It Belongs to Jesus
The joke says that possession is 9/10’s of the law, or something to that effect. In spiritual matters it either belongs to Jesus or it doesn’t. He does not recognize religion that is characterized by a fraction. Our study today will deal with some things that the New Testament describe as belonging to Jesus.
We want to begin with the blood of Jesus. Throughout the history of mankind many have been those who have shed their own blood for a specific cause. Within the history of the Jewish people many were the animals that had their blood shed as a sacrifice for the sins of the people. But neither of these compare with the blood that stained the old rugged cross. It was by “his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). It was by “the things which he suffered” that we can have “eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:8-9). It is with the “precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19) that we are redeemed. No other blood would do. The importance of His blood can be seen in three ways:
1. It gave us the New Testament. “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28).
2. We also learn from this verse that His blood provides forgiveness of sins. John writes “…unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5). How does one have his sins washed away? Ananias told Paul to “be baptized and wash away thy sins” (Acts 22:16). Jesus’ blood washes away our sins when we are baptized.
3. The blood of Jesus purchased the church. “…the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). How valuable the church must be for it cost the Son of God his life, the shedding of his own blood!
The next thing that belongs to Jesus is the kingdom. Daniel foretold of a kingdom to be established by God (Daniel 2:44). John, Jesus and the apostles preached, “the kingdom was at hand” (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; 10:7). Were they all wrong? Were any of them mistaken? Not at all! God did just what He said He would do. He established a kingdom. It was not like the kingdoms of the world. It was spiritual in nature (John 18:36). The Jews did not stop God from accomplishing His promises. The establishment of the kingdom is not some yet future event. How does one know? Look at the scriptures. “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom” (Hebrews 12:28). Can something be received that does not exist? “Which in His times He shall shew, Who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15). If Jesus is not King now neither is He Lord. “Who has delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). If the kingdom does not exist that leaves us in the power of darkness. Jesus is now reigning as King over His kingdom.
The church, as a possession, belongs to Jesus. It does not belong to John the Baptist, John Wesley, Joseph Smith, Alexander Campbell. Neither does it belong to you or me. Should we then name churches after these men or their doctrines? We have already seen that it was the blood of Jesus that purchased the church (Acts 20:28). “Ye [the church] are bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:12, 20). Those who had repented and been baptized were “added to the church” (Acts 2:38, 47). Jesus built only one church (Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22; 4:4). What a monstrosity it would be to have one head over so many bodies. Jesus is the head over His one body, the church.
Don’t you want to belong to Christ? By His blood you can become a part of His kingdom the church.
Terry Claunch