What meaneth this statement?

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8. Jesus Christ is mentioned, in the New Testament Scriptures, by noun and pronoun more than 6,900 times.

Let us behold Christ before His incarnation, during His incarnation, His present exaltation, and His future glory on earth.

FIRST—

BEFORE HIS INCARNATION

a—He was in the bosom of the Father. John 1:18.

b—He was in the form of God. Philippians 2:6.

c—He was with God and was God. John 1:1.

d—He was before all things and by Him all things consist. Colossians 1:15 to 18.

e—He had glory with the Father before the world was. John 17:5.

God is a Spirit. But God has a form. Christ was in. the form of God when He was in the bosom of the Father.

SECOND—

THE WORD BECAME FLESH. JOHN 1:14.

a—He took upon Himself the form of a servant. Philippians 2:6 and 7.

b—He was made in the likeness of sinful flesh. Romans 8:3.

c—He was made lower than the angels for the suffering of death. Hebrews 2:9.

d—He took on Him the Seed of Abraham. Hebrews 2:16.

e—Made like unto His brethren that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17.

f—Made flesh and blood to destroy Satan’s death power, by death. Hebrews 2:14.

g—The Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil. I John 3:8.

h—He came down from heaven to do His Father’s will and give His flesh for the life of the world. John 6:38 and 51.

i—Christ was the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of God’s person. Hebrews 1:3.

j—Christ was the Son of David the Son of Abraham. Matthew 1:1.

k—He was the King of Israel. John 1:49.

When Christ was on earth He said, “before Abraham was I AM”. John 8:58. “Father, Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world” John 17:24.

“He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.” John 14:9. “I and My Father are one.” John 10:30.

We have noted the Scriptures stating that Christ was made flesh to die on the cross. Hebrews 2:9. Note His own words “The Son of man goeth as it is written of Him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born.” Matthew 26:24.

But in Luke 1:29 to 33 and 1:67 to 77 we learn that Christ was born in the city of David, in the house of David, of the Seed of David, to occupy the throne of David, to reign over the house of Jacob forever. So Jesus Christ was born to go to the cross of Calvary and to go to the throne of David. “Where is He that is born Sing of the Jews?” Matthew 2:2.

Now read these several statements:

“When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law.” Galatians 4:4.

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.” Acts 2:22.

“He answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matthew 15:24.

“Now I say that Jesus Christ WAS a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.” Romans 15:8.

We emphasize WAS. Jesus Christ WAS a minister of the circumcision. It would be contrary to fact to say that Jesus Christ IS a minister of the circumcision for He is not during His present ministry.

THIRD—

CHRIST IN HIS EXALTATION.

a—“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name.” Philippians 2:9.

b—“But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God.” Hebrews 10:12.

c—“Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrews 1:3.

d—“Him hath God exalted with His ‘‘ right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” Acts 5:31.

e—“Behold I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” Acts 7:56.

f—“Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an High Priest, Who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.” Hebrews 8:1.

g—“And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power. Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the Church, Which is His Body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.” Ephesians 1:19 to 23.

After Christ had died and abolished death, He showed Himself alive by many infallible proofs. He said to His disciples “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have.” Luke 24:39.

Stephen recognized Christ as the Son of man standing in heaven. When Christ called Saul of Tarsus He said, “I am Jesus.” Acts 9:5.

The ministry of Christ, in Acts 5:31, seemed to be different from His ministry in Ephesians 1:21 to 23.

“HIM HATH GOD EXALTED WITH HIS RIGHT HAND TO BE A PRINCE AND A SAVIOUR, FOR TO GIVE REPENTANCE TO ISRAEL, AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS.” Acts 5:31.

“FAR ABOVE ALL PRINCIPALITY, AND POWER, AND MIGHT, AND DOMINION, AND EVERY NAME THAT IS NAMED, NOT ONLY IN THIS WORLD, BUT ALSO IN THAT WHICH IS TO COME; AND HATH PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET, AND GAVE HIM TO BE THE HEAD OVER ALL THINGS TO THE CHURCH, WHICH IS HIS BODY, THE FULNESS OF HIM THAT FILLETH ALL IN ALL.” Ephesians 1:21 to 23.

Before Christ’s incarnation He was in the Father’s bosom, a Spirit. Now He is on the Father’s throne, at the right hand of His Majesty, the Man Christ Jesus.

We must note these differences when we say “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

FOURTH—

 CHRIST THE COMING KING.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting. Father, The Prince of Peace. of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:6 and 7.

“When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory.” Matthew 25:31.

“And the Lord shall be King over all the earth; in that day shall there be one Lord, and His name One.” Zechariah 14:9.

“And David My servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments, and observe My statutes, and do them.” Ezekiel 37:24.

“For I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.” Matthew 23:39.

“And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Matthew 19:28.

For more articles by Pastor J. C. O'Hair, visit the J. C. O'Hair Online Library.