Christ in the Flesh

1. Christ in the Flesh As a whole, some people have a problem with this! His whole life was a preparation for His sacrifice! One of the things that people seem not to understand, is that Christ, the Son of God, came to this world, to do His work AS A MAN! Some people teach that all men MUST sin!! We must because we are just a man! We are made with corrupt flesh, corrupted with sin. They believe that since Paul said, “all sin and have fallen short…”(Rom. 3:23) that this is a prophecy that all men must sin. But, there were three men who were unworthy of death, which is the consequence of sin. Rom. 6:23 The point being made is “the flesh” is a problem that man cannot cope with! BUT Christ did not sin when He was “in the flesh”!

2. The Flesh • The flesh is neither good nor bad of itself, but has the ability to learn, and have desires, both good & evil. • Man’s senses are honed to acquire more information and that curiosity is what entices man to grow closer to God, or farther from God and sin. Depends on what our learning involves. • Remember that the “tree” in the garden was “of knowledge of good and evil”. • In the beginning, Satan tempted Eve with knowledge, to be like God. Her desire to know more, led her to sin. • Yet, whatever prompts men to sin, the same would be true with Christ! Would it not? Yet He did not sin!

3. Why Come in the Flesh? • Why would God send His only begotten Son to this sinful world as a MAN – when He knew that sin was so prevalent with the “nature of flesh”? Phil. 2:6-8; Heb. 2:9-10. • Phil. 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: • 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: • 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

4. Why Come in the Flesh? • Why would God send His only begotten Sonto this sinful world as a MAN – when He knew that sin was so prevalent with the “nature of flesh”? Phil. 2:6-8; Heb. 2:9-10. • Heb. 2:9 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. • 10 ¶ 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.

5. Why Come in the Flesh? • Why would God send His only begotten Sonto this sinful world as a MAN – when He knew that sin was so prevalent with the “nature of flesh”? Phil. 2:6-8; Heb. 2:9-10. • This is the same flesh that you and I have! • Notice His flesh, had the same abilities as mine: • Rage: Mt. 21:12 –“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,”

6. Why Come in the Flesh? • Why would God send His only begotten Sonto this sinful world as a MAN – when He knew that sin was so prevalent with the “nature of flesh”? Phil. 2:6-8; Heb. 2:9-10. • This is the same flesh that you and I have! • Notice His flesh, had the same abilities as mine: • Rage: Mt. 21:12 • Remorse: Jn. 11:35 – “Jesus wept.” at a friend’s death!

7. Why Come in the Flesh? • Why would God send His only begotten Sonto this sinful world as a MAN – when He knew that sin was so prevalent with the “nature of flesh”? Phil. 2:6-8; Heb. 2:9-10. • This is the same flesh that you and I have! • Notice His flesh, had the same abilities as mine: • Rage: Mt. 21:12 • Remorse: Jn. 11:35 • Tempted: Heb. 4:15 – “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Just like me!

8. Why Come in the Flesh? • Why would God send His only begotten Sonto this sinful world as a MAN – when He knew that sin was so prevalent with the “nature of flesh”? Phil. 2:6-8; Heb. 2:9-10. • This is the same flesh that you and I have! • Notice His flesh, had the same abilities as mine: • Rage: Mt. 21:12 • Remorse: Jn. 11:35 • Tempted: Heb. 4:15 – • Feared death: Lk. 22:42 – “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” • There is no denial, that Christ was & is GOD! Why not come to earth as GOD? He had in times past– the creation, Abraham, Joseph, Lot, etc.

9. Purpose of the Flesh -- Prepare • Christ came to be the perfect sacrifice, without spot or blemish, as prophesied. 1 Pet. 1:19; We are to be without spot or blemish. 2 Pet. 3:14. • 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: • 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

10. Purpose of the Flesh -- Prepare • Christ came to be the perfect sacrifice, without spot or blemish, as prophesied. 1 Pet. 1:19; We are to be without spot or blemish. 2 Pet. 3:14. • A corrupt sacrifice, bulls and goats, could not take away sin. Heb. 10:1-6*; 9:11-15. • 11 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; • 12 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. • 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

11. Purpose of the Flesh -- Prepare • Christ came to be the perfect sacrifice, without spot or blemish, as prophesied. 1 Pet. 1:19; We are to be without spot or blemish. 2 Pet. 3:14. • A corrupt sacrifice, bulls and goats, could not take away sin. Heb. 10:1-6*; 9:11-15. • 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? • 15 ¶ And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

12. Purpose of the Flesh -- Prepare • Christ came to be the perfect sacrifice, without spot or blemish, as prophesied. 1 Pet. 1:19; We are to be without spot or blemish. 2 Pet. 3:14. • A corrupt sacrifice, bulls and goats, could not take away sin. Heb. 10:1-6*; 9:11-15. • Christ taught that you can do the Father’s Will, and He did and said what the Father gave Him. Jn. 10:37; 8:26-2; 12:49-50; 14:10,21.

13. Passages • Jn. 10:37 - If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. • 8: 26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. • 27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. • 28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. • 12: 49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. • 50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

14. Passages • Jn. 10:37 - If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. • 8: 26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. • 27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. • 28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. • 12: 49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. • 50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. • 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. • 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

15. Purpose of the Flesh -- Prepare • Christ came to be the perfect sacrifice, without spot or blemish, as prophesied. 1 Pet. 1:19; We are to be without spot or blemish. 2 Pet. 3:14. • A corrupt sacrifice, bulls and goats, could not take away sin. Heb. 10:1-6*; 9:11-15. • Christ taught that you can do the Father’s Will, and He did and said what the Father gave Him. Jn. 10:37; 8:26-2; 12:49-50; 14:10,21. He does it by keeping His Father in His mind. 1 Jn. 3:9- He prepares man for His work also. • 9 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.

16. Purpose of the Flesh -- Prepare • Christ came to be the perfect sacrifice, without spot or blemish, as prophesied. 1 Pet. 1:19; We are to be without spot or blemish. 2 Pet. 3:14. • Christ taught man to do the Father’s Will, and He did and said what the Father gave Him. Jn. 10:37; 8:26-2; 12:49-50; 14:10,21. He does it by keeping His Father in His mind. 1 Jn. 3:9- He prepares man for His work also. • Christ learned obedience! Heb. 5:8-9; Lk. 2:52 • 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; • 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

17. Purpose of the Flesh -- Prepare • Christ came to be the perfect sacrifice, without spot or blemish, as prophesied. 1 Pet. 1:19; We are to be without spot or blemish. 2 Pet. 3:14. • Christ taught man to do the Father’s Will, and He did and said what the Father gave Him. Jn. 10:37; 8:26-2; 12:49-50; 14:10,21. He does it by keeping His Father in His mind. 1 Jn. 3:9- He prepares man for His work also. • Christ learned obedience! Heb. 5:8-9; Lk. 2:52. • 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

18. Purpose of the Flesh -- Prepare • Christ came to be the perfect sacrifice, without spot or blemish, as prophesied. 1 Pet. 1:19; We are to be without spot or blemish. 2 Pet. 3:14. • Christ taught man to do the Father’s Will, and He did and said what the Father gave Him. Jn. 10:37; 8:26-2; 12:49-50; 14:10,21. He does it by keeping His Father in His mind. 1 Jn. 3:9- He prepares man for His work also. • Christ learned obedience! Heb. 5:8-9; Lk. 2:52. • Through Christ we can change our life by His teachings. Gal. 4:8-9 • 8 ¶ Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. • 9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

19. Purpose of the Flesh -- Sacrifice • He became the necessary sacrifice by ignoring His will and Doing His Father’s Will. • Perhaps the one aspect of Christ’s fleshly existence is the sacrifice He offered. God is eternal. • Heb. 9-10 explains the differences in sacrifices. • It is significant that a man had to be the sacrifice for man’s sins for forgiveness. Rom. 5:15-19; 6:23. • It is flesh & blood for flesh & blood.

20. Rom. 5:15-19 • 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. • 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. • 17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) • 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. • 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

21. Purpose of the Flesh -- Sacrifice • He became the necessary sacrifice by ignoring His will and Doing His Father’s Will. • Perhaps the one aspect of Christ’s fleshly existence is the sacrifice He offered. God is eternal. • Heb. 9-10 explains the differences in sacrifices. • It is significant that a man had to be the sacrifice for man’s sins for forgiveness. Rom. 5:15-19; 6:23. • It is flesh & blood for flesh & blood. • A debt is paid in full because of the righteousness of Christ! • Christ died for all men- meeting our greatest need- forgiveness of sin!1 Cor. 15:3; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 Jn. 2:2 • We are expected to “keep His commandments”.

22. Purpose of the Flesh -- Sacrifice • He became the necessary sacrifice by ignoring His will and Doing His Father’s Will. • Perhaps the one aspect of Christ’s fleshly existence is the sacrifice He offered. God is eternal. • Heb. 9-10 explains the differences in sacrifices. • It is significant that a man had to be the sacrifice for man’s sins for forgiveness. Rom. 5:15-19; 6:23. • The “flesh” problem– It cannot enter Heaven. Heaven is for the incorruptible! 1 Cor. 15:45-59* His flesh was not corrupted, thus he entered Heaven incorruptible.

23. Conclusion • The “flesh” can be corrupted, but was not made in a corrupted form, but the image of God. • The “knowledge” was what corrupted man, Adam & Eve. • The flesh must learn corruption, from being tempted, enticed, leading to sin and death. • Temptation and enticement takes place in the mind, which man controls, as Christ did. • Christ centered His mind on His Father& His Will. His knowledge base and concerns were on His Father’s Will. So He never allowed sin in His life, Acts 2:27. His “flesh” never saw corruption, having never learn corruption. We must be “of the same mind”.