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Lesson One - A Revelation of Jesus

In Ephesians 1:17, Paul prays:

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better."

Center-Point of Heaven and Earth

"In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe" Hebrews 1:1-2.

In the Old Testament, God spoke at many different times, in many different ways, through many different people - but when Jesus came, He was the embodiment of all those words. He was the totality of that Word become flesh.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" John 1:1,14.

The Foundation

"When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?' They replied, 'Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' 'But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I am?' Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God'" Matthew 16:13-16 (read also verses 17-19).

Everything in the Christian life begins with a revelation of Jesus. Peter received a revelation of who Jesus is, and Jesus declared that upon this "rock" - the revelation of jesus Himself - He would build His Church.

The Birth of the Church

"...God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ" Acts 2:36 (see also verses 37-41).

When Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, the crowd received a revelation of Jesus which "cut [them] to the heart." Three thousand people responded and the Church was born.

Life Transforming

"'Who are you, Lord?' Saul asked. 'I am Jesus, who you are persecuting,' he replied" Acts 9:5-6.

Saul - hater and destroyer of the Church (read Acts 8) - is transformed into the great apostle Paul by a revelation of Jesus. Our lives are transformed by a continuous revelation of Him.

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" 2 Corinthians 3:18 (see also 1 John 3:2).

All Things Center in Christ

"For from him, and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen" Romans 11:36.

From Him - the Source

"...yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live" 1 Corinthians 8:6 (see also 2 Corinthians 5:17-18).

Through Him - the Power

Jesus is not only the source of our life, but is also the enabling to live that life.

"And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might..." Col. 1:10-11 (see also Galatians 2:20).

This "incomparably great power" that is available to us is the same mighty power which raised Christ from death (Ephesians 1:19-20). We are able to face the enemy of our souls - Satan - and stand unmoved, because we are "strong in the Lord, and in his mighty power" (Ephesians 6:10). His grace (which means "the enabling power of God") is sufficient for us in all circumstances (2 Corinthians 12:9).

"For in him we live and move and have our being..." Acts 17:28.

To Him - the Goal

"I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end" Revelation 22:13 (see also 1:17-18).

In all things, Jesus is the goal of the whole Christian life.

"For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy" Colossians 1:16-18.

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Copyright © 1995 Paul, Bunty and David Collins. All rights reserved. This study may be freely used and reproduced, wholly or in part, by the Christian Church for the non-profit purposes of study and training only, provided copyright and contact information is included.

Unless otherwise stated, all scriptures quoted in these studies are from the New International Version of the Bible, © New York International Bible Society, used by permission. Other versions referred to are: KJV (King James Version), NKJB (New King James Bible), TLB (The Living Bible), Amp (The Amplified Bible) and The Message. All versions used by permission.

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