10.  THE MESSIAH AND HIS MISSION

(The Messiah is the Saviour of all mankind. 1 John 4:14)
(He came to seek and to save what was lost. Luke 19:10)
(Never did a man speak like this man. John 7:46)

The coming of the Messiah was foretold from the beginning, that He would come 'of the seed of a woman' (Genesis 3:15) to save the repentant people of the world from their enslavement to sin; to set them free to receive the blessing God promised He would bestow upon 'the children of Abraham' who would come 'from every nation' in such numbers as to be 'as the stars of the heavens and the sands of the seashore'. (Genesis 22:16-18; Apocalypse 7:9)

The Messiah was the incarnated embodiment of God the Son, Second Person of the Tri-une Godhead, who took flesh of the Virgin Mary to enter fully into the life and nature of man. (Luke 1:35) He was truly God and truly man. "In Him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." (Colossians 2:9) His mission was to enable man to come to enter fully into the eternal life and nature of God. He was to be "the first-born of many brethren." (Romans 8:29)
(See Article 20)

Christ, the Messiah, was to take flesh of a Jew. And that is why God, in His Plan, made His Covenant Promise with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 17:7,19,21) as it was to be from them that the Jewish line would emerge and from whom the Immaculate Virgin would be prepared for her role as the Virginal Mother of the Messiah. (See Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 35:4; 59:19-21; Micah 5:2 and Article 27.1 and Article 27.2)

It is the religion of the Messianic God which is the only true religion in the world. Never can there be another, because "There is no other name given under heaven by which men can be saved." (Acts 4:12) The Messiah, alone, is the Saviour of all mankind. (1 John 4:14; John 8:42) He said Himself, "No one can come to the Father except by Me." (John 14:6)
(See also: John 4:22; Hebrews 10:11-18; Isaiah 44:24; 45:5,15,17,22; Baruch 4:22)

It is the Religion of the Messiah which alone is continuing to fulfill the 'Perpetual Covenant' God made with Abraham so long ago. (Genesis 17:7,19; 22:16-18) And it is the Catholic Church alone which the Messiah established to continue His Mission through all the ages, the Church to which He gave His own authority to teach and call all men to repent and receive God's blessing "until the end of time". (Matthew 16:18,19; 28:18-20) "In Him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed: all nations shall magnify Him." (Psalm 71:17) To His disciples He said, "Who hears you, hears Me." (Luke 10:16) This is the Church He "founded upon the apostles and prophets". (Ephesians 2:20) As the Scriptures say, "The Law and the prophets were until John. (the Baptist) Since that time the Kingdom of God is preached ..." (Luke 16:16)

"The heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord: and Thy Truth in the Church of the saints." (Psalm 88:6 in Douay Bible)

It must always be remembered the Messiah also said, "I lay down My life for My sheep. And other sheep I have not of this fold: these also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one fold and one Shepherd." (John 10:15,16)

"Come, Lord Jesus, come!" (Apocalypse 22:20)

"Our hearts were made for Thee O God, and they cannot rest until they rest in Thee." (St. Augustine)