Disciples Introduction

As the school year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the Seven C's of history. And as I contemplate their significance, three stand out to me above the rest. In fact, the more I thought about them, the more they appeared to comprise the Gospel itself! I asked myself several questions relating to these three C's and then answered them, coming to an exciting conclusion.

Q:Did Jesus exist prior to His birth? 

A: The Bible clearly states that He did indeed exist as the eternal Word of God: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God." (John 1:1,2) Jesus is God.

Q: What did He do until He became a man?
A: The Bible also clearly tells us what role He played in the lives of humanity prior to His incarnation: "All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." (John 1:3) and, "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him." (Colossians 1:16) Jesus is the Creator.

Q: And what did He accomplish while He was with us in the flesh as a man?
A: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) and "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith" (Romans 3:23-25) and "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). Jesus is our Saviour from sin and wrath!

Q: What about after He died, rose again, and ascended into heaven? What role will He play in the future with humanity?
A: "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him." (Revelation 1:7) and, "...when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe." (I Thessalonians 1:7-10). Jesus is returning as King and Judge.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ. "Gospel" means "good news", and it is good news from beginning to end. Genesis to Revelation. Jesus, our great God and Creator, has made a way for us to be redeemed from our sin and reconciled to relationship with Himself! The Seven C's may be the pivotal events in World History, but the Three C's: Creation, Cross, and Consummation encompass all of eternity. Jesus IS the Good News, whether He is designing the cosmos, dying on a wooden cross, or returning in glorious splendor!

Jesus said, "And Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." (Revelation 22:12,13) Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.