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"From Jesus Christ, the faithful witness"

Text: Revelation 1:5

ASCRIPTIONS OF HONOUR

John ascribed to the Lord Jesus Christ much honour and glory. This was done by descriptive titles he attached to the Lord Jesus.

“And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness,
the firstborn from the dead,
and the ruler over the kings of the earth.
To Him who loved us
and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”
Revelation 1:5

1. The name “Jesus Christ”.

a) The word “Christ” is actually a title.

b) Matthew described the Lord Jesus as the One who was called Christ (Matthew 1:16).

c) The word “Christ” connotes His being the “Messiah” (Matthew 1:17).

d) The rendering would be “Jesus the Christ” or “Jesus the Messiah”.

e) But over time and usage, “Jesus Christ” became the common way of referring to the Lord.

2. Three titles were ascribed to the Lord Jesus.

a) The faithful witness.

i) The Lord Jesus bore witness that He was sent by God the Father.

ii) He maintained that He had been sent to serve and to save the world.

b) The firstborn from the dead.

i) The idea of being “firstborn” is that of pre-eminence.

ii) This title is rightly His for He is the first to have been given a glorified resurrection body.

c) The ruler over the kings of the earth.

i) Psalm 2 has a prophetic declaration from God.

ii) God has anointed the Messiah as the King whom He has chosen.

iii) John affirms that the Lord Jesus is indeed the King of kings.

3. An appreciation of our relationship with the Lord Jesus.

a) John honours the Lord for having loved us.

b) John ponders the profound and poignant truth that we are washed from our sins by His blood.

i) The word “wash” speaks of “cleansing”.

ii) Our sins are not just forgiven.

iii) They are cleansed by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ!