THE CURRENT MINISTRY OF JESUS

"Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens" (Heb 7:25-16, NKJV).

Devotion 3 of 11

Jesus gives us an understanding of God

I am pledged to wage relentless war against any approach to God that is confined to the area of academics. The thought of a salvation eliminating the involvement of the saved with their Savior is contradictory to the very concept of salvation. Although there are abuses of this view, we will not allow our adversaries to take it from us. The Word of God clearly teaches this involvement, and those who walk by faith confirm that it is so. "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life" (1 John 5:20). The phrase "Son of God IS come" is translated "has come" by most other translations. This does not refer to a past event, however, but to a present condition. The word translated "is come" is heko, hay'-ko. This is a primary verb meaning "to arrive, i.e. be present (lit. or fig.):--come." The idea is, HE IS HERE! And why is the Lord Jesus here? To give "us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true." The knowledge of God is then declared to be "eternal life," as also stated by Jesus Himself in John 17:3. Some sophists will object to this proclamation, stating that the understanding was granted to the Apostles, and not to us who have believed on Christ through their word. Nevertheless, this is not so. The issue here is knowing God and possessing eternal life. Anyone supposing this applies only to the Apostles betrays a fundamental ignorance of the nature of salvation. The Apostles were not the only ones to whom Jesus came. They were not the only ones given an understanding. They certainly are not the only ones in the Lord, nor are they the only ones possessing eternal life. The fact is, Jesus is currently ministering the understanding required to "know Him that is true," and possess "eternal life."

Jesus is speaking from heaven

A silent Jesus is one that cannot save. The sword with which He smites the nations proceeds from His mouth (Rev 19:15), and the glorious teaching afforded those coming to Him (Matt 11:18ff) comes from His mouth! He has not ceased to speak, and we must not cease to hear. "See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven" (Heb 12:25). There is no need to argue about whether He speaks in audible tones, heard with the natural ear. Such questioning evidences insensitivity to the Lord. If you must have "ears to ear," spiritual hearing is obviously transcendent to natural abilities. Moses said to Israel, "Yet the Lord hath not given you . . . ears to hear . . . " (Deut 29:4). Would the modern deists rebuke Moses for so speaking? From another perspective, God told Ezekiel, "They have ears to hear, and hear not" (Ezek 12:2); i.e., their rebellion has rendered them incapable of hearing the Lord. Little wonder Jesus thrice cried, "he that hath ears to hear, let him hear" (Matt 11:15; 13:9,43). Jesus is now speaking to the hearts of men "from heaven." It is true that He uses appointed means, speaking through the Word, and often through circumstance. Yet, it is He who is speaking, and we do well to give heed to Him. Many spiritual inclinations we experience are actually the Lord Jesus speaking to us, manifesting Himself to us, and leading us in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

-- TOMORROW: ETERNAL REDEMPTION --