"and the Word became flesh"Jhn:1:14
Many Theologians and Biblical Scholars of varies denominations and traditions are growing in their understanding of the importance of the humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have seen the important of our Lord's deity yet we can miss the importance of his humanity.
Yet Jesus’ humanity is of equally importance as his deity, for they are both his . Jesus is equally both, deity and humanity, but at times his humanity, for each and all of us, on a daily bases maybe over looked, or what it means for us can be misunderstood or not truly appreciated or understood.
There is only one Jesus, who is both divine and human fully, not half or one or the other, fully both. Jesus knew and knows who he is. Jesus shares our humanity he is one of us.
St.Paul calls Jesus , the second or last Adam.
"So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being” ; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit."1Crth:15:45
St.Paul explains details of Jesus' introduction into the History of Salvation for us results of Jesus introduction into the History of Salvation and how thru Jesus God has given humanity an all new life. Rom:5:1-20
Recapitulation
Thru Jesus coming in the incarnation, that is deity taking on our very humanity, Jesus has become the head of human race. As Adam had been the Federal Head of all humanity , binding each and all of us to his choice, passing it onto the whole race. Jesus in the same way has become , thru his humanity, the new Federal Head of the whole of the human race. this is what the ancient church called "Recapitulation”.
“Recapitulation” , means, to be given a new head, this could be because accomplished because Jesus is fully God, yet fully humanity
Perfect Deity and sinless humanity, in one person accomplished through Jesus' incarnation.
Humanity has a new head in Christ, yet not all know this or experience it.
Jesus' Humanity
Understanding Jesus’ humanity is as important as his deity. This is the way we understand how Jesus is all that he is to us and for us, “the way, the truth, the life”.
“Son of Man”
St. John wrote in his Gospel account that "Word became flesh". The very eternal Word of God became "the Son of Man”.
The "Son of Man" is Jesus’ most often used title for himself-this shows that Jesus identifies with us, understand us, that this is not just a theoretical tile which Jesus has assumed for the sake of power and position, but it is his sharing of the human experience, that he did not isolate himself from the suffering of humanity. Jesus is truly is one of us , a human being.
Jesus is approachable. This is not just out of convenience, or necessity, or a strategy of some sort, but is out of love for us, out of our God's desire to have a relationship with us.
Jesus' humanity makes an intimate love relationship with God possible. God is not distant far off and aloof, but subjective and personal, relational .
Our High Priest
Jesus understands our frailties , and knows and understands us for he is one of us and can help us as our High Priest.
"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."Heb:4:14-16
Jesus is has first hand experience of all the frailties of us all or he has witness the frailties of others for himself. Having this experience among as one of us he is able even now to help us all with understanding and compassion.Jesus is gentle with us.
"Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness."
"During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek". Heb:5:1-2, 7-10
Brings Us into Worship
In Jesus’ humanity we are made one in his worship of the Father. It is in truth, Jesus who brings to pass and oversees all the worship of the Great God , both thru the word being proclaimed and thru the hymns of praise.
"In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.”And again, “I will put my trust in him. And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.”Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity"Heb:2:1-14a
Jesus is means through which God understands us as well, not as one who looks down on life from the vantage point in eternity but our God thru Jesus has first hand experience of this life and brings us into union with himself
Humanity that Died and Arose
At the glorious resurrection of Jesus, our Lord did not leave his humanity in the grave forever captive within the bounds of death . It is Jesus' humanity that rose and ascended into the Heavens.
In Jesus , all humanity has ,thru Jesus' humanity, joined him in death and has died with Jesus, so that, as all died, in the same way thru his bodily resurrection have been all raised. This has all been accomplished by and in Jesus' humanity.
St. Paul give us the explanation, which thru prayer and discussion, they had arrived at , in a very theologically weighty statement about just what occurred for us all in Jesus' death and resurrection.
"For Christ’s love compels us, for we have considered that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."2Crth:5:14-15
St. Paul speaks again ,that in Jesus we all have died and have been raised, therefore in his resurrected life, we live as well, and that eternal life is now ours by Jesus.Rm:6:4-11
This life which we live is experienced over a life time, but what if we fall short and “sin”?
We can approach our God thru Jesus and cite or , acknowledge our "sin", this is to ever and always remind us of our need for him and all that Jesus has accomplished for us. This shows us again, his never faltering Grace for us and our eternal dependence on Jesus for this transformation. This is what the Ancient Church called "deification" , becoming Christ-like.
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us."1Jhn:1:8-10
His Life Not Ours
Often Christian’s may think of this life as Christ living “thru” them, yet the truth is that we live out of union with Jesus. The Christian life is not just conforming to “morals or ethics” it is a living way of life which comes from Jesus. We then participate in Jesus' life , we are not just following his example. We are in Union with who and what Jesus is doing. It is we have a sharing in all that is except his deity this is Jesus' alone.
St.Paul tells us: “The life I live by faith of the Son of God” Gal:2:20
This life which St.Paul speaks of ,is Jesus' not ours, understanding this lifts the burden off our us.
It means that Jesus has the faith to save us , all of us- He has the faith to sustain us in our hard times – we do not have to rely on our selves.
The Christian life shows us what is all ready true for each and all who will but freely receive it . Scripture calls us “complete” and "righteous” in Jesus .
This is accomplished by and trough Jesus' shared humanity with us, and the deity he shares with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Therefore our works are works of salvation ,not works for salvation.They are salvation being given expression thru us.
Jesus is God with us and us with God.
From the eternal vantage point of God we are even now with him not just someday but this present tenses, Jesus there and we in him.
This new life of Christ which we live out only shows us what is already true and what will be in eternity made manifest .
"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."Eph:2:4-10
One in Jesus
Jesus prayer that we might be “one” as he and the Father are “one”. The same "oneness" which Jesus shares with his Father, he wants us to experience with himself.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."Jhn:17:20-23
Jesus does not see his Father ,or the Holy Spirit, as “different persons” from himself as we understand it. That is, Jesus wants us to see each another in him in the same way , this can be by seeing we are in Jesus. We should not see Jesus as a separate person from ourselves .
We are "one in Jesus" . There are no words and in any language of here upon the Earth which adequately can describe this reality which has been accomplished for us thru Jesus. but it is true in for all thru the humanly of Christ which makes it all possible for us.
Benediction: May we each and all thank our Lord Jesus for the humanity which he share with each and all of us, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.
Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor
The Fountain of life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 2101 Old National Pike, Washington, Pennsylvania, 15301 www.gcfountainoflife.org
The Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com
You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link : https://www.facebook.com/Fountain-of-Life-Church-349595355088375/
Many Theologians and Biblical Scholars of varies denominations and traditions are growing in their understanding of the importance of the humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have seen the important of our Lord's deity yet we can miss the importance of his humanity.
Yet Jesus’ humanity is of equally importance as his deity, for they are both his . Jesus is equally both, deity and humanity, but at times his humanity, for each and all of us, on a daily bases maybe over looked, or what it means for us can be misunderstood or not truly appreciated or understood.
There is only one Jesus, who is both divine and human fully, not half or one or the other, fully both. Jesus knew and knows who he is. Jesus shares our humanity he is one of us.
St.Paul calls Jesus , the second or last Adam.
"So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being” ; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit."1Crth:15:45
St.Paul explains details of Jesus' introduction into the History of Salvation for us results of Jesus introduction into the History of Salvation and how thru Jesus God has given humanity an all new life. Rom:5:1-20
Recapitulation
Thru Jesus coming in the incarnation, that is deity taking on our very humanity, Jesus has become the head of human race. As Adam had been the Federal Head of all humanity , binding each and all of us to his choice, passing it onto the whole race. Jesus in the same way has become , thru his humanity, the new Federal Head of the whole of the human race. this is what the ancient church called "Recapitulation”.
“Recapitulation” , means, to be given a new head, this could be because accomplished because Jesus is fully God, yet fully humanity
Perfect Deity and sinless humanity, in one person accomplished through Jesus' incarnation.
Humanity has a new head in Christ, yet not all know this or experience it.
Jesus' Humanity
Understanding Jesus’ humanity is as important as his deity. This is the way we understand how Jesus is all that he is to us and for us, “the way, the truth, the life”.
“Son of Man”
St. John wrote in his Gospel account that "Word became flesh". The very eternal Word of God became "the Son of Man”.
The "Son of Man" is Jesus’ most often used title for himself-this shows that Jesus identifies with us, understand us, that this is not just a theoretical tile which Jesus has assumed for the sake of power and position, but it is his sharing of the human experience, that he did not isolate himself from the suffering of humanity. Jesus is truly is one of us , a human being.
Jesus is approachable. This is not just out of convenience, or necessity, or a strategy of some sort, but is out of love for us, out of our God's desire to have a relationship with us.
Jesus' humanity makes an intimate love relationship with God possible. God is not distant far off and aloof, but subjective and personal, relational .
Our High Priest
Jesus understands our frailties , and knows and understands us for he is one of us and can help us as our High Priest.
"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."Heb:4:14-16
Jesus is has first hand experience of all the frailties of us all or he has witness the frailties of others for himself. Having this experience among as one of us he is able even now to help us all with understanding and compassion.Jesus is gentle with us.
"Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness."
"During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek". Heb:5:1-2, 7-10
Brings Us into Worship
In Jesus’ humanity we are made one in his worship of the Father. It is in truth, Jesus who brings to pass and oversees all the worship of the Great God , both thru the word being proclaimed and thru the hymns of praise.
"In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.”And again, “I will put my trust in him. And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.”Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity"Heb:2:1-14a
Jesus is means through which God understands us as well, not as one who looks down on life from the vantage point in eternity but our God thru Jesus has first hand experience of this life and brings us into union with himself
Humanity that Died and Arose
At the glorious resurrection of Jesus, our Lord did not leave his humanity in the grave forever captive within the bounds of death . It is Jesus' humanity that rose and ascended into the Heavens.
In Jesus , all humanity has ,thru Jesus' humanity, joined him in death and has died with Jesus, so that, as all died, in the same way thru his bodily resurrection have been all raised. This has all been accomplished by and in Jesus' humanity.
St. Paul give us the explanation, which thru prayer and discussion, they had arrived at , in a very theologically weighty statement about just what occurred for us all in Jesus' death and resurrection.
"For Christ’s love compels us, for we have considered that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."2Crth:5:14-15
St. Paul speaks again ,that in Jesus we all have died and have been raised, therefore in his resurrected life, we live as well, and that eternal life is now ours by Jesus.Rm:6:4-11
This life which we live is experienced over a life time, but what if we fall short and “sin”?
We can approach our God thru Jesus and cite or , acknowledge our "sin", this is to ever and always remind us of our need for him and all that Jesus has accomplished for us. This shows us again, his never faltering Grace for us and our eternal dependence on Jesus for this transformation. This is what the Ancient Church called "deification" , becoming Christ-like.
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us."1Jhn:1:8-10
His Life Not Ours
Often Christian’s may think of this life as Christ living “thru” them, yet the truth is that we live out of union with Jesus. The Christian life is not just conforming to “morals or ethics” it is a living way of life which comes from Jesus. We then participate in Jesus' life , we are not just following his example. We are in Union with who and what Jesus is doing. It is we have a sharing in all that is except his deity this is Jesus' alone.
St.Paul tells us: “The life I live by faith of the Son of God” Gal:2:20
This life which St.Paul speaks of ,is Jesus' not ours, understanding this lifts the burden off our us.
It means that Jesus has the faith to save us , all of us- He has the faith to sustain us in our hard times – we do not have to rely on our selves.
The Christian life shows us what is all ready true for each and all who will but freely receive it . Scripture calls us “complete” and "righteous” in Jesus .
This is accomplished by and trough Jesus' shared humanity with us, and the deity he shares with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Therefore our works are works of salvation ,not works for salvation.They are salvation being given expression thru us.
Jesus is God with us and us with God.
From the eternal vantage point of God we are even now with him not just someday but this present tenses, Jesus there and we in him.
This new life of Christ which we live out only shows us what is already true and what will be in eternity made manifest .
"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."Eph:2:4-10
One in Jesus
Jesus prayer that we might be “one” as he and the Father are “one”. The same "oneness" which Jesus shares with his Father, he wants us to experience with himself.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."Jhn:17:20-23
Jesus does not see his Father ,or the Holy Spirit, as “different persons” from himself as we understand it. That is, Jesus wants us to see each another in him in the same way , this can be by seeing we are in Jesus. We should not see Jesus as a separate person from ourselves .
We are "one in Jesus" . There are no words and in any language of here upon the Earth which adequately can describe this reality which has been accomplished for us thru Jesus. but it is true in for all thru the humanly of Christ which makes it all possible for us.
Benediction: May we each and all thank our Lord Jesus for the humanity which he share with each and all of us, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.
The Fountain of life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 2101 Old National Pike, Washington, Pennsylvania, 15301 www.gcfountainoflife.org
The Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com
You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link : https://www.facebook.com/Fountain-of-Life-Church-349595355088375/
"If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"
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