Lesson 3What is Christ Like? |
We have been studying God, His names, and how Jesus characterized Him in His walk on earth. It is important to know that because we have the Holy Spirit in us we should have these same characteristics of God the Father and God the Son in us. It will not be us who have these characteristics, but the Holy Spirit in us. We are just vessels in whom God has chosen to dwell (I Corinthians 6: 11). This is very important for us to understand; we are not the ones with the power, but we are the vessels in whom the power dwells.
One of the names we will talk about in this lesson is EI-Shaddai (el shad-di'). In our Bible (KJV), we find this name in two forms: God Almighty or Almighty God. We have talked about the name El that means mighty, strong, and prominent. In the scriptures, we see El being used in Genesis 14:18, 16:13; Exodus 6:3. Looking at this word, we would automatically think of "all powerful." If that was the case then all God would have to do is have His people just use His name El. So there must be more to this name El-Shaddai that God wanted His people to know about Himself. The word Shaddai occurs 49 times in the Old Testament. The first time is in Genesis 17:1 and the last is in Joel 1:15. Of these forty-nine (49) times, most of them occur in Job (31 times). The word Shaddai means one who nourishes, supplies, satisfies. When we combine these two terms El and Shaddai, we get an understanding of a God who is mighty enough to nourish, supply, and satisfy. What is God saying about Himself? He is all-sufficient to meet the needs of His people. This is supported in Genesis 17:1; 28:3; 35:11; Ruth 1:2-21; Job 13:3; Psalm 91:1-3.
When you look at Jesus's earthly walk, do you see that He is all sufficient to meet the needs of His people? Can you see this characteristic of God manifested in His people, the Christians, in the early church? Do we see this in the church today? When I say the "church”, I am not just talking about the building, but the people of God, the Christians. Can you identify a church body that is exemplifying this characteristic of God the Father and God the Son today? Can you see how God could use Christians to reach the people He wants to reach? In order for God to reach people, the process must start with you exemplifying Christ, even if nobody else is doing it.
The next name to examine is Lord, which in Hebrew is Adonai. Remember, the name LORD in all capital letters is Jehovah. In this case, only the first letter is capitalized in Lord. This word Adonai (a do ni') means ownership or mastership. If you talked to a Jew in Old Testament and New Testament times these words had power and responsibility. When God allowed this name to be used for Himself, He was dealing with a group of people who had a different meaning than we do today. In fact, what do the terms “ownership” and “mastership” mean to you?
With Adonai, we see God saying that He is still the master and owner of mankind and He has standards that He wants mankind to fulfill. In this relationship of slave/servant and master, He (Adonai) has duties to fulfill for His slaves/servants. This relationship is illustrated with the Jews’ master and slave relationship.
"The purchased slave stood in a much nearer relationship to his lord than the hired servant who was free to come and go as he pleased. In Israel, the hired servant, who was a stranger, might not eat of the Passover or the holy things of the master’s house, but the purchased slave, belonging to his master, and being a member of the family, possessed this privilege (Exodus 12:43-45; Leviticus 22:10-11)."
Nathan Stone. Names of God. Chicago: Moody Press. 1944, page 46
In the position as slave, we can expect the master, Adonai, to feed us, protect us, and to give us the tools we need to do what He has required of us. This relationship was and is very important. If a man did not have children by his wife and had children by his slave, then the slave’s children would be the ones to get all of the inheritance (Genesis 15:2; Proverbs 17:2).
Now that we have an understanding of the name Adonai or Lord, let’s see how God allows this name to describe Himself. How is God describing Himself in these scriptures: Genesis 15:2, 18:3, 27, 20:1-4; Exodus 4:10-14; Deuteronomy 3:24, 9:26; Joshua 7:1-13; Psalm16:1-11; Malachi 1:14?
As we examine what Christ is like, in John 1:1 – 3 and Colossians 1, the apostle John and Paul helps us to see that Jesus is indeed Lord, Adonai.
John 1
1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.2. The same was in the beginning with God.
3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Colossians 1
15. Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:16. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20. And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
|