Christ in the New Significance VS Christ in the Four Gospels

 

Christ in the New Significance VS Christ in the Four Gospels

Revelation 3:7–12

7…He holds the keys of David; he opens them and no one can shut them, and he shuts them and no one can open them.

12 And I will make the one who overcomes a pillar in the temple of my God…and I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God (the New Jerusalem) and my new name. 

Item	Christ in the New Significance	Christ in the Four Gospels
Meaning	Christ as the constituting element of the New Jerusalem; the Christ who is “new in significance,” experienced subjectively in the believers as transformation, building, and incorporation into God’s dwelling. The overcomers become pillars bearing God’s name, the name of the New Jerusalem, and Christ’s new name (Rev. 3:12).	Christ presented objectively in four aspects for four audiences:  King (Matthew), Servant (Mark), Perfect Man (Luke), God / Son of God (John). The Christ revealed historically and outwardly in His earthly ministry.
Distinctions	• Organic, intrinsic, experiential Christ. • Christ as enlarged, expanded, “new” Christ — the corporate Christ (New Jerusalem). • Christ wrought into believers in life and nature.	• Christ revealed factually and historically. • Four perspectives concerning His person and work. • External revelation leading us to initial knowledge of Christ.
Purpose	• To make believers pillars in God’s building. • To bring us into God, into New Jerusalem, into the new significance of Christ. • To subjectively open our inward being through the key of David.	• To introduce Christ to four kinds of people. • To reveal Christ so that people may believe, follow, and receive salvation. • To show Christ’s earthly ministry and divine-human living.
Explanation	Christ uses the key of David not only to open the door for His recovery (objective) but also to open our inward being (subjective). Through transformation we become: 1) God in life and nature (not Godhead), 2) New Jerusalem, 3) Christ in new significance.	The Four Gospels show Christ as: Matthew: King (lion), with genealogy, written for Jews. Mark: Slave (ox), no genealogy, written for Romans. Luke: Perfect Man (man), written for Greeks. John: God / Son of God (eagle), revealing life and “I AM.”
Examples	• Becoming white stones (Rev. 2:17). • Being built into the temple of God as pillars (Rev. 3:12). • Experiencing Christ as the key, entering into God and New Jerusalem.	• Jesus as King in Matthew fulfilling prophecy. • Jesus tirelessly serving in Mark 1. • Jesus as sinless, perfect Man in Luke. • Jesus declaring “I AM” in John (Jn 8:24, 58).
Application	• Deny the self; stay in Christ (Matt. 16:24; Gal. 2:20). • Pray-read, study, memorize, and prophesy the line of the high peak truths. • Allow the key of David to open inward doors for transformation.	• Study the four Gospels to know Christ’s person. • Follow the King, imitate the Servant, appreciate the Perfect Man, receive the Life-giving God.
Burden	• To enter the reality of becoming God’s enlargement and Christ’s expansion. • To see that New Jerusalem is the corporate Christ. • To participate in God’s building consummating in New Jerusalem.	• To help believers know the multifaceted Christ. • To bring seekers to faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31).
Prophetic Speaking (申言指引)	• Prophesy the high peak truths: becoming God in life and nature, becoming the New Jerusalem, becoming the new significance of Christ. • Declare the experience of Christ as the key of David.	• Speak Christ as King, Servant, Man, and God. • Announce that Jesus is the Messiah, Savior, God incarnate.
Detailed Scriptures	Revelation 21:2, 3, 22 2…The Holy City, the New Jerusalem… 3…The tabernacle of God is among men… 22…The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of the city. John 3:29–30 The one who takes the bride is the bridegroom…He will increase, but I will decrease. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ…I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Romans 8:2 The law of the Spirit who lives…delivered me from the law of sin and death. Luke 18:27 What is impossible for man is possible for God. Genesis 28:12–19; John 1:51 The ladder to heaven (the union of God and man) prefigures the building and the path to heaven.	Matthew: Christ as King (Lion) — Matthew 1:1 Genealogy — Matthew 2:2 King of the Jews — Matthew 5–7 Kingdom Constitution — Matthew 28:18 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me Mark: Christ as Servant (Ox) — Mark 1:1–35 Busy Service — Mark 10:45 The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve Luke: Christ as Perfect Man (Man) — Luke 1–2 The Birth of the Son of Man — Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me… John: Christ as Son of God (Eagle) — John 1:1–14 In the beginning was the Word…and the Word was God — John 8:24 If you do not believe that I am, you will die in your sins — John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life

 

Conclusion: 

Christ in new significance = Christ experienced, constituted, enlarged, expressed corporately as New Jerusalem. This is the destiny of God’s people.

Christ in the Four Gospels = foundational revelation introducing His person and work so that we may enter further into deeper experience.

 

 *Please refer to the May 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training, General Topic: Matthew Chapters 5-7, The Most Important Aspects, Week 7: Entering Through the Narrow Gate and Walking Through the Narrow Path That Leads to Life, the Blessed Glory of the Kingdom Forever.