SATURDAY EDITORIAL

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

He is the faithful witness-of the truth concerning Himself and His mission as Prophet, Priest, and King Saviour. "He was the faithful witness, because all things that He heard of the Father He faithfully made known to His disciples. Also, because He taught the way of God in truth. Also, because the truth which He taught in words He confirmed by miracles.

Lazarus rose, to die again. Christ rose to die no more. The grave was the womb of His resurrection-birth, "This day (at the resurrection) have I begotten Thee." It was then that His divine Sonship as the God-man was manifested and openly attested by the Father. So our resurrection and our manifested sonship, or generation, are connected.

He loosed us in (by the virtue of) His blood, so spiritual believers, as priests unto God, must first be washed in Christ's blood from every stain before they can serve God right now and evermore. The Father is first named; He is described as the Jehovah who is, and who was, and who is to come, eternal, unchangeable.

The Lord Jesus Christ was from eternity, a Witness to all the counsels of God. He is the First-born from the dead, who will by His own power raise up His people. He is the Prince of the kings of the earth; by Him their counsels are overruled, and to Him they are accountable. Sin leaves a stain of guilt and pollution upon the soul. Nothing can fetch out this stain but the blood of Christ; and Christ shed His own blood to satisfy Divine justice, and purchase pardon and purity for His people.

He is the faithful witness; He was from eternity a witness to all the counsels of God and He was in time a faithful witness to the revealed will of God, who has now spoken to us by His Son; upon His testimony we may safely depend, for He is a faithful witness, cannot be deceived and cannot deceive us. He is the first-begotten or first-born from the dead, or the first parent and head of the resurrection, the only one who raised Himself by His own power, and who will by the same power raise up His people from their graves to everlasting honour; for He has begotten them again to a lively hope by His resurrection from the dead.

He has made them kings and priests to God and his Father. Having justified and sanctified us, He makes us kings to His Father; that is, in His Father's account, and for his glory. As kings, we govern our own spirits, conquer Satan, have power and are able to prevail with God in prayer, and shall judge the world. He hath made us priests, given us access to God, enabled us to enter into the holiest of holy and to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices unto Him.

It is His ever-continuing character, He loveth us, and ever shall love us. His love rests evermore on His people.

God's Blessings to each of you,

LJG/rECj