Christmas at First Baptist Poinciana ||The Word Became Flesh.

Last week we dove in to John 1 and the importance of the relationship to Christmas Season. It is the prequel to the christmas - or the birth of Jesus accounts found in matthew and mark.

The very words - In the beginning was the word

John 1:1–2 NKJV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.

A great deal of heresy hinges on the misinterpretation of just these 2 verses.

When there is an attempt made to subtract from the absolute deity of Christ - it is heresy. A perversion to the very person of God.

Any person that tells you that Jesus is not God, was less than God, and was only partly human and partly God - is telling you a lie so far from the depth of hell that it is still burning hot from the mouth of satan.

This is why we - believers MUST know what we believe, know how to recognize false teaching, and know how to defend the Word of God and biblical doctrine

Hosea 4:6 (NKJV)

6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Theological / Doctrinal Terms

Pre-Incarnate

Incarnate

Pre-emenence

Hypostatic Union

Triunity

Substitutionary Atonement

Imputed Righteousness

Write fast as I give the definitions - (simplified)

Pre-Incarnate

the period of time before God the Son: Jesus was born to his earthly being. Eternality is the key term - Jesus always was, is now, and forever will be. John 1:1-2

John 1:1–2 CSB

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

Incarante

The point in time when Christ was born to his earthly being. Matthew 1:20

Matthew 1:20–21 CSB

20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Notice the solidarity of the Jesus birth in the angelic proclamation. HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SIN. JESUS CAME TO SAVE US FROM SIN.

Allow me this time to explain this to you - we do not worship Mary. We do not pray to Mary. Mary is not the Queen of Heaven. Mary is not a virgin - she had several other children. Mary, while an extraordinary woman used by God - that is the end of the line - She was used by God and was faithful to the call on her life. Mary is not a mediator between us and God and to believe so is heresy at its best. The Bible - God’s word is clear. There is but ONE mediator between God and man - it is Christ Jesus.

The bible is also clear that to get to the Father, we do not go through this saint, or that saint, nor Mary, Nor a priest, Nor a pastor. You go through Jesus. John 14:6

John 14:6 CSB

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Pre-Emenence

Jesus is above all, and has absolute headship over all creation. Col. 1:17-18

Colossians 1:17–18 CSB

17 He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. 18 He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.

Hypostatic Union

The hypostatic union is the term used to describe how God the Son, Jesus Christ, took on a human nature, yet remained fully God at the same time. Jesus always had been God (John 8:58

John 8:58 CSB

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”

John 10:30 CSB

30 I and the Father are one.”

but at the incarnation Jesus became a human being (John 1:14). The addition of the human nature to the divine nature is Jesus, the God-man. This is the hypostatic union, Jesus Christ, one Person, fully God and fully man.

Jesus is both God and man. Jesus has always been God, but He did not become a human being until He was conceived in Mary. Jesus became a human being in order to identify with us in our struggles Hebrews 2:17

Hebrews 2:17 CSB

17 Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

and, more importantly, so that He could die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins

Philippians 2:5–11 CSB

5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The hypostatic union teaches that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine, that there is no mixture or dilution of either nature, and that He is one united Person, forever.

Triunity

The term trinity is used to describe the triunity (or three-ness) of God, as described in Scripture.

God the Father - God the Son - God the Holy Spirit are all equal, and coexistent as ONE eternal God.

Isaiah 48:12 CSB

12 “Listen to me, Jacob, and Israel, the one called by me: I am he; I am the first, I am also the last.

Matthew 3:16–17 CSB

16 When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”

Matthew 28:19 CSB

19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Do not fall prey to the thought of MODALISM - this is where people attempt to illustrate the trinity by saying all parts are God but in different modes. - Egg. the white is still the white, the shell is still the shell, and the yoke is still the yoke. They are not all the same in form, function, nor location. God is the SAME - He does not change.

Substitutionary Atonement

The substitutionary atonement refers to Jesus Christ dying as a substitute for sinners. The Scriptures teach that all men are sinners

Romans 3:23 CSB

23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

The penalty for our sinfulness is death. Romans 6:23 reads, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

JESUS WAS THE SUBSTITUTE FOR EACH OF US. HE TOOK THE WRATH OF SIN.

Imputed Righteousness

On the cross, Jesus took our sin upon Himself and purchased our salvation. We have “been justified by his blood” Romans 5:9

Romans 5:9 CSB

9 How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath.

and part of that justification is an imputation of His own righteousness. Paul puts it this way:

“For our sake [God] made [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus is righteous by virtue of His very nature—He is the Son of God. By God’s grace, “through faith in Jesus Christ,” that righteousness is given “to all who believe” (Romans 3:22).

That’s imputation: the giving of Christ’s righteousness to sinners.

I know these are boring to many people - however - bear with me. It is of the utmost importance to know exactly what the bible teaches.

We live in a time when truth is being challenged on every side. We have only one option - to turn to the absolute truth in Christ Jesus and the Word of God.

Read Together.

John 1:14–18 CSB

14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ ”) 16 Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, 17 for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.

The Word Became Flesh.

John 1:14 CSB

14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Dwelt - an action verb. He was here. HERE!

this shows us the glory of the incarnation of Christ.

conceived by the holy spirit in the womb of Mary. Remember what I said previously of Mary. Do you know the same is possible for each of us if we, life Mary are ready willing, and faithful to God when He calls on us. ? -

The divine son of God became a man.

Jesus is now the God-Man. (recall hypostatic union)

Not half man and half God. But one person with a fully divine nature and a fully human nature.

He is fully human so He cried as an infant. but fully divine as he gave life to his mother. (he created all things)

He is fully human so he had to sleep - yet fully divine so he could raise the dead.

Our God expereinced everything it is like to be a human - yet without sin. Heb. 4:15

Hebrews 4:15 NKJV

15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Hunger - Pain - Temptation - Grief - Hardships - Rejection -

Jesus knows all about our struggles; He will guide ’til the day is done: There’s not a Friend like the lowly Jesus: No, not one! no, not one!

You face NO category of human experiences that Jesus has not endured.

Jesus’ Eternality

John 1:15 (NKJV)

15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ”

John recognized that Jesus preceded him in eternity. Jesus always was, is now and forever will be.

The Gift of Grace

John 1:16–18 CSB

16 Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, 17 for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.

Listen to me very closely this morning church.

Grace. Is. Not. Cheap. -

We must stop treating grace as if is is a license to live any way we want. Grace is costly.

The grace that believers have placed on their life came at the cost of the Savior’s life.

Pastor - I do not think grace is cheap. So you live a repentant life? You live a life that strive towards holiness? Your heart is broken over sin (yours)

THIS IS THE HEART OF THE MESSAGE > GRACE.

John 1:13 CSB

13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.

Bought -literally- by the blood of Christ. From John 3 - you must be born again.

When we accept the gift of salvation. we are receiving the SUBSTITUTIONARY ATONEMENT of Christ’s death on the cross.

Our sins are forgiven, and eternal life is imparted.

Notice - Eternal life, giving us the assurance of salvation. (perseverance, or eternal security to every believer)

Ephesians 4:30 tells us that believers are "sealed for the day of redemption." If believers did not have eternal security, the sealing could not truly be unto the day of redemption, but only to the day of sinning, apostasy, or disbelief. John 3:15-16 tells us that whoever believes in Jesus Christ will "have eternal life." If a person were to be promised eternal life, but then have it taken away, it was never "eternal" to begin with. If eternal security is not true, the promises of eternal life in the Bible would be in error.

THAT IS AMAZING GRACE

The gospel does what the law could not do.

The law gave us a list of can’t - but the gospel gives us a list of cans.

This is the reason we cannot mix works and grace.

We have done nothing to earn our salvation, and we are doing nothing to maintain it. If you think that you are -

please think on this - what is the perfecting work that you must do to finally know that you are saved? Or will you not know until you are standing before God rather or not you are actually saved?

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NKJV)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

We are saved:

BY GRACE.

THROUGH FAITH

I HAVE DONE NOTHING

SALVATION IS A GIFT FROM GOD.

NOT OF WORKS, NOT FROM WORKS, NOT BY WORKS.

YES! Faith without works is dead. However, we are saved “TO” works” NOT “FROM” works.

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

THROUGH JESUS WE GAIN ACCESS TO THE UNMERITED & UNLIMITED FAVOR OF GOD. WHAT A GIFT.

GRACE IS THE INEXHAUSTABLE SUPPLY OF GOD’S GOODNESS

IT IS FROM CHRIST THAT WE ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE “GRACE ON GRACE”

THINK OF IT LIKE WAVES HITTING THE BEACH - IT JUST KEEPS ON COMING.

THANK GOD BECAUSE I NEED GRACE EVERY SINGLE DAY. AMEN?

GRACE IS NOT CHEAP. IT COST JESUS HIS LIFE. BUT HE WILLINGLY GAVE IT BECAUSE IT WAS HIS VERY PURPOSE - TO TAKE AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD.

YOU HAVE SEEN ME.

John 14:9 (CSB)

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time and you do not know me, Philip? The one who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

John 1:18 CSB

18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.

NO ONE HAS SEEN THE FACE OF GOD ON THIS SIDE OF ETERNITY AND LIVED.

YET, SINCE JESUS IS FULLY GOD, TO KNOW JESUS IS TO KNOW GOD.

HE HAS PERFECTLY REVEALED GOD TO US. COL. 1:15

Colossians 1:15 NKJV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

TODAY YOU MAY HAVE THOUGHT - I DID NOT SIGN UP FOR A SEMINARY CLASS. THIS IS TOO MUCH INFORMATION.

LET ME BREAK IT DOWN BEFORE WE GO - WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE 3 LITTLE PIGS. (TELL THE STORY)

EVERYBODY has heard the story of the three little pigs. Mother pig sent them

out; it was time for them to build their own houses. Pig number one built his

house of straw. Pig number two built his house with sticks. Pig number three

built his house out of bricks. Along came the wolf who demanded entrance into

their homes. He wasn’t invited or solicited. He just decided that he wanted to

come into the lives of the little pigs.

Pig number one said, “Not by the hair of my chin-ee-chin-chin.”

So the wolf huffed and he puffed and he blew the straw house down. Pig

number one’s world had fallen apart, so he hurried over to pig number two’s

house. The wolf followed him and knocked on the door of the stick house. He

said, “Little pig, little pig, let me in.”

Pig number two said, “Not by the hair of my chin-ee-chin-chin.”

So the wolf huffed and puffed and blew his house down. Pig one and pig two

went to pig number three’s house.

Now, pig number three built his house differently than the others. Pig number

three built his house of bricks so that it would stand the test of time.

The wolf tried yet again, “Little pig, little pig, let me in.”

Pig number three said, “Not by the hair of my chin-ee-chin-chin.” So the wolf

huffed and puffed and blew and blew. Many storybooks illustrate the wind

blowing and hurling and it was cast forth out of the mouth of the wolf. You

could see the strength he put into trying to blow down the house, but in the pages

of the nursery rhyme, the pictures of the wolf show him tiring out and the house

still standing. In fact, the wolf, after unsuccessfully trying to blow down the

house, decided to change his strategy and come down the chimney. He climbed

up the side of the house and attempted to sneak into the house via the chimney

only to enter into a pot of hot boiling water. He shot right back up the chimney.

When the story ended, the three pigs were sitting around the fireplace, with the

big bad wolf on the outside looking in.

If you’re attached to your straw life, when stuff starts to blow, you’re going to crumble. If you’re attached to your stick existence, when stuff starts to shake, you’re going to fall apart. But if you’re part of a brick unshakable kingdom that has been built by Almighty God, I don’t care what is falling apart around you, you won’t be falling apart with it. If you are falling apart with it, you have not fully attached yourself to the unshakable kingdom. It is a kingdom that cannot be SHAKEN - I Want to make sure you are part of this kingdom.

DEAR CHURCH - I WANT YOU TO KNOW JESUS. NOT JUST KNOW ABOUT JESUS.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT :

HE IS ETERNAL

THE BEGINNING AND THE END

HE IS PRE-EMENANT, FIRST OVER ALL THINGS.

THAT BEFORE THERE WAS A CHRISTMAS TREE - THERE WAS JESUS

BEFORE THERE WERE STOCKING OR GIFTS THERE WAS JESUS

BEFORE THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF CHRISTMAS - THERE WAS JESUS.

BEFORE I EVEN KNEW I WAS A SHEEP - HE WAS ALREADY MY GOOD SHEPARD

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THE LION THAT FIGHTS FOR YOU

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THE HEALER

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THE MEDIATOR BETWEEN US AND GOD

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THE LAMB OF GOD AND THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD THAT TAKES AWAY OUR SIN.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT HE LOVED YOU SO MUCH. NO MATTER HOW BAD YOU THINK YOU ARE - YOU MAY HAVE LEFT THE BAR THIS MORNING AND STILL HAVE LIQUOR ON YOUR BREATH, YOU MAY BE INVOLVED IN SOMETHING THAT’S GOT YOU TIED DOWN IN BONDAGE, YOU MAY BE NECK DEEP IN DOING WRONG, YOU MAY BE ABOUT TO GO UNDER - YOU MIGHT BE ON YOUR LAST ATTEMPT AT LIFE, YOU MAY WANT TO GIVE UP, YOU MAY WANT TO STAY SHUT UP, BUT LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE ONE THAT WILL CHANGE IT ALL - HIS NAME IS JESUS. AND THERE IS POWER IN HIS NAME!

THERE IS FORGIVENESS IN HIS NAME

THERE IS HEALING IN HIS NAME

THERE IS SALVATION IN HIS NAME

HE IS THE ALPHA AND OMEGA - THE FIRST AND THE LAST - WHERE YOU BEEN, HE’S ALREADY BEEN, AND WHERE YOU ARE HE IS ALREADY, AND WHERE YOU’RE HEADED - HE’LL BE THERE WAITING. HE WANTS TO WALK WITH YOU -

The bible says in Romans 10:13

Romans 10:13 NKJV

13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

you are a whosoever.

won’t you call on His name - Jesus today and gain the greatest friend you will ever find -

He loved you much he gave his life. Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8 NKJV

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The WORD became flesh so that, in that flesh Jesus could pay the penalty for our sins. He loved you just that much.

what are you waiting for?