The Wednesday Word

The Gospel and Faith, Part 6

by D G Miles McKee
 

Many times, in the Old Testament, the question is asked of God “Who is like unto Thee.” For example,
 
“Who is like unto Thee, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? (Exodus 15:11)
 
Likewise, “Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto Thee!” (Psalms 71:19). 

Furthermore, “Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardons iniquity and passes by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retains not his anger forever, because He delights in mercy (Micah 7:18). 

Who indeed is like Jesus? Is Buddha like Him? No! Or Mohammed?No! Or any of the host of religious leaders from the past?  No! When do we ever read of Buddha, Mohammed or Confucius or any of them cleansing their people from their sins? Never! Who is like unto Thee?
 
Not only did Christ cleanse His people’s sin, but forty days after the crucifixion, He ascended into heaven, where He was welcomed with all honour and exaltation.  But here’s the thing … when He was welcomed and honoured, His blood bought people were exalted and seated along with Him (Ephesians 2:5-6).
 
That’s what the Word teaches, and we, believers, take it by faith!  Neither Buddha nor Mohammed nor any of the famous religious leaders did this for their people!  So, the follower of Christ can now say, “As certainly as God came to this earth in the Person of Jesus Christ, just so certainly have I gone to heaven in Him.”

Let me challenge you … begin to make this your confession!   Tell yourself this truth of being in Christ.  Let it fasten itself to your heart.

‘Brother Miles, are you suggesting that we think this truth?’  Yes indeed, think it!  But don’t stop there.  Don’t merely think it, say it … confess it and declare it. We are complete in Him (Colossians 2:10).  
 
The gospel is not, as some would have us believe, about all the good things that He is going to do at some stage in the future, nor is it all about the good things God is doing now in our lives, but rather, the gospel proclaims Christ, His doing, dying and rising again.  It is objective not subjective.  In the gospel, we focus on Christ and the wonderful things He accomplished in the past in history.
 
As a result of the gospel, we see we have been forgiven, justified, adopted, reconciled, redeemed and restored to glory and honour in the Person of Jesus Christ. What wonderful news!
 
Listen to this, as a result of the gospel we can say, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). Also, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ, by grace ye are saved and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 2:4-6).
 
To summarise, faith sees and embraces that we are in Christ and that we are complete in Him (Colossians 2:10).

And that’s the Gospel Truth!

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