Christ Has Died! Christ is Risen!
Christ Will Come Again!
Pastor Max Solbrekken with Dr. David Perreia in Lisbon
Portugal Gospel Crusade, 2008
Preaching the Gospel in Timoshvara, Romania, 1990. Jesus
said: "Go ye into all the world and preach My Gospel. He
that believeth and is baptized shall be saved... and these signs
shall follow them who believe. In Myname shall they cast out
devils...they shall lay their hands on the sick and they shall
hey shall recover!" Mk 16:15-18
Kampala Police Band leads march to the Crusade Grounds
Max Solbrekken Uganda Unity Gospel Crusade, 2011
Pastor Max Solbrekken & Pastor Peterson Sozi pouring
out the Gospel of Christ with great passion & fire, 2011
Night after night they came seeking Jesus the Christ
who would forgive their sins and give them peace, 2011
Altar calls in each service brought large numbers of young
people to Jesus Christ, even though we had unseasonable
rains after the long drought. They ran through the mud in
the field to meet with the Saviour Jesus Christ, 2011
Pastor Max Solbrekken preaching in Trinidad, 1968
Unity Gospel Crusade Kampala, Uganda, 2011
Crusade Kampala, Uganda, 2011
FROM THE THRONE OF GLORY
TO
THE CROSS OF SHAME
By
Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
The Gospel of
Jesus Christ is the most remarkable, indescribable and phenomenal
gift that Almighty God has given to the world. It is incomparable and
most amazingly unique in the annals of mankind! It is the One and
only such gift proffered in human history and will never again happen
throughout time or eternity!
What is
the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
It is the gift of God, the unspeakable gift of His Son, Who was
incarnated (God in human flesh) to be sacrificed as God’s Lamb to
meet the demands of Divine Justice in payment for our sins and
purchasing our FREEDOM
from the Penalty of the Law. (Ezek.18:4; 2 Cor.9:15)
The extent to
which our Heavenly Father reached out to fallen man is unfathomable
to the highest degree. He gave His Son to be so degraded in His
humiliation that, “His
visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the
sons of men”. (Isaiah
52: 13,14)
When Jesus
was lifted up on the Cross He became a curse as our sins were piled
upon Him, and through His death and resurrection He abolished death
and purchased eternal life for all who receive Him.
CHRIST
HAS ABOLISHED DEATH!
“St. Paul
writes:
“God, Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace
which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. But
is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ Who
hath abolished
death
and hath brought Life and Immortality to light through the Gospel.”
(2 Tim.1:9, 10)
The Holy
Scripture says: “Christ
hath REDEEMED
us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us: for it is
written, CURSED
is everyone that hangeth on a tree.”
(Gal.3:13)
Could
anyone
find words in any language to fully articulate the magnitude of God’s
richness, graciousness and beneficence in sending His Son to this
sin-cursed world in search of lost and sinful men?
The answer
is, “Not
in a million years would that be possible! There
will never be enough time for us to thank
and praise
our
precious SAVIOUR
for the immenseness of His mercy, love and grace given us through the
shedding of His holy and precious BLOOD!"
The Word of
God teaches about the wideness of God’s mercy and the depth of His
love: “For
this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
of Whom the family in Heaven and earth is named; that He would grant
you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with
might by His Spirit in the inner man:
“That
Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and
grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is
the BREADTH
and LENGTH
and DEPTH
and HEIGHT;
And to KNOW
the LOVE
of CHRIST
which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with the fullness of
God.
“Now unto
Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or
think, according to the power that worketh in us.” (Ephesians 3: 3-20)
There is
no sin, fear, lust, greed, hate, guilt, sorrow, perversion or
addiction that Jesus will not forgive, and liberate us from when we
call upon His name in sincerity and faith!
The love of
God reaches the darkest recesses of the heart, mind and conscience
and liberates the toughest, meanest and most jaded among us! His
blood purges away all condemnation and depression and tormenting
demons and gives us Peace, Joy and Love. Amen!
THE
GOSPEL IS JESUS HIMSELF
He alone is
the Good News! Without Him there is No Good News. Without Him there
are No Glad Tidings! Our Lord said: “Without
Me ye can do nothing.”
(John 15:5);
“Then
answered Jesus, Verily,
Verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what
He sees the Father do: for whatsoever things He doeth, these also
doeth the Son likewise.
“For the
Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things that Himself doeth,
and He will show Him greater works than these that ye may marvel. For
as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickens them, even so the Son
quickens whomsoever He will.
“For the
Father judges no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son;
that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father. He
that honours not the Son, honours not the Father which hath sent Him.”
(John 5: 19-23)
“Jesus
answered, My doctrine is not Mine but His who sent Me. If any man
will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of
God, or if I speak of Myself.” (John 7: 16-17)
“And yet if
I judge, My judgment is TRUE;
for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent Me. I am one that
bears witness of Myself and the Father that sent Me bears witness of
Me.” (John 8: 16, 17)
JESUS IS THE GOOD
SHEPHERD!
Jesus said:
“I am the Good Shepherd, and I know My sheep, and am known of Mine.
As the Father knows Me, even so know I the Father, and I lay down My
life for the sheep.
“Therefore
doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it
again. No man takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have
power to lay it down and I have power to take it again. This command
have I received of My Father.
“I and
My Father are ONE....Many
GOOD WORKS
which I have showed you from MY
FATHER;
for which of those works do ye stone Me? Say
ye of Him, Whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world,
Thou blasphemeth; because I said, I am the Son of God?
"If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not. But, if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the WORKS: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” (John 10; 30-38)
St. John
wrote: “He
that cometh from ABOVE is above ... For He whom God hath sent speaks
the words of God; for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him. For the
Father loves the Son and hath given all things into His hand.
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3: 31, 34-36)
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3: 31, 34-36)
THE CROSS IS OUR FIXED POINT!
What happened on the CROSS on Golgatha is the greatest event in the world's history. The Cross is our fixed point. It is the centre of our faith. It is the Hope of Humanity. It was there that Man was reconciled to God through His perfect and holy Son. Jesus took the hand of God in one hand and the hand of man in His other and brought us together at the Cross
What happened on the CROSS on Golgatha is the greatest event in the world's history. The Cross is our fixed point. It is the centre of our faith. It is the Hope of Humanity. It was there that Man was reconciled to God through His perfect and holy Son. Jesus took the hand of God in one hand and the hand of man in His other and brought us together at the Cross
Hanging on the CROSS, our Saviour cried out: “It
is finished.” (John
19:30) Speaking in Greek, Jesus used the word ‘tetelestai’
taken from the verb ‘teleo’
which has three essential meanings:
1) to finish something, 2) to fulfill something, 3) to be paid in
full.
Jesus of
Nazareth, True God from Eternity and True Man born of a Virgin, had
finished
the work of REDEMPTION
having shed His precious blood on the ‘Cross of Shame’ as God’s
Pascal Lamb.
He had
fulfilled
all 332 prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the Coming Messiah
and He had paid
for all our sins, sicknesses and diseases!
When He cried out ‘tetelestai’, the fountain of blood had been opened for sin and uncleanness and Jesus Christ had conquered Satan, once and for all time and eternity. (Zech.13:1; Heb.2:14,15) Praise the Lord!
When He cried out ‘tetelestai’, the fountain of blood had been opened for sin and uncleanness and Jesus Christ had conquered Satan, once and for all time and eternity. (Zech.13:1; Heb.2:14,15) Praise the Lord!
“Surely
He hath borne our
sicknesses
(heb.
kholee)
and
carried our
pains
(heb.
makob):
yet
we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But He was
WOUNDED
for our transgressions, He was BRUISED
for our iniquities; the CHASTISEMENT
of our peace was upon Him;
and
with His stripes we were healed.
“All
we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own
way; and the Lord laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.”
(Isa. 53: 4-6)
FROM
THE THRONE OF GLORY
TO
THE CROSS OF SHAME!
Don
Francisco brings out this great truth in the song,
The Center of The Ages’. Here are some of the lyrics:
The Center of The Ages’. Here are some of the lyrics:
He didn't come to
terrify
To judge or condescend
To call us all His servants
But to lift us as His friends
To save us all from Satan's power
To reign at His right hand
In the little town of Bethlehem
When God became a Man
Today the God of Majesty
Was given to the earth
A gift of such magnificence
We could never plumb it's worth
And the rudeness of the setting
Just ignites the Jewel's fire
A pearl beyond the greatest price
The Joy of Man's desire
He didn't come to terrify
To judge or condescend
To call us all His servants
But to lift us as His friends
To save us all from certain death
To reign at His right hand
When once for all eternity
God became a Man
IT STARTED IN THE GARDEN!
To judge or condescend
To call us all His servants
But to lift us as His friends
To save us all from Satan's power
To reign at His right hand
In the little town of Bethlehem
When God became a Man
Today the God of Majesty
Was given to the earth
A gift of such magnificence
We could never plumb it's worth
And the rudeness of the setting
Just ignites the Jewel's fire
A pearl beyond the greatest price
The Joy of Man's desire
He didn't come to terrify
To judge or condescend
To call us all His servants
But to lift us as His friends
To save us all from certain death
To reign at His right hand
When once for all eternity
God became a Man
IT STARTED IN THE GARDEN!
Although the plan of Salvation - through the shed blood of Christ - was in the heart of God before the foundations of the world were laid, it was in the Garden of Eden that the traitor Lucifer made his diabolical move of HIGH TREASON against the Almighty, plunging humanity into sin and degradation!
And it was in the Garden of Eden that God announced the coming of the DELIVERER who would crush Lucifer's head and free the sons and daughter's of Adam and Eve! Here is the Holy Record of that awesome event that has dramatically shaped the course of History.
God said, “And I will put enmity between thee (serpent) and the woman and between thy (Satan) seed and her (Virgin) seed. It (Christ) shall bruise (destroy) thy head and thou (Satan) shall bruise His heel.” Jesus was bruised on the cross, but healed when raised back to life. (Gen.3: 15)
And it was in the Garden of Eden that God announced the coming of the DELIVERER who would crush Lucifer's head and free the sons and daughter's of Adam and Eve! Here is the Holy Record of that awesome event that has dramatically shaped the course of History.
God said, “And I will put enmity between thee (serpent) and the woman and between thy (Satan) seed and her (Virgin) seed. It (Christ) shall bruise (destroy) thy head and thou (Satan) shall bruise His heel.” Jesus was bruised on the cross, but healed when raised back to life. (Gen.3: 15)
For several thousand years the Jewish people had
waited for their Deliverer of which Moses and the prophets had spoken
and to Whom Almighty God alluded, when He announced the coming of the
Messiah and His ultimate victory over Satan.
After His resurrection from the dead, Jesus conversed with two of His disciples who were walking to Emmaus. Here is a portion of what He said to them: "O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ ti have suffered these things and enter His glory?
After His resurrection from the dead, Jesus conversed with two of His disciples who were walking to Emmaus. Here is a portion of what He said to them: "O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ ti have suffered these things and enter His glory?
“And beginning at Moses and all the
prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things
concerning Himself.” (Luke 24: 25-27)
St. Paul lays out the great truth of the 'MYSTERY OF THE AGES' in his Epistles: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the form of God (He is God the Son) thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
"But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion of a man. He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the DEATH OF THE CROSS.
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth: And that EVERY TONGUE should confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil.2: 5-11)
"Even the MYSTERY which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is CHRIST IN YOU, the Hope of Glory." (Col.1: 26-27)
WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT?
When we have our theology RIGHT concerning Jesus Christ we become one with Him and are grafted into Him the TRUE VINE and become the children of God through the New Birth. And secondly, we are able to lead others to the saving knowledge of God! (John 15: 1-8)
Those who have their theology WRONG concerning Jesus Christ are LOST and secondly they lead others to Hell, since they are blind leaders of the blind, as Jesus Christ warned! (Matt.15: 14). Here is what our Lord Jesus Christ said of Himself after His Resurrection from the dead:
"O fools and slow of heart to BELIEVE all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His gory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in ALL THE SCRIPTURES the things concerning HIMSELF." (Luke 24: 26-27)
St. John, the Beloved gives this WARNING to those who trifle with and twist the Word of God to enhance their own perverted agenda:
"Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh IS OF GOD. And every spirit that confesseth NOT that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh IS NOT OF GOD; And this is that spirit of Antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come ; and even now already is it in the world." (1 John 4: 1-4)
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
There are ca. seven billion people on this Planet, all born of flesh and blood. We have all 'come in the flesh'. That is normal, but when God was INCARNATED in human flesh, that was the Miracle.
The blood that flowed through His veins, however, was not contaminated with SIN as ours is because God was His Father!
That is the Amazing Love of our Saviour. He entered into our time and space for the express purpose of our Redemption! He Who was God the Son, wrapped Himself in human flesh in order to be sacrificed for the sins of the world!
All who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ was more than a man, more than a prophet, and reject Him as God the Son from eternity who was made Man (incarnated) in order to redeem a sinful world to Himself, CANNOT and will not be saved and will be doomed to Hell forever.
St. Paul WARNED: "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema (suspended). Maranatha." (1 Cor. 16:22)
According to this Scripture there will be both a blessing and a curse upon humankind as Christ come to judge the world in His Kingdom. Those who are SAVED will be blessed and those who are not SAVED will be rejected. 'Anathema' was used as a Church censure or final excommunication!
The Indians on Canada's West Coast sing an altar song with these words: "There'll be sorrow and there'll will be pain. There'll be rejoicing and there will be weeping when My Lord shall come again."
Maranatha is 'Aramaic' as an imperative: 'marana-tha' meaning "Our Lord Come", or as an indicative: 'maran-atha', meaning "Our Lord is come"
Theologians wonder why St. Paul inserted, without translation, an Aramaic formula in a Greek letter to Corinth where Aramaic was not current.
It is believed that the word 'Maranatha' was a fixed and widely circulated formula. It was undoubtedly a KEY EXPRESSION in the liturgy of the Primitive Church in Palestine and that from there it passed into Greek Christendom without translation in fashion similar to 'Amen' and 'Hallelujah'.
In His High Priestly prayer to His Father our Lord Jesus stated: "Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee. Ad Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him.
"And this is Life Eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent." (John 17: 1-3). He said: "I AM the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE and no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.: (John 14:6)
Dear Friend; Put your trust in Jesus Christ whose love for you is so enormous that He took your place on the cross and rose from the dead. He is even now waiting to enter your heart and make you His very own for time and eternity! Amen.
Note: This is the first installment of the book by Max Solbrekken, 'From the Throne of Glory to the Cross of Shame'
St. Paul lays out the great truth of the 'MYSTERY OF THE AGES' in his Epistles: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who being in the form of God (He is God the Son) thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
"But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion of a man. He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the DEATH OF THE CROSS.
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth: And that EVERY TONGUE should confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil.2: 5-11)
"Even the MYSTERY which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is CHRIST IN YOU, the Hope of Glory." (Col.1: 26-27)
WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT?
When we have our theology RIGHT concerning Jesus Christ we become one with Him and are grafted into Him the TRUE VINE and become the children of God through the New Birth. And secondly, we are able to lead others to the saving knowledge of God! (John 15: 1-8)
Those who have their theology WRONG concerning Jesus Christ are LOST and secondly they lead others to Hell, since they are blind leaders of the blind, as Jesus Christ warned! (Matt.15: 14). Here is what our Lord Jesus Christ said of Himself after His Resurrection from the dead:
"O fools and slow of heart to BELIEVE all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His gory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in ALL THE SCRIPTURES the things concerning HIMSELF." (Luke 24: 26-27)
St. John, the Beloved gives this WARNING to those who trifle with and twist the Word of God to enhance their own perverted agenda:
"Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh IS OF GOD. And every spirit that confesseth NOT that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh IS NOT OF GOD; And this is that spirit of Antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come ; and even now already is it in the world." (1 John 4: 1-4)
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
There are ca. seven billion people on this Planet, all born of flesh and blood. We have all 'come in the flesh'. That is normal, but when God was INCARNATED in human flesh, that was the Miracle.
The blood that flowed through His veins, however, was not contaminated with SIN as ours is because God was His Father!
That is the Amazing Love of our Saviour. He entered into our time and space for the express purpose of our Redemption! He Who was God the Son, wrapped Himself in human flesh in order to be sacrificed for the sins of the world!
All who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ was more than a man, more than a prophet, and reject Him as God the Son from eternity who was made Man (incarnated) in order to redeem a sinful world to Himself, CANNOT and will not be saved and will be doomed to Hell forever.
St. Paul WARNED: "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema (suspended). Maranatha." (1 Cor. 16:22)
According to this Scripture there will be both a blessing and a curse upon humankind as Christ come to judge the world in His Kingdom. Those who are SAVED will be blessed and those who are not SAVED will be rejected. 'Anathema' was used as a Church censure or final excommunication!
The Indians on Canada's West Coast sing an altar song with these words: "There'll be sorrow and there'll will be pain. There'll be rejoicing and there will be weeping when My Lord shall come again."
Maranatha is 'Aramaic' as an imperative: 'marana-tha' meaning "Our Lord Come", or as an indicative: 'maran-atha', meaning "Our Lord is come"
Theologians wonder why St. Paul inserted, without translation, an Aramaic formula in a Greek letter to Corinth where Aramaic was not current.
It is believed that the word 'Maranatha' was a fixed and widely circulated formula. It was undoubtedly a KEY EXPRESSION in the liturgy of the Primitive Church in Palestine and that from there it passed into Greek Christendom without translation in fashion similar to 'Amen' and 'Hallelujah'.
In His High Priestly prayer to His Father our Lord Jesus stated: "Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee. Ad Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him.
"And this is Life Eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent." (John 17: 1-3). He said: "I AM the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE and no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.: (John 14:6)
Dear Friend; Put your trust in Jesus Christ whose love for you is so enormous that He took your place on the cross and rose from the dead. He is even now waiting to enter your heart and make you His very own for time and eternity! Amen.
Note: This is the first installment of the book by Max Solbrekken, 'From the Throne of Glory to the Cross of Shame'
