What Saith the Scripture?
http://www.WhatSaithTheScripture.com/
The Amazing Humanity of Jesus Christ
Or, The Benefit of Christ's Birth
"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 1:14).
by Tom Stewart
4-27-2000
Preface
The Second Advent of the Messiah has long been anticipated by the Church of Jesus
Christ; and even more, the Godly have been enjoined to reverently hasten their LORD's
return by faithful witness and believing prayer, i.e., "Come, LORD Jesus" (Revelation 22:20). "Looking
for and hasting unto the coming [literally, hastening the coming] of the day of God"
(2Peter 3:12).
Even so, the conduct of the True Saints, who await the soon return of their Saviour,
is inescapably linked to the events of the First Christmas. "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" (1Timothy 3:16). Because the Son of God, Who is the "True God, and Eternal
Life" (1John 5:20),
has chosen to manifest Himself as Truly a Man, i.e., the Son of Man (Luke 19:10), He left us
"an example, that [we] should follow His steps" (1Peter 2:21). "And the angel
answered and said unto [Mary], The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the Power
of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy Thing which shall
be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Luke
1:35).
If Jesus of Nazareth was only a mere man, then His birth would provide no more than
intellectual conversation for theologians, slight interest for historians, or unbalanced
fascination for devotees. "And [Jesus] saith unto them, But whom say ye that
I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto Him, Thou art the Christ" (Mark 8:29). And, if Jesus
was only another New Age incarnation of the Christ Consciousness, and not the "fulness
of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9), then He rightly deserved to die on that Roman cross for the sin
of blasphemy... "because that Thou, being a man, makest Thyself God" (John 10:33). Moreover, if
Jesus Christ is only one of many in a pantheon of gods, and not singularly, the Only
"Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John
14:6), then He would not be the Omnipotent God. "16 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: 17
And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist" (Colossians 1:16-17). Further, if Jesus
is not God Almighty, then the ancient prophecies predicted a lie. "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"
(Isaiah 9:6).
But, if Jesus is the "I Am" (John
8:58) that appeared to Moses on the backside of the
desert (Exodus 3:14),
then His Christmas Advent as a real, human baby, was necessary:
Scriptural Proof of Christ's Human Nature
His Miraculous Conception.
His Miraculous Though Human Birth.
He Partook of Flesh and Blood.
He Possesses a Human Soul.
Jesus Began Life With Physical Circumcision, And He Continued to Increase In Wisdom and Stature.
Christ Experienced Weeping and Hungering.
The LORD Jesus Knew Thirsting, Sleeping, and Weariness.
He Was a Man of Sorrows.
The Pain of Buffeting, Indignities, and Scourging Were Endured By the Saviour.
The Suffering of the Cross, His Death, and His Side Pierced, Were the Circumstances at the Close of His Earthly Life.
The Humiliation of His Burial and the Glory of His Resurrection Speak of the Necessity of His Human Nature to the Gospel Message.
Christ's Human Nature Fulfilled Old Testament Prophecy
The redemption of mankind from his sins, has been the intention of the God of Love
from the beginning. "And I will put enmity between thee [Satan] and the woman,
and between thy seed and her Seed; It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise
His heel" (Genesis 3:15). Much of God's redemptive program seems mysterious to us
because His ways are so much higher than our ways. "For as the Heavens are higher
than the Earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts"
(Isaiah 55:9).
The "seed" (Genesis 3:15) of the woman makes embryonic reference to the Virgin Birth and Humanity
of the LORD Jesus Christ. Even before we had confessed that we were sinners, the
Father had been preparing His Son to be the "propitiation for our sins"
(1John 2:2). Satan
bruised the heel of the LORD Jesus Christ on the Cross, but only temporarily. "Which
none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have
crucified the LORD of Glory" (1Corinthians
2:8). However, Satan's head was bruised by the LORD
Jesus Christ, ultimately, for Eternity. "And the Devil that deceived them was
cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone, where the Beast and the False Prophet are,
and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Revelation 20:10).
The LORD Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son (1John
4:9) of the Father, was always and eternally begotten
in His person. "I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto Me, Thou
art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee"
(Psalm 2:7). But, the Son's manifestation
in human flesh occurred only about 2,000 years ago. "When the fulness of the
time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the Law"
(Galatians 4:4).
The Humanity of Christ is part of the "Mystery of Godliness" (1Timothy 3:16). Only a man
with a willing heart to do the will of God could understand such a puzzle. "If
any man will do His will [literally, is willing to do His will], he shall know of
the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself" (John 7:17).
When the LORD Jesus was confronted with the contentious and deceptive questions of
the scribes and Pharisees, He proposed His own question to them, which if they answered,
He would answer their questions. Jesus addressed the Messianic significance of the
Second Psalm, which lends itself to the both the concepts of the Divinity and Humanity
of the Messiah. "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at My right hand, until
I make Thine enemies Thy footstool"
(Psalm 110:1). Jesus addressed the scribes,
who claimed to believe the Scriptures, with the seeming contradiction that the Messiah,
who would be "David's son" (humanity of Christ), would also be David's
"LORD" or Superior (divinity of Christ). "41 And He said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son?
42 And David himself
saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD [the Father] said unto my LORD [the Son], Sit
Thou on My right hand, 43
Till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool. 44 David therefore calleth Him LORD, how is he [David] then His son?" (Luke 20:41-44).
The Virgin Birth of Christ was the appointed means to manifest God in human flesh.
"Therefore the LORD Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall
conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14).
Since the Only Wise God (Romans 16:27) chooses the most suitable means to the end of redeeming mankind
from his sins, the humanity of Christ was necessary. "And the angel answered
and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the Power of the Highest
shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy Thing which shall be born of thee
shall be called the Son of God" (Luke
1:35). As the "Apostle and High Priest of our profession,
Christ Jesus" (Hebrews 3:1) had to become a man to perform the high priestly duties of making
reconciliation for our sins. "17 Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His
brethren, that He might be a Merciful and Faithful High Priest in things pertaining
to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself hath suffered
being tempted, He is able to succour [literally, help] them that are tempted"
(2:17-18). If
we view God's conduct toward man from the Creation until now, we will better appreciate
that God's manifestation of Himself to us through the Son and the Holy Spirit, reveals
that He is a God that is benevolently, personally interested in our welfare. "Am
I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?" (Jeremiah 23:23). His presence on this
planet through the humanity of the LORD Jesus, demonstrates His desire to give man
rest from his sins. "And He said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will
give thee rest" (Exodus 33:14).
The Old Testament of the Scriptures is replete with clues of God's purpose to redeem
and govern mankind through the human advent of the Divine Son of God. "6 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. 7
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. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will perform
this" (Isaiah 9:6-7). What astounds us is that the Son of God condescended to
become a man-- to suffer all the difficulties of the flesh and the human condition,
"yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). Heaven will surely be filled with the Saints' praise and admiration
for so bold an act of love that the Son of Man would become human flesh and then
"lay down His life for His friends" (John
15:13). "Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever
I command you" (15:14).
Christ's Human Sinlessness Proves the Justice of God's Demand for Man's Sinlessness
It is a forthright point of Biblical theology to state that Jesus is truly God Almighty
and that He was truly born as a human baby nearly 2,000 years ago; but, the uniqueness
of His person has caused many in the study of theology to discount the value of
His human sinless life. "And ye know that He was manifested to take away
our sins; and in Him is no sin" (1John
3:5). "Sure," they may say, "Jesus did
not sin while in human flesh, but that's because He is God." But, this misses
the point entirely of why the Almighty had to resort to such a daring move as to
allow His Eternally Begotten Son to become a defenseless babe in a manger. "Who
did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth"
(1Peter 2:22). You can nearly see in your mind the picture
of the Father discussing with the Son that mankind would object to His demand of
sinless living as unreasonable and unobtainable because no one could live without
sin while in human flesh. But, then the Son said, "Lo, I come (in the volume
of the book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God" (Hebrews 10:7). The Son of God was willing
to undergo all the difficulties, humiliations, and sufferings of the human condition,
if only the attainability of a sinless walk from man could be proved, then the
Father's wisdom and justice of requiring it would be justified. "5 But whoso keepeth His Word,
in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. 6 He that saith he abideth
in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked" (1John 2:5-6).
The Son of God volunteered to become a man, because He desired to justify the Father's
demand of loving obedience from all the children of men. "For this is the love
of God, that we keep His Commandments: and His Commandments are not grievous"
(1John 5:3). Since
"grievous" Commandments are unbearable and impossible to obey, the Son
had to demonstrate that man in human flesh could obey everything that the
Father commanded of all men. "37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and Great Commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself" (Matthew 22:37-39). And, if Satan could stumble Jesus into sinning, then Satan would
justify himself for his rebellion, as well as humiliate the Father for requiring
more than He ought from His creation. "If ye love Me, keep My Commandments" (John 14:15).
If one must be the Son of God to obey completely the Father, then no one needs to
feel himself rebellious for giving only the semblance of partial obedience. But,
"whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty
of all" (James 2:10).
Jesus came to destroy the arguments of self-justification that allow man to hide
behind physical flesh as his excuse for sinning. Instead, the Son of God's manifestation
in human flesh was to obliterate man's arguments of self-justification for why he
sins, which arguments are the "works of the devil". "He that committeth
sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose
the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil" (1John 3:8). Sin is so rampant
in this world, and in the Professed Church, because excuse is found everywhere that
our flesh made us to sin. "And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be
with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat"
(Genesis 3:12).
Man has transposed sin away from his willful disobedience of God and metaphysically
made human flesh the residence of sin, as evidenced by the misunderstanding many
have of the Apostle Paul's inspired reference to "sinful flesh". "For
what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his
own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh"
(Romans 8:3).
Flesh can only be sinful by how we use it, else wise Christ could not have
"condemned sin in the flesh" (8:3) without obliterating flesh entirely-- which He did not. "19 What? know ye not that your
body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye
are not your own? 20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit,
which are God's" (1Corinthians 6:19-20). Brother Paul goes on to disabuse us of any misconception we
have that flesh, by itself, is sinful, by further informing us that:
If we desire to honor God for His Love, Truth, Mercy, and
Grace, then we ought to give the Son of God the "glory and honour and power"
(Revelation 4:11)
for walking in human flesh without sinning, without having to resort to miraculous
or supernatural advantages normally unavailable to mortal man. "Though He
were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8). Instead of
calling for the assistance of angels to stand in for Him when obedience was difficult
and sinning was easy, i.e., "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to My Father,
and He shall presently give Me more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:53), Jesus
chose to be humanly perfected and matured by His human sufferings. "For
it became Him [the Father], for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things,
in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of Their Salvation [Jesus]
perfect through sufferings" (Hebrews
2:10).
The sinless obedience of Christ while in human flesh magnifies the wise choice of
God to create man and to wisely and certainly expect that man must perfectly obey
Him, "as unto a Faithful Creator"
(1Peter 4:19). "O the depth of the riches both
of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His Judgments, and His ways
past finding out!" (Romans 11:33). If the Son of God was the only man to ever obey the Father, then
God would still be praised for the wisdom and justice of His decision to require
loving and sinless obedience from man. "Let God be true, but every man a liar;
as it is written, That Thou mightest be justified in Thy Sayings, and mightest overcome
when Thou art judged" (3:4). But, the truth is that any time that any man ever does obey the
Father, it is because the New Covenant's gift of the Spirit of Christ is working
in us to "will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians
2:13). And, that working in us comes only when
we trust Him. "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth" (Mark 9:23).
Christ's Human Nature Exemplifies How We Can and Ought to Live
Since Jesus is truly the Almighty God, being "declared to be the Son of God
with power" (Romans 1:4),
and since Christ is also truly man, being "in all points tempted like as we
are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15), then the human nature of Jesus Christ joyfully announces to all
mankind that we can and ought to live without sinning. "He that saith he abideth
in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked" (1John 2:6). Even as the "Law
of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made [us] free from the law of sin and
death" (Romans 8:2),
He has set us free as "His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). No longer are we
to cower as sinners, sinning while awaiting the execution of the penalty for our
deeds. "And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject
to bondage" (Hebrews 2:15). The Christmas gifts that the LORD Jesus has given us include not
only His atonement for our sins, but His deliverance of us from any necessity to
sin. "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His Seed remaineth in
him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (1John
3:9).
It was vital that the Son of God manifested Himself to us as Emmanuel (Matthew 1:23), because it
demonstrated through Jesus' perfect human example that God is justified in expecting
and receiving perfect obedience, i.e., walking without sinning, from His Saints.
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect"
(Matthew 5:48).
It is a depreciation of the true value of the humanity of the LORD Jesus Christ,
to say that Christ was only able to walk perfectly in this world without sinning,
because His Divine Nature somehow metaphysically extinguished the sin in His human
nature. "1
For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining
to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: 2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant,
and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity"
(Hebrews 5:1-2).
Jesus' perfect human example evidences that the only sin in the human nature comes
when we actually commit sin, not by merely being human. "Among whom also
we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the
desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even
as others" (Ephesians 2:3). But, after we have confessed "our sins, He is Faithful and
Just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"
(1John 1:9), then
we are without sin in our human nature, and can partake again in the Divine Nature.
"Whereby are given unto us Exceeding Great and Precious Promises: that by these
ye might be partakers of the Divine Nature, having escaped the corruption
that is in the world through lust" (2Peter
1:4). The great tragedy for mankind and for the Professed
Church, is that the humanity of Jesus Christ is either only a good example
or only a preview of how life will be lived "when we all get to Heaven".
But, how much more has His Divine Power "given unto us all things that pertain
unto Life and Godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory
and virtue" (1:3)?
If the Pre-Tribulational Rapture and departure of the Saints is so close at hand,
why need we any further discussion of how the Professed Church could have or should
have lived? Because the prospect of anyone departing this planet for Heaven is still
contingent upon whether we are walking according to the "righteousness which
is of faith" (Romans 10:6). If we do not learn and live what Abraham understood-- "Abraham
believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness" (Romans 4:3)-- then we will not experience
the blessings of Abraham. "18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father
of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith,
he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old,
neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: 20 He staggered not at the Promise of God through unbelief; but was
strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what He had Promised, He was able
also to perform. 22
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness" (Romans 4:18-22). Likewise, our worthiness
to be Pre-Tribulationally Raptured is based upon the "righteousness of faith" (Romans 4:13). "Watch
ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these
things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36).
Conclusion
The doctrine of the humanity of Christ is so important that the true confession of
it, is a test of belonging to God. "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every
spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God" (1John 4:2). In fact, the
human nature of Christ will be denied by the Antichrist. "For many deceivers
are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the
flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist"
(2John 7). "The Antichrist denies not only that
Jesus is solely the Christ-- and continues to be so-- but, Antichrist also denies
that Jesus the Christ dwells in a resurrected, fleshly body-- and continues to do
so-- while he, the Antichrist, obviously claims to be dwelling in human flesh" (excerpted from our article, "Antichrist Shall Come" -- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Prophecy/Antichrist.Shall.Come.html
--). "And every spirit that confesseth not
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of
antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it
in the world" (1John 4:3).
Because of the celebration of Christmas, we have been benefited by a thorough familiarization
with the idea of the birth of the Baby Jesus in a Bethlehem manger. "1 And it came to pass in those
days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should
be taxed. 2 (And
this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one
into his own city. 4
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto
the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage
of David:) 5 To
be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with Child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were
there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her Firstborn
Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there
was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the LORD came upon them, and the glory of
the LORD shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear
not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you
is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD. 12 And this shall be a Sign
unto you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly
there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God
in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:1-14).
But, the true benefit of the Christmas Story is the manifestation of the Son of
God in human flesh to "redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself
a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus
2:14). We need to be reminded that the Little Baby in
a Bethlehem manger was named Jesus, by His Father, because "He shall save His
people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). So great is His Salvation, that He not only would redeem us from
the "wrath to come" (1Thessalonians
1:10), but the Spirit of Christ, Who is the True Spirit
of Christmas, would secure for Himself a wonderful change of heart in the children
of men that would cause loving obedience in His people. "And I will put
My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My Statutes, and ye shall keep My
Judgments, and do them" (Ezekiel 36:27). And, the willingness of His people seems to be the very issue that
connects the reason for the advent of Jesus at the First Christmas with His soon
return. "Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy Power, in the beauties
of holiness from the womb of the morning: Thou hast the dew of Thy youth" (Psalm 110:3).
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