Articles by Rev. J. A. Williams

August 27,2006

Christ is head of the church.

(Eph. 5:23)
Paul, in Ephesisans 1:19-23, writes of the ascended and exalted Christ enthroned at the right hand of God and dwelling in heavenly places in universal conquest. The calumniating thought is, " And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be Head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything every way" (v. 22-23). Paul uses a physiological methaphor to express a stupendous thought--Christ is the Head and the church is the body.

As the Head of the church, Christ is its Leader and its Authority. His presence rules its policy and its practice. As the Living Heqad His presence is realized by those who enter into the corporate experience of worship.

The phone of a church in Washington rang and an eager voice inquired, " Do you expect the President to be in church tomorrow?" The answer, " Not sure. But we expet Christ to be here and that is a reasonable incentive to bring a large congregation of people." Only when the presence of Christ is realized and He is truly the Head, do we have, in actuality, the true church.

The Scripture gives us a related discourse on the church with Paul using a muptial symbol in designating the church as the bride of Christ (see Eph. 5:23-33). Marriage implies a sacred union. Thus is symbolized the sacred union between Christ and His followers. Marriage requires a mutual fidelity. Christ cannot and will bot be faithless to us. May we be faithful to Him. Marriage involves a sacrifice: " Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it." Have we made the sacrifice of ourselves to the claims of His great love?

September 3,2006

The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam, a lifegiving Spirit

(1 Cor. 15:45)
Paul here portrays Christ as the "last Adam" and contrasts Him with the "first Adam". The English translations give a clue to the distinctions between tht two Adams.

The "first Adam" is a lving soul and the"last Adam" is a lifegiving Spirit (RSV); and the "first Adam"is an animate being and the "last Adam" is a life giving Spirit (NEB). It is evident that Christ as the "last Adam" brings a whole new and infinite dimension to man.

This title, set in Paul's great chapter on the Resurrection, especially represents Christ bringing eternal life to the believer. Prior to His mighty resurrection, man had no hope or assurance for life after death. Death through the centuries, and for many today, has been a haunting specter. We are each born with an incalculable contract with death.

The realization that we are all without escape from the ultimate claim of death imposes for many a certain fear and anxiety.

Christ, the last Adam, once and for all answered the ultimate question of death and gives eternal life to those who believe on Him.

John Henry Newman has incorporated this title and the truth it proclaims in his hymn:

O loving wisdom of our God!
When all was sin and shame,
A second Adam to the fight
And to the rescue came.
O wisedt love! That flesh and blood,
Which did in Adam fail,
Should strive against their foe,
Should strive and should prevail.

September 10,2006

Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed

(1 Cor. 5:7; Ex. 12:1-27)
In our text, Paul allegorizes the memorial Passover feast with the Christain life. The Passover was a family feast that commemorated the deliverance of the Jews from Egypt. It called to mind the tenth and climactic plague when the firstborn of the Egyptians were slain. The angel of death passed over in recognition of the lamb's blood sprinkled on the doorposts and the Israelites were enabled to go forth from their bondage in Egypt. " Christ Our Passover" is a title pregnant with sacred meaning.

Those who applied the blood of the lamb were delivered from death in Egypt's land. Just so does He spare from eternal death those whose lives have had applied the blood of Christ, our Passover Lamb. In His blood alone is our deliverance from sin's bondage and our salvation from eternal death.

For seven days there followed the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The house was diligently searched by the light of candle to be sure no leaven was in the house. If leaven were found in theo house during that period, the people of the household would be cut off from the nation and their spiritual heritage. Those of us who have made our spiritual exodus out of Egypt's bondage, who have been delivered by Christ our Passover, need to search out every dark corner of our hearts to purge out the malignant leaven of sin and self. This tenement of clay must be cleansed lest sin corrupt the sould.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread celebrated the beginning of the grain harvest which 50 days later culminated in Pentecoss or the Feast of Weeks. These festal observances become a parable of the soul. Christ would lead us from the Passover deliverance to the Pentecostal dynamic. Through the indwelling and ministry of the Holy Spirit, He would make our lives fruitful for Him.



	August 27,2006 Christ is head of the church. (Eph. 5:23) Paul, in Ephesisans 1:19-23, writes of the ascended and exalted Christ enthroned at the right hand of God and dwelling in heavenly places in universal conquest. The calumniating thought is, " And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be Head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything every way" (v. 22-23). Paul uses a physiological methaphor to express a stupendous thought--Christ is the Head and the church is the body. As the Head of the church, Christ is its Leader and its Authority. His presence rules its policy and its practice. As the Living Heqad His presence is realized by those who enter into the corporate experience of worship. The phone of a church in Washington rang and an eager voice inquired, " Do you expect the President to be in church tomorrow?" The answer, " Not sure. But we expet Christ to be here and that is a reasonable incentive to bring a large congregation of people." Only when the presence of Christ is realized and He is truly the Head, do we have, in actuality, the true church. The Scripture gives us a related discourse on the church with Paul using a muptial symbol in designating the church as the bride of Christ (see Eph. 5:23-33). Marriage implies a sacred union. Thus is symbolized the sacred union between Christ and His followers. Marriage requires a mutual fidelity. Christ cannot and will bot be faithless to us. May we be faithful to Him. Marriage involves a sacrifice: " Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it." Have we made the sacrifice of ourselves to the claims of His great love? September 3,2006 The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam, a lifegiving Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45) Paul here portrays Christ as the "last Adam" and contrasts Him with the "first Adam". The English translations give a clue to the distinctions between tht two Adams. The "first Adam" is a lving soul and the"last Adam" is a lifegiving Spirit (RSV); and the "first Adam"is an animate being and the "last Adam" is a life giving Spirit (NEB). It is evident that Christ as the "last Adam" brings a whole new and infinite dimension to man. This title, set in Paul's great chapter on the Resurrection, especially represents Christ bringing eternal life to the believer. Prior to His mighty resurrection, man had no hope or assurance for life after death. Death through the centuries, and for many today, has been a haunting specter. We are each born with an incalculable contract with death. The realization that we are all without escape from the ultimate claim of death imposes for many a certain fear and anxiety. Christ, the last Adam, once and for all answered the ultimate question of death and gives eternal life to those who believe on Him. John Henry Newman has incorporated this title and the truth it proclaims in his hymn: O loving wisdom of our God! When all was sin and shame, A second Adam to the fight And to the rescue came. O wisedt love! That flesh and blood, Which did in Adam fail, Should strive against their foe, Should strive and should prevail. September 10,2006 Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed (1 Cor. 5:7; Ex. 12:1-27) In our text, Paul allegorizes the memorial Passover feast with the Christain life. The Passover was a family feast that commemorated the deliverance of the Jews from Egypt. It called to mind the tenth and climactic plague when the firstborn of the Egyptians were slain. The angel of death passed over in recognition of the lamb's blood sprinkled on the doorposts and the Israelites were enabled to go forth from their bondage in Egypt. " Christ Our Passover" is a title pregnant with sacred meaning. Those who applied the blood of the lamb were delivered from death in Egypt's land. Just so does He spare from eternal death those whose lives have had applied the blood of Christ, our Passover Lamb. In His blood alone is our deliverance from sin's bondage and our salvation from eternal death. For seven days there followed the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The house was diligently searched by the light of candle to be sure no leaven was in the house. If leaven were found in theo house during that period, the people of the household would be cut off from the nation and their spiritual heritage. Those of us who have made our spiritual exodus out of Egypt's bondage, who have been delivered by Christ our Passover, need to search out every dark corner of our hearts to purge out the malignant leaven of sin and self. This tenement of clay must be cleansed lest sin corrupt the sould. The Feast of Unleavened Bread celebrated the beginning of the grain harvest which 50 days later culminated in Pentecoss or the Feast of Weeks. These festal observances become a parable of the soul. Christ would lead us from the Passover deliverance to the Pentecostal dynamic. Through the indwelling and ministry of the Holy Spirit, He would make our lives fruitful for Him.