Wednesday, May 18, 2011

The ICHTHUS - Symbol of Christianity: Jesus. Christ. God's Son. Saviour

NO COMPROMISE!
By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

 "Iesous Christos, Theou Uios, Soter"(Gr.) meaning: "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Saviour."
       

Ichthus (ikh-thoos or ichthys) the Greek word for fish is a many centuries old symbol. During the early persecutions of the Church, the ichthus sign was used as a secret sign or identifiction mark for the followers of Jesus the Christ, Who was crucified outside Jerusalem's City walls and raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit!

In some cases these five Greek letters were found inside the ichthus: Iota, Chi, Theta, Upsilon, and Sigma translating into the English as  IXOYE, meaning: "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour." The Greek rendering is, "Iesous Christos, Theou Uios, Soter".

1. Iesous means Saviour, salvation of God: The angel spoke in Hebrew: "Ye shall call His name Yeshua (Jesus) for He shall SAVE His people from their sins. (Matt 1:21);  "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who hath abolished death, and hath brought life andimmortality to light throgh the gospel." (2 Tim.1:10)
The word save in the Greek is 'sozo' which means to save, heal, protect, make well and deliver. In James 5:14,15 the Holy Scripture uses this same word save (sozo) to declare that Jesus Christ heals  the sick in answer to believing prayer. This same great truth is brought forth in Isaiah 53: 3-5, Matt.8:16,17 and 1 Peter 2:24. Jesus is that Saviour: Yeshua ha Maschiach! Isaiah 7: 14;  Luke 2:30; Phil.2: 5-11; Acts 3: 13-16; 4: 12; 1 Tim.2: 5.

2. Christos means anointed One: Jesus is the Anointed One. Says who? St. Paul - Acts 9: 17-20; St. Peter - Matt.16: 13-17; Martha - John 11: 25; Philip - John 1: 40,41; Nathaniel - John 1: 49; Ethiopian Eunuch - Acts 8: 37; Apollos - Acts 18: 28.  


3. Theou Uios means God's Son: Jesus is the One and Only Son of God from eternity. He was true God from eternity and true man born of a virgin woman, without sin. He was incarnated - God in human flesh - in order to suffer, bleed and die for the sins of the world and rise again in power over death, hell and the Devil! John 20:30,31; Rom.1:4; Heb.1:1; 2-12; Matt.3:17; John 8:58; 1 John 2:20; 4:1; 5:24.

4. Soter means Saviour: Jesus is the Only Saviour of the world! Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; John 3: 16,17;Mark 14:61,62; John 6:66-69; John 14:6; 1 Tim.2:3-5; Heb.1:1-13; Rev.1: 8. God the Father calls His Son God: Heb.1:1-10; Rev.1:1-10.

Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, St. Paul states emphatically concerning Jesus Christ: "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, recieved up into glory." (1 Tim.3:16)

JESUS SAID CONCERNING HIMSELF:

“I am the door, by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.… The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly. “I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd and know My sheep, and am known of mine.” (John 10: 9-11,14)

“Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8: 32, 36)  JESUS CHRIST

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is One God and One Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus.” (1 Tim. 2: 3-6)  ST. PAUL

“Neither is there Salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we MUST be saved.” (Acts )  ST. PETER

       I AM NOT INTOLERANT, BUT I AM DOGMATIC!

I have no truck with falsehood, lies or mere theories of men! I will not compromise the truth! The truth is that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God, and the Only Saviour of the world. There is none other! Only Christianity boasts a resurrection and Only Jesus offers eternal life to all who believe the Gospel, repent of their sins and receive Him into their heart as Lord and Saviour!  (Isa.45: 5,6; Acts 4: 12)
   
     THE BIBLE SAYS: “I am the Lord, and there is none else: there is no God beside Me…That they may know from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none beside Me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.” (Is. 45: 5,6)
     Jesus Christ declared: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life: No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” (John 14: 6); “Come unto Me all ye who labour and are heavy leaden and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11: 28)
     HE INVITES: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man will hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in unto him and will sup with him and he with Me.” (Rev. 3: 20)
    Open your heart and life to Jesus Christ today, my friend, and you will never be sorry!  Amen. 
                                                                               
        JESUS● CHRIST● GOD’S SON● SAVIOUR!