Remember Jesus Christ
At the T4G conference (Together for the Gospel) our elders and pastors attended last week in Louisville, Shai Linne (hip-hop artist, author, church planter, pastor, elder) preached a great message on “Remember Jesus Christ” taken from 2 Timothy 2:8 (“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel”).
At the conclusion of His message, he shared the following inspiring reminder of who Jesus Christ is and how He is able to lead us in and through the circumstances of life.
Remember His glorious Person that Jesus is the eternal Son of God, God over all, blessed forever, amen. Remember He’s the Word who was in the beginning with God and who was God. Remember that Jesus is equal in essence with the Father. Remember that all that can be said about the Father’s divine nature can properly be said about the Son as well. As the old school catechism puts it, “God is infinite in being and perfection. Unchangeable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, Almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, most absolute, working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will for His own glory. Most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth. These things are all true about God the Father and they are also true about God the Son."
Remember His preexistence that Jesus did not begin to exist in the virgin’s womb, but from everlasting to everlasting He is God. As Jesus prayed in John 17:5, “And now Father, glorify Me in Your own Presence with the glory that I had with You before the world existed.”
Remember His perfect life that Jesus fulfilled God’s law perfectly, internally and externally. Every thought Jesus had was a sinless thought. Every word that He spoke was sinless, and every deed He performed was a sinless deed. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth.
Remember His sacrificial death. Remember that on the cross, Jesus suffered the full weight of the fury and wrath of God against sin. Remember that He laid down His life as a substitute in the place of all who would trust in Him, including you if you trust in Him even now. Remember that He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree. Remember that God did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all. Remember that the Good Shepherd laid down His life for the sheep.
Remember His glorious resurrection that Jesus did not stay in the tomb, but on the third day, He rose from the grave. Jesus is alive. Remember that Jesus conquered Satan and sin and death. Not only was Jesus delivered up for our trespasses but He was also raised for our justification. Remember that Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
When you’re tempted to sin, remember Jesus Christ, that He Himself suffered when He was tempted so that He is able to help those who are being tempted.
When you’ve fallen into sin, remember that in Jesus Christ we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins.
When you’re discouraged, remember Jesus Christ who said, “In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart, I have overcome the world.”
When you’re sick, remember Jesus Christ who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.
When you’re healthy, remember Jesus Christ and give Him thanks like the leper who was healed and returned to express his gratitude to Jesus.
When you’re anxious about finances, remember Jesus Christ who said, “Consider the ravens, they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?"
Are you considering doing something difficult for the Lord or going out for the sake of His name? Remember Jesus Christ who said, “I am with you even to the end of the age”
Children, remember Jesus Christ. God made you and He made you for His glory that you might live in honor of Jesus Christ all your days.
Singles, remember Jesus Christ. Your maker is your husband. The Lord of hosts is His name and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer.
Fathers, remember Jesus Christ in your homes as you lead your family. Pray that your home will be a sanctuary where God is acknowledged and worshipped.
Mothers, remember Jesus Christ, both His power to save your children, as well as His acceptance of You when you feel overwhelmed or when you feel like a failure.
Dear saints, remember Jesus Christ who says in Isaiah 46:4, “Even to your old age I am He, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.”
Deacons, as you serve the Lord, remember Jesus Christ the ultimate Deacon who came not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.
Pastors, as you lead your congregations, remember Jesus Christ, the good Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. Remember that your righteousness is not found in your leadership, your sermons, or your counseling. Your righteousness is found in Jesus.
We are talking about Jesus. The God-glorifier, the universe-Creator, the prophecy-fulfiller, the perfect law-obeyer, the Scripture-validator, the Father-honorer, the humility-modeler, the cross-carrier, the sin-bearer, the death-conqueror, the grave-defeater, the salvation-achiever, the prayer-answerer, the proud-humbler, the weak-strengthener, the elect-preserver, the triumphant returner, the justice-executor, the Satan-destroyer, the eternal joy-giver, that’s Jesus.
“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel.”
Pastor Jeff