God The Son, The Executor of the Plan

1. God The Son,The Executor of the Plan His Incarnation

2. His Incarnation • Christ became at the same time and in the absolute sense very God and very man. • In becoming flesh He, though laying aside His glory, in no sense laid aside His deity.

3. His Incarnation If He were not man, He could not die; If He were not God, His death would not have had infinite value.

4. His Incarnation • John states that Christ who was one with God and was God from all eternity, John 1:1 • became flesh and tabernacled among us. John 1:14 • Paul likewise states that Christ, who was in the form of God, took upon Himself the likeness of men Philippians 2:6-7

5. His Incarnation • “God was manifest in the flesh” 1 Timothy 3:16 • and He who was the full revelation of God’s glory was the exact image of His person. Hebrews 1:3 • Luke, in greater detail, presents the historical fact of His incarnation, as to both His conception and His birth Luke 1:26-38 Luke 2:5-7

6. His Incarnation He was weary - John 4:6 yet He called the weary to Himself for rest. Matthew 11:28 He was hungry - Matthew 4:2 yet He was “the bread of life.” - John 6:35 He was thirsty - John 19:28 yet He was the water of life. - John 7:37

7. His Incarnation He was in agony - Luke 22:44 yet He healed all manner of disease and soothed every pain. He “grew, and waxed strong in spirit” Luke 2:40 yet He was from all eternity. - John 8:58 He was tempted - Matthew 4:1 yet He, as God, could not be made to sin.

8. His Incarnation He became self-limited in knowledge Luke 2:52 yet He was the wisdom of God. He said (with reference to His humiliation, being made for a little time lower than the angels) - Hebrews 2:6-7 “My Father is greater than I,” - John 14:28 yet also “he who has seen me has seen the Father,” - John 14:9 and “I and my Father are one” - John 10:30

9. His Incarnation He prayed, - Luke 6:12 yet He answered prayer. - Acts 10:31 He wept at the tomb, - John 11:35 yet He called the dead to arise - John 11:43 He asked, “Whom do men say that I the son of man am?”, - Matthew 16:13 yet He “needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man” John 2:25

10. His Incarnation He said, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”, - Matthew 27:46 yet it was the very God to whom He cried Who was, at that moment “in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.” 2 Corinthians 5:19 He died, yet He is eternal life. He was God’s ideal man, and man’s ideal God.

11. The Fact of Christ’s Humanity 1. The humanity of Christ was purposed from before the foundation of the world. 2. Every type and prophecy of the Old Testament concerning Christ was an anticipation of the incarnateSon of God. 3. The fact of the humanity of Christ is seen in His annunciation and birth. Luke 1:31-35 Ephesians 3:11 Ephesians 1:4-7 Revelation 13:8

12. The Fact of Christ’s Humanity 4. His life here on earth revealed His humanity: • by His human names: • by His human parentage: “The man Christ Jesus” “The son of man” “The Son of David” “seed of David” “the fruit of the loins” “of this man’s seed” “seed of Abraham” “made of a woman” “her firstborn” “sprang from Judah”

13. The Fact of Christ’s Humanity 4. His life here on earth revealed His humanity: • by the fact that He possessed a human body, soul, and Spirit • by His self-imposed human limitations. Matthew 26:38 John 13:21 1 John 4:2, 9

14. The Fact of Christ’s Humanity 5. The humanity of Christ is seen in His death and resurrection. 6. The fact of the humanity of Christ is seen in that He ascended to heaven and is now, in His human glorified body, ministering for His own. 7. When He comes again it will be the “same Jesus” coming as He went, in the same body (though glorified) in which He became incarnate. Acts 1:9 1 John 2:1 Acts 1:10-11

15. Reason for the Incarnation John 14:9 • He came to reveal God to men • He came to reveal man. 1 Peter 2:21 • He came to provide a sacrifice for sin. Hebrews 10:1-10 Matthew 11:27 Romans 5:8 1 John 3:16 John 1:18

16. Reason for the Incarnation • He came in the flesh that He might destroy the works of the Devil. • He came into the world that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God. John 12:31 Hebrews 2:14 Colossians 2:13-15 John 16:11 1 John 3:8 Hebrews 2:16-17 Hebrews 8:1 Hebrews 9:11-12, 24

17. Reason for the Incarnation 6. He came in the flesh that He might fulfill the Davidic covenant In His glorified human body He will appear and reign as “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS,” and will sit on the throne of His father David. 2 Samuel 7:16 Acts 2:30-31, 36 Romans 15:8 Luke 1:31 Luke 1:32 Revelation 19:16

18. Reason for the Incarnation 7. As incarnate, He becomes Head over all things to the church, which is the new creation, the new humanity. Ephesians 1:22 1 Corinthians 15:45 Philippians 3:21

19. His Incarnation The eternal Son, Jehovah-God, The Son of Mary The boy of Nazareth The teacher and healer of Judea The guest of Bethany The Lamb of Calvary The King of Glory The Savior of men The High Priest The coming Bridegroom and Lord.

20. 1. What two important truths must be realized in understanding the incarnation of the Son of God? • Christ became at the same time and in the absolute sense very God and very man • In becoming flesh He, though laying aside His glory, in no sense laid aside His deity. 2. Why is it important to uphold both the full deity and the full humanity of Christ? If He were not man, He could not die; If He were not God, His death would not have had infinite value.

21. John 1:14 Philippians 2:7 Luke 2:5-7 Luke 1:26-38 • What evidence is there that Christ had a full humanity? • What evidence is there that Christ had normal human experiences? He was weary - John 4:6 HE DIED He “grew, and waxed strong in spirit” - Luke 2:40 He wept at the tomb, - John 11:35 He asked, “Whom do men say that I the son of man am?” He was thirsty - John 19:28 He became self-limited in knowledge - Luke 2:52 He said, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46 He prayed, - Luke 6:12 He was tempted - Matthew 4:1 He was in agony - Luke 22:44 He said (with reference to His humiliation, being made for a little time lower than the angels) - Hebrews 2:6-7 “My Father is greater than I,” - John 14:28 He was hungry - Matthew 4:2

22. He is eternal life. He was from all eternity. John 8:58 He called the weary to Himself for rest. Matthew 11:28 He answered prayer. Acts 10:31 5. How is the fact of His deity also asserted even while Christ was on earth? He was “the bread of life.” John 6:35 He, as God, could not be made to sin. He called the dead to arise John 11:43 He was the wisdom of God. He “needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man” John 2:25 He was the water of life. John 7:37 He said “he who has seen me has seen the Father,” John 14:9 It was the very God to whom He cried Who was, at that moment “in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.” Corinthians 5:19 He healed all manner of disease and soothed every pain.

23. 6. How is the incarnation related to God’s revelation to man? Every type and prophecy of the Old Testament concerning Christ was an anticipation of the incarnate Son of God. He came to reveal God to men. 7. How is the incarnation related to Christ’s sacrifice for sin? He came to provide a sacrifice for sin. Hebrews 10:1-10 Romans 5:8 Matthew 11:27 1 John 3:16 John 14:9 John 1:18

24. 8. What is the relationship between destroying the works of the devil and the incarnation? He came in the flesh that He might destroy the works of the Devil. 9. How is the incarnation related to Christ’s office as High Priest? He came into the world that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God. John 16:11 John 12:31 1 John 3:8 Colossians 2:13-15 Hebrews 2:14 Hebrews 9:11-12, 24 Hebrews 2:16-17 Hebrews 8:1

25. 2 Samuel 7:16 10. What is the relationship of the Davidic covenant to the incarnation? He came in the flesh that He might fulfill the Davidic covenant 11. How is the position of Christ as Head over the church related to the incarnation? As incarnate, He becomes Head over all things to the church, which is the new creation, the new humanity. Ephesians 1:22 Luke 1:31 Acts 2:30-31, 36 Revelation 19:16 Romans 15:8 Luke 1:32