There are 3 passages in the New Testament that discuss Christ as our deliverer. Let’s consider each of them.

In Romans 7:24, after describing the human inability to overcome sin on his own, Paul asks, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” The answer for all who are unable to deliver themselves is made abundantly clear throughout the New Testament: Jesus Christ. So first we see that Jesus can deliver us from our own sinfulness.

Paul addresses the issue again in Galatians 1:3-5 where he explains that the Lord Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age. Here we see that Jesus not only delivers us from our own sinfulness, but rescues or delivers us from the evil all around us in this wicked world.

In the final passage, Hebrews 2:14-15, We see humans enslaved not just by their sinfulness, but also by the fear that they will have to face physical death. Christ is shown becoming flesh and blood like us and then facing physical death so that he could destroy the devil and his power of death. In the process of that he delivers all of us from having to be afraid of death because seeing him conquer the grave gives us the confidence and courage to face our own graves knowing that he can raise us up.

How much of your life have you spent being afraid of death and even enslaved by that fear? Death is not our friend, but Christ has conquered it and we don’t have to fear this enemy any longer. Have you allowed Christ to deliver you from yourself, the evil world around you, and the fear of death? Let him be your deliverer.

​jp

As any Bible believer who created the world and they will likely give the same simple answer: God. On several occasions the New Testament puts forward the claim that Christ is God and one of the statements made about that assertion is that he created the world. Paul explains this in Colossians 1:16, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” 

Not only are we created by him/ through him, we were also created for him. Sometimes we miss this, at least, we act like we do. Some of us act and speak as if Christ is here for us and what ever we need or think we need he will get for us like he is a genie in a lamp with unlimited wishes and we can just tell him what to do. None of us would probably openly admit to it, but our actions and words sometimes betray us.

We have to remember that the creation is to serve the creator and not the other way around. The creator can make us as he chooses to serve whatever purpose he chooses and the creation has no right to complain. Isaiah 29:16; Jeremiah 18:4-6; and Romans 9:21 all liken it to a potter with some clay making whatever he wants. The clay can’t say anything about it. 

So, if we were created for him, what does he want us to do? He is God, so he doesn’t need us. He is not served with human hands as though he needs something, Acts 17:25. Humans make things for all kinds of purposes, but ultimately everything we make is so that we can enjoy it. Christ made us to bring him joy and glory and if we want to please him we must do whatever he commands us. If we will do what he commands we can become more than just a creation we can become a friend. 

Let’s serve our creator with our whole heart. He deserves all the praise, obedience, and honor we can give and so much more.

jp

In Revelation 19:11-16 there is a vision of Christ riding out on a white horse to make war and conquer Satan’s forces. Of course, it is all just a formality, really, since Jesus defeated Satan through his death and resurrection. It seems odd to think of someone winning by dying, but that was the way God had it planned.

In conquering Satan, Christ saved us from the fear of death and from enslavement to sin. As we remember our country’s military sacrifice on Memorial Day, it seems appropriate to think about how they made it possible for us to live in safety without fear of death or capture at the hands of a human enemy. Of course Christ’s conquering goes far beyond human war and human enemies, to our greatest foe, Satan and his desire to have us spend eternity in Hell with him.

In addition to conquering Jesus does something no human military can do for others. He makes us conquerors as well. Romans 8:37 says that we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Jesus also makes a promise for us if we conquer as he has. In Revelation 3:21 he will allow those who conquer to sit with him on his throne, just like he conquered and sat on the throne of his Father.

Many throughout history have died so that others might live, but only Jesus died so that we can live forever. The battle is not over for us, even though Jesus has already conquered, we are still at war. Revelation 17 paints an image of a battle that had not taken place in John’s day, but is now in the past. The same kind of battle is fought again and again by Satan’s forces against the Lamb of God and his people. Revelation 17:14 says, “They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

Those on the Lord’s side will conquer with him. Whose side are you fighting on? Have you allowed Jesus to conquer your will? Are you conquering Satan with Jesus’ help?

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Revelation 21:6 and 22:13 both say that Christ is the beginning and the end. Of course this is equivalent to what is said in the song, “He Is My Everything”. There is no doubt that Jesus is the beginning of all things. In Hebrews 1:8-12 the Father says of Jesus, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;” We know Jesus created all things and in the physical world he is certainly the beginning of all things. 

1 John 2:13-14 John refers to Jesus twice as the one who is from the beginning. And in John 1:1-3 he makes it clear that Jesus, the Word is God and has been from eternity.

Paul tells the Colossians in 1:18 that he is our beginning in a spiritual sense because he is the firstborn from the dead, in other words, his resurrection will make ours possible. 

In so many ways he is the beginning. He is the beginning for the church and the new law. He is the beginning of all physical life and all spiritual life and hope for eternal life.

On the other hand, he is the end in so many ways. He brought an end to the power of death. He brought an end to Satan’s power. Romans 10:4 tells us Christ is the end of the law (the Law of Moses) for all who believe. He is or will be the end to this world as well when the time comes according to 1 Corinthians 15:24 at that time Christ will end his reign and return the kingdom to the Father.

​Christ is without a doubt both beginning and end in these ways and many other ways that we don’t understand or know about. He can end your old way of life and give you a new life of righteousness. Is Christ your beginning? Is Christ your end?

​jp

IT HURTS
It hurts to know you're hurting;
because you’re so special in my heart
The pain that you are feeling;
is tearing me apart.
But know that love has a way;
of easing all that’s wrong
Together we can make it;
if we hold on and just be strong.
Know that you’re not alone;
in all your adversity.
For by your side through and through;
is where I'll always be.
The above poem illustrates the attitude we in the church should have for one-another.
We are to weep with those who weep and feel the pain of our brethren. Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 
We are to love one-another and that love eases the problems of life. 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 
There is strength in numbers and knowing that our brethren are with us in our troubles gives us strength and encouragement. 
Many hands not only make for light work but also for light hearts that are burdened with care. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12  Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 
May we all strive this year to be there for each other when help and comfort is needed. - LP

The story is told of two children talking about their mommies and how they became part of their families. The first told about how she grew in a special part of her mommy’s tummy before she was born. The other little girl, who had been adopted, replied that she had not grown in her mommy’s tummy, but had grown in her heart. Of course we want all children to grow in their parents’ hearts, how important for us as Christians that we grew in our Heavenly Father’s heart before we were adopted into His family.

The Bible makes it clear Christ has made it possible for us to be part of the family of God. In other words, He took care of all the things that would have stopped it from happening. In essence, he was the adoption agent who brought us together and cut through all of the red tape so that we could be adopted by our Heavenly Father. John 1:12-13 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,  13  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Galatians 4:5-6 shows us that the reason Jesus came as He did born of a woman, born under the law was to redeem us from being under the law so we could be adopted as sons (daughters too, but in the Greek masculine is used of a group containing male and female).

Romans 8:15 explains that we have received the Spirit of Adoption which allows us to call God - Abba, Father. Abba is their equivalent to our da-da it was the first word a child would speak to recognize a father. 

Ephesians 1:5 helps us understand that it was God’s will long ago for us to be adopted through Jesus Christ. His purpose predestinated it. 

​Finally, Romans 8:23 reveals that the ultimate enjoyment of our adoption will come when our hopes are realized and we go home eternally. Are you a child of God? Have you been adopted into His family through Jesus Christ? Are you living in hope of what a heavenly home will be like.

​JP