Jesus is Christ

1 John 5:1-2 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.
 
THE title of this lesson may seem obvious. We connect “Christ” with Jesus to the point we think Jesus’ full name is Jesus Christ. Ture, “Christ” does name who Jesus is. But “Christ” is “Messiah”. It identifies Jesus’ purpose to be born of God onto the earth. John repeatedly teaches that Jesus who came from Nazareth, grew up in humble circumstances, ministered healing, taught the truth, died on a cross, rose from the grave, ascended to heaven is the Messiah. He is the one the prophets had proclaimed. This was a key to helping the Jews know Jesus fulfilled God’s covenant law. Here is one prophecy of the hundreds recorded:
    Psalms 102:25 “In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. 27 But you remain the same, and your years will never end. 28 The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you.”
    The psalmist praised God for the relationship he has with God. He confessed God is eternal. He celebrated what God has done and prophesied the eternal view of living in God’s family, “Their descendants will be established before you.” As we know, John wrote many times, too, of the believer’s child-father relationship to the Holy God. That is possible only through the Messiah. John knows Jesus is the Messiah because he witnessed Jesus fulfill the many Messiah prophecies.   
    All must know. This is the eternal truth to believe and to live into each day as we confess, “I believe in Jesus Christ.”
    Love for brothers and sisters in the church, then, must be the evidence of our faith. Throughout the Bible, you will find the blessings of people who live together loving the Lord and loving one another with respect, humility, honor and forgiveness. Certainly you have frequently heard this. Do you live it? Do you understand this is a mark of faith?
    This is the way of life because Jesus is the Christ.
 
Life Thought: Consider a love act you can do for a brother or sister in Christ today. Then go ahead. Do it.