November 25, 2008

  • FOUNDATIONS [#6]

    taught at Awana Varsity 11/05/2008
    based on the series www.marshillchurch.org/sermonseries/doctrine/
    reference the book "Bible Doctrine" by Wayne Grudem

    Audio of this message can be found here -> http://audio.xanga.com/Eek_71/4680d2899367/audio.html

    God Comes-Incarnation

    THE BIG IDEA?:  In what way did God come to rescue mankind?    (aka what do we believe about Jesus?)

    SO WHAT?: God came "in the flesh" as Jesus to redeem mankind and restore our relationship to Him.  There is no right knowledge of God apart from Jesus

    INTRO: 
      •  Illustration:  when I was a young father... and I saw my firstborn infant son... God came like this!!!
      •  "incarnation" = "carne" / meat... in the flesh... not a human became God, but God became human
      •  If the OT prophecies do not point to Jesus, then who?... the OT teaches God will come, into human history, as a man.
      •  Many Rabbi's DID expect God to come as a man... thats why many accepted & worshipped Jesus as God!

    1.  God WILL Come In The Flesh.
      •  Gen 3:15  1st Gospel promise…  (see Isa 59:16, 63:5… God is coming personally)
      •  Isa 7:14  virgin birth
      •  Mic 5:2  to be born in Bethlehem
      •  Mal 3:1  before the destruction of the temple

    2.  HOW Did God Come In The Flesh?
      o  Matt 1:18-25

    3.  Jesus Came As FULLY God AND FULLY Man
      •  Is Jesus fully God & fully man?... hypostatic union = Jesus having both human & divine natures
      •  Isa 6:1-10;  Jn 12:41
      •  numerous people have claimed to speak for God... BUT Buddha, Krishna, Muhammad, and Gandhi did NOT claim to be God... in fact, they assured their followers that they were not God. Jesus, in contrast, clearly and repeatedly said He is God.
      •  Jn 10:33  Jesus claimed to be God and He NEVER recanted
      •  Jn 1:1-5, 10-14  John the beloved disciple, persecuted, exiled, and He never recanted.
      •  reference… Mark 14:61-64;  John 8:58-59;
      •  Was Jesus a real "flesh & blood" man? (had a human body, weaknesses, limitations, emotions)
            >  Born of a woman (Gal. 4:4)
            >  Had a normal body of flesh and bones (Luke 24:39)
            >  Grew up as a boy (Luke 2:52)
            >  Had a family (Matt. 13:54-58; Mark 6:3; 1 Cor. 9:5)
            >  Worked as a carpenter (Mark 6:3)
            >  Got hungry (Matt. 4:2; 21:18) and thirsty (John 4:7; 19:28)
            >  Was stressed (John 13:21)
            >  Was happy (Luke 10:21-24; John 15:11; 17:13; Heb. 12:2, 22)
            >  Told jokes (Matt. 7:6; 23:24; Mark 4:21)
            >  Loved children (Matt. 19:13-15)
            >  Went to parties (Matt. 11:19)
            >  Loved his mom (John 19:26-27)
      •  Did Jesus ever claim to be God?
            >  He came from Heaven - Jn 3:13
            >  Was the Christ - Jn 4:26
            >  Had the right to judge Mankind - Jn 5:22
            >  Deserved the same degree of honor as God - Jn 5:
            >  Was predicted by the prophets - Jn 5:46
            >  Has the right to forgive sins committed against God - Mark 2:5
            >  Has the Power to raise himself from the dead - Jn 6:40
            >  Never committed a sin - Jn 8:46
            >  Has existed forever - Jn 8:48
            >  John 10:24-33;  John 14:6-10;  John 20:28;  Matt 21:15-16;  Matt 16:13-17

    4.  Jesus Came As A MISSIONARY
      •  Jesus became a man, because He was concerned with saving men.  He came to be a substitutionary sacrifice
      •  Jesus came to the Jewish people, culture, clothes, language, etc.
      •  Phil 2:5-11
            >  Jesus never lost His divinity, He added humanity
            >  fully God... fully man
            >  no one could take His glory, His rights... He laid them down
            >  Christianity is not about what you do for God, its about what Jesus did for you.  Religion leads to pride or despair.  Christianity leads to humility and joy.
            >  He rules over all... He saves all... we live to make much of the name of Jesus.
            >  whats the big idea?... the main point... JESUS!
            >  bend the knee to Jesus... either as a friend and follower of Jesus... or as a foe of Jesus.

    CONCLUSION :
      •  the Humility of Jesus... He became a servant to His enemies
      •  God comes in human flesh to RESCUE humanity
      •  We must be clear on the person & work of Jesus… Jesus became a man, because He was concerned with saving mankind.  He came to be a substitutionary sacrifice for sinful humanity to restore His people o relationship with the Father. There is no right relationship with God apart from Jesus!

Comments (1)

Comments are closed.

Post a Comment