CHRIST

(Part II)

Incarnation (Human and Divine Nature)

1 Timothy 3:16

¹⁶ And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

I.                   THE INCARNATION

Larry King Live aired a story about the one man in history Larry King wanted to interview and what questions he would ask him. King picked Jesus Christ, and said he wanted to ask,” are you indeed virgin born?” “The answer to that question,” said King, “what explains history for me.”

Isaiah 7:14

¹⁴ Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold; the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6-7

⁶ For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Micah 5:2

²  But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, Though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

II.               JESUS FULLY GOD

Theandric Union/Hypostatic Union

1.     Jesus Christ is truly God

2.     He is also truly human

3.     He is one person

4.     There are two distinct natures, divine and human

Jesus did not “experience” God; he was God. He never at any given moment “became” God; He was God from the start.

Colossians  2:8-9

⁸ Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For in Him (Christ) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

John 1:1-3, 14-17

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made… ¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ” ¹⁶ And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

                        Colossians 1:13-20

¹³ He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. ¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. ¹⁸ And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. ¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, ²⁰ and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

                        John 20:26-28

²⁶ And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” ²⁷ Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” ²⁸ And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

Romans 9:5

⁵ of whom are the fathers, and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.

Titus 2:11-14

¹¹ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Hebrews 1:7-8

God…² has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; ³ who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…⁵ For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”?  And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”? ⁶ But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him…⁸ But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.

III.            JESUS FULLY MAN

Genesis 3:15

¹⁵   And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

1.     He was born

Galatians  4:4

⁴ But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born  of a woman, born under the law.

2.     He grew up

Luke 2:40

⁴⁰ And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

In Luke 2:7 we are told that Jesus was born like all humans. He experienced thirst and hunger (Matthew 4:2; John 19:28). He grew tired and slept (Matthew 18:24; John 4:6). Jesus bled and suffered greatly throughout the crucifixion. He was so weak he could no longer carry his cross physically (Luke 23:26).

3.     He died

John 19:33

³³ But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.

4.     Kenosis Theory.  When Jesus came as a man he laid down operating solely out of his divine nature. Jesus was never less than God what he lived on earth as though he was never more than a man. He lived as every other godly person, by praying, obeying, and waiting for the spirits leadership. He emptied himself of the right to take the initiative to use the fullness of God’s power.

Philippians 2:5-8

⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

IV.             SIGNIFICANCE OF THE INCARNATION

1.     Showed us what God is like

John 14:7-9

⁷ “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” ⁸ Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” ⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

John 1:18

¹⁸ No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

2.     Incarnation showed God’s pulsating Heart towards humanity

3.     It shows us an example of the fullness of human life.

1 John 2:6

⁶ He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

           

4.     The Incarnation gave us a High Priest who understands

Hebrews 4:14-16

¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a High                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Priest, who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

5.     Incarnation provided a sacrifice adequate for all sin.

Hebrews 10:11-12

¹¹ And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. ¹² But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.

6.     Incarnation gave us possibility of experiencing divine life

2 Peter 1:2-4

² Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, ³ as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, ⁴ by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

7.     Incarnation gave us an understanding of History, and it’s final outcome

Isaiah 9:6-7

⁶ For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

           

Answer Key: born; died; like; example; High Priest; sacrifice; final outcome

CHRIST!

Exploring the Glory and Beauty of Christ Jesus

Pre-Existence

Hebrews 2:10

¹⁰ For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings

I.                   THE TRINITY

John 8:58

⁵⁸ Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

1.     Elohim

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning, God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth.

2.     United yet Separate

The Trinity denotes that Three persons share one nature.

The three Whos (Persons) each share the same What (Essence). So God is a unity of essence with a plurality of persons. Each person is different, yet they share a common nature. God is one in his substance. The unity is in his essence (What God is), and the plurality is in Gods persons (How he relates with himself). Norman Giesler

                        Ephesians 4:4-6

⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

                        2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

¹³ But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, ¹⁴ to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

                        1 Peter 1:1-2

To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ² elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:

                        Jude 1:20-21

²⁰ But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

II.               THEOPHANIES (THE ANGEL OF THE LORD)

God continually appeared to the Old Testament Patriarchs in the form of a man…these appearances are known as theophanies. This individual is always called “The Angel of God” or “The Angel of the Lord.” Not an Angel “The Angel…” This distinction sets Him apart as an Angel of Yahweh Himself.

Here’s a description from Fausset’s Bible Dictionary

The “Angel of God” often means the divine Word, “the image of the invisible God,” God Himself manifested (Col 1:15; Gen 22:11-12; 16:7,13;31:11, 13; 48:15-16; 33:14; compare Acts 23:11; Num 22:22, 32, 35); accepting as His due the worship which angels reject as mere creatures (Rev 19:10;22:9); this manifestation was as a man, an anticipation of the incarnation…”

1.     A Help to the Helpless (Hagar)

Genesis 16:9-11

⁹ The Angel of the Lord said to her (Hagar), “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.” ¹⁰ Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.” ¹¹ And the Angel of the Lord said to her: “Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael Because the Lord has heard your affliction.

Genesis 21:17

¹⁷ And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the Angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is.

2.     The Judge

Genesis 18:1-3, 16- 21

Then the Lord appeared to him (Abraham) by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. ² So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, ³ and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. ¹⁶ Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. ¹⁷ And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, ¹⁸ since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? …²⁰ And the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, ²¹ I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”

3.     The Great Provider

Genesis 22:11-14

¹¹ And The Angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. ¹² And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” ¹³ Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

4.     The God who wrestles with us

Genesis 32:24,30

²⁴ Then Jacob was left alone, and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. ²⁵ Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. ²⁶ And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” ²⁷ So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” ²⁸ And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” ²⁹ Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. ³⁰ So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”

5.     The God who Guides you into Destiny

Exodus 3:2-4

² And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. ³ Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” ⁴ So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

6.     The God who Corrects

Numbers 22:22-23

²² Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. ²³ Now the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road.

                                               

7.     The Solution to Impossible Problems

Judges 13:2-24

² Now there was a certain man from Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had no children. ³ And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son… ²⁴ So the woman bore a son and called his name Samson, and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him.

8.     The Advocate

Zechariah 3:1-2

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. ² And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”

III.            JESUS WAS SENT FROM HEAVEN

John 3:13

¹³ No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.

John 6:51

⁵¹ I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

John 6:61-62

⁶¹ When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? ⁶² What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?

John 8:42

⁴² Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.

John 17:3

³ And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

John 17:8

⁸ For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You, and they have believed that You sent Me.

John 17:18

¹⁸ As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

Romans 8:3

³ For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh.

Galatians 4:4

⁴ But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.

Answer Key: Separate; Helpless; Great; wrestles; Co