Identifying with Jesus

 

Identifying with Jesus

When you listen to people's stories, you will find always that element of the 'struggle before the glory'. And I have always wondered about it. Satan is of course the one to blame and not God. But some argue, that since all power and authority have been given to Jesus, then what power is Satan using.

Matthew 28:18: "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'"

Philippians 2:9-11: "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Colossians 2:10: "And in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority."

1 Peter 3:22: "Who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him

But when we read the portion of scriptures very well, we see that Jesus' position now can be explained in the physical realm using the example of King Nebuchadnezzar - whom Daniel in all his wisdom and excellence described as 'king of kings'. 

Daniel 2: 37: "You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory."

Jesus is the King of kings, He has the supreme authority, but there are still powers that be. And Satan especially, challenges the authority of Jesus by attacking the descendants of Jesus: After Satan was cast out lawfully from heaven by the blood of the lamb, he went after Mary in a spiritual battle: 

Rev 12:13  When the dragon saw that it had been thrown down to the earth, it pursued the woman who had given birth to the boy. However, the woman was given the two wings of a large eagle so that she could fly away from the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she could be taken care of for a time, times, and half a time. From its mouth the serpent spewed water like a river behind the woman in order to sweep her away with the flood. But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed from its mouth. The dragon became angry with the woman and went away to do battle against the rest of her children, the ones who keep God's commandments and hold on to the testimony about Jesus. 12:18  Then the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.

From the highlighted portion, it is clear that we have an enemy in Satan, but not everybody: the bible specifically mentions that it is those who keep God's commandments and hold on to the testimony about Jesus. This means that the way satan identifies a person as his enemy is through these identification markers. This doesn't mean those who are not in Christ are free from Satan's attacks.

Jesus' commandments are to love God and to love our neighbors as we do ourselves. And Jesus' testimony includes the prophecies of His coming, His birth, His life on earth, His cross and passion, His death, burial and resurrection, and His ascension and second coming. 

In Daniel's prophecy in Daniel 7 of a coming age, same age scholars believe we are in now till around the year 3500 - if Jesus tarries, we see that there is a kingdom that will wage war against the holy ones of God (a Kingdom may not necessarily refer to a geographical area, more like to a system of living that can be adopted in different geographical areas and peoples) read Daniel 7: 19 - 22. At the height of that kingdom's reign, we will be able to identify that the kingdom is in operation by these markers:

Daniel 7: 25: He shall speak words against the Most High, shall wear out the holy ones of the Most High, and shall attempt to change the sacred seasons and the law; and they shall be given into his power for a time, two times, and half a time.

Am sure that we can see that all these identification markers are already in existence. In fact, a saying keeps coming to mind as I write this to prove that there is already an attempt to change the seasons and the law. The saying goes: No good deed goes unpunished. I asked AI for the history of this phrase, and it responded thus:

The phrase "no good deed goes unpunished" is a sardonic commentary on how acts of kindness can sometimes lead to unintended negative consequences. Its origins trace back to the 12th century in Walter Map's De Nugis Curialium, where a character is described as adhering to inverted morality: "left no good deed unpunished, no bad one unrewarded".

The modern ironic usage of the phrase emerged in the 20th century, appearing in works like Brendan Gill's 1950 novel The Trouble of One House. It has since been popularized in various contexts, including literature, music, and even satirical poetry.

It's a fascinating expression that flips conventional moral wisdom on its head.

In my opinion there is probably nothing more antichrist than that phrase. We have showed that those who are Christ's are identified by two markers:

1. they keep the commandments of God

2. they hold on to the testimony about Jesus

There is no way a person can have these two identification markers as culture that their lives will not be full of good deeds. To then say that these good deeds will be punished is to say leave Christ be.

Apostle Peter puts it this way:

1Pe 3:13  Who is the one who will harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 

1Pe 3:14  But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 

1Pe 3:15  but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. 

1Pe 3:16  Have a good conscience so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 

1Pe 3:17  For it is better to suffer because you are doing good, if the will of God wishes it, than because you are doing evil. 

Of course, Peter was quoting Jesus:

Mat 5:2  And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 

Mat 5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Mat 5:4  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 

Mat 5:5  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 

Mat 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 

Mat 5:7  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 

Mat 5:8  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 

Mat 5:9  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 

Mat 5:10  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Mat 5:11  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 

Mat 5:12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 

But Jesus also said (in my own words) Blessed are the wise and gentle, for they will thrive in this age: 

Mat 10:16  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 

Mat 10:17  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 

Mat 10:18  And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 

Mat 10:19  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 

Mat 10:20  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 

This means in our doing good and identifying with Christ, we must be wise and gentle, we must be Holy Spirit led. One example of the subtlety required in doing good deeds (without ulterior motives) that comes to mind - which sounds wicked really - is this: if the prodigal son had been shown favour and fed well after leaving his father and blowing his inheritance on riotous living, he might not have come to his senses and repented and returned to his father, And yet sometimes showing a person love in their times of peril, can as well lead to a change of heart and a return to God - to discern these subtle differences require prayer and the help of the Holy Spirit. 

And if our Holy Spirit led good deeds cause us to be punished, then we rejoice and go to God for restoration. I can assure you God will give more than the good deed that was sown and wipe away every tear.

Let us end with the hymn: Before the Throne of God Above by Charitie Lees Bancroft and Vikki Cook, which assures us of our identity and eternal security in Christ.