The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Word of God Revealed
But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
This article explores the identity of Jesus Christ under the biblical theme of revelation. In this period of end-times deception, it is imperative that all Christians understand the true identity of the Lord Jesus Christ according to divine revelation.
Without a supernatural revelation of Jesus, traditional or cultish interpretations of His identity can obscure His true nature, leaving believers with an incomplete understanding of His person or “another Jesus” entirely, so divine revelation is critical for today.
Introduction
The Concept of Revelation
The Greek word for “revelation,” which we translate into English, is “apokalypsis,” which stems from the root word “apokalupto,” meaning “to take off the cover, reveal, or disclose.”
Revelation
- Something revealed or disclosed, especially a striking disclosure, as of something not before realized.
- The act of revealing or disclosing; disclosure.
The word “apocalypse” is also derived from “apokalypsis,” commonly associated with catastrophic events that signal the end of the world. The Book of Revelation is classified as biblical apocalyptic literature, through which the previously concealed end-times events (or eschatological events) have now been disclosed or revealed.
Divine revelation is the act of God personally disclosing concealed truth, wisdom, knowledge, or understanding to individuals or groups. This means that a direct revelation from God is needed to understand divine truth in any meaningful sense.
Direct Revelation from God
A person can only gain a true understanding of the identity of Jesus Christ through a direct revelation from God, according to specific means He has ordered. The primary tool used to deliver this revelation is His prophetic Word in the Bible. Definition 1 above accurately describes the type of revelation we are speaking of in the words, “a striking disclosure.”
This means that God must personally “apokalupto” or “take the cover off” the biblical information about Jesus and stimulate an individual’s understanding in a very striking and powerful way, allowing them to truly grasp it to the point of confirmed knowledge. If someone does not know who Jesus is, they still have the “cover” over this understanding, and it will remain there until God removes it through divine revelation.
Therefore, if someone were to gather the most compelling evidence, such as history, material evidence, or eyewitness testimony to ascertain an answer, it does not guarantee that they would arrive at the most accurate and correct conclusion, or that what they have found would convince them or anyone else of the truth.
New Testament Example
Revelation to Peter
The reason we know that direct revelation from God is how people gain understanding of Jesus’ identity is because it is demonstrated by example in the New Testament. Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was, and His reply to their answer was revealing.
The Gospel of Matthew tells us:
When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
The information in this passage points to the fact that a person gains understanding of who Jesus is through direct revelation from God. Jesus here asks a group of His disciples who people thought He was, and He immediately received a mixed reply from them.
They said to Him that people thought He could be one of several biblical characters who had reappeared from history. However, His disciple Peter then said to Him, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered him by blessing him and clearly stated, “flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
There are two central pieces of understanding we gain here. Firstly, because the passage clearly shows that people at the time had mixed opinions about who they thought Jesus was, we understand that people can be aware of Him and the claims about His identity and still have inaccurate knowledge of His identity.
Secondly, Jesus plainly stated that Peter had gained knowledge of His identity, not through a human source, but because God had personally revealed it to him. Therefore, we see that direct revelation from God enables the full comprehension of Jesus’ true identity.
Holy Spirit Revelation
Divine Truth Revealed
The Word of God states in the Book of 2 Corinthians:
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
In the above verse, the Apostle Paul explains how God Himself reveals divine truth to us by His Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the communicator of divine truth, or the Word of God, and this is how we understand at a deeper level that Peter was given revelation about the identity of Jesus being the Son of God.
Similarly, the Holy Spirit must reveal the identity of Jesus to us in a way that strikes our understanding and provides us with knowledge we can comprehend. Therefore, we can know that the Holy Spirit will reveal the truth of the Bible to us, helping us to come to the revelation of Jesus.
Who is Jesus Christ?
The initial answer to the question of Jesus’ identity is that He is the Son of the Living God, as we have ascertained from the earlier passage. The term “the Son of God” is a relational term, and its meaning has vast implications, unpacking a significant and beautiful set of truths about the nature of the Living God and His will for creation and humanity.
Ultimately, the Spirit of God must reveal the full extent of Jesus’ identity to any person as He sees fit, and as we established earlier, the Word of God is the primary platform used to present this truth. The many titles and names of Jesus Christ are numerous, and with each name come significant implications and truths about God.
Jesus Christ, historically speaking, was a Hebrew Israelite who lived in the first century AD. He was a Jewish carpenter from the ancient region of Galilee in the northern part of the historical land of Israel. One might ask, “Is it not a big stretch from a carpenter to the Son of God?” Indeed, it appears so, but with further revelation from the Word of God, we find the unique identity of Jesus unfold.
Revelation and the Word
Believers vs. Unbelievers
The identity of Jesus as the Son of God can easily be acknowledged but disregarded by the common person, which is most surely the case with the majority of the population that has an awareness of the story of Jesus Christ.
Why then do the large number of believing Christians understand and believe this truth of Jesus being the Son of God, while others within the population may acknowledge this but do not believe? It is because revelation must also include another significant element in combination, which is faith.
The “Word of God” and the Bible
God has presented a general revelation to the world that is available to be received—the Word of God in the Bible. When we think of the term “Word of God,” we think of written or spoken words, the Bible, and the words of God. But this is where biblical revelation helps us to see a deeper aspect of Jesus’ identity.
In the Gospel of John, we read:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
We see here in this passage that the term “Word” is used in the sense of personification, connecting it with the word “him.” It also says that the “Word was God” and “was in the beginning with God.”
So this “Word,” being a person, is described as God and has eternal qualities attributed to Him in His existence from “the beginning,” which can only be identified with God, as God is eternal and from the beginning.
Creative qualities are also given to the “Word,” as it goes on to say, “without him was not any thing made that was made.” Plainly, this term “Word” here describes the person of God.
The Word Made Flesh
In the same chapter, more is added to this description:
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
So now we see above that the “Word” was made flesh and appeared in the world, living among the world’s people. It says that this “Word” was also “the only begotten of the Father,” which means the “only born” or sole child of God.
This means that God, who here is called the “Word,” was manifested in the flesh—or a human body—in the person of Jesus Christ, as the only begotten, only born, and sole child or Son of God. This is a powerful revelation of the identity of Jesus Christ and is the central claim of Christianity. It is also known as the “Incarnation.”
The term “Word” is used above by the Apostle John to describe the divinity of Jesus Christ, that is, His status and identity as God.
Moreover, it is plainly stated that God appeared in human form, referring to the person of Jesus Christ, in the Book of 1 Timothy:
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
The Message of Jesus Christ
The Message Revealed
The message and impacting reality of Jesus Christ, Who indeed is the Son of God and God Himself manifested in flesh or human form, must be uncovered and then received by a person in combination with their own faith.
A person, after receiving the revelation that God has presented to them, must then come to a belief and subsequently an active faith in that revelation of truth.
This kind of striking revelation, when given by God, always produces the faith needed to understand and come to a real belief in the truth. It is in the Bible where we find the words of God in written form.
These written words lead us to the living “Word,” the person of God in Jesus Christ. Revelation and faith are required to receive the most intimate knowledge of this truth to the extent that a person may, with full assurance, know the true identity of Jesus Christ.
The message concerning Jesus Christ has been in circulation since the first century AD., beginning at Jerusalem, then spreading throughout the world up until the present day, with God directing its progress. This is why we know that a direct and general revelation of Jesus has been presented to the world by God.
Therefore, to summarize so far, God has given revelation to the world about the truth of Himself through the message of His Son, Jesus Christ, contained in the Bible, the written Word of God. This message is called the Everlasting Gospel.
The written words of God, revealed to us by the Spirit of God, lead us to the living Word of God, Jesus Christ, who is God manifested in the flesh, the only begotten Son of God. This revelation must be combined with faith and actualized into an authentic belief and true knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The Bible and Personal Revelation
The Complete Revelation
Concerning the Bible, it is important to understand that it was not always in its current form and accessible to the general public. For a long period throughout earlier history, the message of Christianity was communicated verbally and through priestly systems of teaching, and most of the time, it was not always communicated faithfully.
So, because we have the primary record of the message available to us today in the Bible, we have the opportunity to gain the complete revelation that God freely has given and wants all people to have.
The Extent of Revelation
Adding to the earlier point about God having to personally “take the cover off” the biblical knowledge and a person’s understanding, if a person does not know the full extent of the revelation, naturally the cover remains over the entire realization. Therefore, God removing the cover is a matter of Him making known to any person the full extent of the revelation through teaching and activation under the Holy Spirit’s lead.
How do we come to this point of full revelation? Firstly, a person must sincerely want the cover removed (desire the full revelation). Secondly, they must actively seek this knowledge and understanding in faith (be willing to seek the full revelation). Lastly, an individual must be personally directed and taught by Jesus Christ Himself through a powerful revelation of His Word and Spirit.
God knows if people truly want to seek Him and find the truth. This uncovering, or receiving of the full revelation, must be done in God’s way because He is the only One who knows how to remove the cover properly from any one person. This is why people can come to the revelation of Jesus Christ at different times, in different places, in different cultures, and even in different languages.
God’s express revelation is His Son, Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God, being presented to the world through the written Word of God in the Bible and by His active presence among us through the Holy Spirit. This is how God has revealed truth to the world.
The True Christ vs. False Christs
The Need to Tell the Difference
Along with the direct and personal revelation of Jesus through the Holy Spirit, as described above, one more thing is crucial to add. There is also a serious need to ensure that we have the true and correct revelation of Christ, as we are living in a time of deception regarding Jesus and His identity.
Jesus explains this Himself in the Gospel of Matthew:
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
The above prophetic revelation has seen and will see further realization. The world, and specifically the church, is now seeing this prediction play out, in that many impostors are masquerading as disciples, teachers, apostles, and prophets of Jesus Christ, and even some audacious characters are claiming to be Jesus Himself in both direct and indirect ways.
Historically, we have seen this prophecy develop in times past and in the day we live in. These people all promote another Jesus, who is not the Jesus of Scripture. So how can we know that we have the true revelation of Jesus as opposed to those of these substitutes?
Knowing the True Jesus
How Do We Identify the True Jesus?
Firstly, we must know the true and full nature of Jesus as revealed in Scripture. Secondly, we must then measure all other so-called Jesus substitutes against this standard to discern the true Christ from the false Christ.
To get to know Jesus and His true nature is a progressive revelation that grows over time during a person’s Christian walk. This is according to the large amount of relational and biblical knowledge about Him. However, by understanding four very crucial points concerning the character and identity of Jesus outlined below, our discernment of the true Jesus will become simple.
The Divine Jesus
The True Jesus is God Almighty
The very first point that anchors us in the true revelation of Jesus has been stated above in detail—Jesus is God Himself manifest in the flesh, or divine by nature. Theologically, this is called the deity of Christ. Therefore, we can judge from this knowledge that we are dealing with the true Jesus Who is God.
There are certain teachers out there in the religious world who speak of and preach a Jesus who is not God manifest in the flesh. That kind of Jesus is not the true Jesus and must be rejected completely.
The Bible makes it abundantly clear that Jesus is in fact God and divine. One of Jesus’ early disciples and apostles, Thomas, had trouble believing this fact and even doubted it outright by refusing to believe that Jesus had appeared to the other disciples after He rose again.
The Gospel of John reads:
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Here we see a plain confession that Jesus is God after a doubtful period in Thomas’ heart. This leads us to the conclusion that the true Jesus must be confessed as the true God. All other substitutes that make Jesus any less than God are counterfeit and are to be avoided.
The true revelation of Christ must contain the very important truth of His deity.
The Merciful Jesus
The True Jesus Loves Us
The second point that leads us toward the true revelation of Jesus is the fact that Jesus, by nature, is loving, merciful, and compassionate. The true Jesus is loving and forgiving, as opposed to a type of Jesus who is seen as angry, heavy-handed, and condemning.
Jesus preached and demonstrated grace, liberty, freedom, and healing toward the human condition, in that He became a support and foundation for the weak, sick, and needy, and a source of vital life, ability, and power.
Often encountered out there and portrayed is another Jesus without compassionate concern for humanity, but rather with a more concentrated emphasis on placing heavy and demanding religious burdens upon the weak, further weakening them and offering no solutions, support, help, or empowerment.
Jesus Himself said in the Gospel of Matthew:
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
We see from the above verses that Jesus is interested in relieving the burdens of the human condition rather than adding to them. The true revelation of Christ contains a revelation of the loving and compassionate God Who relieves burdens and desires good outcomes for people.
The Holy Jesus
The True Jesus is Righteous
The third point, leading us to the true revelation of Christ in combination with the others, is the fact that Jesus, Who we’ve established is God manifest in the flesh, is intrinsically righteous and holy.
The Book of Hebrews, speaking of Jesus, directs us to His righteous character:
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
This fact is critical in maintaining the correct balance of Christ’s personal attributes and true character. Another Jesus is commonly preached who exhibits a rather low view of holiness and moral righteousness.
As a result, the emphasis is lost concerning the need for His disciples to live righteous and upright lives following the moral and spiritual standards of the Word of God. Because Jesus is divine, holy, and righteous by nature, there is naturally a requirement for those who identify with Him to live a holy and righteous life.
Again, the Book of Hebrews, when referring to Jesus’ office of High Priest in heaven, directly attributes Him as holy in nature.
The Bible reads in the Book of Hebrews:
For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
We see here that Jesus is referred to as “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,” giving Him the personal and intrinsic attribute of holiness. This makes sense if Jesus is divine and agrees with His righteousness.
The Apostle Paul stated in the Book of 2 Timothy:
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Here, the Apostle Paul declared that those who call themselves by the name of Christ must depart from iniquity or impure, immoral, evil conduct that conflicts with the Word of God.
Jesus, being holy, produces disciples of holiness who are moved and empowered by His Holy Spirit to live and walk as He walked. This is a key revelation and critical identifying characteristic of the true Christ.
The Living Jesus
The True Jesus is Supernatural
The fourth and final point in recognizing the true Jesus is that He is alive and is a miracle worker today, as He was when He walked the earth in the days of the New Testament.
Some would assert that Jesus and the Church only worked miracles, signs, and wonders until a certain period in history, after which that activity ceased to continue. This is a traditional interpretation of Jesus rather than the living and active Jesus of the Bible.
In the Gospel of Matthew it says:
And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
We find here that Jesus was endowed with supernatural power to heal the sick and cast out demons when He walked the earth in physical form. The Church was endued with the same power, as further Scriptures tell us:
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
Both Jesus and His Church performed miracles by the power of God and nowhere does the Bible say this would cease. Jesus has not changed His way of doing things at any time as the Book of Hebrews tells us:
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Therefore, we see Jesus is the same wonder-working individual as He was in the New Testament days, and today He endues His Church with the same miraculous power by His Spirit. This is the true Jesus Who lives and works miracles among us today. These identifiers above will ensure that we gain a true revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
A Revelation of God
A biblical revelation of Jesus Christ has now been given to the reader. Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, God manifested in the flesh, the Living Word of God. He is divine, full of love and compassion, holy and righteous, and works miracles among us today.
As there is much more to understand about who Jesus Christ is, His work in the world, and His Gospel, a person should seek the full revelation of Christ in the Bible, which God has freely given and is willing to uncover by the power of His Spirit.
Seek the Revelation of Christ
The best and only sure place to start is to directly seek Jesus Christ Himself, asking Him to reveal the truth in the Bible through the Holy Spirit, using the most reliable Bible version, which is the KJV, or King James Version, commonly known as the Authorized Version.
We must seek out Jesus Christ and the biblical understanding of who He is, not deviating from His Word, and the full revelation of the Son of God, the Messiah, will be given. God has made it very simple to start with.
May the sincere truth seeker receive the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
