heavenly presence of Paradise ABOVE for
eternal glory of the resurrected (2Cor 5:6-8; Rev 6:10-11). On the other hand Christs
JUSTICE has further condemned the NETHERWORLD HELL with its chains of darkness and
death in hades unto the greater damnation of the ETERNAL HELL with its second death and
everlasting torment of gehennah furnace or lake of fire (Mat 5:22; 13:42; 2Pet 2:4; Jude
1:6; Rev 21:13-15).

Christ, the Bringer of Grace declared the balance between God's loving goodness in
salvation and God's wrathful severity in damnation.
John 3:16-18
(16) "For this is how God loved the world: He gave his unique Son so that everyone who
believes in him might not perish but have eternal life.
(17) For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be
saved through him.
(18) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already
been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God's unique Son.

St Paul, the Apostle of Grace also gave a warning or teaching against the erroneous
presumption that Gods Grace excludes Gods Righteousness or that Gods Love excludes
Gods Wrath. Some even mistake Grace for Predestination and irresistible Election. This is
Gentile lopsided error and not wholesome Scriptural truth.
Romans 11:21-22
(21) For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also not spare you.
(22) Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them who fell, severity; but
toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness: otherwise you also shall be cut off.

1Corinthians 10:1-6
(1) For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the fact that all of our ancestors were
under the cloud, and they all went through the sea,
(2) and they all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
(3) and they all ate the same spiritual food,
(4) and they all drank the same spiritual drink, for they continually drank from the spiritual
Rock that went with them, and that Rock was Christ.
(5) But God wasn't pleased with most of them, and so they were struck down in the
wilderness.
(6) Now these things became examples for us so that we won't set our hearts on evil as they
did.

As the Scriptures warn, Grace is NOT LICENSE (Jude 1:4) to remain as we were and do as
we feel or could, rather GRACE is unmerited ACCESS into Gods presence and supernatural
ENABLEMENT to do as God feels or could. It is by Grace that all believers in Christ are
redeemed from their depraved nature and brought into His Divine Nature (2Pet 2:3-4) so
they begin to live in the supernatural. New Testament (Saving) GRACE is Gods full
and free answer to Human Depravity.... So Grace as the WORK OF SALVATION
finished in Christ, FULFILS the rituals of the Law (Mat 5:17-20) and ESTABLISHES
the promises of the Law and EMPOWERS us to live the precepts of the Law (Rom
3:31) for us to inherit the PROMISES of the Law and even the far better New
Testament promises of eternity in heaven. Gods Law through Moses gave us the
DIVINE SONSHIP AND SAVING GRACE OF THE MESSIAH (CHRIST) by Venerable Dr.
Ifechukwu U. Ibeme. 10
divine revelation/CONFIGURATION of righteousness for inheritance of the Promised Land
expecting Christ, but Gods grace through Christ gave us the divine regeneration/UPGRADE
to righteousness for the inheritance of the Heavenly Paradise experiencing Christ.

Todays world of postmodern paganism is angrily rebellious against Gods justice and
anxiously abhors (THEOSTUGEIA Rom 1:30) the worship of the Holy and Only God because
they learn that according to Gods Law, righteous wrath is incurred by their sinful
lawlessness. This new heathenish vogue that detests any responsibility for their
wrong-doing has produced rebellious hatred against parental discipline which
became trendy vogue amongst boomer youths since the hippie
countercultural movement in the 1960s as a fulfilment of 2Tim 3:1-5.

In Postmodern hippie culture someone is hailed to be cool if one does not


frown at anything as immoral or sinful; the only detestable wrong is when one
says that someone else is wrong or especially that something is sinful.
Postmodernists are not angry at their sins but angry at Gods Law and every absolute
standards of morality and truth or any father figure that would point their sins out or
frown at it; yet it is NOT Gods good Law BUT our evil sins that messed us up before God
(Isa 59:1-3; Rom 7:7-13). Postmodern heathenish existentialism and agnosticism have
become a press-gang driving the Church so hard to deny the divine revelations of
Scripture, confuse the truth about Law and Grace to end up derailing into lopsided fallacies
of antinomianism and libertinism license to get whatever I want and do whatever I
want that has progressively worsened both Church and the world by day.

The SAVING GRACE of the New Covenant is primarily the DIVINE POWER THAT
DESTROYS SINS POWER AND ENDOWS HOLINESS (Rom 6:11-15) which God grants
favourably through Christ. Postmodern Christianity would promote the preaching of
power to overcome diseases, failure and poverty but not power to overcome sin. They
would rather keep silence about sin and holiness because it makes the proud, rebellious
and sin-loving Gentiles feel angry, depressed and humiliated.

The post-evangelical Church teaches the deceptive heathen error and lie of postmodern
spirituality that SOBER WATCHFULNESS against falling into sin and CONTRITE
PENITENCE when someone sins are what constitute SIN CONSCIOUSNESS
mentioned in Heb 10:2-4. Strangely, they think and teach that SEARED
CONSCIENCE wilful refusal to examine ones life with Scriptural standards
(1Tim 4:1-2; Jude 1:4) is a virtue instead! The truth that agrees with Scripture
is this:
SIN CONSCIOUSNESS is not diligent WATCHFULNESS TO AVOID WILFUL SIN
(Heb 3:12; 4:1; 12:15),
SIN CONSCIOUSNESS is not the terror of falling into the hands of the living
God (Heb 10:26-31), and
SIN CONSCIOUSNESS is not the humble contrition FOR SECRET AND UN-
CONFESSED SIN (1Jon 1:8-10);
Rather, SIN CONSCIOUSNESS according to Scriptures is the failure to
realise Gods pardon for sin or the feeling that such pardon for sin is lost.
Post-evangelicals would teach Christians to confess positively about being healed, being
able to do all things, and about getting all they want (and in Africa they would teach
Christians to confess positively that their enemies would fall down or die and that ill-will
from foes be returned to the sender) but would not teach about positively confessing to sin
no more or to be holy or love towards enemies. They would not teach obedient submission
to Gods will whatever our constraints; rather they would teach people to resist Gods will
by what they falsely call faith. This shows they do not love God or their fellows with
divine love which is sacrificial, but only love themselves with greedy and selfish love.

DIVINE SONSHIP AND SAVING GRACE OF THE MESSIAH (CHRIST) by Venerable Dr.
Ifechukwu U. Ibeme. 11
Thank God, we have the true precepts of COMPREHENSIVE divine revelation
CONTEXTUALLY documented in the Scriptures that we need no modern heathenish
presumptions or unfruitful humanist ideas to misinform us on what is true. God help us all.
<<Back to Top>>

Updated December 30, 2013


by Ven. Dr. I. U. Ibeme
Copyright PriscAquila Publishing, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Click here for
PriscAquila Christian Resource Centre
http://priscaquila.6te.net

DIVINE SONSHIP AND SAVING GRACE OF THE MESSIAH (CHRIST) by Venerable Dr.
Ifechukwu U. Ibeme. 12

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen