Introduction

Good morning, dear family in Christ. As we gather here today, we find ourselves on the precipice of a grand mystery, a truth that is as vast as the universe itself and as intimate as our own heartbeat. We are here to ponder, to reflect, and to marvel at a truth that is at once baffling and beautiful, a truth that is the cornerstone of our faith. Today, we are here to talk about our Lord Jesus Christ, who is both fully human and fully divine.

Our sermon today is titled "Believe the Impossible." It's a title that invites us to step beyond the boundaries of our understanding, to embrace a truth that transcends our human logic. It's a title that challenges us to believe in a God who is not confined by our human limitations, a God who is both the Creator of the universe and a carpenter from Nazareth.

As we embark on this journey of faith, let us open our hearts and minds to the Word of God. Our scripture for today is found in the book of Philippians, chapter 2, verses 5 to 7.

"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

This passage, penned by the apostle Paul, is a beautiful and poignant reminder of the dual nature of our Lord Jesus Christ. It speaks of a God who, in His infinite love and humility, chose to become one of us, to share in our joys and our sorrows, our triumphs and our trials.

Before we delve into the heart of our sermon, let us bow our heads in prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day, for the gift of life, and for the privilege of gathering together in Your name. As we reflect on Your Word today, we ask that You open our hearts and minds to the truth of Your nature. Help us to grasp the mystery of Your divinity and humanity, and to understand how this truth impacts our lives. We ask this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Now, imagine for a moment a coin. On one side, it bears the image of a king, majestic and powerful, a symbol of authority and sovereignty. On the other side, it bears the image of a servant, humble and meek, a symbol of service and sacrifice. This coin, dear brothers and sisters, is a reflection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Creator of the Universe. And yet, He is also the Servant of All, the Man of Sorrows, the One who washed the feet of His disciples.

This is the mystery that we are here to ponder today. This is the truth that we are here to embrace. This is the God that we are here to worship. A God who is both fully divine and fully human. A God who is both the King and the Servant. A God who is both the Creator and the Created.

So, let us journey together into this grand mystery. Let us marvel at the beauty of our God, who is both fully divine and fully human. Let us "Believe the Impossible," for with God, all things are possible.

Jesus, Fully Human

Friends, let's talk about something that might seem impossible to understand. It's about Jesus. Yes, our Savior, our Redeemer, the Son of God. But here's the thing - He was also fully human. You heard that right. Jesus was 100% God and 100% man.

Now, you might be thinking, "How can that be? How can someone be fully God and fully man at the same time?" It's a mystery, isn't it? But that's the beauty of our faith. It's not about understanding everything. It's about believing in the impossible.

Let's look at Philippians 2:5-7. Here, Paul is telling us to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. He says, "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

Jesus, the Son of God, willingly took on human form. He didn't cling to His divine status. Instead, He chose to become like us. He chose to experience life as we do. He felt joy, sadness, anger, and love. He faced temptations. He knew what it was like to be tired, to be hungry, to be rejected.

Why would He do that? Why would God choose to become man?

Firstly, Jesus became man to show us His love. He wanted to walk in our shoes. He wanted to feel what we feel. He wanted to show us that He understands us, that He cares for us, that He loves us. He didn't stay distant. He didn't stay detached. He came close. He became one of us.

The Greek word for "made" in this passage is "ginomai." It means to become, to come into existence, to be made. Jesus was made in human likeness. He became a man. He came into existence as a human being. He was not just God in a human disguise. He was fully man.

As the theologian C.S. Lewis once said, "The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God." Jesus became man so that we could become children of God. He showed us the way. He showed us how to live, how to love, how to serve.

Secondly, Jesus became man to show us the way to God. He didn't just tell us about God. He showed us God. He lived out God's love. He demonstrated God's grace. He embodied God's truth. When we look at Jesus, we see God.

And finally, Jesus became man to save us. He took on our sins. He died on the cross. He rose again. He did all this not as a distant God, but as a man who knew our struggles, who felt our pain, who understood our weaknesses.

So, friends, let's believe in the impossible. Let's believe in a God who loves us so much that He became one of us. Let's believe in a Savior who is fully God and fully man. Let's believe in Jesus.

Jesus, Fully Human

In Philippians, Paul tells us that Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. Instead, he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Now, let's unpack this a bit.

First, we see Jesus as the servant. He was God, but he chose to become a servant. He didn't cling to his divine rights. Instead, he willingly laid them aside. He chose to serve. He washed the feet of his disciples. He healed the sick. He fed the hungry. He comforted the broken-hearted. He served.

Second, we see Jesus as man. He was born in the likeness of men. He experienced hunger, thirst, fatigue. He felt joy, sorrow, anger, and love. He was tempted, yet without sin. He was fully human.

Third, we see Jesus as the obedient one. He was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. He willingly laid down his life for us. He was obedient to his Father's will, even when it led to the cross.

Now, let's turn to another passage that echoes this theme. In Hebrews 4:15, we read, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."

Here, we see Jesus as our high priest. He understands our weaknesses. He knows what it's like to be tempted. Yet, he remained sinless. He is the perfect high priest, the perfect mediator between God and man.

Fourth, we see Jesus as our example. He showed us how to live. He showed us how to love. He showed us how to serve. He showed us how to be obedient to God's will. He is our example.

Finally, we see Jesus as our Savior. He became man so that he could die for our sins. He became man so that he could bring us back to God. He became man so that he could save us. He is our Savior.

So, when we look at Jesus, we see that he is fully God and fully man. He is the servant, the man, the obedient one, the high priest, the example, and the Savior. He is everything we need. And because he is fully God and fully man, he can fully save.

So, let's believe the impossible. Let's believe that Jesus is fully God and fully man. Let's believe that he can save us. Let's believe that he loves us. Let's believe that he is with us. Let's believe in Jesus.

The Significance for Our Faith

In the grand tapestry of our faith, one thread stands out in its vibrant hue and intricate detail. It's the thread that weaves together the divine and the human, the eternal and the temporal, the heavenly and the earthly. This thread is the person of Jesus Christ, who is both 100% God and 100% man. This is not a mere theological concept to be studied, but a living reality to be experienced and embraced.

The first aspect of this reality is the humanity of Jesus. The Bible tells us that Jesus was born of a woman, grew up in a family, worked as a carpenter, experienced hunger, thirst, and fatigue, wept at the death of a friend, and suffered physical pain and death. He was fully human in every sense of the word. Yet, his humanity was not a limitation, but a means of revelation. Through his humanity, Jesus revealed the heart of God to us. He showed us what it means to love, to forgive, to serve, to sacrifice, and to live a life of integrity and purpose.

In his book "The Knowledge of the Holy," A.W. Tozer writes, "In Christ and by Christ, God effects complete self-disclosure, although He shows Himself not to reason but to faith and love. Faith is an organ of knowledge, and love an organ of experience." In other words, through faith and love, we come to know and experience Jesus in his full humanity. We see in him a God who is not distant or detached, but one who is intimately involved in our lives, who understands our struggles, and who offers us comfort, strength, and hope.

The second aspect of this reality is the divinity of Jesus. The Bible tells us that Jesus is the eternal Son of God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, the Lord of lords and King of kings. He is fully God in every sense of the word. Yet, his divinity is not a barrier, but a bridge. Through his divinity, Jesus connects us to God. He makes it possible for us to have a personal relationship with God, to experience his love, grace, and mercy, and to share in his eternal life.

In the same book, Tozer also writes, "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. God was in Christ, and where God is, there is heaven." In other words, through Jesus, heaven comes down to earth, and earth is lifted up to heaven. We see in him a God who is not only transcendent but also immanent, not only holy but also gracious, not only righteous but also merciful.

The third aspect of this reality is the union of the divine and the human in Jesus. The Bible tells us that in Jesus, the fullness of God dwells in bodily form. He is the perfect union of the divine and the human, the eternal and the temporal, the heavenly and the earthly. This union is not a contradiction, but a mystery. It's a mystery that invites us not to understand but to believe, not to explain but to worship, not to argue but to adore.

In his book "The Pursuit of God," Tozer writes, "Jesus is not one of many ways to approach God, nor is He the best of several ways; He is the only way." In other words, Jesus is the only way to God because he is both God and man. He is the only one who can bridge the gap between God and us, between heaven and earth, between the divine and the human. He is the only one who can bring us into a right relationship with God, into a life of love, joy, and peace, into a destiny of glory and honor.

So, let us approach Jesus with confidence, knowing that he is both our high priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses and our Lord who provides for our needs. Let us approach him with faith, knowing that he is both our Savior who saves us from our sins and our King who reigns over our lives. Let us approach him with love, knowing that he is both our Friend who loves us unconditionally and our God who loves us eternally.

Conclusion

As we draw to a close on this sermon, let's take a moment to reflect on the incredible truth we've been discussing today. The truth that Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, is both 100% man and 100% God. It's a concept that may seem impossible to fully grasp, but it's a cornerstone of our faith.

This truth, found in Philippians 2:5-7, is a mystery that surpasses our human understanding. Yet, it's a truth that we can embrace and believe. It's a truth that we can hold onto, even when the world around us seems to be spinning out of control. It's a truth that can bring us comfort, peace, and hope.

Jesus' humanity allows us to relate to him on a personal level. He knows what it's like to feel pain, to experience loss, to face temptation. He understands our struggles, our fears, our doubts. He's been there. He's walked in our shoes. And because of that, we can approach him with confidence, knowing that he understands us completely.

At the same time, Jesus' divinity assures us of his power and authority. He is not just a man, but God himself. He has the power to heal, to save, to transform. He has the authority to forgive sins, to defeat death, to bring hope in the midst of despair. His divinity reminds us that he is not just a friend, but our Lord and King.

So, as we go into this coming week, let's strive to be more like Jesus. Let's strive to understand others as he does, to love as he loves, to serve as he serves. Let's strive to trust in his power, to submit to his authority, to follow his lead. Let's strive to live out our faith in a way that reflects his humanity and his divinity.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. We thank you that he is both fully human and fully divine. We thank you for the comfort we find in his humanity and the strength we find in his divinity. As we go into this coming week, help us to be more like Jesus. Help us to understand others as he does, to love as he loves, to serve as he serves. Help us to trust in his power, to submit to his authority, to follow his lead. Guide us as we seek to live out our faith in a way that reflects his humanity and his divinity. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

And now, as we leave this place, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. May we carry the truth of Jesus' humanity and divinity with us, letting it guide our thoughts, our words, and our actions. May we strive to be more like Jesus in all that we do, trusting in his power, submitting to his authority, and following his lead. And may we find comfort, peace, and hope in the truth that Jesus is both 100% man and 100% God. Now and forevermore. Amen.

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