Christology and it’s Supreme Power
As followers of the Messiah, one clear goal set for us in the scriptures is to “know Him [Christ] and the power of His resurrection”. (Phil. 3:10). This is where Christology (the study of Christ) comes in. It is not only core to true Christian theology;
It is a must for every serious believer: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2Pet. 3:18).
The centrality of Christology in the Christian life can never be overemphasized. The ultimate objective of the call to Christology is to bring edification to the body of Christ till we attain “the stature of the fullness of Christ”. The various tasks entrusted to the five ministries or offices in the church are all part of the divine blueprint for church growth and promotion. (Eph. 4:11-13).
The continued wellbeing of the church–the body of Christ–is a spiritual imperative, for the glory of the church is the glory of Christ and likewise her shame.
As “a merciful and faithful high priest” who is not incapable of being “touched with the feeling of our infirmities,” He empathizes with us and indeed shares whatever experiences we go through. (Heb. 2:17; 4:15).
In joy and in pain, Christ is there for us, but He by no means stops at empathy. As the power and wisdom of God (1Cor. 1:24), He is able to bring healing and relief to any part or member of His body which might be in pain or in some other discomfort.
Where morning would otherwise dominate the atmosphere, He gives joy and praise so His body will flourish. (Isaiah 61:1-3).
Christology helps us grasp more deeply the nature of our spiritual relationship with Christ. It gives us an insight into our own spiritual standing as the members of the body of Christ: We are Christ-like; we resemble Christ–a people endowed with His spiritual nature.
That’s why Christ was sorely disappointed at the failure of His disciples to drive away evil spirits from a mental patient (Matt. 17:14-20). Their failure, He said, was due to their lack of faith–something woefully unChrist-like.
Obviously, the disciples had not at that time attained “the stature of the fullness of Christ.” But not any longer. The scriptures make a definite call to the Christ-like nature:
“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” (Rom. 12:14).
It’s a call not only to the power of Christ, but more specifically to His character. It involves crucifying the flesh and its lusts (as in Gal 5:19-21) so that Christ may live in us, that we may produce the fruit of the spirit–love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, faith, meekness, temperance–against which there is no law. (Gal. 2:20; 5:22-23).
The concluding phrase “against such there is no law” shows that true Christians who have put on Christ are, of necessity, law-abiding and not transgressors of God’s law on morality or holiness.
Our fully-fledged status as extensions of the Messiah is laid bare in Col.3:3: “When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory”.
In more specific language, 1 John 4:17 tells us: “as He [Christ] is, so are we in this world.”
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost set off the process of believers’ transformation into the divine nature of Christ. That process will not be completed until the ascension of the saints to heaven.
The aeroplane for the flight to heaven arrived on the day of Pentecost with the descent of the Spirit; it will take off on the return of Christ, bound for the kingdom of heaven. (1Thess 4:16-17; John 14:2-3; Rev. 19:1).
With Christ at the head of His saints (all Christ-like), the everlasting gates of heaven–the pearly gates–shall open to Him and His entourage. The heavenly, angelic sentinels will usher Him in with appellations:
“Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.” (Psalm 24:8-10).
Halleluia! Christ is, indeed, our LIFE and SALVATION.
May Yahweh, our Father, grant us the grace to “comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height [of the knowledge of Christ].
“And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:18-19). In Him is Amen! (2Cor. 1:18-20).
