IN TIMES LIKE THESE --- MATURE CHRISTIANS EMBRACE THE TRUTH OF THE DEITY OF CHRIST
In the minds of many people God is a distant, foreign, unknown entity that exists out there somewhere. On the other hand, some folks say they believe in God but pay no attention to what His Word says and do not want to be subject to Him. God is expected to help them when they need it, but never is He to make demands of them, and certainly should never make them feel guilty of sin. And . . .
Probably more folks than we would like to admit claim to believe in God, but do not believe in Jesus. It’s that way with quite a number of religions all over the world.
However, it is impossible to believe in the True God but exclude Jesus Christ because He IS, and always has been, one of THE THREE members of the God-Head --- God the Son named Jesus whose words and deeds proved His claim: “I and the Father are One.”
As a matter of fact, each and every one of our Lord’s actions were consistent with Who God Is . . . !
Q: Why do folks doubt who Jesus is . . . why He came . . . reject the Truth that was embodied and enunciated by Him --- that: He came so that we might have life . . . He has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . God sent His Son to seek and save sinners . . . all have sinned . . . all need to be saved . . . He is the One and only Way to be saved . . . He manifested God’s grace and power to save us . . . He could do all of this only if He were Deity! Which He IS!
A: Many folks prefer a god that agrees with them and approves their selfish desires no matter what it takes to get what they want - even if they have to make up a god of their own or attach themselves to an object which they can deceptively manipulate to make it appear that they have been granted permission to go their own way, without having to answer to the LORD God who IS . . . Such deniers of the Deity, as a general rule, speak nonsense.
Which prompts me to urge Christians: Be sure you embrace biblical truth about the Deity of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:2): “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel which means, ‘God with us’”! Paul: “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19). Christ + Jesus = God-Man!
To me, the most striking aspect of the God-Man Deity is this historical fact: God the Father took the initiative to manifest His grace and power. He did so by sending the Second Person of the God-head God the Son unto us so that, through Him, we might be saved.
Luke explains God’s initiative by telling about two births – John and Jesus. Luke goes to great lengths to make sure we “connect the dots” to see the two miracles as acts of Deity – two births that could occur ONLY by actions taken by the LORD God Almighty. So:
Luke draws a parallel between what the angel said to Zacharias (that he and Elizabeth would have a son in their old age and that their son would be the forerunner for the coming Messiah) and what the angel said to Mary (that she, as a virgin, would bear a son conceived by the divine action of the Holy Spirit).
Both stories tell of God’s initiative of grace and power --- of grace in that what is soon to happen will show God’s favor to the world --- of power in that God can work in and through the unable - an old couple and a young virgin, both of whom would have sons because God is able, both of whom would have sons for the sake of sinners because of God’s grace.
Even though the stories run parallel - to show how God works in mysterious and miraculous ways to bring about His divine purpose - one must give way to the other, just as John said that he must decrease so that the One coming after him could increase. Thus:
Luke shifts his narrative from the natural though somewhat miraculous birth of John to the natural yet supernatural birth of Jesus. John would be an ordinary man, but Jesus would be both ordinary and divine - “Son of Man” and “Son of God”.
Everything about our Lord’s birth pointed to His Deity – Luke 1:26-35 . . .
(1) The angel signified His Deity. To receive a message from God via an angel would be awe-inspiring! One can only imagine what it was like, but for sure – frightening! And, as always is the case when we fully realize that we have received a revelation from God, we stand amazed in His Presence, and, we are humbled: “Lord, what will You have me to do?”
How reassuring to be told, “Do not be afraid! For I am the Lord thy God!” Twice the angel tells Mary to be not afraid for a reason that ought to render any child of God unafraid: “You have found favor with God!”
Folks: If you cannot say and really mean it, “I am blessed and highly favored”, why not? Reflect on God’s goodness and mercy. Renew your faith in God. Rededicate your life to His Son and our Savior Jesus Christ! After all, to find favor with God means that the Lord is with you --- and you have His promise: “I will never leave you nor forsake you!”
You see, folks, the Lord is often at work in unlikely places, using unlikely people, to do unlikely things. God’s grace is extended to us so that we will accomplish His plan and purpose – and although we may not understand it all, be willing to let Him have His way.
(2) The virgin birth signified His Deity. Mary did not understand how she, a virgin, could conceive and bear a son, but once she felt assured of the Lord’s presence and purpose, she accepted her role in God’s plan for all people, she entrusted her future into God’s hands --- confident that everything would turn out okay, and that God would be in charge from then on. Be willing! Be confident!
(3) The promise of an eternal kingdom signified His Deity. He was born to die! His death would be the means by which His kingdom would be established in the hearts of believers. Thus, Mary would give birth to a king whose kingdom “is not of this world” and over which her son would reign and of which there would be no end. He shall reign forever and ever!
Jesus fulfilled God’s promise: to Abraham that a great blessing would come to all people through the birth, life, death and resurrection of a Messiah . . . to David of an eternal kingdom . . . to the prophets of the coming of a glorious eternal King of kings, Lord of lords.
Luke told the stories of these two births to make the point that there was only one way Jesus could have fulfilled those promises --- “Emmanuel” - “God with us” - the coming into the world of God himself!
(4) The title Son of God signified His Deity. Mary asked: “How can this be” since she had not “known” a man - in the biblical sense - and what followed was an amazing grace explanation of a conception to be wrought by the creative power of the third person of the God-head – the Holy Spirit. Thus, the Holy Child to be born would be called the Son of God.
Folks: Suffice it to say that no analogies or illustrations (none that I know of) can adequately explain the “how” of the Deity of Christ with His two natures.
BY FAITH we acknowledge the truth and authority of God’s Word. . . accept God’s revelation of Himself in His Word . . . embrace the truth of Christ’s Deity . . . identify with Christ Jesus as Son of God and Son of Man . . . invite others to come to know Jesus whom to know is life eternal . . . look forward to the Day when we shall behold Him face to face! God said it. That settles it. I believe it.
In these moments, meditate with me on Mary’s response: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me according to your Word” (Luke 1:38).
Mary’s humility and courage stand out as a strong rebuttal to critics who deny the virgin birth . . . in stark contrast to the attitude of many in our world who say not as Mary said, “let it be to me as you say” but say instead, “let it be to me as I say”.
Do not deniers of the Deity of Christ and therefore defiers of His Lordship see the futility of dictating to their Creator what He is permitted to do and how He should manage His own creation?
Wouldn’t it be more in keeping with our servant role as “sinners saved by grace” to say in humility, “I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be to me as you say!”
Yes, of course, unbelievers smirk and scoff at our submission to the one and only Lord God who loved us and gave Himself for us. Let them. What does it matter to those of us who know the Truth and have been set free by the Truth?
What matters is: The LORD God is our God. He does things His way - not their way or our way. He did so with the birth of the Christ Child --- and He will do so with your life and mine if we humble ourselves as did Mary before God’s throne of grace and ask the LORD our God in the name of Jesus to have His way in our lives. Amen!
