GETTING THE MESSAGE/Christ came to save sinners

The first time Christ came into the world, he came in humility and in the weakness of our nature. He came incognito with respect to the glory that he has as the Son of God, though that glory was about to burst out on occasions. He came to save sinners, a great and necessary salvation.

The second time Christ comes, he will come in glory and power. That is what we see in Revelation 19:11. John looked and “saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.” The color white signifies victory; Christ goes to his final triumph.

In the same way that Christ fulfilled the Scriptures when he came into the world, as the humble servant of God who was obedient even to death on the cross, so the Lord Jesus will fulfill his promise to come in glory and judge all his and his people’s enemies. He is faithful and true. 

Many of his people suffered for their faith, and all had to overcome temptations and troubles in the world in keeping with their faith; they will be rewarded and vindicated when Christ comes, just as he promised. He is all that is great, gracious, and glorious, and you will find that your confidence in him was not in vain. The Lord Jesus is to be trusted with your body and soul.  

His enemies, however, will discover that their unbelief, mockery, and hostility towards Christ and the testimony of his people provokes a vengeance proportionate to their offenses. If the Lord judges and makes war against you, who can deliver you? How can you stand? Christ coming to make war is the inevitable end of a world in rebellion against heaven itself.

This makes vivid how great the salvation is that Christ worked for us. In Romans 3, Paul tells us that God offered Christ as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. Propitiation means that Christ satisfied the wrath of God and met the righteous requirement of God’s justice. We no longer sit under the dark shadow of death and judgment.

If I come to Christ for salvation, I come into his kingdom and under his reign. I have been delivered to pursue the path of truth and righteousness. If we look to the heavenly city we are hoping for, then let us strive to live as proper citizens of that city.  

There is an influence of grace that comes with waiting and looking to the place you belong. We are pilgrims here, redeemed to honor God in holiness until we see him. Heaven becomes heaven when you have waited on it. Would you have contentment? Be heavenly minded. It is good to remember the beginning of salvation and it is wise to look to the end and to see who is faithful and true in both the beginning and the end.

In Revelation 19:12 we read, “His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he had a name written that no one knows but himself.” The eyes like fire mean there is nothing hidden from Christ; he searches out all things with a holy inspection. We need to see our sin in light of that dreadful holiness and confess our sins openly before Him.

The many diadems on his head point to his sovereign majesty. In Psalm 8, we read about how majestic the name of the Lord is. Jesus quoted this psalm when the Jewish leaders were offended at children praising Jesus: “Out of the mouths of babes you have ordained praise.” Proud sinners are offended at the praise of Christ until they become like little children.

To become like a child refers to dependence and need. Proverbs says, “Cursed are the proud in spirit.” Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Until we are poor in spirit we cannot be filled with Christ. We are like a glass full of ourselves that must be emptied first. The poor in spirit see their defects and deformities before God. Christ is precious to those who have come into the light of his grace.

If you know you have filthy rags for clothing, you are glad to exchange them for the righteous clothing of Christ’s righteousness. The poor in spirit are great admirers of Christ. They can look for his coming in glory with eager confidence. They have made provision for that day.