Christmas 2014: Christ, the one true King, has set us free from all other kings. 1Co 8:5-6; Luk 22:25-26; Mat 22:21.

Title: Christmas 2014: Christ, the one true King, has set us free from all other kings. 1CO 8:5-6; LUK 22:25-26; MAT 22:21.

 

 

I would like to thank Kenneth Wuest for much of this work which came from his book, Bypaths in the Greek New Testament, chapter 3; The Imperialism of Christianity, which was first copyrighted in 1940.

 

The greatest gift ever given - a King of our souls and our destinies who is the King of all kings as well as the only gracious Atoner in eternal love.

 

God the Son entered the world in the flesh as a newborn baby as was foretold in Bethlehem, the city of David. This baby held some astounding titles and would give other astounding titles to men who became His followers.

 

He enters a world at a unique time. The Roman Empire has given peace and stability to the known world, from east to west. It has recently changed from a republic to a monarchy. For almost 500 years the republic survived, but after a series of civil wars, Julius Caesar was appointed as perpetual dictator. He was assassinated in 44 BC. More civil wars ensued until Octavian, Caesar's adopted son, defeated Mark Antony in the battle of Actium and in 27 BC the senate formally granted him complete power and the title Augustus (majestic). He ruled until 14 AD and was succeeded by his adopted son Tiberius who ruled until 37 AD.

 

The historical stage was perfectly set for the true King and the kings of men.

 

Caesar ruled the most powerful, expansive, and prosperous kingdom in the history of mankind, which title it would hold and will hold until the antichrist revives it.

 

Due to his tremendous power it is not surprising that there was a Cult of the Caesar. Christianity came into a world dominated by this cult.

 

Caesar took upon himself certain titles as the Lord of his world. He bestowed upon a select number of subjects other titles which were greatly desired. Christ is all these titles and He has graciously bestowed the other titles to anyone who believes in Him.

 

He is the Emperor called Lord, Lord of lords, Son of God, God, King, King of kings, Savior, High Priest, who paid for sin and put it away forever.

 

We are all born as slaves into a world where men have taken these titles. We are all born spiritually dead, separate from God, without hope, fully condemned, fully depraved, and so slaves to a system whose prince is Satan. He covets these titles.

 

His subjects: Friend of Emperor; Imperial slave; Ambassador; Imperial secretary entrusted with imperial letters; fellows in the good news.

 

Cult of Caesar: the Roman emperor was worshipped as a god. The empire was held together by the universal religion of Emperor-worship.

 

The empire was made up of many widely different peoples with their own distinctive languages, customs, and religions. It was held together not merely by the central power of Rome, the greatest military power ever seen, but also by its religion. Political and military ties are strong, but religious ties are stronger. Its policy was to allow its subjects to retain their own religions as long as they accepted Emperor-worship in addition to their own system of belief. There was no place for a religion that set itself up as unique and did not grant Caesar the title of Lord.

 

The unanswerable proof of the divine origin of Christianity is the fact that by 316 AD it displaced Emperor-worship as the predominating system of belief in the Roman world.

 

A Muslim would attempt to claim the same but when Islam took over a lot of the Roman world, it was no longer Roman. In 700 AD and onward, there was no Roman Empire. It no longer controlled the west and the new capital in the east, in Constantinople, had grown very weak by 600 AD through its long war with Persia. On the contrary, Christianity predominated the Roman world at the height of its power and in the midst of severe persecution.

 

Titles held by Caesar were claimed by Jesus Christ and as from heaven.

 

Kurios was a divine title for Caesar. It was also an official title for our Lord Jesus Christ. Kurios is the Greek equivalent of Jehovah.

 

Understood in the name was the title of Master in the idea of divinity.

 

At the time, any disciple claimed this title for Jesus he was guilty of treason against the Roman Empire.

 

1CO 8:5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords,

 

1CO 8:6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

 

Statements like this would eventually land Paul in Nero's prisons in Rome, of which Paul wrote that his imprisonment only blazed a bigger trail for the gospel.

 

The imperialism of the world system competes with the imperialism of Christianity for men's souls.

 

Here Paul presents that challenge from so-called gods to the one true God the Father and the one Lord Jesus Christ, the Creator of all things. His title is manifested by His ascension in glory to the right hand of God, yet first, He was given to the world, as an infant, to set men free from the imperialism of the world system unto His own kingship.  

 

Our Lord referred to this practice of deification of the emperor.

 

LUK 22:25 And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called 'Benefactors.'

 

LUK 22:26 "But not so with you, but let him who is the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as the servant.

 

This is the Lord's idea of kingship - humility and service. The child Jesus is the perfect picture of His humility and His reliance on the Father for protection.

 

The meaning of the world "lord" is not merely that the emperor rules as an absolute autocrat, but that he rules as an emperor-god.

 

MAT 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and counseled together how they might trap Him in what He said.

 

MAT 22:16 And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any [flattery first].

 

MAT 22:17 "Tell us therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?"

 

MAT 22:18 But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?

 

MAT 22:19 "Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax." And they brought Him a denarius.

 

MAT 22:20 And He said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" 

 

MAT 22:21 They said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's." 

 

MAT 22:22 And hearing this, they marveled, and leaving Him, they went away.

 

This is a protest against Emperor-worship. Taxes should be paid to Caesar but he should never be worshipped. Worship is the prerogative of God alone.

 

Augustus Caesar ordered a complete census of his kingdom. As lord he wanted to flex his imperialism by counting all that belonged to him.

 

LUK 2:1 Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.

 

Augustus Caesar ordered a complete census of his kingdom. Taxation was likely one of the motivations for this, but the decree is completely imperialistic. The king desires a roll call of all who belong to him. Incredibly, Jesus is a part of this roll call.

 

Incredibly, Jesus is a part of the census of Caesar. Does Jesus belong to Caesar or does Caesar belong to Jesus?

 

According to the angels, Jesus is the Christ and the Lord.

 

LUK 2:8 And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night.

 

LUK 2:9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

 

LUK 2:10 And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people;

 

LUK 2:11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

 

The one and only Lord as opposed to Caesar who only claimed this title for himself.

Christmas 2014: Christ, the one true King, has set us free from all other kings. 1CO 8:5-6; LUK 22:25-26; MAT 22:21.