God in Human Flesh

[ ] 12/23/2007 #754 GOD IN HUMAN FLESH Matthew 1:18-25

INTRODUCTION: Who was this child born in Bethlehem? Various opinions have been offered. Some have said He was a created being, a little higher than angels. Many have said He was a good teacher, while others have said He was a prophet. All these speculations attempt to make Jesus less than God. At His birth the angel declared that Jesus was “Immanuel, God with us.” The life of Jesus has impacted the world like no other life in human history. Jesus is God!

I. ETERNAL GOD A. CLAIMED IN SCRIPTURE. 1. Prophecy of Jesus’ deity in the O. T. “Therefore will the Lord himself give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and shall bring forth a son, and call his name Immanuel.” Isa. 7:14

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.” Isa 9:6-7

2. Proclaimed Jesus as deity in the N.T.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” John 1:1-2 (Greek meaning, “God is the Word”)

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us.)” 1 John 1:1-2

“I am glad that my knowledge of eternal life is not built on the speculations of philosophers or even theologians but on the unimpeachable testimony of those who heard, saw, gazed at, and handled Him in whom it was incarnate. It is not merely a lovely dream, but solid fact, carefully observed and an accurately recorded fact.” unknown author

“And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding that we should know him that is true; and we are in him that is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” 1 John 5:20

John McArthur: “The last use of the term points to the most significant truth of all—that Jesus Christ is the true God and eternal life. The deity of Jesus Christ is an essential element of the Christian faith, and no one who rejects it can be saved.”

“For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” Col. 2:9 J. Vernon McGee: In Him dwelleth all the fullness, this is a clear-cut statement of the deity of Christ.”

John McArthur: “The present tense indicates that the essence of Deity continually abides at home in Christ.”

It is stated in Genesis 1:1: “In beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” In John 1:3, it is declared that “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.” In Colossians 1:16-17, “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers - - all things were created by Him, and for Him; And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.” (Col. 1:16-17) It is clear that Jesus is the God of Genesis who created all things.

“Looking for that blessed hope, and glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13

“To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 25

B. CONFIRMED BY CHRIST. 1. His words.

“I and my Father are one.” John 10:30

“. . . he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” John 14:9

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58

“And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” John 17:5

“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another.” Isa. 42:8

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.” Rev. 1:8; 11

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev. 1:8; 21:5-6; 22:12-13, 16, 20)

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Heb. 13:8

2. His works. a. Power over nature. Matt. 8:26-27; 14:22-33 b. Power over the spiritual world. Matt. 8:28-34; Lk. 4:41 c. Power to forgive sin. John 5:20-26 d. Power over death.

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” John 11:25-27

“Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John 2:18-19

C. COMMUNICATED BY HIS FATHER. “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.” Hebrews 1:8

D. CONFESSED BY HIS FOLLOWERS. a. Thomas: “My Lord and my God.” John 20:28 b. Paul: “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Acts 9:6 c. Thief: “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom

E. CONDEMNED BY HIS ENEMIES. In John 10:30 Jesus said, “I and My Father are one.” The Jews took up stones to stone Him. The reason given was for blasphemy because Jesus claimed to be equal with God. Jesus was crucified confessing He was the Son of God.

II. EXALTED GOD A. JESUS’ PROMINENCE. Phil 2:9-11; Rev. 19:11-16 B. JESUS PRAISED. “And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” Rev. 19:5-6

III. ENCOUNTERING GOD A. JESUS AS SAVIOR. Matt. 1:21; Titus 2:14 “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

B. JESUS AS SOVEREIGN. “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Rom. 14:11-12

LESSONS FOR LIFE: 1. The Bible reveals Jesus as God and man. He did not empty Himself of His deity, but He did put aside His glory. In His incarnation, Jesus took upon Himself a human nature. This truth is a divine revelation from God and a mystery to man. 2. God desires to be with His people. He was with Adam and Eve in the garden. God dwelt in the tabernacle in the wilderness. He dwelt in the temple in Jerusalem. He was “Immanuel, God with us” in His human body on earth. God now indwells every saved person. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Col. 1:27 3. We meet God in Jesus Christ and the only way to God is Jesus Christ. Have you turned from your life of sin in repentance and trusted Jesus as your Lord?