GOD—THE SON
Growing up, there were these church sayings that I loved hearing. Before someone started preaching, they would say, “First, I want to give glory and honor to God who is the head of my life.” The church mothers would exclaim enthusiastically, “The blood of Jesus!” when discussing the woes of life. Praise and worship leaders would shout into their mics, “When I think about the goodness of God and allllllll He has done for me, my soul cries hallelujah!” as a segue to "He is Good" by Israel Houghton. And when the service transition took longer than usual, someone would say, “The Spirit of God is moving in this place.”
At the time, I was entertained by the yelling and screaming, anticipating someone running around the church, often confused by people falling out during prayer, but always aware of the distinctions between God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. No one ever ended a prayer ‘In God’s Name’ or cried ‘The blood of the Holy Spirit’ or said “Jesus the Father.” Even though I noticed these things and instinctively knew there was a vast difference between each of them, I still wrestled with the fact that each of them is God.
jesus came to earth being fully man and fully god
Colossians 1:15-18: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Jesus is the image of the invisible God because He is also God.
Jesus being before all things, firstborn over all creation, the beginning, first born from the dead, and all thing consisting in Him point to his human nature and Godly nature simultaneously.
Philippians 2:6-7: “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.”
Emphasis on “in very nature God” and “equality with God” to illustrate that Jesus is also God
Emphasis on “nature of a servant” and “made in human likeness” to illustrate Jesus is also human.
John 1:16-18 “Out of His fullness we have all received grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth cam through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
God is only made known to us through Jesus.
Emphasis on “is himself God” and “is in closest relationship with the Father” further proves Jesus is also God. Also shows that Jesus the Son and God the Father are not the same because they are in relationship with one another.
Hebrews 4:15: “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.
How can Jesus be tempted as we are? Because He was fully man just like us!
This is the good part because our Savior is not one who does not understand our grievances or shortcomings. He has felt the full weight of temptation, but because He is fully God he did not sin.
Galatians 4:4-5 “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Jesus had a mother and father on earth just like you and me, illustrating his humanity.
Redeem means “compensate for the faults or bad aspects of something” or “gain or regain possession of something in exchange for payment”. Jesus redeemed us by fulfilling the law and dying on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice.
The wages of sin is death according to Romans. Each time we sin knowingly or unknowingly, the payment for that is death. God’s grace is the only reason why we are not burnt little crisps swimming in the lake of fire.
YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE DYING IN ORDER TO BE SAVED BY CHRIST.
The knowledge of our own depravity only happens in the presence of truth. We only know the darkness of our hearts when presented with the light of His. The Law given to Moses in the Old Testament was meant to show us our character and need for a Savior. The standard of living and purity of heart required to be in relationship with God could not be achieved in our own power or will.
Throughout the Old Testament we see generations of people who could never get it right and a foreshadowing of a redemptive plan through Jesus to reconcile us with our Creator. When we consider ourselves the author of things acceptable or unacceptable, right or wrong, good or bad, we place ourselves on God’s throne. We are created beings, on borrowed breath, and borrowed time. Our control in minimal, we don’t decide if we live or die, we don’t have the foresight to predict what’s next, everything we have is by God’s grace and His orchestration or allowance. So, how can we tell God that “we are good enough”, “not that bad” or rely on “He knows my heart.”? God is a holy God that requires holiness from His children. The only way we are made holy is through the sanctifying and justifying blood of Jesus.
JESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE FOR GODLY LIVING
Throughout the Gospels Jesus illustrates the heart posture, obedience, humility, and reverence for God needed in order to live a life that is pleasing to His father. He was persecuted, challenged, accused, betrayed, and tempted, still, he remained obedient. Even to the point of death, the most gruesome and dishonorable death, He remained obedient to redeem each of us. His suffering, pride, feelings, hurt, and pain while dealing with the heart-breaking nature of human beings was constantly submitted in prayer and to the will of His father. Absolutely nothing deterred him from who God called Him to be or what God called Him to do. What an example we have!
In the New Testament we learn that faith without works is dead (James 2:26), what does this mean? The works we do for God happen because of our faith. Works are a response to our faith, not a payment for salvation or righteousness. We also learn that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6), what does this mean? Faith is what gives us access to our salvation and salvation gives us access to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, which is also God, leads us into all truth, equipping us daily by our submission to Him, with everything we need to live a Godly life.
It is true that nothing can separate us from the love of God. He is merciful and gracious, offering endless forgiveness. He does not want to see any of us perish. However, the wrath and judgment of God are also true. The wages of sin being death is true. Jesus returning and us giving an account of what we did on earth is also true. Through Jesus, we have the option to choose life. Choose life by choosing Jesus as your Lord and Savior today!
