47 - Conceptually, Christ is . . .(5)

In contrast to the more "symbolic" concepts, there are many very precious pictures which are not focused on enough by Christendom because we are tempted to have a religion instead of a relationship. Religion can be a positive or negative word and I won't get into that today. Instead, allow me to share why the negative is a thing to be concerned about.

As long as we think of ourselves as part of a religion we just don't "do" Sonship very well. So - picture number one for today is - CHRIST was to be the first born of MANY brothers. Covenant concepts show us that we receive the IDENTITY of Christ when we by faith are joined with Him in our baptism experience. By faith we are born "from above" and are now on the earth - sorta like Jesus. SO - conceptually we are SONS OF GOD. We probably need to resist the temptation to not allow that to be real. Think back with me to David as he took on Goliath - and he was having a hard time getting even the King to realize that the battle is the Lord's. But - there are ramifications of the concept. Deuteronomy had taught how to go to war as God's possession, and several concepts were very important. Possibly number one - all fearful should go home. WAIT - that means only David should have been in this battle by God's standards. Well - only David WAS in the battle directly and he represented Israel all by himself. Obviously though, David was there FOR ISRAEL and as Israel. Why would he go out there alone? Because his aim was to show that "there is a GOD in Israel" and "the battle is the Lord's". And - he knew he wasn't alone. (SO - don't worry if others are fearful - or rebellious - be a representative for them.)

So - we see some pictures of those concepts in Jesus - the victor, the fighter, and the one who was not fearful and knew the battle was the Lord's. ADD to that the fact that HE knew He represented humanity and needed to win the battle for them - because THEY were fearful and un-trusting of God and His provision. (As for His focus - Peter writes that "He entrusted Himself to HIM who judges justly".) There has been a tendency to ask "WHY does God even care about faithless rebellious and negative people?" But - the Biblical covenant answer is - those are the ones He came to win the battle for - to secure victory on their behalf- because they are fearful, rebellious and negative. (Besides - that's about ALL He has- we are all the sheep who went astray.) HE is the CHAMPION - the representative - the "needed one" for all of us. So - see the concept of our need to be perfect - and then see perfection coming to us in the Person of Jesus. See us getting HIS perfection - HIS performance and then receiving His victory and the spoils of THE war.

So - for right now - focus in on Jesus as a concept of US WINNING. That is why Jesus is covenant - KEPT covenant. However - to do that we have to correct our idea of faith to some extent. In the concept of Jesus is covenant - FAITH is focused on HIM and His performance and His victory. So - my question at this point is - did HE win - did HE overcome death; did HE pay for sin; did HE raise from the dead; did HE promise to be with us always?

SO - Christ is our need. Christ is all and in you all. God chose to sum up everything in Christ - and then give Him to you and me. So - if we try to focus on OUR lives and behavior - we'll be fearful folks worrying about the latest Goliath to arrive on the scene. Christ has ALREADY fought the war - already won the victory and already assured US of the spoils of battle.

Actually - the concept is very REAL - Christ is our champion. And - once in awhile I like to allow my mind to be creative and picturesque - maybe we can even see Jesus in the battle scene - in David as a picture of a representative - or maybe even as a ROCK! Since Jesus has so many dual roles, why not include both? So - Jesus is the ROCK . . .of provision - not just water, but protection. More to come