I'm going to guess that you would not expect me today to say turn in your Bibles to John.
Is that right?
You who have been part of our fellowship from week to week know that our studies have been in the book of John.
And we have actually worked our way through chapters 1, 2, and into chapter 3.
And as we come to this Christmas season and as we think about the significance of the Lord Jesus coming to this earth,
I can't help but having had my heart in John for about a year to come back to the book of John
and ask that you turn this morning to John chapter 1.
We are going to look at verse 14.
And we're going to take the time to think about John chapter 1 in particular in relationship to the unbelievable doctrine of the incarnation.
And as we do that this morning, it would be appropriate for us to begin with prayer,
reminding ourselves of how absolutely we are dependent upon the Holy Spirit to help us in the study,
in the understanding, and the application of the Word of God.
So you join with me this morning as we come to the Lord.
Our Father God, this morning as we come together as your people,
our hearts are reminded of the clear instruction of Scripture in relationship to the matter of your Word
and our dependence upon your Spirit, quickening us to comprehend, to apply,
to have our lives affected by the beauty of the truth that we find in the Scriptures,
and to grow to be more like the Lord Jesus Christ as a result.
I pray, Lord, that my preaching this morning would be marked by the power of the Spirit of God
and that the reception of the preaching of the Word would be something that is recognized in the hearts of your people,
first by continuing growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and also that those who are here today that do not know Christ would be drawn to the cross
and come to faith in the Lord Jesus.
We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Let me read the passage to you in John chapter 1.
We begin there in verse 14. It says,
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory,
the glory, as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Look at it again, if you would. It says,
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
This morning, as we kind of think about what this verse says to us,
I want you to understand that if we were to take this out into the larger arena of the world
that you and I associate in and where we travel day to day,
and we were to say to people as they're kind of going through the Christmas spirit and season
and all those kind of things,
if you would say to them,
Jesus came in the flesh,
He is all God and all man,
you'd probably get a little bit of a weird look on your face
and people say,
What does that have to do with Christmas?
I mean, after all,
Christmas is a time where everybody kind of gears up.
I mean, driving through the new neighborhood
that Judith and I are living in over on Guernsey,
it seems that we are the only house that is not decorated.
And part of that is probably because we are in the process of moving,
but the other part of it is,
if you really want to know the truth of it,
we are not those people who kind of light our house
and then when you turn on the lights,
the rest of the neighborhood kind of dims down a little bit.
You follow me?
It's like stealth Christmas practicers.
How's that?
And when you drive through our neighborhood,
everybody's kind of lit up with reindeers and Santa Claus.
I was actually walking my dog
and I see this huge blow-up Santa Claus
and I thought,
Well, what does this really have to do with Christmas?
It doesn't.
It's just kind of add-on
and it really isn't the heart of what Christmas is all about.
And I want you to look at this passage
and fix it in your mind
that at the heart of Christmas
is the doctrine of the incarnation
and it is the very foundation of our faith.
Now, I want to confess this morning
that the doctrine of the incarnation
is not an easy doctrine.
It's not one of those that you pick up and say,
Oh, I got that.
It's easy.
It just makes perfect sense.
It is complex to the point
that J.I. Packer, commenting on it,
he said,
Here are two mysteries for the price of one.
The plurality of the persons
within the unity of the Godhead
and in that union of the Godhead,
God and man together in the person of Christ.
And so as we think this morning about the incarnation,
I want you to recognize
that it is something that you,
as you sit here this morning,
appropriately should say,
Lord, I need the help of the Holy Spirit
that my heart can be enriched and encouraged
and strengthened by the mystery
of what the incarnation actually is.
Let's begin by taking a little bit of time
to understand the doctrine in broad terms.
And this morning,
if we're going to talk about a Christmas sermon,
I want you to recognize,
fundamentally,
what we're going to be doing
is dealing with a doctrinal truth.
And when you think about the word doctrine,
we have a tendency to kind of gray out a little bit.
Oh, okay, heavy duty.
It is a foundational truth
and it's the very heart of our faith.
When we think about the matter
of the doctrine of the incarnation,
we recognize that what this truth declares
is that Jesus Christ is fully God
and fully man in one person.
Now, is that a little complicated?
How can you be all God and all man?
The truth of the matter is,
it is not a truth that we put together
simply by just rational, logical comprehension
and say, well, I got that.
It's an easy one.
Second, and I think it's important for us
to comprehend this truth,
this doctrine is not understood
apart from the grace of God.
It's not something that the natural man
kind of just picks up on and says,
hey, that makes undeniable truth.
It's easy to see.
It's recognizable.
I've got it.
In fact, if you would take just a moment
and turn over in your Bible
to 1 Corinthians 2,
we are reminded of the fact
that ultimately all spiritual truth
is something that is comprehended
by the mind of the individual
or the believer
by the grace of God
and the work of the Holy Spirit.
So you look here in 1 Corinthians 2,
verse 10, it says,
these things God has revealed to us
through the Spirit,
for the Spirit searches everything,
even the depths of God.
For who knows a person's thoughts
except the Spirit of that person
which is in him?
So also no one comprehends
the thoughts of God
except the Spirit of God.
Now we have received
not the Spirit of the world,
but the Spirit who is from God,
that we might understand
the things freely given us by God.
How is it that you and I sit here
as people who have come to faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ
and we can put together,
we accept, we understand,
we receive the truth
that Jesus Christ is all God
and all man.
All God and all man.
We understand that
because of the grace of God.
Third, I want you to recognize
that this doctrine
is absolutely unique
to Christianity.
Many world religions
have mythological events
in which the gods came down
to visit humankind.
If any of you can remember
your Greek mythology
from when you were in grade school
or whatever,
you remember all kinds of stories
about things that the gods did.
Whether it was getting angry
at certain individuals
or causing one heartache
or another
or engaged in immorality,
whatever,
there are all kinds of ideas
of God's coming down.
There are also very clear ideas
of God being judgment,
judging sin
and dealing with things.
And you have all kinds
of illustrations of that
in a lot of the different religions.
But in no religion in the world
does the truth come forward
that God sent his son
into the world
to take upon himself
humanity
for the sake
of mankind's salvation.
I want you to understand also
that there is
no doctrine
that probably has been
the focus
of more theological
study
and attention
than this one.
No other doctrine.
And I'm not going to take
the time this morning
to run through
all the history
of the councils,
but suffice it to say
that the doctrine
of the incarnation,
the nature of Christ,
was of such a challenge
to the early church
that it wasn't
finally reconciled
until 451
or 60 AD.
460 years.
Actually,
it was 300 and some
after Christ's crucifixion.
But you recognize
that it's a profound,
complex doctrine
that really
was a great challenge
to the church
to think through.
It is clearly settled
and it is understood
that Christ is
all man
and all God.
I want you to understand
also that this doctrine
rests on a great deal
of scriptural evidence.
It's not just
one little verse here
or one little verse there.
And the Bible
hammers home the fact
that Jesus indeed
is all God
and all man.
Let's take a minute
and look at a couple
of the different verses
that make this point clear.
John chapter 1 verse 14
put your finger on it
and let me just remind you again
the word became flesh
and as we know
from verse 1 of John
when it talks about the word
it's talking about God
the creator
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Then in John chapter 6
verse 51
Jesus as he is preaching
and you'll remember
that John chapter 6
is that kind of
break over
break over chapter
in which Jesus
having had this great public
ministry
and everybody
being very excited
about his ministry
he then preaches
a series of sermons
actually a sermon
and the outcome is
most everybody leaves.
One of the things
that he says
in relationship to that
is in verse 51
I am the living bread
that came down
from heaven.
I
Jesus
I am
the living bread
and I came down
from heaven.
How does a person
come down from heaven?
Nobody who is
in the flesh
comes down from heaven
just naturally
it was God the son
who came down here
to be our savior.
Galatians chapter 4
verse 4
I want you to encourage
I want to encourage you
to kind of take the time
and track if you will
so turn over to Galatians
chapter 4
verse 4
but when the fullness
of time had come
God sent
his son
born
of woman
born
under
the law.
Let me have you look at
another passage
in relationship to this
if you're there
in Galatians
just move forward
if you will
to 1st Timothy chapter 3
in 1st Timothy chapter 3
we have a very interesting
sequence of thought
and coming towards
the end of chapter 3
Paul explains
he says
listen let me tell you
why I'm writing this book
it's so that
you
part of the family of God
the body of believers
there
in Ephesus
he said that you would know
how to handle yourself
verse 15
if I delay
you may know
how one ought to behave
in the household of God
which is the church
of the living God
the pillar and buttress
of truth
and as Paul thinks
about the church
his heart then
moves up
further
into the glory
of thinking about
the church
and thinking principally
about who the church
is really all about
it's the Lord Jesus
that brings him
to verse 15
or 16
great indeed
we confess
is the mystery
of godliness
now what is a mystery
in the scriptures
a mystery
is something
that we wouldn't know
if we weren't told
how many of you
have sat through
one of those
TV shows
that's kind of a mystery
and you're sitting there
trying to figure it out
my wife and I
will be sitting there
and she'll say to me
have you figured it out yet
I said no
I never figure them out
I just wait till they tell me
you know
why waste the brain cells
trying to figure out
the mystery ahead of time
they'll tell you
within an hour
promise
in the Bible
a mystery is something
you would never figure out
unless God told you
and here is what it says
great is the mystery
of godliness
he was manifested
in the flesh
vindicated by the spirit
seen by angels
proclaimed among the nations
believed on in the world
taken up into glory
it is speaking
about the Lord Jesus Christ
and affirming
the fact
of his incarnation
let me have you look
at another passage
in relationship to this
over in the book of Hebrews
and by the way
if you're going to think
about the incarnation
and you're going to think
about the ministry
of Christ
in salvation
you always come back
to the book of Hebrews
as well
because it is so rich
in its explanation
of the ministry
and the work
that Christ has
look if you will
at Hebrews chapter 2
verse 14
it says
since therefore
the children share
in flesh and blood
and that's what you
and I are
flesh and blood
he himself likewise
partook of the same things
that through death
he might destroy
the one who has
the power of death
that is the devil
don't you like that fact
this coming Wednesday
my family
will gather
at a committal service
in Alton
cemetery
and we are going
to put the remains
of my father
in the ground
and I want you
to know
that when I think
about that day
I am thankful
that the Lord Jesus Christ
came in the flesh
and he died
and rose again
because if it were
not for the fact
of the incarnation
of Christ
and for his victory
over the cross
and his resurrection
from the dead
I would have
no confidence
whatever
when I stand
at that graveside
but because
of the incarnation
and because
of the certainty
of the resurrection
of Christ
I can say
with absolute certainty
Jesus is the first fruits
and others
will follow
after
here it says
that through death
he might destroy
the one who has
the power of death
even the devil
verse 17
therefore
he had to be made
like his brothers
in every respect
so that he might
become a merciful
and faithful
high priest
in the service
of God
to make
propitiation
for the sins
of the people
I want you to look
at one more verse
I can't help
but get away
from this one
if you will
turn in your Bible
to Hebrews
chapter 10
verse 5
in Hebrews
chapter 10
the author
is continuing
his argument
of the supremacy
the sufficiency
of Christ
as the sacrifice
for sin
and look at
what it says
there
in verse
4
for it is
impossible
for the blood
of bulls
and goats
to take away
sins
so what is it
that you can do
to accommodate
the wickedness
of your soul
and to satisfy
the holy judgment
of God
against sin
that you have created
and committed
you can do nothing
and why is it
because there is
nothing
that we can
contribute
in our finite
and incapable
person
to the infinite
offense
that sin is
against the holy God
and how did he
satisfy
the judgment
that would fall
on sinful man
he did it
by sending his son
infinite God
to become man
and in his flesh
to fully satisfy
the penalty
for sin
and so what we find
there in verse 5
it says
sacrifice is an offering
you have not desired
talking about the
the animals
the bull
the sheep
etc
he says sacrifice
an offering
you have not desired
but a body
you have prepared
for me
here is Jesus
recognizing
you made me
to be
all flesh
that I
could be
the satisfactory
substitute
for Tim
Knoyer
for Joe
Halsey
for Jeff Merrill
for Sharma
for all of us
isn't that right
he came to die
in our place
and to satisfy
the debt
of our sins
we think about
the broad scope
of understanding
the doctrine
but let's kind of
step into it
a little further
we'll take another
step down
and think about
the actual nature
of the incarnation
the nature
of the incarnation
let me say up front
that this is not
one of those
easy things
and it's one
that if you're
sitting here
and you're kind of
fuzzing off on me
a little bit
I would plead
with you
that what you do
right now
is stop and say
I need your help
Holy Spirit
fair enough
how many of you
understand that
mediocre preaching
can at least be
remedied in part
by a little bit
of prayer
I don't want
to be mediocre
in the task
but I do want
to challenge you
you got a part
to play
and that's
praying
I want to
understand
the doctrine
of the incarnation
and have it
make a difference
in my heart
because it's
so important
help me
the nature
of the incarnation
as I take
this section
what I'm going
to do
is reduce
what the council
of Chalcedon
hammered out
into 207 words
the Bible
teaches us
that Jesus Christ
is completely
God
and completely
man
and
recognize
that the council
of Chalcedon
at 450 some
years after
AD
finally came
to the point
of reducing
it down
to 207 words
not a one
of them
is really
just carelessly
thrown out
how many of you
know that
some authors
actually get paid
by the word
do you know that
Zane
what was the
guy
Zane Gray
I think it was
Zane Gray
one day they
asked him
why do
your heroes
always take
five shots
he said
well that's
not hard
I get paid
10 cents
a word
and so I
want you to
know that
the council
of Chalcedon
was not paid
by the word
and when you
have 207
they were
important
they are
important
to the
understanding
of the
doctrine
of the
incarnation
but we're
going to
push it
together
into
pockets
for us
number one
the Bible
teaches
that Jesus
is God
that Jesus
is God
Isaiah chapter
7 verse 14
identifies our
coming Messiah
as Emmanuel
which means
God
with us
and again
there in Isaiah
chapter 9
verse 6
and 7
Christ is
spoken of
as the
mighty God
the everlasting
father
the prince
of peace
peace
when you
read those
statements
made there
in Isaiah
chapter 9
you can't
help but
wonder
why is it
that the
Jew doesn't
understand
the truth
of the
incarnation
we find
also that
John spoke
of Jesus
as God
in numerous
places
in John
chapter 1
verse 1
it says
in the beginning
was the word
and the word
was God
and the word
was with God
John chapter 1
verse 1
verse 2
verse 3
verse 14
and you can
work your way
through the book
of John
and hit
one time
after another
the clear
declaration
that Jesus
Christ
is indeed
God
Paul
also affirms
that truth
and we find it
in Romans
chapter 9
verse 5
and particularly
in Philippians
chapter 5
Philippians
chapter 2
verse 5
through 8
remember where
it says
he did not
think it was
robbery to count
himself as God
and yet
he willingly
humbled himself
and took upon
himself
the form
of a servant
Jesus Christ
is 100%
God
secondly
the Bible
teaches us
undeniably
that Jesus
is truly man
he's truly man
he came in a human
body
that's what we
referred to
over there
in Hebrews
chapter 10
verse 5
you have made
for me
a body
and what he is
recognizing
is that
Jesus Christ
when he came
to this earth
he took upon
himself
the form
of mankind
he was born
of a woman
he came into
this world
the same way
the rest of us
have come into
this world
he grew
and developed
as any child
would grow
and if you turn
back in your
Bible there
to Luke chapter 2
and don't need to
now time wise
but just kind of
recognize in Luke
chapter 2
it talks about
his birth
and then over
in chapter 2
verse 52
it talks about
his progressive
growth
it says that
he grew
in wisdom
and stature
and so I want
you to understand
when you think
about the Lord
Jesus Christ
that there were
times where
he got tired
he got thirsty
his hands
I have no idea
exactly how it
played out
but when he was
working in a
carpenter shed
with his father
I would imagine
there are times
where a tool
slipped or something
and he got
nicks and dings
like everybody else
does
he learned
how it was
to be effective
he learned
obedience
he learned
in the environment
that God
had placed him
and I want you
to understand
that he died
like all mankind
dies
turn over in your
Bible if you will
to Luke chapter 23
I should clarify
the uniqueness
of his death
I say that he died
like all mankind
what I mean by that
is that he did die
but look if you will
in Luke chapter 23
verse 46
here's what it says
then Jesus
calling out
with a loud voice
said father
into your hands
I commit my spirit
and having said
this he breathed
his last
I want you to
stop and think
about that
just for a moment
God
dying
it's pretty complex
isn't it
God
dying
God the son
in his human
form
dying
the Bible
also teaches
us that
Jesus Christ
to complete
natures
remain distinct
and retain
their own
properties
let me say that
again slowly
the Bible
teaches us
that Christ
to complete
natures
remain distinct
and retain
their own
properties
probably the
best illustration
of this
distinct
having their
own properties
would be if you
would turn
and just follow
with me in your
minds if you will
but remember in the
temptation of
Jesus
Satan came to
Jesus and he
relied upon
Christ's complete
humanity
after 40 days
of fasting
he said
hey
are you hungry
that's not what he
said
but he says
how you doing
there
40 days
and he
he
tempted
Jesus
in his
humanity
and reminded
him of the
hunger
and then he
challenged him
to rely upon
his deity
and he said
if you're the
son of God
do what
turn this
stone
in the
bread
you can do
it
the distinct
humanity
of Christ
tempted
the distinct
deity
of Christ
called upon
to satisfy
a personal
preference
and Jesus
said no
man does not
live by bread
alone
but by what
every word
that proceeds
from the
mouth
of God
the Bible
teaches us
that Jesus
Christ
is only
one
person
we
we may
not
be able
to get
that
easily
Christ's
two
natures
do not
make him
two people
John
chapter 1
verse 14
says it
well in
the statement
that the
word became
flesh and
dwelt
among us
deity
and humanity
in one
person
and living
in that
one person
in
that time
and for
all eternity
there's one
other little
thing I
add to this
in terms of
Jesus Christ
being only
one person
it's very
interesting
when you
stop and
do a little
bit of
Bible study
you find
that Jesus
never spoke
of himself
in the
plural
that's
interesting
isn't it
in fact
several weeks
ago when we
were preaching
in the
in
who's we
I have a mouse
in my pocket
when I was
preaching
you know
it's like
there we go
talking about
the we
and I
don't buy
that divine
plural
you know
the pastor
and God
it's like
Tim Kenoyer
said it
I was
preaching
and I
referenced
the fact
that in
John chapter
three remember
when Nicodemus
came to
Jesus and
he says
hey I
I
and then
he says
we
what was
the we
about
does anybody
remember
I do
yes
who said
that
Carrie
I make her
stand up
but I
won't do
that
that's
good
wow
that gives
me great
confidence
does anybody
else remember
it besides
Carrie
when he
says we
he was talking
about not
just Jesus
but he
was talking
about the
word
there are
two
testimonies
one is
Christ
the other
is the
word
but as
a point
of reference
Jesus when
he spoke
about himself
he used
I
first person
himself
me
he didn't
speak about
himself as
being
the Godhead
plural
so it's
important for
us to
understand
that Jesus
Christ
is only
one person
finally
the Bible
teaches
that the
unity of
Christ's
two
natures
is
permanent
the
unity
of
Christ's
two
natures
is
permanent
turn
over in
your
Bible
if you
will
to
1st
Timothy
chapter
2
verse
15
1st
Timothy
chapter
2
I
think I
want to
say
2nd
Timothy
chapter
2
no I
don't
okay here
we go
someone's
going to
have to
save me
help me
rather
for there
is one
God
and one
media
that's
got to
be
chapter
one
of
oh
that's
why we
have
deacons
thank you
excellent
John
Jack
appreciate
that
1st
Timothy
chapter
2
verse
5
look at
it
there
it
says
for
there
is
one
God
and
there
is
one
mediator
between
God
and
man
the
man
Christ
Jesus
one
God
and
one
mediator
between
God
and
men
the
man
the
man
the
man
Christ
Jesus
why
you
look
at
one
other
passage
in
relationship
to
this
issue
of
Christ
turn
back
if you
will
to
Acts
chapter
17
Acts
chapter
17
verse
31
this
is a
wonderful
passage
in which
Jesus
is brought
out as
the judge
of
all
eternity
what's
happening
in this
passage
is that
Paul
ends up
preaching
to a
large
gathering
of
unbelievers
in
Athens
and
really
ostensibly
they gather
because
they're
curious
about
the idea
of the
resurrection
I mean
for the
Jew
I mean
for the
Greek
the idea
was
this
life's
all you
got
and when
it's
over
it's
gone
done
you
know
and along
comes
Paul
and he
talks
about
the
resurrection
that's
really
intrigued
them
and so
Paul
starts
out
his
sermon
and
notice
how
he
kind
of
ends
it
up
there
if
you
will
in
verse
31
let me
go to
verse
30
the
times
of
ignorance
God
overlooked
but
now
he
commands
all
people
everywhere
to
repent
you
know
what
it
means
to
repent
to
repent
involves
fundamentally
an
admission
that
you're
heading
in the
wrong
direction
that
your
life's
a
mess
and
that
you
are
a
sinner
stands
justly
condemned
before
a
holy
God
and
something
needs
to
happen
something
needs
to
change
repentance
is
not
just
a
matter
of
saying
oops
I'm
sorry
no
biggie
no
repentance
means
understanding
that
the
Lord
of
this
universe
has
a
right
to
judge
your
life
and
find
it
contemptible
because
of the
wickedness
of your
heart
and you
stand
condemned
in the
eyes
of a
holy
God
and you
have
no
hope
apart
from what
Christ
Jesus
has done
in dying
for your
sins
and
there
in
verse
30
he
says
hey
listen
the
time
is
coming
when
God
is
going
to
judge
because
he
has
fixed
a
day
on
which
he
will
judge
the
world
in
righteousness
by
a
man
whom
he
has
appointed
and
of
this
he
has
given
assurance
to
all
by
raising
him
from
the
dead
how
do
we
know
that
Jesus
is
going
to
judge
sin
because
of
the
empty
tomb
and
who
will
judge
sin
not
a
distantly
removed
entity
who
has
no
personal
understanding
of what
it is
to live
a human
life
the
one
who
will
judge
sin
is
one
who
came
here
and
lived
on
this
earth
lived
a
sinless
life
and
died
in
my
place
and
in
your
place
to
satisfy
the
holy
judgment
of
God
against
my
sin
and
the
one
who
will
ultimately
judge
the
sinner
and
condemn
that
person
who
refuses
the
offer
of
salvation
through
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
to
a
hopeless
horrible
eternity
will be
the
very
one
Christ
Jesus
who
came
here
in
the
flesh
died
upon
the
cross
rose
again
and
will
be
the
judge
of
the
whole
earth
so
let's
think
now
as we
bring
it
together
what
is
the
importance
of
the
incarnation
just
how
important
is
this
doctrine
for
one
it
is
the
true
test
of
our
faith
you
know
I'm
amazed
at
the
wishy
washiness
of
people
today
about
doctrine
well
it
ain't
no
big
thing
it
is
I
mean
if
we
take
the
Bible
at
face
value
we
have
to
say
if
this
is
what
God
said
he
must
be
serious
about
it
we
ought
to
believe
him
or
we
ought
to
admit
hey
I
don't
buy
it
look at
first
John
chapter
four
by
this
you
know
the
spirit
of
God
every
spirit
that
confesses
that
Jesus
Christ
has
come
in
the
flesh
is
from
God
every
spirit
that
does
not
confess
Jesus
is
not
from
God
okay
pretty
cut
and
dried
hey
you
the
second
person
of
the
trinity
to
become
all
man
to
live
forever
in
that
state
and
to
be
the
savior
of
the
world
I
want
you
to
understand
it
also
shows
that
God
keeps
his
promises
over
in
Romans
chapter
15
verse
8
as
we
think
about
the
practical
value
of
this
doctrine
I
want
you
to
mark
what
it
says
in
Romans
chapter
15
for
I
tell
you
that
Christ
became
a
servant
to
the
circumcised
to
show
the
truth
God's
truthfulness
in
order
to
confirm
the
promises
given
to
the
patriarchs
why
is
the
incarnation
important
how
many
promises
does
God
get
to
break
before
he
stops
being
God
what's
the
answer
one
none
God
cannot
change
he
cannot
break
a
promise
and
so
when
God
made
a
promise
to
the
fathers
Christ
came
to
fulfill
it
and
became
human
in
entirety
third
Jesus
came
to be
the
effective
sacrifice
for
sin
go
back
if
you
will
John
chapter
3
verse
5
John
chapter
3
verse
5
you
know
that
he
appeared
to
take
away
sins
so
why
did
Jesus
come
to
take
away
sins
last
week
as I
was
having
a
conversation
with
an
individual
regarding
the
home
going
of
my
father
and
the
nursing
home
that
dad
and
mom
have
lived
in
has
been
just
a
wonderful
environment
in
which
week
after
week
day
!
day
opportunities
to
talk
to
people
about
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
and
with
dad's
home
going
I
cannot
tell
you
how
many
people
have
come
and
said
very
kind
things
one
of
the
more
common
ones
is
that
well
your
father
went
to
a
better
place
now
I
agree
100%
that
my
father
is
in
a
better
place
I
want
you
to
know
that
and
the
immediately
the
thing
that
was
said
immediately
after
that
was
your
father
was
such
a
good
man
and
I
said
well
my
father
was
a
man
who
was
blessed
by
the
kindness
of
Christ
who
saved
him
while
he
was
a
sinner
and
drew
him
to
his
side
yeah
I
can't
my
dad
was
a
good
man
but
he
didn't
start
out
that
way
he
started
out
a
sinner
broken
a
wretch
completely
despairing
I
got to
tell you
the
truth
and
I
will
say
this
in
the
memorial
service
I
never
knew
!
how
I
why
did
Jesus
come?
I
love
that
question
around
Christmas
time
do you
follow
me?
why
did
Jesus
come?
I
mean
was
it
all
about
this
little
story
of
a
little
baby
in
a
manger
and
cows
and
chickens
or
whatever
else
around
it
is
not
about
that
it
is
about
Jesus
coming
taking
upon
himself
flesh
to be
the
sacrifice
for
my
sins
and
to
die
in
my
place
I
want
you
to
understand
that
incarnation
also
gives
us
a
perfect
example
to
follow
a
perfect
example
to
follow
over
in
1
Peter
chapter
2
and
take
a
look
if
you
will
just
for
a
moment
1
Peter
chapter
2
verse
!
21
it
says
for
you've
been
called
for
this
purpose
1
Peter
chapter
2
verse
!
21
because
Christ
also
suffered
for you
leaving
you
an
example
so
that
you
might
follow
in
his
steps
hey
where
do we
get
the
idea
that
life
is
supposed
to
be
just
a
bed
of
roses
and
they're
not
supposed
to
have
any
problems
that
would
be
nice
if
it
were
true
right
truth
of
matter
is
that
the
real
test
of
Christian
character
is
revealed
under
the
pressure
of
adversity
wouldn't
you
agree
with
that
you
find
out
what's
really
inside
when
you
get
pressed
you
step
above
those
things
by
the
power
of
the
spirit
for
the
glory
of
Christ
and
here
it
says
you've
been
called
for
this
purpose
since
Christ
suffered
for
you
you've
got
an
example
to
follow
I
want
you
to
realize
also
that
Christ
Jesus
came
in
the
flesh
for
the
sake
of
revealing
God
directly
to
us
revealing
God
directly
to
us
look
at
John
chapter
1
verse
18
go
back
to
that
just
as
we
get
ready
to
close
John
chapter
1
verse
18
no
one
has
ever
seen
God
if
you
were
to
take
all
those
books
that
have
been
written
and
stack
it
up
against
John
chapter
1
18
you'd
have
to
make
a
choice
which
one
is
telling
the
truth
the
Bible
says
no
one
has
ever
seen
God
the
only
God
who
is
at
the
Father's
side
he
has
made
him
known
there's
only
one
person
who
reveals
to
us
fully
and
completely
the
reality
of
God
the
Father
and
is
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
I
love
I
love
what
Jesus
said
when
one
of
his
disciples
came
to
him
and
said
hey
do
us
a
biggie
here
help
us
show us
the
Father
and
that's
okay
and
what
did
Jesus
say
have
I
been
with
you
so
you
know
I
kind
of
get
the
idea
that
Jesus
what's
the
deal
if
you've
seen
me
you've
seen
the
Father
isn't
that
right
let me
close
with
this
turn
your
Bible
to
Hebrews
chapter
two
chapter
seven
chapter
two
verse
seventeen
and
eighteen
therefore
he had
to be
made
like
his
brothers
in
every
respect
so
that
he
may
become
a
merciful
and
faithful
high
priest
in
the
service
of
God
to
make
propitiation
for
the
sins
of
the
people
for
because
he
himself
has
suffered
when
tempted
he
is
able
to
help
those
who
are
being
tempted
do
you like
that
why
is the
incarnation
important
to us
it's
because
it serves
to make
him
our
perfect
high
priest
and
king
the
Lord
Jesus
who
around
Christmas
time
we think
of
so
often
as
this
little
baby
in a
manger
and
the
whole
world
around
us
is
thinking
about
just
everything
but
the
glory
of
the
incarnation
here's
the truth
God
seeing
my
miserable
state
and
your
absolute
inability
willingly
was
committed
to the
ministry
of
reconciliation
and our
salvation
that he
sent
his
son
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
to
humble
himself
to
become
a
man
to
live
here
and
to
die
to
pay
the
penalty
for
my
sins
and
for
your
sins
and
do
you
know
how
simple
he
made
the
matter
of
salvation
unbelievable
what
do you
have to
do
to be
saved
believe
on the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
and
you'll
be
saved
I love
what it
says
in
Romans
chapter
10
verse
11
it
says
whosoever
believes
in him
shall
not
be
ashamed
look
at
me
there's
not a
one of
us
that
honestly
can
stand
full
faced
before
God
and
not
be
ashamed
when
we
think
about
the
miserable
truth
of our
own
life
I
remember
reading
not
too
long
ago
an
individual
said
something
about
me
that
kind
of
he's
a bad
person
and I
reminded
myself
immediately
of what
I think
it was
George
Whitefield
wrote
a man
had written
an extensive
letter
accusing
George
Whitefield
of all
kinds
of
horrible
things
and
George
Whitefield
wrote
back
to him
and said
you know
what
I'm
a far
worse
man
than you
think
I
am
if
you
knew
all
of
my
inner
thoughts
and
struggles
the
truth
of
matter
is
that
what
the
Bible
says
is
that
whosoever
calls
upon
the
name
of
the
Lord
receives
complete
forgiveness
for
all
sin
and
is
made
to be
righteousness
and
truth
in
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
does
it
get
any
better
than
that
no
does
it
get
any
simpler
than
that
no
and
that
is
one
of
the
reasons
why
I
am
fully
persuaded
that
for
all
eternity
those
who
willingly
refuse
the
offer
of
the
gospel
will
spend
forever
in
bitterness
resenting
how
clear
and how
simple
and how
wonderful
it is
that
Jesus
died
in
their
place
and
they
had
the
offer
and
refused
it
and I
would
plead
with you
if you
are here
today
and you
do not
know
Christ
do
not
walk
out
that
door
saying
no
to
the
one
who
willingly
came
to be
flesh
for
me
and
for
you
let's
pray
father
god
this
morning
our
heart
is
caught
with
what the
apostle
wrote
in
first
timothy
without
controversy
great
is the
mystery
of
godliness
us
that
you
the
eternal
god
and
father
appointed
your
son
to come
to this
earth
and take
upon
himself
human
flesh
to become
a man
why
to die
for sin
and to
rise
again
to break
the chains
and the
bondage
of sin
that
whosoever
believes
in what
Jesus
did on
the cross
might have
everlasting
life
and not
come into
condemnation
and so
this morning
as we
celebrate
the
incarnation
and the
fact that
Jesus
is all
god
and all
flesh
all man
we want
the great
joy of
our life
to be
the lord
Jesus
Christ
who we
who know
him
will someday
see him
and let
that
drive us
towards
eternity
and I
pray for
those that
are here
today that
do not
know
Christ
that this
morning
the spirit
of god
would get
a hold
of their
heart
and draw
them to
repentance
to confess
the darkness
of their
soul
and their
absolute
inability
to save
themselves
and they
would call
upon the
name of
the lord
and be
saved
amen
as we
who