The presentation of Jesus continued.
“This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access to God because of Christ’s faithfulness.” Ephesians 3:12, NET. In the Old Covenant, the high priest presented the people to God. And he spoke to God on behalf of the people. However, through Jesus Christ, our permanent High Priest, the Old Covenant system was superseded by the New Covenant. By the blood of Jesus Christ, the yielded believers have the freedom and power to approach the throne of God in prayer without fear. The yielded believers do not need anyone to stand before God on their behalf. They do not fear because they approach God in the name of Jesus Christ. The yielded believers are free to praise and petition their heavenly Father without an intercessor. However, they must do so in the name of Jesus Christ. John 16:26 – 27. He is our eternal connection to God. “Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help” Hebrews 4:16, NET.
The book of Revelation presents Jesus Christ as the only worthy one. Jesus Christ is worthy because he defeated God’s enemy and accomplished on our behalf what was impossible for us to do. Because of our sin in the Garden of Eden, we lost God’s image in which he created us. However, by the power of the Cross of Christ, God has restored his image in us. If we trust Jesus Christ and accept his life, death, and resurrection as ours, no one and nothing could erase the image of God we have in Jesus Christ. This kind of Jesus Christ, the apostles proclaimed. The first-century believers fell in love with such a wonderful Lord and Savior. He became the main subject of their preaching, teachings, and conversations.
Soon, however, the worries of life turned their attention from worthy Jesus Christ to their unworthy self. When well-meaning Christian fellowships devise and implement ways to make themselves attractive to others, they resort to efforts, programs, and teachings that bring them glory, not to Jesus Christ. They talk more about Satan’s evils than about the goodness of Jesus Christ. Such Christians present teachings specific to them as the truth others must accept to qualify for heaven. This practice is the most dangerous snare that Satan places along the way of the Christian journey. Accordingly, Jesus calls on his Church to repent from self-centered ways.
John hears Jesus speak.
