John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:14 And the Word was made 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.
Infinite = Measureless, unbounded, absolute, entire
A school boy questioned, why he knew there was only one God: “That is all there is room for”
Infinity expressed in God’s attributes!
God is eternal:
Psa 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
God is Omnipotent: Rev 19:6 “. . . Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”
God is Omniscient: Psa 147:5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
God is Immutable, Inscrutable, Incomprehensible:
Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
We use infinite terms we don’t mean, Ladies get a perm. How long does it last?
After the police arrested a con man for selling eternal youth pills, they did a background check and discovered he had a criminal record - he’d been arrested for the same crime in 1983, 1926, 1844, and 1638.
1. Infinite became Infant to declare an infinite God, make God manifest.
Some things you have to see to believe. An infinite being must be manifested.
A farmer I heard about went to his first circus and saw his first elephant. His description to a friend: “He’s got a tail on both ends and horns in his mouth.”
His friend looked aghast and said, “There ain’t no such critter!”
I John 1:1, 2, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)”
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
A spiritual “common denominator,” to work with fractions you need a common denominator, example for four-fifths and two-thirds, the common denominator is 15. No lower number -one through 14 - is a number into which both five and three will go. By using 15 we can work with fractions. Spiritually speaking, Jesus became a “common denominator” between God and man. He was both. Therefore it was possible for Him to reveal the Father within the scope of man’s understanding.
John 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
2. The Infinite became an Infant to develop & deploy a Merciful High Priest.
Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 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.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Cor 1:3-4).
I could say “I understand” and you could honestly say, “No, you don’t understand.” So let me show you where to find real comfort.
1. The God of all Comfort
“Father of Mercies” To the Jewish people, the phrase “father of” means “originator of.” Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44) because lies originated with him.
The words “comfort” or “consolation” (same root word in the Greek) are repeated 10 times in verses 1-11.
We must not think of comfort in terms of “sympathy,” because sympathy can weaken us instead of strengthen us. God does not pat us on the head and give us a piece of candy or a toy to distract our attention from our troubles. No, He puts strength into our hearts so we can face out trials and triumph over them. Our English word comfort comes from two Latin words meaning “with strength.” The Greek word means “to come alongside and help.”
This story in Leadership magazine illustrates the point: “Jackie Robinson was the first black to play major league baseball. Breaking baseball’s color barrier, he faced jeering crowds in every stadium. While playing one day in his home stadium in Brooklyn, he committed an error. the fans began to ridicule him. He stood at second base, humiliated, while the fans jeered. Then, shortstop Pee Wee Reese came over and stood next to him. He put his arm around Jackie Robinson and faced the crowd. The fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that arm around his shoulder saved his career.” —Daily Bread
Jesus can comfort better because He has been there.
“. . . a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. . .” (Isa 53:3). (cf. Jn. 11:35)
Sufferings
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. . . . But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isa 53:4-5).
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. . . . Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb 4:15-16)
3. The Infinite became an infant to Die for our Salvation
1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
“no sin” is an infinite expression
He was the Lamb without spot! Not even an infinitesimal spot.
One of the greatest proofs for the sinlessness of Christ is the testimony of those who would benefit from guilt.
Pilate - “I find no fault in him.”
Judas - “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.”
Dying Thief - Luke 23:41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.”
Centurion - Luke 23:47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.”
It takes an infinite God to provide an infinite Salvation.
Infinite Forgiveness: Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
An infinite Salvation must be purchased with infinite blood. Special blood
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
1 Pet 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1 Pet 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (a flawless diamond would be valuable)
2 Cor 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
It takes an infinite price to buy an infinite salvation.
Suppose God loved us enough to pay $1M for your salvation. You might get to heaven but you could not have eternal life.
Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
I suppose that Richard the First is reckoned to be about the bravest of the English kings. Because of his daring and prowess in battle he became called Richard Coeur-de Lion. But he was also a very generous-hearted man. When his treacherous brother, John, who had tried to rob him of his crown, pleaded for mercy, Richard said: “I forgive him, and I hope to forget his injuries as easily as he will forget my pardon.” Perhaps most of us have heard about his remarkable forgiveness of the man who killed him. One of his French vassals, Vidomar of Limoges, had rebelled against him, and Richard with his army besieged him in his castle at Chaluz. At one point during the siege, with fateful disregard of danger, the king ventured too near the castle walls, almost wholly unattended, and was mortally wounded by an arrow from the bow of a young man named Bertrand de Gurdan. While Richard lay dying in his tent the castle was taken and the young man made prisoner. Heavily ironed, Bertrand was taken before the dying king. Imagine his emotion as he heard Richard say: “Youth, I forgive you my death, “and then (to the soldiers), “Let him go free, and give him a hundred shillings.” As they took the chains from his wrists and ankles would not gratitude and admiration take the place of hate and rebellion in his heart? The king’s forgiveness and generosity were so undeserved by him. Here he was, with the past forgiven, the present freed, and even the future provided for by the benevolence of the king himself whom he had cruelly wronged!
Such is the message of the Gospel to us, though in an infinitely more sublime way. The very One whom our sins nailed to Calvary’s cross is the King if kings who now brings us a full and free and final forgiveness through the merits of His substitutionary suffering. Perhaps it is not surprising that Richard’s words concerning Bertrand de Gurdun were disregarded after the king’s death, and that the young was put to a cruel death. Richard could not rise from the dead to see that his words were carried out. But the royal Saviour who died for us on Calvary has risen, and lives with power to make the Gospel real in our experience.
Only one number is infinite? The number one because it is complete in itself!
Heb 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Heb 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
4. The Infinite became Infant to destroy the Works of the Devil
1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
A. He enlightens the mind to reveal Satans Counterfeit
They train bankers to recognize counterfeits not by showing them counterfeits but by showing them the real thing.
5/12/79 – Father Despars, in St. Brigid’s Catholic in Las Vegas, “When Jesus Christ died on the cross, he accomplished almost all the work for our salvation, I would say about 90%.”
Is that good news? Absolutely not because it gives us a finite Christ!
What is 10% of infinity? Infinity!
How to counterfeit. 1. call it dollars, 2. Make it look the same. What if you could improve upon it. Different picture, etc.
People who counterfeit count on the fact that few people know real money well enough to spot a counterfeit.
For example, what building is on the back of a $20? The answer is the White House. But most people don’t know that which demonstrates that it is easy to trick people.
A person with counterfeits may think he has money, until he gets to bank.
Satan calls his Christianity, makes it look like, etc.
A pocketful of counterfeit bills will land you in the poorhouse.
A heart full of counterfeit religion will land you in Hell.
Do vs. Done
A. He enlightens the mind to reveal Satans counterfeit.
B. He lightens the load to release Satans captives.
The fearless English evangelist, Henry Moorhouse, used to tell of an incident he had witnessed in the city of London. Some of the baser gambling men were betting on how many rats a dog could kill in a given time. One man wagered a large sum that his terrier could kill 25 rats in a single minute. The dog, when thrown into the pit with 25 savage rats, battled furiously. But while he killed a number of them, when the minute was up, he was far short of the goal.
The evil man, taking his dog out of the pit — in anger because he had lost the wager — began to beat and kick the dog unmercifully. The entire incident had taken place at the London zoo and. after the beating, the man picked up the battered terrier and threw him into the cage of a lion anticipating that the king of the jungle would immediately tear the dog to pieces.
Instead, Moorhouse said, the supposedly savage beast looked at the pitiful, wounded dog, went up to him, licked him, fondled and stood over him to protect him — growling viciously at the man who had tossed the dog into his cage.
Suddenly the lion’s keeper appeared and demanded to know who had put the terrier in the lion’s cage. The dog’s owner acknowledged that in his “excitement” he had done so, but now wanted the dog returned. At first the keeper acted as if he had not heard the request. Angrily, the man insisted upon the return of his dog, only to be told: “All right, you may have him back. I will open the cage and you can go in and get him.”
And Moorhouse said: “When I was beaten and kicked and well nigh destroyed by the devil, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah found me, bruised and bleeding as I was, took me into His care, healed all my wounds, and now He stands over me protecting me from my merciless enemy. I am saved and I am satisfied.”
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Review:
1. Infinite became infant to Declare God
2. Infinite became infant to Develop Priesthood
3. Infinite became infant to Die for our Salvation
4. Infinite became infant to Destroy the Works of Satan
5. Infinite became infant to Demonstrate Gods Love
1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
I John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Rom. 5:8
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
There are several passages of Scripture where the writer equates love with giving. The most obvious example of that is found in John 3:16 where the Bible states: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son. . . .”
William Sydney Porter, who lived from 1862 to 1910 wrote more than six hundred short stories. Unless you are a literary buff, you may not know him by that name. His works are authored under the pen name “O. Henry.” He has been called by some, “the American master of the surprise ending.”
One of his most fascinating stories is entitled “The Gift of the Magi.” The plot centers around a young couple, Mr. and Mrs. James Dillingham Young. In the are in which they lived, times were difficult, and money was scarce. But they had each other and two prized possessions. She had beautiful long hair, “rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters.” He cherished a magnificent pocket watch of gold. On Christmas Eve, Mrs. Young (known as Della) counted out her money to see if she could buy her husband, Jim, a special Christmas gift. The paltry sum was one dollar and eighty-seven cents, much of which was in pennies that she had pinched and scraped together during the year. Only one potion remained—she would sell her hair. She received twenty dollars for her hair and immediately went shopping for two hours to find the “perfect” gift for Jim. Finally, it caught her eye . . . a platinum fob, a chain for his gold watch. She thought, “He’ll now look at his watch a hundred times a day.
She arrived home an hour before her husband. Looking into the mirror she wondered if Jim would still love her with short hair. Using a curling iron, she did her best to make herself attractive and then sat down with the watch chain in her hand and waited. Soon she heard the footsteps of her husband as he approached. Jim entered and looked across the room but was stunned by what he saw. For a moment he was speechless. Della was frightened. “Jim, what’s wrong? You still love me, don’t you? Isn’t my hair all right?”
Taking a package from under his arm, he laid it on a table and told Della to open it. Inside were several lovely tortoise shell combs with jeweled edges for her hair. She had seen them in the window of a store months before and had lusted for them. Now that they were hers, she could not use them. But how could he afford such an expensive gift? You guessed it. . . he had sold his gold watch.
While this story is a touching expression of sacrificial love. Have you received the sacrificial gift of eternal life by accepting Christ as your personal Savior?
1. Infinite became infant to Declare God. We can know God?
2. Infinite became infant to Develop Priesthood. Jesus identifies with us understands us and cares about us.
3. Infinite became infant to Die for our Salvation. He can forgive all our sins through His infinite sacrifice.
4. Infinite became infant to Destroy the Works of Satan. Illuminates Satan’s counterfeits and sets his captives free.
A. He enlightens the mind to reveal Satans counterfeit.
B. He lightens the load to release Satans captives.
5. Infinite became infant to Demonstrate Gods Love. Have you accepted His gift?
