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WEEKLY
Volume 3 Number 30
21 December 2008
God Was Manifest in the
Flesh
(Message
delivered by Rev Hien Nguyen at the Worship Service, 2:00 pm, Dec 21,
08)
Text: 1
Tim 3:16
We thank God so much for His great love, grace and
mercy that He sent His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who did
humble Himself and come into the world to die for our sins and the sins
of mankind and who did rise up again on the third day and is ever living
to pray for us and save those who put their trust in Him (Rom 8:34; Heb
7:25). That is the key message of Christmas, the good news of God’s love
and salvation for mankind. Sadly, nowadays, many are celebrating
Christmas with Christmas gatherings, Christmas parties, Christmas
decorations, etc. without thinking about the Lord Jesus Christ Himself
to worship Him and to give thanks and praise to Him!
Although the 25th of December is not the
exact Birthday of the Lord Jesus, His Birth is a real event recorded in
the Holy Scripture and in human history, dividing the world timeline: BC
– Before Christ, and AD – Anno Domini (in the year of the Lord).
Therefore, this is a good opportunity to remind all mankind including
you and me to celebrate, worship and preach the good news of God’s
loving salvation to our loved ones and friends.
Why did the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, come
into the world? That is because of God’s love for mankind, for you and
for me (John 3:16). Many fail to see God’s love and God’s great Gift
(His Son Jesus Christ) for them! Many others do not believe or receive
God’s love and Gift! How about you and me at this Christmas?
God Was Manifest in the
Flesh
Let us meditate on God’s Word in 1 Timothy chapter 3 verse 16, “And
without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest
in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the
Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” Without
controversy means confessedly, undeniably, most certainly.
Mystery means secret, hidden thing. To God’s Truth, a mystery is a
sacred truth hidden to mankind and is only known by God’s revelation,
“Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations,
but now is made manifest to his saints” (Col 1:26). The Scripture
tells us about “the mystery of the kingdom of God” (Mark 4:11),
the mystery of the restoration of the nation Israel (Rom 11:25), the
mystery of God’s wisdom (1 Cor 2:7), the mystery of the Rapture (1 Cor
15:51), the mystery of God’s will (Eph 1:9), the mystery of the
relationship between Christ and His Church (Eph 5:32), “the mystery
of the gospel” (Eph 6:19), the mystery of God’s glory, “which is
Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27), the mystery of faith
(1 Tim 3:9), etc. And here in 1 Tim 3:16, Paul told us about “the
mystery of godliness” (1 Tim 3:16). Godliness means devotion,
reverence and piety toward God.
Then without
a proper understanding and belief in this great truth “God was
manifest in the flesh,” no one can live in true reverence and piety
toward the Lord Jesus Christ:
“God was manifest in the flesh”: the Deity of
Christ and His Incarnation, “the Word was God… the Word was made
flesh” (John 1:1, 14). We should always remember that Jesus
Christ is our God, our Creator and Maker so that we may honour Him, fear
Him, love Him, worship Him, and serve Him worthily. Sadly, many modern
English versions, like the NIV, have replaced “God” with “He,”
undermining the Deity of Christ, as a result, many fail to live in true
reverence and piety toward the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the living and
true God but humbled Himself to become a Man to save mankind! It is
always comforting for you and me to ponder on this truth.
“justified in the Spirit”: the Holy Spirit
descended and remained on Jesus and bare witness that Jesus is the Son
of God (John 1:32-34; 1 John 5:7-8).
“seen of angels”: When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the
angel announced His Birth, who is the Christ, the Lord, the Saviour of
the world, and a host of angels praised God (Luke 2:10-4).
“preached unto the Gentiles”: Peter preached Christ to
Cornelius and his household (Acts 10), Paul and Barnabas preached Christ
to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46-48), and the Gospel has been preached
to many other Gentiles since then and even now to our generation.
“believed on in the world”: Thank God for His grace and
mercy that many Christians, including you and me, have believed in Jesus
Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour (Acts 14:27; Eph 2:8; Col
1:4-6).
“received up into glory”: Our Lord Jesus Christ died for
our sins and the sins of mankind, rose again and ascended up to heaven
(1 John 2:2; Mark 16:19; Acts 1:1-11). Therefore, “he is able also to
save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever
liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb 7:25). Praise the Lord!
Why Did Jesus Christ Become a Man?
To Reveal God and His Love to Mankind: “No man hath seen God
at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father,
he hath declared him” (John 1:18),
and “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that
God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live
through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved
us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4
:9-10). Jesus says, “If ye had known me, ye should have known my
Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him”
(John 14:7; cf. 12:45). Dear friends, if the Lord Jesus had not become a
Man coming into this world, how could you and I have a proper knowledge
of God? Sometimes, we feel that God is so far away, so high, so great
and glorious, but when we remember that Jesus is God, we shall be
comforted by His love, grace, mercy, gentleness, meekness and humility.
To Be God’s Gift to Mankind: God loved mankind not only in Word
but also in deed when giving His only begotten Son as His greatest Gift
to mankind, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life” (John 3:16). If Jesus had not become a Man
coming into this world, how could you and I enjoy God’s Gift?
To Fulfill God’s Word: God promised His salvation in Jesus Christ
as the seed of a woman (Gen 3:15; Isa 7:14; Matt 1:23) to mankind right
after Adam and Eve sinned. If Jesus Christ had not become a Man coming
into this world, how could God’s Word have been fulfilled? Thank God
that Jesus did come and say, “And he said unto them, These are the
words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things
must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the
prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me” (Luke 24:44). Praise the
Lord!
To Be a Perfect Example to His Followers: Jesus says,
“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to
you.” (John 13:15). As no human being is perfect, who should you and
I turn to if Jesus had not become a Man and perfect Example for us to
follow? Thank God that Jesus did come and we can look “unto Jesus the
author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before
him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right
hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:2).
To Teach and Train His Disciples to Preach the Good News of God’s
Salvation: Our Lord Jesus came and “he ordained twelve, that they
should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach”
(Mark 3:14). Dear friends, we must thank God that Jesus did come and
train His disciples and then His disciples trained other faithful men (2
Tim 2:2) to preach the Gospel to the lost. I do thank God for the
faithful training at the Far Eastern Bible College based on the firm
foundation of Christ and His perfectly preserved Word in these last days
of compromise and apostasy.
To Live in Perfect Obedience to God’s Law to Earn His Righteousness
for Those Who Believed in Him: God’s Word confirms that “There is
none righteous, no, not one… For all have sinned, and come short
of the glory of God” (Rom 3:10, 23). Then how can you and I sinners
have a right stand acceptable before God? Thank God that Jesus did
become a Man, born of the virgin Mary, who was conceived by the power of
the Holy Spirit, so Jesus did not inherit the sinful nature from Adam;
and while living on the earth, Jesus submitted His will to His Father’s
will and kept God’s law to the jot and tittle despite the temptations
from Satan (Matt 4:1-11), so Jesus Christ lived a perfect life for our
righteousness, “For if by one man’s (Adam’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)”
(Rom 5:17). Praise the LORD!
To Die and Bear the Sins of Mankind: As all have sinned with
their sinful hearts, and no one is righteous before God, no human being
can save himself or others. We should not be deceived by those who claim
that God can save us through them and their teachings or their ministry
or their church or their religion alone. Jesus Christ alone is the
Perfect Man in the world, so He is able to save you and me by His death
on the Cross, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just
for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the
flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18). God is eternal
and never dies. If Jesus had not become a Perfect Man to die for our
sins, you and I would be helpless and hopeless and be condemned due to
our own sins!
To Rise Again to Justify and Save Those Who Believe in Him: Thank
God that Jesus did become a Man and die for our sins, but if He had not
risen again, our faith and our preaching, and our labour would be in
vain (1 Cor 15:14; 58). Praise the Lord that He truly rose again and is
ever living to listen to our prayers and save us, “Who was delivered
for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Rom
4:25) and “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost
that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession
for them” (Heb 7:25).
To Be the Only Mediator between God and Men: A Mediator between
God and Men must be a perfect God-Man, so all human beings are
disqualified. We should not be deceived by those who claim that we can
only approach God through them or a human being, even Mary. If Jesus had
not become a Man coming into this world, we could not approach the holy
God. Thank God and praise the Lord that Jesus Christ is the perfect
God-Man and our Mediator, and we can come to God through Him, “For
there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ
Jesus” (1 Tim 2:5).
To Be the Faithful, Merciful and Sympathetic High Priest: As
Jesus is a real Man with blood and bones and has gone through all
trials, temptations, persecutions, etc, so He is able to comfort and
strengthen us when we encounter difficulties, trials, temptations or
persecutions, “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like
unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest
in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the
people… 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. Let us therefore come boldly unto the
throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in
time of need” (Heb 2:17, 18; 4:15-16). Thank God that we can always
come to our Lord Jesus Christ for His grace and strength in time of
need.
To Be the Head of the Church: As Jesus is a Perfect God-Man who
loved and gave His life for His Church, He is the Head of the Church,
“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the
preeminence” (Col 1:18; cf Eph 5:23-25). If Jesus had not become a
Man coming into this world, our church would be only a human
organization without the leadership and life of the Head, the Lord Jesus
Christ. May God help us submit to Him and His Word always.
To Come Back Again to Establish His Millennial Kingdom of Peace on
Earth: Jesus Christ will come back again to establish His millennial
Kingdom of peace on earth (Rev 5:10; 20:6). If Jesus had not become a
Man coming into this world, we would have no hope nor peace in this
world. Thank God that we are looking forward to His coming with His
reward soon.
Conclusion
Thank God and praise the Lord for His grace and love
that Jesus did humble Himself and come into this world as a perfect Man
to die for our sins, to rise again for our justification and He will
come back again for our full redemption. May God help us honour our
Lord, look unto Him, trust in Him, and serve Him faithfully till He
comes. Amen.
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