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Christ the prophet The Hebrew writer tells us that God “has in these last days spoken to us by His Son.” (Heb 1:1-2) "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, {2} Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;" Since we are in the “last days” and since Jesus Christ is God’s Son we can with confidence say that Christ has spoken unto us the will of God. One of the duties of a prophet was to speak the words that God gave to him; therefore it was the duty of a prophet to relay God’s message to the people. In these “last days” that is exactly what our prophet Jesus Christ has done. Everything we need to know to have salvation of our eternal souls either Jesus or His appointed, inspired prophets have revealed to us. Jesus said: "All things are delivered unto me of my Father:” [Matthew 11:27]. There is nothing that God would have us to know that has not been delivered to His Son, Jesus Christ. Therefore we can trust and give our souls to Jesus! Nicodemus recognized this because of the miracles of Jesus: (John 3:1-2) "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: {2} The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." There was no doubt in Nicodemus’ mind; he knew that Jesus had been sent to earth by God. John, the baptizer, knew that Jesus had been sent to earth by God: (John 3:31) "He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all." Jesus said He had manifested God’s name (John 17:6) "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world:” Furthermore, as our prophet Jesus said: "I have given them thy word;" (John 17:14) Here Jesus assures us as God’s prophet He has given us the words that God, His Father, would have Him to give to us. Jesus even told God that He had declared God’s name to those to whom He spoke: "And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it:” (John 17:26) Jesus said he had declared God’s name and that He would declare God’s name; which He did right up to the time He was crucified! Jesus declared that His doctrine was actually the doctrine of God: (John 8:26) "I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him." (John 8:28) "Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things." It is my opinion that if Jesus felt the necessity of teaching the doctrine that God had taught Him; it is our duty to teach the same doctrine that Jesus taught. Although Jesus was very capable of making decisions on His own as to what He taught; this was not a decision that Jesus made; He was commanded to teach the same thing He had been taught by God: (John 12:49) "For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak." If God so commanded Jesus what do you think the doctrine should be that we are to teach? As our prophet Jesus was faithful to the trust that God placed in Him: (Rev 1:5) "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,” Are we as faithful as Jesus was? God has entrusted us with the Gospel; are we as faithful to teach the same doctrine that God has given us? You cannot be a Christian if you are not following the example that Jesus has set before us! Not only was Jesus a faithful witness, he was a “true witness: (Rev 3:14) "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness,” God expects no less of you and I; He expects us to be faithful witnesses and to speak the truth! Are you faithful? Are you truthful? Do you teach the same thing that God taught Jesus? Are you even willing to teach? Remember teaching doesn’t always have to be public teaching; you can teach by the life that you live!
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