R.E.A.L. Part 3

R.E.A.L.  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented
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Introduction

The Absurdity of the Incarnation
No other religion can boast what Christianity boasts: that God became flesh and dwelt among us.
“It is certain, because impossible.” — Tertullian
This expression later morphed into the now famous “I believe because it is absurd.”
The is much truth to this statement, because the absurdity of Christianity — of a God who took on human flesh, of a crucified Messiah, of a God who pardons the sin of His creation — creates certainty of its truthfulness.
What the Bible proclaims — the Gospel, the Good News revealed to the shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem — could not have been devised by men.
There are many “absurdities” within Christianity, and the incarnation is perhaps the greatest of all.
This word comes from John 1:14
John 1:14 NASB95
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
We often describe “birth” as a miracle, but there’s nothing miraculous about giving birth.
Giving birth is beautiful and wonderful, but it is not miraculous. A miracle denotes something transcending our knowledge of reality or time or space. That’s not birth. Giving birth is so predictable. In fact, we have gotten so good at it that if the baby arrives before its due date we say the baby is early. If the baby arrives after its due date we say the baby is late.
But the conception and the birth of Jesus was a miracle. Not just because Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, but because of His conception at all.
The fact that God humbled Himself to the point of taking on human flesh is one of the greatest miracles in Scripture: God with us.
But why would God become a man?
Planned Before the Beginning of Time
Jesus Christ was always God’s plan A of salvation
Galatians 4:4–5 NASB95
4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
In the fullness of time — God did exactly what He intended, exactly when He intended, exactly how He intended.
Salvation … and so much more.
The incarnation, that Child in the manger, culminates in His death and resurrection, ultimately providing the gift of salvation.
The incarnation, that Child in the manger, also impacts every aspect of your life today, in ways we don’t often consider.
God became human to …

I. Reveal Himself to Humanity (John 14:7-11)

John 14:7–11 NASB95
7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you 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 so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11 “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.
If You Had Known Me
The disciples had been with Jesus for three years, and yet they still did not see the full picture.
The disciples were still holding onto their idea of what the Messiah would be: a ruler, a conqueror, a warrior who would save Israel.
Jesus would indeed fill all these roles, just not in the way the disciples envisioned.
How often do we let our vision of Jesus get in the way of who He really is?
People of all backgrounds, creeds, and religions are comfortable with Jesus as long as He remains simply a great man, prophet, or teacher.
$11.4 million Christmas tree
The most expensive Christmas tree in history was put up in a hotel in Abu Dhabi in 2010. The total of the tree did not come from the tree or structure itself (which did not exceed more than several thousand dollars).
Instead, the immense cost of this tree was due to the decorations placed on it: diamonds, gold, sapphires, and emeralds, along with watches, necklaces, and bracelets.
How is it that a Muslim country constructed the most expensive Christmas tree?
People are comfortable with Christmas as long as it remains devoid of its meaning.
People are comfortable with Jesus as long as He remains devoid of His true nature and purpose.
He Who Has Seen Me
God has revealed Himself
Through creation
Romans 1:20 NASB95
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
Through His Word
Through His Son
Hebrews 1:1–2 NASB95
1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
The primary representation of God — of His nature, His character, His love, and His plan for salvation — is revealed in the Person of Jesus Christ.
Believe Me
Jesus came to do the will of His Father
This was revealed not only through His testimony, but also His miraculous works.
Do you believe Him?
Do you believe Him? Do you trust Him, even though you have not seen, because the Father and His Word and His work today confirm it?
OR
Are you more like Philip, seeking signs and evidences that more closely force Jesus into the box that you believe He should fit in?
God became human to …

II. Provide a Sympathetic High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Hebrews 4:14–16 NASB95
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Truly Man
Christians have often not struggled with Jesus’ divinity, but His humanity.
Many of the early Christological heresies minimized Jesus’ humanity, not His divinity.
But the early Church recognized that Jesus’ humanity was just as essential as His divinity, so they clearly laid out the doctrine of the incarnation.
The Bible affirms Jesus’ humanity
Jesus was prophesied and confirmed to be born of a woman, meaning while His conception was miraculous, His birth was completely natural.
Jesus grew as any human would.
Luke 2:52 NASB95
52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Empathy vs. Sympathy
Sympathy is showing real concern for someone’s situation. Empathy involves actively sharing in the experience.
Jesus can empathize with the temptations you experience. He was tempted in all things as we are.
Jesus can sympathize with your weakness — your willingness to give into sin. Yet without sin.
The Greek word translated sympathize literally means to “suffer along with.”
Being truly human, Jesus experienced the full strength of temptation.
Sometimes we assume Jesus never experienced temptation like us.
This is true, but only because Jesus experienced temptation far beyond anything we ever will.
Only the One who has never given into temptation can understand the full strength of temptation.
What a comfort to know that our High Priest understands exactly what we experience.
Boldly I Approach the Throne
The strategy of satan is to get us to view Jesus as unapproachable.
Like the threat Esther faced when appearing before the King unsummoned.
Esther 4:11 NASB95
11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.”
Do you as a Christian fear entering into the presence of your King?
Unlike Esther entering the throne room in uncertainty, how should we enter the throne room of our King?
With confidence that you will be accepted, no matter what you bring.
With assurance that you belong, no matter what you bring.
Enter emboldened by the truth that your King understands your weakness, and He lavishes mercy and grace to those who need it.
But you have to enter the throne room. You have to go in like the wise men, kneeling down and presenting Him with the only thing you can: your sin.
This is such a beautiful act of worship.
God became human to …

III. Bind Up Demonic Powers (1 John 3:7-9)

1 John 3:7–9 NASB95
7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
A Life Evidenced by Righteous Living
Righteousness means “right standing before God”
John is not saying we are made righteous by our works — our lifestyle and actions — but that our righteousness found in Christ Jesus should be evidenced in our lives.
The one who practices sin
A life of blatant, habitual, unrepentant sin is of the devil, and so is the one who practices it.
The Purpose of Christ
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.
Jesus did not come to alleviate, or neutralize, or limit the works of the devil.
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.
To dissolve, demolish, break apart, do away with
We have no reason to fear satan.
satan has no power of those who have been born again — redeemed and sanctified by the blood of Jesus.
Those who have given their lives to Jesus do not or cannot sin, meaning a habitual practice of sin in one’s life.
1 John 3:10 NASB95
10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
God became a man that He might:
Live a truly human life (growing, learning, eating, sleeping, and experiencing temptation).
Live a life in perfect submission to the Father.
Be offered as the perfect, final sacrifice.
Rise again, defeating the strongholds of sin and death once and for all.
1 Corinthians 15:55 NASB95
55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
God became human to …

IV. Serve as a Just and Final Judge (John 5:22-27)

The Judge
God the Father
1 Peter 1:17 NASB95
17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;
Romans 3:5–6 NASB95
5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.) 6 May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world?
God the Son
2 Timothy 4:1 NASB95
1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
God the Father judges through God the Son
Acts 10:42 NASB95
42 “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.
When Jesus says “the Father judges no one,” in light of these other passages, it means “the Father judges no one apart from the Son.”
John 5:30 NASB95
30 “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
Judged by sin and truth
Our own sin will be our judge on the last day.
John 3:19 NASB95
19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
The truth Jesus spoke — and that we knew and did not follow — will rise up as our judge on the last day.
John 12:48 NASB95
48 “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.
The Christian Distinction
Final judgment by God is not unique to Christianity.
Search religions the world over and you will find beliefs that god or gods will judge.
The Christian distinction is that Jesus Christ took the judgment that we deserve when He died on the cross.
The Christian distinction is bound up in the fact that God became flesh — the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ — that these words would be true:
John 5:24 NASB95
24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
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