“This is a faithful saying and worthy of
all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom
I am chief.”
--- 1Timothy 1:15 (NKJV)
1.
Who
is He? (v15b)
How would you trust the person unless you know him? The following
phrase “Christ Jesus came into the world” teaches us four
uniqueness of Jesus Christ
i.
Christ
– The Anointed
Firstly, He is the Christ! The name Christ has its meaning. Just
like my name, Solomon means “peaceful” from Hebrew word shalom.
Timothy is a Greek name meaning, “honoring God.”
Christ is a Greek word from ‘Christos’ which means “anointed one.”
It is derived from the Jewish terminology Messiah, which means the same thing,
“anointed one.” What is anointed one? In the times of the Bible when a specific person is chosen or appointed to do a
specific task, the term ‘anointed’ is used, and often done with an oil!
Therefore, it means, chosen one, appointed one.
It is a Jewish/Biblical concept, long established from the very
beginning, Eden Garden when Adam and Eve
first sinned. God promises them that a child would be born to bruise the head
of the serpent (Gen 3:15).
“And I will put enmity
Between you and the
woman,
And between your seed
and her Seed;
He shall bruise your
head,
And you shall bruise
His heel.”
This promised child was not born then, and you know that child is
this Jesus born on Christmas day, 2000 years ago!
This concept of the coming
Messiah by the times of Moses was more developed when he said a Prophet is
coming after Him in Deuteronomy 18:18. Moses was just like an advertisement for
this Messiah!
“I will raise up for them a Prophet like
you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall
speak to them all that I command Him.”
By the times of Judges in Israel, it is more developed as
expressed in 1 Samuel2:35, that God will raise up a Priest.
Then I will raise up
for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and
in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed
forever.
And by the time of Kings, it
is more developed as seen in 2 Samuel 7:11-17 that God will raise up a King.
“since the time that I commanded judges to
be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a
house.[a] “When your days are fulfilled and you rest
with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your
body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a
house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father,
and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod
of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall
not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and
your kingdom shall be established forever before you.[b] Your throne
shall be established forever.”’” According to all
these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.”
And by the time of the fall of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, this is far greatly developed as seen in
Jeremiah 23:5-6, Isaiah 9:6 that the Messiah will be a wonderful Counselor,
mighty God, everlasting Prince of peace.
“Behold, the days are
coming,” says the LORD, “ That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;
A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the
earth. In His days Judah
will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He
will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Jeremiah 23:5-6
“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will
be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of
Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
And then by the time of Daniel (Dan9:26), even the way how the
world would treat the Messiah is prophesized.
“And after the
sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people
of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The
end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are
determined.”
So who is this Messiah? It has been the promised one from the very
beginning – the One to kill the serpent, the Prophet to represent God, the
Priest to take away sins, the King to deliver and rule righteously, the Prince
of peace to give peace and prosperity!
It was not yet born until Christmas day. The world particularly
Jews, the Israelites, the covenant people of God through Abraham were waiting. That
was why when Herod heard about the news of the birth of Christ in Matthew2:4,
he knew what to do. He gathered all the priest and scribes, and asked where the
Christ/Messiah would be born? And they told Him, “Bethlehem,” because Prophet
Micah (Mic5:2) predicted it already.
All of them were waiting for Messiah, even that adulterous
Samaritan woman was waiting for it in Jn4:25, because the sacrificial systems
to take away sins for forgiveness are
just the model for the true Sacrifice, Jesus would pay at the Cross! Without
the true Sacrifice of God, there is no forgiveness of sins!
The name Christ rings out loud that God’s promise of Salvation is
fulfilled. God has been in this program from day 1 when sin corrupted the
world. Gospel to save you has been long before you were born! God’s desire and
plan to save you is not random, nor hasty. It has been planned carefully,
fittingly, graciously, and gloriously! And that plan is – the man Jesus, born
on Christmas day whom you need to trust for your
salvation!