What Does Christ Do For Us? (2)
—six more things among many
This is a second acrostic on the word CHRIST, and six more of the many wonderful things that Christ does for us.
1 Counselling
Isaiah 9:6.
In all Earth and Heaven there is none wiser than Christ. He is the Wonderful Counsellor.
Isaiah the prophet says, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6 BSB).
Job says, "With him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and understanding" (Job 12:13 NKJV).
That is true of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are united in their counsel. We have access to that wisdom and counsel revealed to us in the scriptures. Christ provides this revelation "for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness..." (2Timothy 3:16 NKJV).
2 Helping
Hebrews 4:14-16
That text says, "14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV).
Toward the end of Hebrews we are told, "We may boldly say, 'The Lord is my helper. I will not fear...'" (Hebrews 13:6 NKJV).
How wonderful to have Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, welcome us to his Father’s throne of grace where we can, in his name, bring our needs and get his help.
3 Rewarding
Hebrews 11:6.
That text says, "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (Hebrews 11:6 ESV).
Jesus Christ said, "Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done." (Revelation 22:12 BSB).
Paul in his old age wrote, "Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing." (2Timothy 4:8 ESV).
James says, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him" (James 1:12 NKJV).
4 Indwelling
Colossians 1:27
Paul says that Christ dwells in his saints (the saved): "...God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27 BSB).
In Romans 8, Paul also writes,
"9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His."
"10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness."
"11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." (Romans 8:9-11 NKJV).
That is a difficult passage in some ways, but it clearly speaks of "Christ in you", and shows that Christ is in the saved by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
This indwelling is the seal and "guarantee of our inheritance" (Ephesians 1:13-14).
5 Sanctifying
Acts 26:18
Jesus gave Paul this commission:
"I now send you to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’" (Acts 26:18 NKJV).
At the end of that verse we notice that people are sanctified by faith in Christ. To be sanctified means to be made holy and pure, to take your place among those set apart for God’s service.
Only Christ can save and sanctify us. Christ prayed, as he contemplated giving himself as a holy sacrifice, "And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth." (John 17:19-20 NKJV).
The apostle Peter wrote "To those who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you." (1Peter 1:2 NASB).
Take careful note of those verses. The Holy Spirit works through the truth so that people will believe and obey Jesus and be sanctified by his blood.
6 Training
James 1:2-5
James writes at the beginning of his letter:
"2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:2-5 NKJV).
Peter likewise says:
"12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter." (1Peter 4:12-16 NKJV).
The apostle Paul also has something to say:
"[I saw] surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness". Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10 That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (1Corinthians 12:7-10 BSB).
Those verses from James, Peter, and Paul explain to us that things we suffer are a test of our faith, which the Lord allows, to train and strengthen our faith while we patiently endure. All the time the power of Christ rests upon us.
Counselling
Helping
Rewarding
Indwelling
Sanctifying
Training