The Incarnation of Jesus Christ (John 1:14)

 

-Christians do not follow miracles and signs, but the Word of God. It is because God reveals His will and plan in His Word and fulfills His Word until now. Therefore, we must focus on God’s voice in the Word of God to our conscience. 

1 Kings 19:11-12 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the  Lord,  but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake,  but the  Lord  was  not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

-How can we find God’s voice to us? Whenever we listen to the message, we receive it as the word of God to us.

1 Thessalonians 2:13  For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

-If we meditate upon the message, we can discover God’s voice and Word to us. This is the way to receive God’s guidance and direction in our life. With questions, focus on God’s Word through meditation.

-Today, let us concentrate upon the Incarnation of Jesus as God’s method to save us.

 

1.God’s method to save us is the Incarnation of Jesus

1)Understand the state of human beings who are under the fundamental problem (Sin, separation from God, slaves of Satan)!

①The spiritual dead state Ephesians 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,

-Why are people under the spiritual dead state? It is because of sin by disbelief and disobedience toward God’s Word (Gen.2:17)

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

However, most people do not know that they, under the spiritual death, are separated from God.

②The state of being caught

Ephesians 2:2  in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

-In this world, people live under the influence of culture and society. Behind the world, there is the work the devil as the prince of the world (John 16:11). People are caught up by destiny and fate. Actually, they are the slaves of Satan (John 8:44; Heb.2:14-15).

③The state of children of wrath

Ephesians 2:3  among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

-Naturally, people cannot avoid disasters, unhappiness, and curses. It is because they are sinners.

 

2)Understand the method of human beings who have the fundamental problem

①In order to avoid sufferings of the fundamental problems, they choose religions.

-Human beings try to resolve their unhappiness and spiritual thirsty and emptiness. However, they cannot know the way to meet God. They made idols and religions to discover the way.

Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

-Through human methods, people cannot be saved because they are spiritually dead and have no truth to know and meet God.

 

②In order to resolve the affliction of the fundamental problem, they depend on science and philosophy.

-In one sense, science and philosophy may provide us worldly wisdom and convenience. However, these cannot know and resolve the fundamental problems of human beings.

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

③In order to escape from the agony of fundamental problem, people do a good work (deed).

-Good works play a role to maintain society and help the poor and the oppressed. However, these cannot forgive our sins, make the way to God, and overcome the power of Satan.  

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.

④Human methods and efforts bring them more severe sufferings.

-There are no true peace, rest, and happiness outside of Jesus Christ. Human methods outside the gospel make people have serious afflictions.

Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 

3)God’s method to save us is the Incarnation of Jesus Christ

①Human beings cannot meet God on their own

-Why cannot they meet God? It is because of sin. They as sinners cannot meet the Holy God. On our side, we cannot come to God because we do not have the way to meet God in the worldly wisdom.

Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2  But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

②In order to save us, God came to us.

1 John 4:9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

-Because we cannot resolve our fundamental problems and meet God, God came to us.

③God the Son became the flesh,

John 1:14 And the Word became 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.

Philippians 2:6-7 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

④It is by God’s grace

1 Corinthians 15:10  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

-Salvation by God’s grace through faith!

 

2.Children of God must know and enjoy the best things

1)Jesus Christ

-We should know the excellence of the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Only Jesus Christ can resolve the problems of sin, separation from God, and slaves of Satan (Mark 10:45; John 14:6; 1 John 3:8). To know and enjoy the covenant of Jesus Christ is the best spiritual knowledge.

Philippians 3:8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

 

2)Evangelism

-We must know the best prize in evangelism. We should set out purpose and direction on saving souls that God wants. Evangelism and missions show God’s desire.

Philippians 3:14  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

3)Heaven

-We have to understand the best background. It is God’s Kingdom, surpassing all the worldly background. We have the best and most important spiritual background.

Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

 

4)Spiritual authority

-We ought to realize the best authority in our spiritual identity. Jesus gave disciples the spiritual authority to save souls in the field.

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

 

Conclusion

1)Interpret all things through the Gospel and the Word of God!

-We live in the dark world. However, don’t worry and be afraid of the world. We are God’s children in whom Jesus abides. The Word of God is our standard and guide in this world.

Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

-If you hold onto the Word of God, you can interpret all incidents, problems, crisis, answers, situations through the Gospel!