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The Reverence Due Christ
Exodus 3:6
Good News From The Redeemer
Sermon by Pastor Daniel Parks
Radio Message #308 ~ February 26, 2000
When the preincarnate Christ appeared as the Angel of Jehovah to Moses in the burning bush, "Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God" (Exodus 3:1-6ff).
I. The reverence rendered to Christ by Moses has parallels throughout Holy Scriptures.
1. When Christ appeared as the Angel of Jehovah, those who saw Him "fell on their faces to the ground" (e.g. Manoah and his wife in Judges 13:20; David and the elders in 1 Chronicles 21:16).
2. When Christ appeared as the glory of Jehovah (see Hebrews 1:3), those who saw Him "fell on their faces" (e.g. Israel in Leviticus 9:24; Ezekiel in Ezekiel 1:28).
3. When Christ appeared in a vision to Isaiah, each seraph around Him "covered his face," and Isaiah exclaimed, "Woe is me!" (Isaiah 6:2,5; cp. John 12:37-41).
4. When Christ was gloriously transfigured before His disciples, "they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid" (Matthew 17:6).
5. When Christ revealed Himself to John the Beloved, the apostle confessed that "when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead" (Revelation 1:17).
II. Such reverence to Christ is warranted.
1. Christ is to be reverenced because of who He is. Observe how He is identified in 1 Timothy 6:15f. (Some may object that Paul here describes only God the Father. However, Christ as God is co-equal with the Father. Furthermore, various things here said of God are elsewhere expressly said of Christ.)
i. "He who is the blessed and only Potentate" (cp. Psalm 41:13; Isaiah 40:12-31; Daniel 4:35) The "Potentate" is the Sovereign. Christ acknowledges that He is such because "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18). Christ as God is the only being in the universe who is blessed with the absolute right to do as He pleases.
ii. "He who is the King of kings and Lord of lords" (cp. Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 136:3). This title is expressly ascribed to Christ (Revelation 17:14; 19:16).
iii. "He who alone has immortality" (cp. Psalm 36:9; Isaiah 40:28; Daniel 4:34). This identity means more than mere deathlessness. It means also that God is life's never-failing Fountain. The same is said of Christ: "In the beginning … the Word was God" and "in Him was life" - God's eternal life! (John 1:1-4).
iv. "He who is dwelling in unapproachable light" (Psalm 104:2). The glory of God is as unapproachable as the light of the sun. And Christ is "the brightness of His glory" (Hebrews 1:3) and the "Sun of righteousness" (Malachi 4:2). Christ is so glorious that none can even look upon Him unless that person be veiled (as was Moses in Exodus 33:18-22) or else He veils Himself (as He did in a mortal body during the days of His incarnation). And even then, His glory is evident (John 1:14).
v. "He whom no man has seen or can see" (cp. Exodus 33:20; Deuteronomy 4:12; John 1:18; 4:4:24). With regard to His deity, Christ is incorporeal and invisible. Many have seen the mortal body he indwelt, or some other form in which He enshrouded Himself. But His divine essence is too glorious to be seen by the mortal eye.
-- "to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen." The honor and reverence given to earthly dignitaries pales in comparison to that which Christ deserves.
2. Christ is to be reverenced because of who we are. Those who beheld him should serve as our example. Moses hid his face. Isaiah said, "Woe is me, for I am undone! …" (Isaiah 6:5). Only after Christ cleanses us are we fit to stand in His presence (as in Isaiah 6:6ff).
III. The reverence we should render to Christ is in stark contrast to the manner in which He is treated by the world. It should not surprise us that the nations in general are in open rebellion against Him (Psalm 2:1-3). But many church members are just as irreverent in addressing Him as some generic "higher power" or "man upstairs." In sharp contrast, Christ's disciples ever addressed Him with titles like "Lord" or "Master" and even "my Lord and my God." And His disciples, upon first seeing Him in heaven, will fall prostrate before Him in adoration, worship, and praise (Revelation 1:17). True disciples of Christ reverence Him.
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
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