The Lord’s Death and His Virtues

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” 1 Cor. 11:26.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light . . . .” 1 Pet. 2:9.

Here we read about two things we are to proclaim: the Lord’s death and His virtues. When most people think about proclaiming the Lord’s death, they think they are to proclaim His martyrdom: that He was scourged, crowned with a crown of thorns, and crucified on Calvary. However, we don’t see the apostles writing about this. We only read about it in the account of the gospels. Among other scriptures, we can read in 2 Corinthians 4:10-11 how Paul proclaimed the Lord’s death. “Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

Jesus’ life is His virtues. If we are to manifest His virtues in our mortal flesh, they have to be revealed through works. There are many people who would like to live Jesus’ life, but they can’t manage it. So much dwells in the body that hinders and prevents the virtues from being manifested. It is sin in the flesh that is the hindrance. If we bear this death in our body, sin in the flesh, which hinders Jesus’ life from being manifested, is rendered powerless. Most of those who call themselves believers are completely unacquainted with this death, striving and toiling and slaving away in order to do the good, but not making any progress. Most of them give up trying to come to victory over sin and comfort themselves with Jesus’ death for them—the forgiveness of their sins.

The new and living way that Jesus has consecrated for us into the Holiest goes through the veil, which is His flesh. Heb. 10:19-20. The law was powerless when confronted by all that dwells in the flesh. This also applies to each person, but not to Jesus. He put sin in the flesh to death (Rom. 8:3-4), which is why it is called the death of Jesus. We are to proclaim His death until He comes so that people can receive faith to be set free. Death to sin in the flesh is the negative side, but if it is effective, there is an opportunity to manifest the life of Jesus. Therefore we shall also proclaim His virtues. That is the positive side. Rom. 6:6, 11.

We read in 2 Peter, Chapter 1, how much importance Peter attaches to exercising ourselves in the virtues. “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue . . . .” “For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness . . . .” If the virtues do not increase, it shows that we are not fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. We make our calling and election sure by increasing in the virtues, and we will not stumble in the least if we keep that in mind. This is how we will gain an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Peter considered this so important that he wrote: “Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know them, and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you.” 2 Pet. 1:12-13.

Peter was not a conceited and vain preacher who always had to have a new text or give a lecture about something they didn’t know. Not at all! It was important to him to get them to bear fruit—to grow—to run on the new and living way. You are not finished running the race by taking a jump or having a few experiences. On the contrary; it is a way and a development. Jesus’ life can grow, and the virtues can increase, if we are constantly surrendered into His death. Those who walk on this way and increase in this life are being conformed to the image of Jesus. They are His bride. Therefore we are also exhorted to proclaim His death till He comes. He will come to fetch His bride when she is finished. Then this gospel will not be proclaimed any more. When the one hundred and forty-four thousand stand on Mount Zion together with the Lamb, and another gospel will be proclaimed to those who dwell on the earth: “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” Rev. 14:7. Because this gospel will be contrary to the ruling spirit of that time, all those who refuse to worship the image of the beast will be killed. Ch. 13:15.

Therefore, brothers, while it is still the time of grace, let us proclaim Jesus’ death and His virtues with even greater diligence and enthusiasm until He comes, and let us be examples to the believers.