Christ

The word “Christ” in isolation comes from a Latin word, Christus, from Greek khristos, “the anointed,” which means rubbed with an oily substance. In Biblical culture, a special holy oil was used to anoint a king, similar to the British ritual of coronation. The Hebrew word for “the anointed” is mashiah translated as “Messiah.” There were many sections of their scriptures which ancient Israelites, or Jews, believed prophesied of a king, in the lineage of King David, who would assume the throne and deliver that people from all its enemies and troubles, restore the power and grandeur of the kingdom, and rule over and protect it for ever. During Jesus of Nazareth’s life and service on earth, there were many who hoped that he would be this king. When, after his crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead, those who followed him declared that he was, in fact, that one anointed by God, the Messiah, the King of Kings. (Acts 7:38, 1 John 5:6)

Throughout the Old Testament, “the Word of God” came to the Patriarchs, to David, to the prophets, and others. They did not read it from a scroll. It came as “a still small voice.” (1 Kings 19:12) This Word of God came to many people before Moses had even lived to write their stories. In fact, the Scriptures (written words) as we have the Bible now, did not exist until centuries after the last reference to “the Word of God” which they record. The Bible is not the Word of God.

Christ, the Word, the light, the life which John 1 names, is specifically present within each person, as is God’s kingdom (Luke 17:21, Colossians 1:27).
Christ, Jesus, the Word of God, came to earth to proclaim the good news of God’s love for each person, and His desire that each of us come to be joined with Him.
As God is pure, no one or no thing can be joined with Him which is itself not pure. Christ provides the way to be purified – by following Him into the baptism of fire that burns away all that is impure, and of spirit into which we may be born as new creatures (2nd Corinthians 5:17). There is no other way than this – by receiving Christ’s eternal life to displace our own.

Crying, “Lord, Lord,” will not admit us into His kingdom. (Matthew 7:21-22, Matthew 25:11, Luke 6:46, Luke 13:25) It is not by mechanically “believing” and reciting some creed or prayer. Rather, it is by truly accepting Christ as Lord and Master and by obeying Him, the Word of God speaking within ourselves, individually and within our assemblies as we gather in our meetings as His body.