“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14
When the believer in Christ reads through the Scriptures, in particular, the letters of the Apostle Paul, he is struck by the enormity of the blessing of knowing Christ. In His letters the Spirit of God unveils something, of not only the greatness of Christ, the riches of God’s glory in Christ, but also, that which is available to every believer. All has been made possible, not only to know the truth of these riches and blessings revealed to us by the Spirit of God, but to know the power of the Spirit to believe God, receiving them by faith. The believer has all in Christ, but the experience of that fulness comes with the knowledge of the truth, and the empowering of the Spirit to appropriate Christ for every need. So, where does one begin in the pursuit of Christ, not only to know about Him, but as the Apostle Paul wrote: “…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection?” (Phil. 3:10)
In our consideration of the “means” of knowing Christ, we will speak of four essential weapons. We will speak of these four matters as weapons for they must be used in the context of the spiritual conflict wherein the believer finds himself. Our enemy pays no attention to anything or anybody, except that which is of Christ, for in Him is the overwhelming power and authority of God revealed.
First, we take up the matter of the Cross. The Cross was the testimony of the Suffering Savior’s Sacrifice for sins, so that man could be forgiven for them before the Holy God. At the same time, it was a declaration of a work so complete and perfect, that no devil or demon can alter it. When the perfect Law of God was given to men, it revealed man’s sin. The Law in essence proved the sinfulness, and lost condition of man because he could not obey the demands of the law perfectly. On the cross, the testimony of those requirements of the Law against mankind, was nailed. God, by that act, took that testimony of sin and failure completely away. Man was declared FREE from the requirements of the law. Also, on the cross, the Lamb of God took upon Himself the entirety of the sin of the world, it having been laid upon Him by the Father. The wrath of God, as a terrible sword, woke against Christ. Only the slain lamb could change that wrath to blessing and life.
The second matter is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, who comes to not only convict and convince of sin but brings one to see one’s lost condition, helpless to save from sin, Satan, and this world. The Spirit of Christ is the One by whose power, the soul receives strength to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the Almighty Spirit, always waiting to save and to sanctify.
The third weapon is the Name of Christ. From the mention of the Hallowing of the Name of the Father in prayer, to praying in the name of the Lord Jesus, to living every day, in and by the name of the Lord Jesus, the believer is called to grasp that he is inseparably one with that Name which is above all other names.
Finally, there is the weapon of “glory.” Because of the absolute holiness of God, and the worthiness of the Father in creation and the Son in redemption, all by the Spirit, the singular objective becomes ever so clear for the believer. The glory of God, that revelation and worship of the person of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is to be foremost in every endeavor, for living and dying.
It was Theodore Monod who wrote:
“All In Christ, By the Holy Spirit, For the glory of God, All else is nothing.”
Dear Father, Fill us with Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.