The Roles Of Christ
March 2023 |
“And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
—Revelation 19:16
FOUR DISTINCT ROLES OF CHRIST
Have you ever considered what roles that Jesus Christ should play in your daily life? Perhaps this question has never been a serious consideration even though you believe you know how important Christ is to you.
Recently, I began to consider four distinct roles that Jesus Christ plays or should play in my own life: His role as Savior, His role as King, His role as Lord, and His role as friend. In this brief synopsis, I would like to attempt to open our eyes to these roles and encourage you to consider each role, your understanding of it, and the depth of your experience in each.
HIS ROLE AS SAVIOR
His role as Savior is by far the most important role that Christ plays in anyone’s life. It is the reason why He left heaven and came to earth, was born, and then crucified. In Matthew 1:21 the Bible says, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” To save mankind from the dilemma of being separated from God was the key reason for the incarnation. He did this for us. In this role, He saves us from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and the presence of sin through His finished work at Calvary.
First, every believing sinner who comes to Christ in faith is freed from the penalty of his sin. His simple faith in Christ grants him this coveted position and it allows him to remain in relationship with God, despite failure, while traveling through the learning process of the Christian life. This phenomenon is referred to as justification.
Second, every believing sinner who comes to Christ in faith is instantly sanctified. This means that he has been set free from the power of sin, both internal and external. As believers, we are not called to defeat sin; we are called to walk in the victory over sin that Jesus has afforded us. He alone saves and sanctifies. Then it becomes our responsibility to walk by faith in His finished work so the evidence of that victory might be manifested in our everyday lives. His work is done while our understanding and application of that work is progressive.
Finally, one day, the true saint will be glorified. The very presence of sin and all things sinful will be forever eliminated. This is what Jesus does and will do in His role as Savior.
HIS ROLE AS KING
Throughout the course of human history, many men have attempted to claim the title of “King of kings.” While some were certainly noteworthy and impacted a large segment of humanity, none ever achieved complete sovereignty over the entirety of the world. This does not stand true for Jesus Christ. As a result of His sacrifice for mankind, God elevated Christ Jesus to a status that will never be equaled or undone. In Philippians 2:10 the Bible says, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” Jesus is not only the monarch of man’s world, but He is also the overriding ruler of all things in heaven, all things upon the earth, and all things under the earth.
I fear that, at times, the church fails to see Him in this role. We fail to honor Him in the way that He deserves. Yes, He is a personal Savior, but do we recognize Him daily as the one and only supreme King? We should tremble before Him and acknowledge Him as the sovereign King of all the ages. He alone has attained this status and will maintain it forever. He is always worthy of reverent worship and bended knee. He truly is the King of kings.
HIS ROLE AS LORD
As Lord, Jesus presides over the church as highest-ranking Head and Master. We should understand that we are not our own; we have been bought with a price. I wonder how many ministries or Christian efforts are truly under the leadership and lordship of Jesus Christ. Many are seeking ministries that benefit themselves more than the furtherance of Christ’s kingdom. Are we truly careful to seek His will over every ministry decision that we make? Are we following the specific detailed instructions of our Lord and Savior? In John 13:13 Jesus said, “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.” If He is truly the Lord of all that we are, then our lives must be submitted to His directions, His will, and always under His guidance. We are not saved to live life separated from the commands and directives of our Lord and Master. Are you following His lordship today?
HIS ROLE AS FRIEND
Although this will be the last role of Christ mentioned, it is far from trivial. The comfort that is gained by acknowledging Jesus Christ as friend is sometimes the most needful influence in a believer’s life.
When we see that He loves us, not just as an object of His ministry, but as a dearly beloved friend, we can gain the confidence that we need to move forward through every circumstance. When our hearts are hurt by the circumstances that life presents, it is His comforting hand alone that heals the broken heart and sets at liberty those that are bruised. How often have we desperately needed and then received the comfort of His love, the comfort of His friendship? Have you forgotten that you have a friend that sticks closer than a brother? Do you believe that this too is one of the major roles of your Savior, your King, and your Lord? He truly is that blessed friend!
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