Jesus Was God But Also Man! Series

Jesus was God but Also Man! - Captain Moy Hernandez, Jr.

John 1:1-4, 14

http://pomonacorps.blogspot.com/2009/04/he-was-god-but-also-man-tsa-doctrine-4.html

As we continue with our study through the doctrines and Believes of The Salvation Army we come to a very important doctrine.

A doctrine that carries great weight and value especially on a day like today where we celebration our Lords resurrection from His death on the cross.

A death that was intended for each of us, but one that he willingly took upon himself so that you and I may be saved, so that you and I may find ourselves one day in the presence of God.

The doctrine or statement of belief in question is doctrine number four and it simply affirms that as members of this movement we believe that in the person of Jesus Christ, the divine and human natures are united, so that he is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.

So far we have affirmed our believes that that the scriptures are given to us by inspiration of God. That there is only one God who is the creator and the only proper object of our worship.

And lastly we learned last month of the Trinity and how all three the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit are three individual persons but how they remain coequal in power and glory.

Today’s lesson is based on the doctrine of the church that is also known as the doctrine of the incarnation. God the Son, the second member of the trinity coming to earth as a man, made of flesh and bones just like you and me to pay the price for our sins.

But why is this important to the Christian faith? Why must we have a confirmation that our Lord Jesus Christ was both God but also man?

The simply reason is that this belief is central to our faith as followers of Christ. Think about it, if Christ came only as God to earth and died on the cross then he was certainly one that could manage and sustain the pain caused by his crucifixion, hence his sacrifice would not carry much weight.

On the other hand if he was only a man, then what power did he have to begin with in order to able to lay down his life and raising it but up again?

In John 10:17-18 we read the following statement from Jesus: Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have

received from My Father.

Do you see? Therefore the answer must be that Christ possesses these two natures of Godhood and Humanness at the same time. But how can we comprehend this seemingly impossible idea? Well this is what our study is based on today!

You may ask, where in the Bible do we find such a supporting statement to Jesus condition as God and man? Well, turn with me to our scripture reading for this morning. John 1:1-4 and then verse 14. Let’s read it together…

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men...

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Did you see it? In verse One, Jesus is God, together with God and nothing was created that was not created through Him. Then in verse 14, that very word, God became flesh. Jesus as a human being!

In fact the Bible is about Jesus. The Old testament as we know it tell us what he would do. The recording of his time on earth known as the Gospels clearly reflects his fulfillment of the laws and prophecies.

In addition the growth and development of his church throughout the world as began in the book of Acts which refers to the Acts of the Apostles, or those who are directly linked to the teachings of Jesus, speak to the power of his work even all of these years later.

We find evidence of all of this especially in the Gospels. John 5:39 - You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.

The prophets prophesied about Him in Acts 10:43 - To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.