The Centrality of Christ The Answer To All Theological Questions

 The Centrality of Christ The Answer To All Theological Questions


Actually, the title of this treatise could end this way, " . . . The Answer To All Questions Whatsoever"--but I would like to restrict our consideration to issues of theology, and how these affect our Christian church lives.

 

In an effort to make this more-eminently practical, let us first consider the question of the Fourth Commandment: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy," (Ex. 20:8/ESV).  All people who take the Bible seriously--regenerated Christians and all the rest--agree that this commandment is still "in play"; and that God never pared-down His decalogue, ("ten words), to an "ennea-logue," (nine words).  Therefore, we are all settled: God has Ten Commandments; and they are to be observed by everyone everywhere until the great Day of Judgment.

 

Now, in the New Covenant age, the one New Covenant church, made up of Jews and Gentiles, worships God on Sunday, not Saturday, (as the church did, in the Old Covenant era).  Why do we do this; and is it a proper keeping of the original giving of the Ten Commandments?

 

I believe that we do it, because God commanded it to be done; and that Jesus Christ, being the "Lord of the Sabbath," (Lk. 6:5), clearly led His apostles to lead His church into this practice.  I also believe that the New Testament itself gives us witness to this (Sunday worship) practice, (in at least the places of Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:2, and Rev. 1:10).  I also believe that the practice of Sunday worship was so well-ingrained and -established, that the New Testament writers did not need to expend a lot of "ink" referring to it.  (The same could be said for infant baptism, for instance.)

 

On top of all of this, it only makes sense that God would "change" the Sabbath day from that of the Old Covenant aegis, to that of the new world of the New Covenant economy.  "The old has gone/the new has come."  We now live in the inaugurated though-not-yet-consummated New World of the "New Heavens and the New Earth," which were immediately commenced at the moment Jesus' risen foot hit the once-sin-cursed earth, on that first Resurrection (Easter) Sunday morning.  

 

As well, God's full "divorce" from the Christ-denying adherents and practitioners of the Old Covenant system is comprehensively chronicled for us in the Book of Revelation.  ALL of life--in heaven or on earth--now centers on The God/Man who now rules and reigns from His church kingdom, in heaven and on earth.  Jesus Christ is the heart of the Sabbath (and everything else); and His resurrection on the first day of the week has now forever "wrenched" His true church from the old ways of the Old Covenant, which are now all fulfilled in Him; and which are now also all abrogated, with regard to their now-illegitimate "use."

 

I really appreciate the Westminster divines' bold assertion of this important truth, in Westminster Confession of Faith, chapter 21--particularly, with regard to our discussion, article 7.  I, for one, fully and wholeheartedly agree with them.

 

But, the centrality of Christ is also the determining factor in every theological question--indeed, ultimately, with regard to any question whatsoever.  "What is Preaching?"  It is the preaching of Christ.  "What is Prayer?"  It is communion with God through Christ.  "What are Sacraments?"  They are signs and seals that covenantally-unite us to Christ.  "What is Life?"  Life is the Person of Christ.  "Why am I Here?"  To know and love God in Christ.  "What is the church's Message to the World?"  The Gospel of Christ.  "What is the End (or Goal) of Life?"  To be conformed to Christ.

 

Think about it this way: does anything really matter, if it is in anyway "separated" from Christ?  Answer: "No."

 

Therefore, let all of us who are members of the true church by grace through faith in God's glorious Messiah center our lives, our doctrine, and our practices on our crowned and beloved Lord Jesus Christ, period.

 

Rev. Mark J. Henninger

Treatise #31

21 October 2025

https://theologicaltreatisesinretirement.blogspot.com

https://henningerdevotions.blogspot.com/

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