Advent 2023: The Centrality of the Incarnation
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Open to Hebrews 2:10-15
Wise men call him King.
Two meaning there,
Magi, wisemen. King makers call him King.
Men who are wise today will call him King.
Psalm 2 ‘
“Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” (Ps 2:10–12, ESV)
When we meditate on the advent of our Lord we are talking about the Incarnation.
A very simple way to understand this is a spirit becoming Physical.
The Scripture makes a clear destination between the Spirit and Physical.
Jesus said, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (Jn 4:24, ESV)
“No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” (Jn 1:18, ESV)
The incarnation then give us a final and perfect revelation of God.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (Jn 14:6–9, ESV)
In order for men to see “the way, and the truth, and the life.” It was necessary for the way and truth and life to be visible.
The author or Hebrews, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Heb 1:1–2, ESV)
But its not only the revelation but the propitiation. That’s why the sermon title is “The Centrality of the Incarnation.” It central to everything.
So lets go from Hebrews 1 to Hebrews Chapter 2 and we will read verse 10-15.
If you are able, Please Stand for the ready of God’s Word
10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” 13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” 14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
May God Bless the Reading of His Holy, Infallible, and Sufficient Word
Let’s Pray
Transition
Transition
In verse 10 the Author start with he statement that Christ. Lets read verse 10-11
Body
Body
It Was Fitting
It Was Fitting
10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,
“For it was fitting”
Boy could we spend all night right there.
The Greek work “befitting” “Appropriate” “right”
Everything God does is fitting.
“he, for whom and by whom all things exist”
Let’s we forget who he is an who willed his death.
“Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days.” (Is 53:10, ESV)
But lest we think the he is anything less than the full God head, including Christ we remember his words.
“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. (Jn 10:17, ESV) \
“the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.” (Heb 2:10, ESV)
God cannot suffer
God cannot die
God cannot bleed,
Some will cite, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” (Ac 20:28, ESV)
What is true of one nature is true of the whole person so that we rightly day he is Vera Deus Vara homo. Very god and Very many.
Or as RC Sproul would say, Truly God and Truly man. [1]
Irenaeus witting near 150 AD “For He fulfils the bountiful and comprehensive will of His Father, inasmuch as He is Himself the Saviour of those who are saved, and the Lord of those who are under authority, and the God of all those things which have been formed, the only-begotten of the Father, Christ who was announced, and the Word of God, who became incarnate when the fulness of time had come, at which the Son of God had to become the Son of man.”[2]
“For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source.” (Heb 2:11, ESV)
Two spheres toughing at one point, and though that one single point all the goodness and life of God is communicated to “those who are sanctified”
God and humanity are infinity separated without the incarnation.
Transition
Transition
But int he incarnation we are no family. Verse 11 - 13
His Brothers
His Brothers
12 saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” 13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.”
It would by be possible for God to call us Brothers without the incarnation.
We have said several times how inappropriate and yes, wrong, it is for a Christian to call their pets children.
The distance between a human and a dog is infinity close the and the distance between a human and God. \
“Behold, I and the children God has given me.
"Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples. 17 I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. 18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion. (Is 8:16–18, ESV)
This is a ONE sided transaction.
“Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me”
The Father Gives the children to the Son
Jesus declares this, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (Jn 6:37, ESV)
Transition
Transition
The Author of Hebrews
We Share in his flesh
We Share in his flesh
14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things” (Heb 2:14, ESV)
There is one human race.
The redefinition of Racism today is a satanic attack on the work of our Lord how took on the same flesh that all humanity shares.
The Incarnation is central in all things.
Its central in the revelation of God to humanity.
Its central is the propitiation of the sin of the elect
Its central in combating the lies that are heralded within our culture.
AND, it is central to the victory of Good over Evil.
“that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” (Heb 2:14–15, ESV)
Because of the incarnation, death had no sting right now, and one day it will no longer exist.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Brothers and sisters we come full circle
4 weeks ago I asked you if you can tell the story of Christ’s birth.
Do you own it?
Are you an evangelist for Christ the way you are for your favorite restaurant, or sports team?
Tonight we ask ourselves, is Incarnation central, in all our lives, in every engagement with culture, in every text of scripture, in every hope we have of the future.
Benediction
Benediction
20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
References
References
[1] https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/perfectly-human
[2] Irenaeus of Lyons, “Irenæus against Heresies,” in The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus, ed. Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe, vol. 1, The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company, 1885), 443.
Bibliography
Bibliography
Roberts, Alexander, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe, eds. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus. Vol. 1. The Ante-Nicene Fathers. Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Company, 1885.