The Incarnation of Jesus Christ

FIRST EVANGELICAL CHURCH WINNING ALL (ECWA)
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by Rev. (Dr.) Stephen K. Awoniyi

In Reference to the Man, Oswald Chambers, the phrase “Incarnation,” is the Christian term for the doctrine that in Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Lord came in bodily form.  This affirms the full deity of Jesus Christ and the full humanity of the one in whom “The World Became Flesh.”

This could be seen from the Book of John that says;

The Word Becomes Flesh

 14 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. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’”  16 And[a] of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.  (John 1:14-16 (NKJV).

In today’s lesion we will narrate or focus on the following topics

A.    ADOPTION  

1.  Acts 2: 36 – 40 (NKJV).

2.  Romans 1: 1—11 (NKJV).

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

A Vital Church Grows

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation” (Acts 2:36-40 (NKJV).

Greeting

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.  5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,  6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;  7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Desire to Visit Rome

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.  9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,  10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you.  11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established (Romans 1:1-11 (NKJV).

Dearly beloved, what do you think that the word, “Adoption” stands for?  Be assured that at one early stage, some followers try to understand Jesus Christ in terms of adoption.  In order words, our God was a man who at some point became the “Son of God.”  This means, a possible trace of this view may appear in Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost that says;

 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.  33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

 34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand,

35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’[a]

 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”  37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  (Acts 2:32-38 (NKJV).

What about you and me? How do you and me relate with our Almighty God?  Do we still see the Lord as the Father that leaves forever?  Bear in mind that whatever might be your iniquity or sadness, trust in Him because He is on your side and He will not disappoint you.  This means, wait on Him, believe in Him, trust in Him, focus in Him, understand His power and authority, and be assured that He is for you no-matter your problems or persecutions.  That is why the Scripture says, no matter your issues, sorrows, iniquities, and persecutions, be assured that our Almighty Father His there on your side.

B.  PAUL:  DEATH AND RESURRECTION

1.  1 Corinthians 2: 1 — 8 (NKJV).

2.  1 Corinthians 15: 1–11 (NKJV).

Christ Crucified

1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony[a] of God.  2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.  4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human[b] wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Spiritual Wisdom

6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.  7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2:1-8 (NKJV).

The Risen Christ, Faith’s Reality

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,  2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,  4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,  5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.  6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.  7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.  8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.  10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.   11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed (1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (NKJV).

Brethren, bear in mind that the Apostle Paul carefully wrote the Following Epistles.  And he wrote them honestly that each person must believe that it was him that focused on it intelligently, obediently, prayerfully, honestly, and faithfully.  Be assured that if you and me wait and rely on these subjects we will win the battle.

My brethren, how often have you trusted in the Lord?  How often have you put your understanding and availability on Him? How often have you been faithful and obedient in your Almighty God?  When do you think you will trust in Him and be assured that He will not depart from you?

CONCLUSION

Dearly Beloved Brothers and Sisters, I wish you bear in mind that the Epistles of Romans, First and Second Corinthians, The Epistle of Galatians, The Epistle of Ephesians, The Epistle of Philippians, The Epistle of Colossians, The Epistle of First and Second Thessalonians, The Epistle of First and Second Timothy, The Epistle of Titus, and The Epistle of Philemon was written by the Apostle Paul.  Therefore, wait on Him and be honest to Him, please.  Be assured that He is on your side and He we not leave you nor forsake you.  Thanks and may God keep and bless you in our Redeemer’s Name.  Amen!