H2O Church
This is talk #8 in this series about what Christians believe. In this talk, we'll discuss the deity and humanity of Jesus, wrapped up in this theology called "incarnation."
Incarnation; Latin, “in carne”=with flesh. The Old Testament predicted this coming of the Messiah with flesh.
Genesis 3:15 NIV
Isaiah 7:14 NIV
Isaiah 9:6 NIV
I. The Incarnation Predicted
From these scriptures, we see that the Messiah is...
(1) a human, the offspring of Eve
(2) who would do mortal combat with Satan
(3) who Himself would be pierced, bruised.
(4) who would be virgin born
(5) and somehow be GOD with us.
(6) who would rule over a kingdom
(7) with wonderful counsel or direction
(8) as God incarnate
(9) from that point on, forever
(10) as protecter and provide (father)
(11) bringing peace
The probability of Jesus fulfilling just eight of the prophecies about Him is 10 to the 17th power, one in one hundred million billion. This is like covering the state of Texas in silver dollars up to two feet in height, marking only one of these, and giving a blind-folded person one opportunity to pick the marked silver dollar.
II. Incarnation Explained
Logos— In Greek thought, the Logos was the invisible and intelligent force behind the design and order of the world.
John 1:1 NIV
John 1:14 NIV
1 John 1:1 NIV
Numerous other scripture show that Jesus is God; John 5:18; John 8-59; John 20:28; 1 John 5:20; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; Hebr 1:5-8
Bad Theology #1--Jesus wasn’t really human; The scriptures teach Jesus was born of a woman, had brothers and sisters, he had relatives, grew physically and in wisdom like other kids, was racially Jewish, had a Jewish name, grew up in Jewish culture, he experienced fatigue, exhaustion, pain, sorrow, disappointment, frustration (yet without sin). He learned a trade, carpentry. He hung out with friends, he gave compliments, he celebrated holidays, went on road trips, went to parties, loved his mom, even told jokes.
Bad Theology #2--Jesus isn’t really God
Bad Theology #3--Jesus was a great moral teacher.
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” C.S. Lewis
Theologians call this The Hypostatic Union. Hypostasis=person. Union=2 natures. The math=1 person, with two natures, one human, one divine.
The point: Jesus didn’t cease to be God, when the Logos, the pre-existent Son of God, became man. He was the God man. He had a human nature, but He maintained His God nature. He became what He wasn’t—a man—while never ceasing to be what He was—God the Son.
Philippians 2:6-8 NIV
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
Reason #1—Our Salvation
Reason #2—Our Mission
“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.” C.T. Studd
Reason #3—Our Peace
By faith we believe this amazing Jesus
Who made Uranus and Venus became a fetus
It's such a secret that few if anybody knew it
Months later, He's covered in amniotic fluid
The subject of the gospels, praise of Apostles
Armed with eye sockets, arm pits and nostrils?
Who is this Jesus? God clothed in human weakness
Super sweetness and peace for the true believers
See the One who never tires knocked out sleeping
See the Source of eternal joy weeping
Which one can explain how the Son abundant with fame
Who made thunder and rain now has hunger pains?
See the Creator of water become thirsty
On the cross when He saves from the slaughter the unworthy
My awe should be sky high and I ought to just cry, "Why?"
with water in my eyes when the Author of Life dies
Raised on the third, God-man, soul-seeker
The hypostatic union- it gets no deeper