Introduction:  Last weekend, we began looking at the question, “Who is Jesus?”  Let’s continue this weekend by looking at the second half of the answer.  We saw last week that Jesus is God (“the Word was God”).  This week, we will see that He is fully God and fully man (“the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”).  Remember that this is so important because Christianity is about the person and work of Jesus Christ.  It is whom we believe in more than what we believe in.

 

1.  The Person of Christ:  He is the God-Man.  The eternal God added humanity to His deity.  He left heaven and came to earth as a man.  He is 100% God and 100% a human being (see Philippians 2:5-11).  Historical, orthodox, Christian theology affirms:

            -the reality of His two natures

            -the integrity of His two natures

            -the unmingled union of these two natures in one Person

Philippians 2:5-11

1.  He is God.

            A.  He is the essence of God.  The NIV translates the first phrase of verse 6 as, “being in very nature God.”  Kenneth Wuest says that form is “that outward expression which a person gives of his inmost nature.”

            B.  He is equal with God.  Wuest states that “robbery” in Greek can mean either “a thing unlawfully seized” or “a treasure to be clutched and retained at all hazards.” Obviously, the context indicates the second meaning is correct in this case which shows that Jesus is equal with God.

            C.  He continued to be God even in the incarnation.  The verb “being” indicates that fact because it speaks of a past reality that is continuing into the present.  Thus, the incarnation was not a subtraction of deity but an addition of humanity.

 

2.  He became the God-man.

            A.  He did not consider this something to be held on to.

            B.  He emptied Himself.

C.     He became fully man.     

D.  He went all the way to the cross for us.

 

What did He empty Himself of?

1. The outward expression of deity, which is glory.
2. The independent exercise of His divine attributes.  Millard Erickson writes, “Jesus gave up the independent exercise of His divine attributes.  This does not mean that he surrendered some or all of his divine attributes, but that he voluntarily gave up the ability to exercise them on His own.  He could exercise them only in dependence upon the Father and in connection with possession of a fully human nature.”
3. The position of authority and equality at the right hand of the Father.  This does not mean that He ceased to be God or even equal with God but that He voluntarily submitted Himself to the Father as a servant for a period of time (John 14:28).
4. His possessions.
5. His privileges.

 

God-Man

 

GOD                                                 MAN

Creator                                              Part of Creation

Virgin Conception                              Born of a Woman

2^nd Advent (Rule and Reign)               Born in a Manger

Baptizes with the Spirit                       Baptized by John

Law – Giver                                       Under the Law

Cattle on a Thousand Hills                  No where to Lay His Head

Gives rest to Our Souls                      Got tired

Calmed the Storm                               Slept in the Boat

Dries away Our Tears                         Wept

Living Water                                      Got Thirsty

Bread of Life                                      Got Hungry

Good Shepherd                                  Lamb of God (Sheep before His Slaughter)

God of all Comfort                             Man of Sorrow and Grief

Supplies our Needs                            Poor and Outcast

Faithful and True                                Falsely Accused; Betrayed

All-knowing, Wisdom                         Family thought He was crazy

All-present                                         Limited by time and space

Door of Salvation                               Carpenter

Advocate, Intercessor, Mediator         Forsaken

Creator, Sustainer, Owner                   Own Received Him Not

Lord of lord’s                                    Servant

King of kings                                      Meek and humble

High Priest                                         Prayed

Was Worshipped                               Went to Temple

Unchanging                                        Grew in wisdom, stature & favor with God &man

Alpha and Omega                               Lived 33 Years

Raised Lazarus                                   Wept at his tomb

Cursed Sin                                         Became a Curse

Great Physician                                  Knew intense Pain

Atoning Death                                    Criminal’s Death

All-Powerful                                       Too Weak to Carry His Cross

Many Crowns                                    Crown of Thorns

Rose Again                                        Died

Holy                                                  Became Sin for Us

Light of the World                              Died in Darkness

Never Leave or Forsake Us                 Loneliness

Knew no Sin                                      Became sin for Us

Clothed in Glory                                Swaddling clothes

Was Crucified naked

Wore Common man’s clothes

 

 

2.  Characteristics of the God-Man:

A.        He manifested the glory of God because He was the person and presence of God in the world (v. 14).

B.        He is preeminent because of His preexistence (v. 15).

C.        Grace.  The unmerited favor of God is heaped upon us through Jesus Christ.

D.        Truth.  He was a great teacher of truth but so much more than that.  Ultimately, He is the Truth (John 14:6).  He is the ultimate reality.

E.         He is the unique revelation of God to man (v. 18).  Only begotten does not refer to Him being created, but it refers to Him being God Incarnate, the unique, one of a kind, Son of God, who enables us to become sons of God.  However, we are children by adoption while He is God in His nature.

 

3.  Implications for our Lives:

A.     If we want to see or know God, we must look to Jesus.

B.     His perfect deity and humanity make Him the example for how we should live.

C.     He is worthy of our worship.

D.    He is worthy of first place in our lives (Colossians 1:18).

E.     He is where to find reality in life.

F.      He understands and empathizes with us because of His humanity (Hebrews 4:14-15).

G.    His grace is the all-sufficient, always available enabling and sufficient power and favor of God in our lives that is available for the asking (Hebrews 4:16).

H.    Salvation is available through His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9).