TBC Notes - Jesus, Our Rock

Jesus, Our Rock

“Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.” As the story goes, the man who penned those words, Augustus Toplady, hid himself in the cleft, or gap, in a rock formation as protection during a severe storm that had forced him to find shelter.

Jesus himself is such a rock for every believer, and several analogies may be found throughout the Word of God. In Exodus:17:6Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
See All..., we find the first use of the term “rock” as a type (or foreshadow) of Christ, from whom, after being stricken, flowed living waters. Deuteronomy tells us that “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he” (Deuteronomy:32:4He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
See All...). The psalmist declares, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer” (18:2); “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock” (27:5); “He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved” (62:6).

Matthew writes, “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock” (7:25). Paul explains that, although many of the Israelites rebelled during their journey through the wilderness, Christ in His mercy was there to sustain them: “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians:10:4And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
See All...).

There is indeed an unprecedented storm coming in the US for the church of Jesus Christ. Based upon church history and biblical prophecy, it’s more than likely that the greatest trouble will be found within Christendom and will take place between professing and true believers, i.e., between the wheat and the tares. Of the latter we are told, “of your own selves shall men arise”—so-called shepherds, hirelings, false teachers—the Bible calls them grievous wolves, who mix the Scriptures with man’s ideas, “not sparing the flock” (Acts:20:29-30 [29] For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. [30] Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
See All...). They will abide with the world and oppose biblical believers.

To "hide in Christ” is simply to let His Word and His way be our instructions and become our very life through the power of His Holy Spirit. There is no other way to remain steadfast in the faith and thereby reflect the Rock of our salvation: “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father” (1 John:2:24Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
See All...). Jesus, our Rock, declares, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me” (John:15:4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
See All...).

T. A. McMahon
Executive Director