THE EXCELLENCE OF CHRIST
[A]. HE IS EXCELLENT IN NAME
I have 4 books on the Names of Christ that speak on all His names in the bible, and there are many hundreds of them. His name is excellent throughout the Old and New Testaments and I want to focus on just 4 of the passages that have held my attention for many decades in regard to Christ’s Name. We need to enter into the excellence of Christ. There is no time to waddle about in the shallows. He has a Name that is above all other names, and that being the case, we should feast our souls on the wonderful Lord Jesus Christ. We look at just some of ways in which our Lord is excellent.
(A). THE PROPHETIC NAMES BEFORE BIRTH. One of the best collection of names is found in Isaiah written 700 BC in this passage –
(a). THE PROPHETIC NAMES. {{Isaiah 9:4-5 “for You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian. Isa 9:5 Every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, and cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.”}}
This glorious passage in Isaiah begins with the setting before the Names of God’s Anointed are revealed. The Son is the Anointed one. The verses above describe deliverance from the enemy and in context, that happens when the Lord of Lords and King of Kings comes in glory from heaven at the Second Coming to deliver Israel from all the surrounding armies at the Battle of Armageddon.
Now having set the context for the passage we going to look at what follows.
{{Isaiah 9:6-7 “For a child will be born to us. A son will be given to us, and the government will rest on His shoulders, and His name will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isa 9:7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace on the throne of David and over his kingdom to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.”}}
HOWEVER, before Messiah’s Coming in glory at the end of the Tribulation, He first had to come to prepare the way for redemption. In this Isaiah passage we have both comings described and that is common in the prophetic books. The writings jumps back and forth through different settings and different times, just like above.
The Names attributed to the Son are true for His First Coming and will be fully realized at His Second Coming. You will notice verse 6 contains “and the government will rest on His shoulders,” which has reference to the Second Coming when he will reign as King over the whole earth – {{Zechariah 14:9 “And the LORD will be king over all the earth. In that day the LORD will be the only One, and His name the only One.”}}
Verse 7 above describes His reign and Kingdom and it will operate in the Millennial Kingdom set up after the Second Coming. It all dovetails perfectly.
For a short time I’d like to look at the Names given to the Son in verse 6.
“Wonderful Counsellor” - The KJV separates these two words wrongly, but Jesus is the Wonderful Counsellor. Being a counselor is one thing but when that Person is wonderful . . . well that is WONDERFUL! He is MY Counsellor. Marvellous!
“Mighty God” - Well this is no mistake and the answer to the heresy of Arianism. Jesus Christ is God, God the Son. We could explore that all day, but we won’t. it is great that the Messiah, the Son is God, but He is the MIGHTY God! Fantastic!
“Eternal Father” - Now we get serious with this one. Jesus is called “Eternal Father” and before any begin to think the names of divinity are being mixed up, well, they are not. God is One but the terms in the Godhead are sometimes loosely attributed. In any case the Lord Jesus Christ is the compassionate God who is eternal (a Father’s compassion).
“Prince of Peace” - This is a beautiful Name. He ministers peace. When He returns at the Second Coming He reigns at the Prince of Peace described in Isaiah 11:1-10.
(B). HE HAS A NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES. The Apostle John was aware of all this in his gospel when he mentions many of the names of Christ that other gospel writers don’t. Light of the World. Bread of life. The Vine. The Resurrection and The Life. The Good Shepherd. I AM. His names are excellent. There is one passage, a favourite of mine that stands above all other passages – {{Philippians 2:10-11 “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, Phil. 2:11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”}} This is universal and powerful. It will include every human being including those who blasphemed Christ and outrightly rejected Him and persecuted His children. Every knee will bow, be it here now in conversion, or at the great white throne.
However again here, this all becomes clearer when it is placed in context. This is the start of that passage – {{Philippians 2:5-9 “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, Phil 2:6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, Phil 2:7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men, Phil 2:8 and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Phil 2:9 Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and BESTOWED ON HIM THE NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME,”}}
His most excellent name comes through His most excellent work. From God in heaven, to the Sacrifice on the cross, then to exaltation in heaven with the declaration of His name forever. It was that passage that inspired the hymn writer “At the Name of Jesus, every knee shall bow”. There is a real lesson for us too in humility, we must not ignore.
(C). FOUNTAIN OF DIVINE NAMES. Revelation Chapter 1 is the Fountain of Divine Names. It is a treasure trove of magnificent cameos on His glorious names and ministry. I will give you just one verse and hope that will motivate you to look for more – {{Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”}} (First, Last, Beginning, End, Jehovah, Elohim, Eternal One, Almighty). I have done this in detail. Here is the first Part - https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/6-revelation-chapter-1-the-revelation-of-jesus-christ-the-fathers-perfection-part-1-of-6-ron-ferguson-sermon-on-messiah-267187
(D). THE GREAT I AM. The I AM was revealed to Moses in Exodus – {{Exodus 3:13-14 Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I shall say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” Ex 3:14 and God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”, and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”}}
Then we pass over almost 1 500 years and come to one very windy night, probably a stormy one. We then read – {{John 6:19-20 When therefore they had rowed about three or four miles, they beheld Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat and they were frightened, John 6:20 but He said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.”}} This is the great I AM in their midst. The Greek is “I, I AM”. Jesus Christ is the great I AM in control of everything.
[B]. HE IS EXCELLENT IN CREATION
The blessed Lord has control all over creation. Firstly He is the Creator in Genesis chapter 1. Then John through God-breathed inspiration, wrote this in the prologue to his gospel – {{John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:2 He was in the beginning with God. John 1:3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”}} At the very beginning John established that the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, was the eternal God. Christ was there in the beginning of eternity (which is a contradiction for eternity past had no beginning). But then He was at the beginning of the creation of the whole universe. He was the Creator of all things.
Then Paul adds a similar thought in different language – {{Colossians 1:15-16 “He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation, Col. 1:16 for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created by Him and for Him.”}}
Then Paul reveals that there is the new creation, which is being born again and created anew, into the kingdom of God. – {{Galatians 6:15 “Neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.”}} Who stands at the head of that new creation? {{1Corinthians 15:20 “but now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.”}} He is the first-fruits of resurrection that sealed the transaction for the new creation. No resurrection, then no salvation and no new creation. The Lord stands at the head of the new creation that now is.
The story is not ended there for he is head of the new creation to come as John has written – {{Revelation 21:1 “I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.”}} There the excellence of Christ in creation saw Him bring into being the old creation, and also the new creation of salvation in which we share through the blood of Christ, but in turn, He will be the Author of the new creation to come, but that is only possible through the merits of the new creation, that is, His full atoning sacrifice. Jesus the Lord is the Creator of all things; of the most excellent creation.
[C]. HE IS EXCELLENT IN GLORY
There are three accounts I’d like to refer to. The first is that which Isaiah saw – (a). {{Isaiah 6:1-5 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Isa 6:2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings - with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. Isa 6:3 One called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts. THE WHOLE EARTH IS FULL OF HIS GLORY,” Isa 6:4 and the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Isa 6:5 Then I said, “Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips! My eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”}} The glory of the Lord was magnificent but I think it was still veiled for Isaiah. It had a convicting effect on the prophet and launched this young man on his ministry of great importance. When we understand the glory of the Lord it will change us!
(b). We come to the second revelation of the Lord’s glory – {{Matthew 17:1-5 “Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and brought them up to a high mountain by themselves, Matt 17:2 and HE WAS TRANSFIGURED BEFORE THEM and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light, Matt 17:3 and behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with Him. Matt 17:4 Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Matt 17:5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them and behold, a voice out of the cloud saying, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased. Listen to Him!”}}
I think that event was also veiled. Jesus is none other than the glorious well-beloved Son, the very One, God the Son who is in glory today – {{1Timothy 3:16 “By common confession great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh was vindicated in the Spirit, beheld by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, TAKEN UP IN GLORY.”}} Why is heaven where Jesus is today, called “glory”? It is glorious because of the One who is there at the right hand of God. When Jesus was taken up, He was taken in glory. The Lord of glory was returning to His glory.
We share in His glory for we shall ever be with the Lord and will return to earth with Him – {{Luke 9:26 “Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when HE COMES IN HIS GLORY, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Matthew 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on HIS GLORIOUS THRONE.”}} In heaven after the Rapture there we will all be found in His glory described in Revelation 4 and 5.
[D]. HE IS EXCELLENT IN HIS CHARACTER
He was spotless and without sin. {{John 8:46 “Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me?”}} He had to be spotless as the Lamb of God without blemish, or He could never have been the sin-bearer. Because He was without blemish He was able to save me and now to serve me – {{Hebrews 4:14 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession, Heb 4:15 for we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”}} The Lord is the holy God, the awesome God of the Old Testament, in whose presence no sin can dwell. He came from glory to die for sinners in order to receive them into His glory. Compassionate, Caring, Loving, Holy, Merciful, Blameless, Innocent, Righteous – beautiful character of our Lord.
[E]. HE IS EXCELLENT IN HIS SALVATION
There is no other salvation like this without cost, yet so expensive. All the Hindu deities could not save their people. Mohamed or Allah could not save their followers. Buddha could not save his people, but Christ offered up Himself as a Lamb without spot or blemish to redeem the hopelessly lost. {{Hebrews 2:3 “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was, at the first, spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,”}}
[[There was none other good enough to pay the price of sin.
He only could unlock the gate of heaven and let us in.]]
He wrought this great salvation by dying to sin and rising again. He satisfied the holiness of God and the judgement of God and the forgiveness of God through one act.
[F]. HE IS EXCELLENT IN HIS PRIESTHOOD
Chapter 7 of Hebrews introduces us to the New Testament concept of Melchizedek based on Genesis 14. Paul (he wrote Hebrews) sets out the Melchizedek Priesthood – {{Hebrews 7:3 “without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he abides a priest perpetually.”}} This tells us the Great High Priesthood of Christ is eternal so we have a High Priest who serves us eternally. God has done so much for us.
[G]. CLOSING VERSES TO FOCUS US ON CHRIST’S EXCELLENCE –
(a). Hebrews 1:2-4 “in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.” (firstborn of all creation). Hebrews 1:3 “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.” (excellence in glory and power). When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, Heb 1:4 having become much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they,”}} (more excellent than angels).
(b). {{Hebrews 8:6-7 “Now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises, Heb 8:7 for if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.”}} (the excellence of Christ’s ministry).
(c). {{1Peter 2:9 but you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light,”}} (the excellence of His calling) {{2Peter 1:3 “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”}} (the excellence and glory of His calling).
[H]. THE END
There is so much in this study that it could be a book. We would include, Excellent in His Birth, Speech, Works, Power, Program, Roles, Teaching.
I shall close with a small quotation from the great Congregational preacher, Jonathon Edwards.
[[There is an admirable conjunction of diverse excellencies in Jesus Christ. The lion and the lamb, though very diverse kinds of creatures, yet have each their peculiar excellencies. The lion excels in strength, and in the majesty of his appearance and voice: the lamb excels in meekness and patience, besides the excellent nature of the creature as good for food, and yielding that which is fit for our clothing and being suitable to be offered in sacrifice to God. But we see that Christ is in the text compared to both, because the diverse excellencies of both wonderfully meet in him.]]
ronaldf@aapt.net.au
