Turning the page…
Turning the page…
Glory · Jesus Christ
The Bible never explains the incarnation by thinning either side: Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man in one Person. He did not stop being God when He became man, and He was a real man, not God wearing a costume. This is the mystery to which Scripture constantly points, and it is the foundation of our redemption and our hope.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/how-can-one-person-be-fully-god-and-fully-man · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
Philippians 2:5-11
As you read: Paul puts the incarnation before us: existing in the form of God, He emptied Himself and took the form of a servant.
5Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus,
6who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.
8And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.
9Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name;
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,
11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Hebrews 2
As you read: Why the eternal Son had to share flesh and blood: to destroy death and to become a merciful and faithful high priest.
1Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away.
2For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense;
3how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation—which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard;
4God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?
5For he didn’t subject the world to come, of which we speak, to angels.
6But one has somewhere testified, saying, “What is man, that you think of him? Or the son of man, that you care for him?
7You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor.
8You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we don’t see all things subjected to him, yet.
9But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.
10For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many children to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11For both he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brothers,
12saying, “I will declare your name to my brothers. In the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”
13Again, “I will put my trust in him.” Again, “Behold, here I am with the children whom God has given me.”
14Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
15and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16For most certainly, he doesn’t give help to angels, but he gives help to the seed of Abraham.
17Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
18For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
John 1:1-18
As you read: John's prologue holds both truths together: the Word was God, and the Word became flesh and lived among us.
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2The same was in the beginning with God.
3All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made.
4In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.
6There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.
7The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.
8He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.
9The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.
10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him.
11He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him.
12But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name:
13who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
15John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’”
16From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.
17For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
18No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.
Matthew 4:1-11
As you read: Jesus is truly human: He is hungry after fasting and is tempted, yet He answers the tempter with Scripture.
1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward.
3The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”
5Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple,
6and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you.’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’”
7Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’”
8Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory.
9He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.”
10Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me,Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’”
11Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him.
John opens with two truths side by side: 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,' and Paul says that 'in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily.' He is 'the image of the invisible God,' the one through whom all things were created, 'the radiance of his glory' and 'the very image of his substance.' To Abraham He said, 'before Abraham came into existence, I AM,' taking the divine name for Himself.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”John 1:1
“For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily,”Colossians 2:9
“who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him.”Colossians 1:15-16
“His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”Hebrews 1:3
“Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.””John 8:58
'The Word became flesh, and lived among us,' and the child grew, increasing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men. Hebrews says He shared in flesh and blood and was made like His brothers, so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest. He was hungry after fasting, wept at a grave, and was 'in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.' He is not a ghost in human clothing; He is a man.
“The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.”John 1:14
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”Luke 2:52
“Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, he also himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death he might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,”Hebrews 2:14
“Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.”Hebrews 2:17
“For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.”Hebrews 4:15
Paul describes the miracle: being 'in the form of God,' Christ 'didn't consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant... he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.' When He washed the disciples' feet, John notes that Jesus knew 'that the Father had given all things into his hands,' and He laid aside His garments and served. The humiliation was real, but it was the act of the One who remained God: He poured Himself out, and He showed what God is like.
“who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.”Philippians 2:6-8
“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came from God, and was going to God, arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist.”John 13:3-4
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.”2 Corinthians 8:9
“Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!””John 20:28
The New Testament never sets the two truths side by side reluctantly; it assumes them at once. 'The Word was God' and 'the Word became flesh' are two clauses of one confession, and there is 'one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,' who is also 'God was revealed in the flesh.' Thomas fell before the risen man and cried, 'My Lord and my God!' The church has always confessed one Person, Jesus Christ, with two natures: truly God and truly man, without confusion and without division.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”John 1:1
“The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.”John 1:14
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,”1 Timothy 2:5
“Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.”1 Timothy 3:16
“Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!””John 20:28
Only God could bear the weight of sin and save us; only a man could stand in our place and die our death. Paul says that by the trespass of one man death reigned, 'so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.' Because He is our brother, He is a merciful high priest who helps the tempted; because He is God, His one offering avails for all. 'Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich': the whole gospel stands on this one Person, fully God and fully man.
“But the free gift isn’t like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. The gift is not as through one who sinned: for the judgment came by one to condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses to justification. For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.”Romans 5:15-17
“For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need.”Hebrews 4:15-16
“Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.”Hebrews 2:17-18
“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children.”Galatians 4:4-5
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.”2 Corinthians 8:9