Incarnation

Death

Reality of Death

Death is a subject we would probably prefer not to consider. When we are confronted with death we may morn those who have passed, but we are also confronted with our own mortality.

Our society today interacts with death much differently than people had in the past, really throughout history. Our food is often purchased at grocery stores or restaurants and so the death of the animal that becomes food usually happens far from the person who will ultimately consumes the meal.

God, put death constantly in front of the Israelites. The sacrifices that were performed daily in the temple were a constant reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the consequence of sin, as it is sin that is the author of death.

Dealing with Death

Because of the trauma caused by death people tend to seek ways to cope with it. Having a biblical understanding of mortality in light of eternity puts perspective to the tragedy of death and without it, people tend to fill the void with all sorts of superstition and folklore.

Falling in a Cemetery

There is an old superstition that if you fall 3 times while walking a cemetery that you are going to die soon.

Red Robin

There was a superstition that if a red breasted robin flew into your house that it was an omen that someone in that house would die.

Thunder

Some superstitions claim that thunder following a funeral is the sound of the dead entering heaven.

Pennies from Heaven

Some believe that finding a penny is a sign from a loved one who has past. They are shinny and get peoples attention so the love one causes other to drop the penny. Personally, I would have preferred a larger denomination.

Cardinals

One of the more common superstitions is a belief that when you see a cardinal it is a loved one who has come to visit you.

I read a story about a journalist whose father had a problem where some cardinals were covering his car with droppings. He would wash his car but after a day the car was just covered again. The journalist decided to make a list of all of the recently deceased people that knew his father in order to determine who might have had anything against Dad and likely responsible for what he called “avian graffiti”. From the what I read, the case remains unsolved.

A Christian Perspective

Of course, those superstitions don’t align well with Christian theology. But, the reality is much better than any superstition that we might believe.

If you have your Bible with you this morning, turn over to Hebrews 2 verses 14-18 where we see the subject of death addressed. And why Christians have a hope in death rather than fear only.

Hebrews 2:14–18 KJV 1900

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 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. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Our message as we continue in our series Perfected this morning is entitled Incarnation

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Fault

Incompatibility

Like I said, the folklore surrounding death is not really compatible with the Christian beliefs. We know what Romans 5:12 tells us

Romans 5:12 KJV 1900

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

We can’t derive some superstition about what causes death, sin causes death and sin was brought into this world by one man, the First Adam, when he rebelled against God’s command in the garden.

Wages of Sin

Romans 6:23 is probably one of the more well known verses in the Bible:

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The first part of this verse makes it clear. The paycheck for sin, that is what wages means, is death.

We can’t escape culpability. On our deathbed it will be our own sin that put us there. We can’t blame anyone, or place our deaths on the back of some superstition. If we don’t take responsibility for our inevitable deaths then we are not excepting responsibility for our own sin and if that is the case then you will see no need for a savior. What judgment is there to be save from if nothing is our fault.

Incarnation

This dilemma of sin is precisely the reason for the Christ was made a man and Hebrews 2:14-18 addresses this. Actually, it addresses it twice. Verses 14-15 are linked with v16-18, I will show you what I mean:

Form of Incarnation

The term incarnate isn’t found in the Bible, it’s a Latin term meaning to take on a human form.

The first truth that our sets of verses convey is the subject of the incarnation. In other works, what form Christ took when he incarnated.

v14-15

At the beginning of v14 we read Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood

v16-18

v 16 then says For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Observation

So, the subject of the incarnation isn’t angels as we read in v16 but the seed of Abraham the children, who are partakers of flesh and blood.

Affirmation of the Incarnation

Then we find the the passages affirming the incarnation:

v14-15

v14 points out that children, being the offspring of their parents are partakers of flesh and blood but then continues

he also himself likewise took part of the same

v16-18

And we find this restated in v17

Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren

Purpose of the Incarnation

But then we get into the purpose of the incarnation, or really I could say purposes. And this is where we start seeing things resolve

v14-15 Destroying the Devil

The first reason for the incarnation is to destroy the devil.

that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil

And His purpose for destroying the devil is that the devil had the power of death. The idea of destroy here, it’s the word καταργέω (katargeō) and it means to abolish to render inoperable. Angels are eternal beings and don’t experience death and since the devil is an angel who had rebelled against God, neither can he die. In Rev 20:10 we don’t read of the devil being killed, but rather what we read is

Revelation 20:10 KJV 1900

10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

And so the devil’s power over death, his dominion over death is revoked by Christ’s conquering of death.

What do I mean by that. It’s not that Satan had some cosmic authority over death but it’s that in his deceptions he is able to trick mankind into embracing the sin that ultimately drags them into the grave.

v16-18 Reconciliation

But v17 continues with the other purpose for Christ’s incarnation:

that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Jesus’ death is a demonstration of his mercy as a faithful high priest, more than that it is the mechanism of our hope. Reconciliation, ἱλάσκομαι (hilaskomai) in the Greek: We could think of it as appeasement, but that really doesn’t capture the full meaning. Appeasement is the idea of satisfying a higher power, but this refers to propitiation. Not just satisfying God but brining about forgiveness.

Observation

So Christ’s incarnation and then subsequent death is for the purpose of defeating the power of the devil and bringing about the forgiveness of God towards man. Stoping the deception of sin and setting things right with God.

Impact of the Incarnation

The expected impact of the incarnation is found in versus 15 & 18. In verse 15

And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage

And in verse 18

For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

So one impact of the incarnation Christ is able to remove that fear that comes with death but also in v18 he is able to succour. Not a word you are probably using on a regular basis. To succor is the idea of nursing back to health, or to help in a time of hardship.

Slavery

The deception of sin places us in bondage. It makes us slaves to sin

Romans 6:16 tells us as much

Romans 6:16 KJV 1900

16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

If you obey sin you are a servant of sin, if you obey righteousness you are a servant of righteousness. That is how you would identify any other servants master: The servants master is the one he responds to when orders are given.

If a servant is given instruction by two men, one of which is his master and the other not, who does he obey? He obeys his master. This is also true for sin and righteousness.

Anyone who is claiming that they are serving righteousness and only seems to answer the call of sin, is lying about who they serve.

Jesus says In John 8:34

John 8:34 (KJV 1900)

34 .. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

Emancipation

But Jesus also says a couple of verses down in John 8:36

John 8:36 KJV 1900

36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

We are not stuck as slaves to sin but we can be emancipated through the grace of Jesus Christ.

Most of our frame of reference when it comes to slavery and servitude comes from the history of slavery in the southern United States. The Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863 but it wasn’t until 1865 that many slaves were released, following the surrender of the South.

But, when you have a people who have worked as farmers their entire life and you set them free with no other skills, no money, and no land of their own how can they earn a living? Many if not most turned to share cropping. It was slavery by another name. The former slaves ended up serving their former masters again, except for now instead of slavery a system was set up for them to farm someone else's land, not for a wage but for a percentage of what they cultivated. Since circumstances required that the former slaves still had to purchase tools and supplies from their former masters, and it was their former masters who set the price on how much their crop would be sold for, they essentially stepped back into slavery.

The slaves who were freed weren’t really freed. They may have been called free, they may have even considered themselves free, but at the end of the day they still answered to the same master and they had no power to escape.

But, as we consider the bondage of sin, it’s far worse. The black slaves in the south returned to slavery because they had no other choice. But if we surround ourselves with the trappings of religion, but still return to the bondage of sin we are willfully calling the devil our master.

All the while, Jesus isn’t offering some sham freedom like what was ultimately extended in the years just after the civil war. Jesus is offering a freedom that is free indeed.

Comfort

Christian

Christian: This morning if you have given your life to Christ, if you turned from your sin and have made Him Lord, if you have called Him your master. There is still this reality that we read about in v18. We still live in temptation.

I want you to remember that final Impact of Christ’s Incarnation. That because he also was tempted and suffered he is able to help us when we are tempted.

We can’t think that there is some way in which we are tempted that Jesus doesn’t understand Hebrews 4:15 tells us

Hebrews 4:15 KJV 1900

15 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.

Christ can help us, he can succor us in our temptation, he can help us through it and when we fail to trust that he is a compassionate High Priest who won’t turn his back on us.

Lost

For you here who are not servants of our Master. I want to extend this opportunity to you this morning. If you will repent, meaning to turn away from your sin and if you will put your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to save you, He will. And you will be free indeed.

So many people battle fight their conscience over sin and I want you to know there is no need. Jesus’ purpose was to reconcile God to man.

Invitation

If you have any questions about this message or would like to talk about what it is to become a Christian please meet with me after we close in prayer. If you are watching from home you can reach out online ether directly to me or via Harvest’s page and I will get back to you privately.

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