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Grounded-In-Biblical-Truth | |
Sovereign Grace Doctrines
Concerning 'THE GOSPEL' - JESUS CHRIST
CHRIST AS GOD MOST HIGH
GENESIS 14:18-22
GOOD NEWS FROM THE REDEEMER
DANIEL E. PARKS, PASTOR
JUNE 19, 1999 - RADIO MESSAGE #272
Abraham, the patriarch of the Christian faith, had a very notable meeting with Melchizedek, king of Salem (Genesis 14:18ff). They both extolled God by the Hebrew names Jehovah, El Elyon, “The LORD, God Most High” -- “the Possessor of heaven and earth” -- for delivering Abraham’s enemies into his hand.
This name God Most High belongs to Christ! Proofs?
1. The name God Most High belongs to Jehovah alone -- and Christ is Jehovah! Jehovah the Father declares so by ascribing the sovereignty and righteousness and immutability which are His alone to Christ (Psalm 45:6f & 102:25-27 / Hebrews 1:8-12).
2. Jehovah the Father and Christ His Son are two persons of one indivisible substance. Christ therefore declares, “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30). What is true of the one (apart from what Christ experienced in His incarnation) is true of the other. If the Father is “Jehovah, God Most High,” so is the Son.
3. Jehovah requires “that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father” (John 5:23). To deny that Christ is God Most High is an act of rebellion against Jehovah the Father: “He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”
4. Christ bears various other titles which identify Him as God Most High. This name means “Supreme Ruler of the Universe.” The names of Christ identifying Him as such include “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16). There is no ruler in all the universe outranking Christ. He is therefore God Most High, Supreme Ruler of the Universe.
5. There is no deity in all the universe outranking Christ. We stress this point because there are certain pseudo-Christian cults (e.g. self-styled “Jehovah’s Witnesses”) averring that Christ is “a god” (their misreading of John 1:1), a deity lower in rank than Jehovah. In so doing, they deny that “there is only one God” (1 Corinthians 8:5f), thereby espousing polytheism. Although “there are so called gods,” all these are but heathen idols which are in reality no gods at all. Christ is a person in the only true Godhead, and therefore God Most High. (Any acknowledgment of Christ’s subordination to His Father, as in 1 Corinthians 11:3, applies only to His humanity. Christ is co-equal with His Father with regard to essence [Philippians 2:6ff; John 5:17f; John 10:30-33].)
6. God Most High is “the Possessor of heaven and earth” -- and this title perfectly fits Christ. As the result of His success as Mediator in His humanity, the Father has given to Him “ the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession” (Psalm 2:7). He therefore declares Himself to be in possession of “All authority ... in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18).
Jesus Christ is therefore undoubtedly God Most High! Servants of Christ, God Most High, are by this blessed.
1. As God Most High, Christ is indeed “Possessor of heaven and earth.” He therefore has the authority and power and resources to meet all their needs. And since they are dear to Him, He gladly will do so. Paul the apostle therefore assures them that “my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Jesus Christ” (Philippians 4:19).
2. As God Most High, Christ is the great Deliverer. He delivered Lot from his captors, and delivered Abraham’s enemies into his hand. He will deliver all His people from Satan their captor (2 Timothy 2:26; Isaiah 61:1), and deliver this enemy into their hand so that they can trample him under their feet (Romans 16:20). Enemies of Christ, God Most High, are by this warned.
1. As the Supreme Ruler of the universe, Christ has all authority to command “all you ends of the earth” to “Look to Me, and be saved” (Isaiah 45:22). He offers no other option.
2. As “Possessor of heaven and earth,” Christ lacks neither power nor resources to execute His wrath on all who disobey Him. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17).
Your servant for Jesus' sake.
Address all questions to pastor
Daniel E. Parks (2 Corinthians 4:5) e-mail RedeemerBC@aol.com
Pastor, Redeemer Baptist Church
2801 Cleveland Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40206 / 502.899-9205
