Tag Archives: doctrine of Christ

Jesus has put all things under the soles of his feet

This principle of the doctrine of Christ is exposed not only as recognition and proclamation of the Lordship of Christ, but more, as the prophetic establishment that the kingdom of darkness has been destroyed by Jesus on the cross,

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:  …  22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Ephesians 1:17-22

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; Hebrew 2:14

This declaration of lordship comes from the time of the prophet Isaiah and was established as a declaration of victory over apostasy and idolatry. It is a prophetic voice announcing the destruction of the one who had the power of death, that is, the devil.

Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? Isaiah 66:1

The establishment and proclamation of this doctrinal principle attacks and destroys all attempts at idolatry,

According to this doctrinal point Revelation communities work all over the world, because in the work of liberation and spiritual warfare, this is the protocol of preparation for the second coming of Jesus;

For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 1st. Corinthians 15:25

Jesus is Lord and Christ

This is the central principle of the proclamation of the Gospel. It means the recognition that Jesus is the Messiah (the Christ, in Greek), and who is the only one for whom man finds salvation. No salvation can truly be considered a legitimate salvation unless the Lordship of Christ is first recognized.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12

It was the doctrinal theme that the apostle Peter established as the foundation of the doctrine of the apostles, the doctrine on which the Lord’s church was founded on the day of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Acts 2:36

The apostle Paul established it as part of his sound doctrine in all the Gentile faith community he visited, and charged those whom he instructed to take care to establish it properly,

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.   Philippians 2:9-11

Care must be taken on this point, for the Lord is not a title, but recognition and submission to divine authority,

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Luke 6:46

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:22,23

The apostle John states that whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ belongs to the doctrine of the antichrist,

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.  1st. John 2:22

To deny Him not only means not recognizing Him as such, but also, not submitting to His Lordship and ignoring all His instructions, or altering them.

An apostate theme that is preached within faith communities, and very popular, is the theme of free will. It is an apostate subject, for in Jesus there is no free will, or does not Scripture say that I live no longer, but Christ lives in me?

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

The only one who has free will is the one who lives without Christ; he has the free will to recognize it, or to reject it.

This apostate teaching has led many communities of faith to develop arrogance and vanity, presenting themselves as greater than Christ, who found himself in the condition as a man, humbled himself, made obedient unto death, and died on a cross.

If Jesus who found himself in the condition as a man, humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, how much more obedient should those who are under His Lordship be?

Over time, the religious movements supplemented the Gospel with philosophical and moralistic thoughts, and changed the faith of the people to worldly customs.

Jesus is (exist) before the Creation

The preexistence of Jesus is manifest in the name with which Jesus appears before the apostle John in the book of the Revelation of the things that will happen in the last time.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:8

Name that is mentioned on four different occasions throughout the book,

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamum, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. Revelation 1:11

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. Revelation 21:6

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Revelation 22:13

Notice also that the name, I am Alpha and Omega, ends up establishing a relationship with the name with which Jehovah God manifested himself to Moses. Being Alpha and Omega is equivalent to being, which is, and which was, and which is to come, thus establishing parity with the, I am that I am, of Exodus.

The pre-existence of Jesus is certified in all the apostolic and prophetic writings. Jesus declared before the scribes and Pharisees that Abraham saw his day,

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. John 8:56-58

In the description of the creation and formation of man, of the Genesis narrative, the pre-existence of Jesus is clear in God’s decision to form him in his image,

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Genesis 1:26

What image and what likeness? If God is Spirit,

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24

The terms image and likeness do not refer to attributes. They are qualities of appearance.

The apostle Paul expose that the image that was taken to form the man was that of Jesus.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.     Romans 8:29

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: Colossians 1:15

Now we can understand a doctrinal aspect of the spiritual and genetic deformation that sin provokes; also, why the recovery of the lost image and likeness is only possible in Christ Jesus, and how we are made alive in him.

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Colossians 3:10

The pre-existence of Jesus is certified also in book of Psalms. In Psalm 110, verse 1, David exposes that Jehovah God (LORD) dialogue with Jesus (Lord) in the eternity,

The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.  Psalm 110:1

Jesus also referred to this same text, and used it to show how David calls the Christ, Lord, even though he was not born yet. Jesus again shows the preexistence certification established by David.

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?   Matthew 22:41-45

Jesus was manifest in the flesh

This is also column of the doctrine of salvation. Let’s see a synthesis of the message of the Gospel:

Because Jesus also likewise took part of flesh and blood as a human being, it was that He could on the cross destroy the one who had the power of death, that is, the devil,[1] to become heir, and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all who obey him.[2]

Jesus participated in the same Adamic nature, he was a man, understand himself human, one hundred percent. The apostle Paul calls him, the second Adam, precisely because of his human participation.

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.     1st. Corinthians 15:45-47

Let us observe the very witness of Jesus as to his human nature,

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

The proclamation of the Gospel does not overlook the theme, on the contrary, it establishes it as a component theme of the proclamation, and establishes that those born in Him have the same capacity of Jesus to overcome sin,

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: Romans 8:3

This establishment of the human nature of Jesus, but without sin, makes us understand that the nature of sin is spiritual, that although it manifests itself in the flesh, it actually has its seat in the spirit of human beings, and not in its material body, as it was preached in the Middle Ages.

The proclamation of the Gospel to the Gentiles was no different than the proclamation addressed to the Jews. The Gentiles were also instructed that Jesus was manifested in the flesh. The epistle of the apostle Paul addressed to the Gentile community of Ephesus demonstrates this,

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; Ephesians 2:15

The apostle Paul took care to properly instruct on the subject whom he trained for the ministry of the proclamation of the Gospel. The first epistle addressed to Timothy shows us how Paul trained Timothy,

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. 1st. Timothy 3:16

The apostle Peter also declares in his epistles how Jesus was manifested in the flesh,

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 1st. Peter 3:18

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 1st. Peter 4:1

Finally, the apostle John also bears witness to how Jesus was manifested in the flesh; and he adds that those who deny that Jesus was manifested in the flesh belong to a false, heretical, pagan, apostate doctrine, even if they classify themselves as Christians.

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 1st. John 4:2, 3

There is no doubt, Jesus is man, an authentic human being, but unlike the rest of humanity, past, present and future, without sin,

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 1st. John 3:5

Something else that we need to establish is that everything that Jesus developed on earth, whether it be healings, miracles, gifts, wonders, etc., he developed as human and not as God, as established in the Word,

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.     Philippians 2:6-8

Notice how the apostle emphasizes the humanization of God in Jesus,

  • made himself of no reputation,
  • was made in the likeness of men:
  • And being found in fashion as a man,

This helps us to understand the spiritual capacity in Christ that the born-again have. It is not only sin that has no jurisdiction over the person, but also the power of the Holy Spirit working in us,

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.        Romans 8:11

[1] Hebrews 2:14

[2] Hebrews 5:9

The doctrine of Christ is embodied in the texts of the Mosaic Law, in the prophetic writings, and in the psalms

The doctrine of Christ is not an innovation of Christianity, not even a doctrine coined by Jesus Himself.

No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. John 10:18

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. John 14:10

The doctrine of Christ is found scattered in the writings of the Law, the prophets, and the psalms,

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself   …   44And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Luke 24:27, 44

All the references cited in the four Gospels recognize a difference in the teachings of Jesus from those known at that time, but they also recognize that such teachings belong to the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms.

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22But I say unto you, … Matthew 5:21, 22

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28But I say unto you,  … Matthew 5:27, 28

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39But I say unto you, …       Matthew 5:38, 39

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44But I say unto you, … Matthew 5:43,44

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 7:28, 29

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.            Matthew 15:9

Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. Matthew 16:12

Therefore, the doctrine that Jesus proclaimed is not a new doctrine originated in Him or by Him, His doctrine it was elaborated starting from the statutes of Mosaic Law, from prophecy of the prophets and in the singing praises of Psalms.

The religious departed from the spiritual teaching and added their own interpretations, far from the purposes for which it was established. That was the reason why Jesus constantly rebuked them, because they saw it more important to keep their tradition than to take care to put into practice the Word of God. Jesus regains the real emphasis and establishes the true spiritual value of its promulgation.

This is the part of the teachings about Jesus that many have not understood in relation to the validity of the Old Testament for the New Testament church. The majority of the contemporary faith communities have decided to renounce to the Veterotestamentary teachings, arguing that everything of the Old Testament no longer has validity on the Grace, incurring without knowing it in the greatest doctrinal error of the present time, and unfortunately, exposing themselves also to apostasy. All of them ignore that the, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him (1st. Corinthians 2:9), to which the apostle Paul refers, are mysteries of Revelation still found in the Old Testament.