The purpose of this lesson is to remind us of five wonderful things that are true of our Lord Jesus Christ. These five things are stated in Revelation 1:5-7.

"...Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and released us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be kings and priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and the dominion for ever and ever, Amen. Behold he is coming with clouds and every eye shall see him..." (Rev 1:5-7)

1. He is Lord

The first thing our text tells us is that Jesus is Lord John gives three titles to Jesus...

When Thomas saw Jesus after Jesus had risen from the dead, he confessed what he now believed Jesus to be. Thomas said, "My Lord and my God" (Jhn 20:28).

2. He loves us

The second thing our text tells us is that Christ "loves us" (Rev 1:5). No matter how bad things get for us, we always have this most basic truth to cling to. We can say, "Christ loves me". Nothing and nobody can take this away from us, though we be stripped of every lesser thing. On the other hand, no matter how good things get, it all means nothing if we forget the best thing of all, "Christ loves me".

We must never hurt Christ by forgetting his love for us. Have you ever loved someone and made huge sacrifices for that person, only to have him or her later reject you and turn away from you? It hurts. The love of Christ is reflected in his death on the cross. He loved us so much that he laid down his life for us. Shall we forget this and turn away from him? .

God gave his Son for us. God the Father also showed his love for us by giving his Son to die. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life" (Jhn 3:16). This is something we should never forget.

Jesus gave his life for sinners. This divine love is all the more wonderful when we remember that Christ died for us not because we were good, but because we were sinners at enmity with God. "God demonstrates his own love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us" (Rom 5:8). Furthermore, Jesus died not only for those who were sinners at the time, but for those who had sinned long ago and for those who would be sinners in the future. He died for all sinners. "He was wounded for our transgressions" (Isa 53:5-6). Truly his love is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell.

Christ instituted his remembrance Supper. Knowing how easy it is for us to forget his love and his death, he gave us a simple memorial, the Lord's Supper (1Co 11:23-30). This simply ceremony of remembrance on the first day of every week represents things "of first importance" (1Co 15:1-4). Let us be faithful in keeping this memorial, lest we forget our Lord's true love for us.

3. He washed us from our sins in his own blood

The third wonderful thing our text tells us is that Christ "washed us from our sins by his blood (Rev 1:5). Later in Revelation John describes a vision in which he sees a multitude all clothed in white robes. He is told, "They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev 7:9,14). This imagery is so startling that it should be easy for us to keep in mind.

The forgiveness of our sins is our most treasured gift. Have you every poked around in an old dusty box and found a gift that a friend gave you long ago and which you had forgotten all about? That gift was not greatly treasured by you, else you would not have forgotten it.

Remember when we obeyed the gospel how we "obeyed from the heart that form of teaching" of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection (Rom 6:17). We, as it were, died with Christ; the old person we used to be was buried with him, and a new "born again" person was raised in newness of life (Rom 6:3-4). That passage shows us that baptism is a form or pattern of Christ's death, and when we obeyed the form, then we came "into his death" where he shed his blood. His blood was applied to us then. This is why the Bible says that baptism is "for the forgiveness of sins" and that by being baptized you "wash away your sins" (Acts 2:30 Acts 22:16). That simple first obedience from the heart, when we were washed from our sins in the blood of Christ, is something we should never forget even though we must grow spiritually far beyond it.

NOTE I always advise someone I have baptized to write down an account of what they have done as they understand it, and how they feel about it. People often forget what was in their heart when they first obeyed. If they have their own account of it, they can go back and read it and remember it the better.

4. He made us to be kings and priests

The fourth wonderful thing our text tells us is that we have been made kings and priests to serve the most high God. We are "a holy priesthood" (1Pet 2:5). Peter expands on that by telling us that we are "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own special people" (1Pe 2:5-9). That's who we are, and we must never forget who we are. Next time you feel like a nobody on the bottom rung of the ladder, just remind yourself that you are a royal priest of God. People may not recognize you as that, you may not even "feel" like you are that. But that's the reality. That's what you are, if you have obeyed the Lord Jesus.

5. He is coming again in the clouds

The fifth wonderful thing our text tells us is that Christ is coming again in the clouds and every eye shall see him.

Remember there is a better place than this world and you are on a journey there. Remember his promise. Secure it in your heart. "And he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there shall no longer be any death. There shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain. The former things have passed away... 'Behold I am making all things new'..." (Rev 21:1-7). Every time you look up at the clouds remember that one day you will see Jesus and fly home with him.

See acknowledgement in first lesson

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