23. The Christo-Centric Principle
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE The Christo-Centric Principle a. Definition.
It is that principle by which God shows:
1. The mind of Deity is eternally centered in Christ.
2. All angelic thought and ministry are centered in Christ.
3. All Satanic hatred and subtlety are centered at Christ.
4. All human hopes are, and human occupations should be, centered in Christ.
5. The whole material universe in creation is centered in Christ.
6. The entire written Word is centered in Christ. b. Explanation.
1. The mind of Deity is eternally centered in Christ.
(a) This is seen, first of all, in the fact that Christ was in the form of God; the mind of God was in Him – Php 2:5; Hebrews 1:3.
We do not see the sun, but the rays of the sun, and yet the rays are of the sun. It is the same with God and the Son of God – Hebrews 1:8. He has all the perfections of God. He is the visible image of the Invisible.
(b) God was unseen by men before the Incarnation except in the Theophanies of the Old Testament. "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" expressed the power of God in His mighty works. He is the image of the invisible God. Jesus was, or is God. He had a mind big enough to hold the thoughts of God and a heart big enough to hold the love of God.
(c) He is the Creator of all things.
He is the sum and aim and end of all creation – John 1:3; John 1:10; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 3:4; Romans 11:36; Colossians 1:17; 2 Corinthians 8:9.
He is the heir of all things – Hebrews 1:2. Why heir? He gave up all the riches and rights He had as God, and became man to die and be raised and ascend to heaven, and be heir of all things.
(d) Ephesians 1:4 – before the foundations of the earth, all was centered in Him. Romans 5:14 – Adam was the figure of ’ Him that was to come.
2. All Angelic thought and ministry are centered in Him.
(a) Isaiah 6 : with John 12:41. The vision of the figure on the throne being worshipped by the Seraphim shows Jesus. In Revelation there is a throne surrounded by angelic beings worshipping the Lamb.
(b) Luke 1 : – angels announced His birth.
(c) After temptation – angels came and ministered to Him.
(d) Matthew 25:31 – He will return surrounded by angels – 2 Thessalonians 1:7.
(e) 1 Peter 3:22 – angels are subject to Him.
(f) Hebrews 1:6 – all the angels of God worship Him.
3. All Satanic hatred and subtlety are centered at Christ.
(a) Revelation 12 :
Here we have the sun-clad, and star-crowned woman. The red dragon is ready to devour the child. The woman is Israel, the child is Christ, and the dragon is Satan. The child is caught up to God. Here is a picture of Satan trying to prevent the coming of the Seed.
(b) "Conflict of the ages." This is the war Satan carried on all through the ages, trying to prevent the coming of the Seed.
(c) From Genesis 3:15 to Revelation.
(1) Before flood-attempt to corrupt mankind – Genesis 6.
(2) Abraham called and warfare again.
(3) In Egypt [a] Tried to wear out the life of the people by hard labor.
[b] Command to kill men. God intervened and allowed Moses to be reared in the very home which he would later be turning against.
[c] Command to cast all boy babies in the river.
(4) War against royal line.
[a] Athaliah tried to wipe out the royal line. One baby saved by the marriage of a priest and a princess.
[b] In Esther – planned complete destruction of Jews.
[c] When seed was born (edict of Herod) male children to be slain.
[d] Satan entered into Judas. (This is said of no other man).
4. All human hopes are, and all human occupations should be, centered in Him.
(a) We can get eternal life from no other. In hope we have desire and expectation – John 1:29; Acts 4:12; Hebrews 1:3.
(b) All human hopes are in Him from Adam on. No one could help Jesus when He was on the cross. God the Father couldn’t help Him for He was a substitute for sinners, and Mary (His mother) couldn’t help Him because she was a sinner. There was nothing else for God to do but smite. If the only blood that was shed had been that of bulls and goats, no one would go to heaven. Blood of goats covers but does not wash away sin. Jesus Christ does not merely atone for us or for anyone; He washes our sins away.
(c) All occupations should be centered on Him – Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31.
(d) If we put Christ where He belongs in our lives many saved souls will be the result.
5. The material universe in creation and preservation centers about Him –Colossians 1:16;Hebrews 1:3.
6. The entire written Word is centered in Christ.
(a) This is the only Book that gives the past, present, and future of man; but man isn’t the theme of the Book.
(b) It is the only Book to give the past, present, and future of Satan, the nations, and the Church.
(c) The living embodiment of the Bible is Christ. He is the perfect example of the perfect Man. What is said of the living Word is said of the Written Word – Revelation 19:13; Luke 5:1. The life of the Bible is Christ. Wherever the Word of God is preached and where it is received Christ acts on the heart and the life.
(d) Its viewpoint is Christ.
(1) It is the history of Adam (first man) and Christ (Last Adam, and second man).
(2) The first man put the second man to death. He couldn’t stand the holiness of the second.
(e) Every page of the Book speaks of Christ, as indicated in the following article:
Christ in Every Book of the Book of Books By R. T. Ketcham, D.D. In Genesis He is the Creator and Seed of the woman. 1:1; 3:15. In Exodus He is the Lamb of God for sinners slain. Chapter 12. In Leviticus He is our High Priest. Entire Book. In Numbers He is the Star out of Jacob. 24:17. In Deuteronomy He is the Prophet like unto Moses. 18:15. In Joshua He is the Captain of the Lord’s Hosts. 5:13-15. In Judges He is the Messenger of Jehovah. 3:15-30. In Ruth He is our Kinsman Redeemer. Chapter 3. In Samuel He is the Despised and Rejected King. 1 Samuel 16-19. In Kings and Chronicles He is the Lord of Heaven and Earth. Entire Books. In Esther He is our Mordecai. Chapter 10. In Job He is our Risen and Returning Redeemer. 19:25. In Psalms He is the Blessed Man of 1.
He is the Son of God of 2.
He is the Son of Man of 8.
He is the Crucified One of 22.
He is the Risen One of 23.
He is the Coming One of 24.
He is the Reigning One of 72.
He is the Leader of Praise of 150. In Proverbs. He is our Wisdom. Chapter 4. In Ecclesiastes He is the Forgotten Wise Man. 9:14-15. In Song of Solomon He is "my Beloved." 2:16. In Isaiah He is Our Suffering Substitute. Chapter 53. In Jeremiah He is the Lord our Righteousness. 23:6. In Lamentations He is the Man of Sorrows. 1:12-18. In Ezekiel He is the Throne Sitter. 1:26. In Daniel He is the Smiting Stone. 2:34. In Hosea He is David’s Greater King. 3:5. In Joel He is the Lord of Bounty. 2:18-19. In Amos He is the Rescuer of Israel. 3:12. In Obadiah He is the Deliverer upon Mount Zion. Verse 17. In Jonah. He is the Buried and Risen Saviour. Entire Book. In Micah He is the Everlasting God. 5:2. In Nahum He is our Stronghold in the Day of Wrath. 1:7. In Habakkuk He is the Anchor of our Faith. 2:4. In Zephaniah He is in the Midst for Judgment and Cleansing. 3:5 and 15. In Haggai He is the Smitten Shepherd. 13:7. In Zechariah He is the Branch. 3:8. In Malachi He is the Sun of Righteousness. In Matthew He is the King of the Jews. 2:1. In Mark He is the Servant of Jehovah. Entire Book. In Luke He is the Perfect Son of Man. 3:38; 4:1-13. In John He is the Son of God. 1:1. In Acts He is the Ascended Lord. 1:8, 9. In Romans He is our Righteousness. 3:22. In I Corinthians He is the First-Fruits from among the dead. 15:20. In II Corinthians He is made Sin for us. 5:21. In Galatians He is the End of the Law. 3:10 and 3:13. In Ephesians He is our Armor. 6:11-18. In Philippians He is the Supplier of Every Need. 4:19. In Colossians He is the Preeminent One. 1:18. In I Thessalonians He is our Returning Lord. 4:15-18. In II Thessalonians He is the World’s Returning Judges 1:7-9. In I Timothy He is the Mediator. 2:5. In II Timothy He is the Bestower of Crowns. 4:8. In Titus He is our Great God and Saviour. 2:13. In Philemon He is the Father’s Partner. Verses 17-19. In Hebrews He is the Rest of Faith and Fulfiller of Types. 9; 11; 12:1, 2. In James He is the Lord of Sabaoth. 5:4. In I Peter He is the Theme of Old Testament Prophecy. 1:10-11. In II Peter He is the Long Suffering Saviour. 3:9. In I John He is the Word of Life. 1:1 In II John He is the Target of the Anti-Christ. Verse 7. In III John He is the Personification of Truth. Verses 3, 4. In Jude He is the Believer’s Security. Verses 24, 25. In Revelation He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 19:11-16.