Sunday, September 18, 2011

JESUS, SON OF GOD INCARNATE


This post begins with a section of verses that declare to us our blessings in Christ Jesus.  It will only cover two verses, but there is so much important truth packed into these two verses.

Colossians 1:14-15 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

“in whom” = “His dear Son” = Christ

The Greek defines redemption as salvation through an act of ransom.  The only acceptable ransom or payment to secure our redemption is the blood of Jesus.  Jesus declared this truth to His disciples at His last supper with them when He established the practice of communion.

Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Paul stated this truth very clearly in his letter to the Romans.

Romans 3:24-26 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

The whole of the sacrificial system that was established in Old Testament times looked forward to the obedient, willing sacrifice of the Son of God.  The writer of Hebrews explains it.

Hebrews 9:11-12 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Our redemption has provided us forgiveness of our sins; we have been granted a full pardon and declared righteous.  The writer of Hebrews again makes it clear.

Hebrews 10:10-17 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.  Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

I love the way the Psalmist expressed it.

Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

That is a distance that can never be measured.  When traveling north to south, you always reach a point at which you begin going the other direction—not so from east to west.

God declares Himself invisible to man, but He sent Jesus as the physical representation of Himself to man.  Man was created in the image or likeness of God, but Christ came as the “express image” of God.  Jesus Christ came as the exact representation of the Father (a spirit being) in flesh.

John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Hebrews 1:1-3 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person

Scripture teaches that some day men of faith will see God.  Job knew it, and Jesus declared it.

Job 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

As I looked at the verse in Matthew, I was comforted as never before.   I know my heart, and I certainly can’t declare it to be pure; scripture tells me it is deceitful and wicked.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

One of the reasons I so look forward to coming of the Lord is because I know I will then possess a pure heart with pure motives.  In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) Jesus is teaching regarding righteous living and righteous motives.  My desire is to live up to the standards He established, but in the flesh I fall far short.  My hope is in Christ.  In Him I am declared righteous, and in my resurrected body I will no longer be influenced or tempted by sin.  I will be pure in heart, and I will see God.  Thankfully, it’s all about what He has done; without Him—I am nothing and I have nothing to look forward to.

“the firstborn of every creature” – The Greek for firstborn is a reference to first in time, place, order and importance.    Obviously, Jesus came to earth as the “only begotten” Son of God.

John 1:14 And the Word was made 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.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

He is God in flesh; in that regard, He is the first of the children of God. 

Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

John is clear that Jesus existed as the Word before creation.

John 1:1-3 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.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

As the Word, Jesus existed before time; He is declared the Creator of all things—including time.  Through Him we were created—not just us, but every creature and every other part of the creation (from the Greek for creature).  This pretty much covers the whole of the Greek definition; Jesus is first—
  • In time – He preexisted creation.
  • In place – He preexisted creation.
  • In order – He preexisted creation.  He was the first begotten Son of God who made it possible for us to be children of God.
  • In importance – He is the Creator.  He is the heir of all things.  He is the captain of our salvation and the Chief cornerstone.

Hebrews 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Hebrews 2:9-10 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
“captain” = chief leader, prince

1Peter 2:5-6 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Ephesians 2:19-20 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

(to be continued…)

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