How Should We Look at Jesus?

Dr. Joseph Chang1/12/2014

BOLGPC

• Jesus as the Law & Prophets demand of him• How the people looked at Jesus?• Disciples’ View of Jesus• How should we look at Jesus?

• 1. Past-Justification. 過去—稱義 .• 2. Present-Sanctification. 現在—成聖 .• 3. Future-Glorification/Reward. 未來—得榮耀 / 獎賞 .

• 保羅說 , 1 你們死在過犯罪惡之中，他叫你們活過來。 ( 弗 2:1)1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, (Eph 2:1)

I. Start the kingdom in you.

• The Lord’s Prayer, “Thy Kingdom Come”.• 20Once, having been asked by the Pharisees

when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20-21)

• The kingdom starts in your heart.

• It is a physical kingdom.• 20Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus

with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21"What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." 22"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" "We can," they answered. 23Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father." (Matt 20:20-23)

• 42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:42-43)

• 3In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (John 3:3)

• 5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. (John 3:5)

II. Wash away your wrinkles.

II. Wash away your wrinkles.

• 25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. (Eph 5:25-27)

II. Wash away your wrinkles.

• Knowing being loved will help us easier to be changed.

II. Wash away your wrinkles.• A. Bear spiritual fruit in our lives. • 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. (Gal 5:22-24)

• B. Bear fruits in Jesus' kingdom.• That is, bring more people to Christ.

III. Build up your true retirement plan.

• God will take care our earthly retirement.• 58Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air

have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." (Luke 9:58)

• 39He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. (John 19:39-40)

III. Build up your true retirement plan.

• 57As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. (Matt 27:57-60)

James Hudson Taylor 戴德生 (5/21/1832-6/3/1905)

• Founder of China Inland Mission 中國內地會創辦人 .

Conclusion

• God has a wonderful plan in our lives.• 1. Grab the opportunity when salvation is offered

to us.• 2. When he is removing our wrinkles, considering

He loves us, be willing to be changed by Him.• 3. We will put on the incorruptible body on our

growing inner man. We will then rule with Christ in his physical kingdom.