Uplifting Christ: He That Comes From Heaven Is Above All

The Son of man was lifted up that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:14, 15. 

Look to Jesus and believe that He saves you solely by His grace. 

For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8.

Therefore, lay hold upon Christ and appropriate His merits - the sacrifice that brought salvation to the lost world.

The Eternal Word consented to be made flesh. Sinless and exalted by nature, the Son of God became one with the fallen race. God became human.

He humbled Himself to pass through human's experiences, descending to the lowest depth of humiliation, in order that He might:

• lift up those who would believe in Him

• cleanse the guilty from moral defilement

• impart to us His own righteousness.

All they that see Me laugh Me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head. Psalms 22:7.

Moreover, He died to make an atonement to redeem, cleanse, restore, and exalt humans to a place at His right hand.

Do you believe it? Do you see in Jesus the world's Redeemer. If so, it will beget in your soul an intense desire to lift up Christ before others and to magnify His great grace.

Moreover, it will awaken a determination to represent Christ in your individual experience and to create a desire in other souls for the truth of the Gospel.

As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. John 6:57.

We are making Christ a part of our life as we partake of His experience of self-denial and self-sacrifice.

We must trust Him fully, claiming the salvation He has provided. 

Unless we hunger and thirst for His righteousness, we can never rejoice in Him as our Saviour, or receive the benefits of His perfect life.

Therefore, without holiness no one shall see the Lord. And we all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23.

As such we all need Christ - His Spirit and grace to receive a new heart, desires, purposes and motives - all leading to a new life from above.

It is a new creation. Therefore, we are to lift up Jesus, that He may draw humankind unto Himself.

Christ has established His spiritual kingdom to uplift humankind. He became a stepping stone by which humanity might meet with Divinity.

Moreover, in giving His life He exalted humanity in the scale of moral value with God.

The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28.

Thus humankind is taken from his or her degradation, cleansed from moral defilement, and made an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ.

Christ has done it all for us

What is the price of the soul of humankind? The answer is: The life of the Only-begotten Son of God.

He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12.

We are bound in chains of:

• darkness - deceptions about the true character of God and His holy Law

• sin - pride, selfishness and self-sufficiency

• despair - pain from guilt and fear, without hope and happiness.

Therefore we could do nothing to change ourselves - shaped in iniquity and conceived in sin.

On the other hand, our souls are of infinite value. Their worth can be estimated only by the price paid to ransom them. Calvary explains their true value.

Moreover, our lives are hidden with Christ in God.

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3:3, 4.

This glory will be revealed at the second coming of Christ. Then the saints will be exalted indeed.

They will sit with Christ on His throne, and with Him they will judge the world.

Furthermore, He made it possible for humans to become a partakers of the divine nature - restoring God’s moral image in us, and escaping the corruptions that are in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:4.

In addition, Christ gave to all people the lessons of humility and self-sacrifice for the good of others.

Therefore, if the love of Christ abides in the heart, it will prove a powerful, working agency to uplift the souls with whom we are brought in contact.

Welcome Christ into the heart. He will work with and through you for the salvation of others.

Therefore, lift up Christ, making Him the center of all and the source of all power (as He truly is). Thus the truth as it is in Jesus will be effective in converting souls to God.

The principle of giving

Christ is seeking to uplift all who will be taken to companionship with Himself, that they may be one with Him as He is one with the Father.

The aim of His life was to receive from the Father, that He might give in precept and in unselfish service, that which would save men and women from sinning, and turn the rebellious into paths of righteousness.

For their sake I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. John 17:19.

Christ stood before the human race as the representative of the Father. He devoted all His life to the work of our redemption.

Moreover, His great desire was to establish the cross between 

Divinity and humanity, that humans might be reconciled to God. He has done it. Thank you Jesus.

In order to uplift the fallen race Christ:

• clothed His divinity with humanity

• left the royal courts of heaven and laid aside His own glory

• appeared in human form and stand at the head of the humanity

• came to this world to represent the Father and gave evidence of His Divine power

• bounded us to the throne of God with the chain of His matchless love

• lived a life of perfect obedience to the laws of God's kingdom

• came not to condemn and destroy by His glory, but to restore and heal

• suffered reproach, mockery, accusation, shameful abuse, dying in the sinner's stead

• was betrayed by one of His followers and denied by another

• became poor fore our sake, that we through His poverty might be rich

• was crowned with thorns and forced to bear the burden of the cross

• came to earth as the light and life of mankind, bringing to us a moral power

• died to make it possible for us to be partakers of the divine nature

• gave us power to overcome as He overcame

• ennobled humanity by precept and example

• restored in the human soul the lost image of God.

The Savior allowed nothing to interfere with the accomplishment of His work.

My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish his work. John 4:34.

The Member of the human family

As such He was mortal. On the other hand, as God He was the source of eternal life to the world. He had the power to refuse death. 

Nevertheless, He laid down His life voluntarily.

Moreover, He:

• bore the sin of the world

• endured the penalty

• yielded up His life as a sacrifice

that humans should not eternally die (the second death).

Thus He brought life and immortality to light. 2 Timothy 1:10.

Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: 

the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not his mouth: 

He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.

Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; 

because He hath poured out his soul unto death:

and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:4-7, 12.

Jesus said to those who refused Him: Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life. John 5:40.

Likewise, many are refusing today to respond to:

• the drawing love of Christ and His invitation

• know by a personal experience what they are to Jesus, and what He is to them

• the privilege of having Jesus as their personal Saviour.

He must increase

A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven...He that cometh from above is above all.

For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him.

The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life. John 3:31-36.

Therefore, this is our true calling to proclaim as did John the Baptist:

Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29.

Thus we are uplifting Jesus and humanity with Him.

Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy;

I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Isaiah 57:15.

We can receive the Holy Spirit's light only if we denounce self and strive to have the mind of Christ.

He teaches us by His own example how we may be exalted to the position of sons and daughters in the royal family - children of the heavenly King.

We can honour God only as we are conformed to His image and controlled by His Spirit.

Then, as witnesses for the Savior, we may make known what Divine grace has done for us.

Jesus Christ is our pattern and the outstanding standard of moral character.

Will you follow His example, or will you choose to follow the worldly example and practices?

Christ's spiritual kingdom uplifts humanity

Thus the greatest manifestation of the power of Christ is seen in human nature - perfection of our character as His character – Christ in you the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27.

For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:21.

So, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? Luke 13:18.

Earthly kingdoms rule by the supremacy of physical power and coercion.

Christ’s kingdom ennobles humanity - only by love is love awaken.

We love Him, because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19. Therefore, let the love of Christ constrain us. 2 Corinthians 5:14.

The founder of the new kingdom is the Prince of Peace.

For unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder and His name shall be called The Prince of Peace...

Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end. Isaiah 9:6, 7.

In Christ's government there is no use of force to compel the conscience. 

He implants His principles in the heart after we sense our need of Him and willingly open the door of our hearts.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20.

Thus by implanting truth and righteousness, Christ counter-works error and sin.

You will find help in Christ to form a strong and beautiful character, to be able to stand in the strength of the Lord.

Keep looking to Him and you will learn to know Him.

We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18.

Thus everyone in whose heart Christ abides is a worker together with God for the blessing of humanity - receiving the Savior’s grace and imparting to others in one's spiritual life.

He makes the subjects of His kingdom

They will return to their allegiance through Divine power. By laws and resources, God has ordained a heavenly communication with humankind's spiritual life.

In its action, it is as mysterious as the operation of the wind - thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit. John 3:8.

Christ said: My kingdom is not of this world. John 18:36.

It is the spiritual work of God upon the human heart that makes everyone a new creature, without destroying or weakening any capability God has given to humankind.

Moreover, it purifies every attribute to fit for connection with the Divine nature.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63.

Christ's subjects are those who keep the Law of God.

If disobedient continue in transgression after receiving the light for the spirituality of the perfect Law of liberty, they are subjects of the kingdom of the prince of this world.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:6.

Is Christ formed within you - the hope of glory? If so, after obtaining a knowledge of Him through experience, you can say with the Samaritans:

Now we believe, not because of thy saying; for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. John 4:42.

Work earnestly to place eternal life within the reach of the perishing. Moreover, remember that Christ is by your side, working it out for you.

God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8.

Conclusion

Christ took human nature that humanity might uplift humanity by laying hold of Divine power.

He places upon humans His own merit. Thus elevates us in the scale of moral value with God.

All the privileges and opportunities given us by God are designed to make us better men and women.

When humans are created anew in Christ, they become partakers of the Divine nature.

God's power units in us both - human and Divine. He clothes humanity with the robe of Christ's righteousness.

It is by beholding that we are changed into the likeness of His character.

Therefore, point to others the man of Calvary - the Way, the Truth and the Life - that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Lift up Jesus as the only One whereby men can be saved. 

Then the truth you present will become the power of God unto salvation.

References

1. RH, Nov 1895, Mar 1897, Aug 1899, Sep 1909, Nov, 1910; DA 179-181, 485; GW92; ST, Jan 1909, Jan 1915  – The Ellen G. White Estate

2. The Bible, King James Version (KJV