Page Two: “The Word Became Flesh” 12/30/2012
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Three, Jesus is God manifest in the flesh.
I Timothy 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” Three simple, yet marvelous realities tell the story of the incarnation. One, Christ came down from Heaven. Two, God sent His Son into the world. And three, God was manifest in the flesh. Can you not stand back with me and observe the Creator becoming the Savior in the one event we call the incarnation? First, the incarnation says that God always tells the truth. Second, the incarnation tells us that the only means God had at His disposal to save us was that He become one of us. Third, the entire thing was miraculous. Jesus was born of a virgin. Here’s the prediction. You know it. Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Here’s the conception. Matthew 1:20 “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. The LORD’s conception is the fulfillment of the OT prediction. And here’s God’s purpose. (21) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” And then, here’s the record. Please look at the record from the viewpoint of the virginity of Mary. Matthew 1:18 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. |
(19) Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
(20) But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. (21) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (22) Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, (23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (24) Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: (25) And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” Folks, the incarnation is the greatest event to ever occur in the history of the world. It was predicted. Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb by the power of the Holy Spirit. The purity and virginity of Mary is declared as the means by which God did this. And God’s purpose was that His Son Jesus come into this world to save us. Now, someone has said that Matthew and Luke give us a record of the birth of Jesus Christ the Savior. But John gives to us the theology. Yes, theology is important and very powerful. Here’s what the theology teaches. John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In the beginning when there were no stars, no planets, no moon, and no water and before there were people, the Word existed with God, the Father. There are some people who have difficulty with this term “The Word.” It simply means “The expression, or “communication,” Jesus is the Perfect expression of God. Jesus is God’s communication to humanity. |