Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10:5-7
The Fullness of the Godhead Bodily
Intro.
1. Controversy over the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ has raged since NT days (1 Jno. 4:2-3; 2 Jno. 7). (Creeds, divisions, errors, etc.)
2. Christians during the past 20 years have divided over this subject.
3. Truth on the deity and humanity of Christ has been revealed.
a. What God has chosen to reveal about this marvelous miracle is enough to produce faith unto salvation, Jno. 1:1-3, 14; 8:23-25; 20:30-31.
b. We will never explain how this miracle happened.
c. But we can have a clear understanding of the nature of Christ to the extent that God has revealed his nature to us, and then be content that the secret things belong to God (Deut. 29:29).
4. Here is our faith: God was manifested in the flesh, 1 Tim. 3:16.
I. IN HIM DWELLS ALL THE FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY, Col. 2:9.
A. All Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge are in Christ, Col. 2:1-3.
1. Complete certainty or conviction attainable, 2:2.
2. God is revealed in Christ, 2:2-3 (all treasures…).
B. Warning against Heresies of False Knowledge, Col. 2:4-8.
1. The deception of persuasive words, 2:4-5 (2 Jno. 7).
-The “secret knowledge” of the Gnostics (the initiated, elite).
2. Maintain your faith in Christ and be grounded in Him, 2:6-7.
3. Beware of those who would rob you of your prize, 2:8.
C. Assurance of our Faith, 2:9-10.
-Jesus is completely deity in flesh; we are complete in Him (1:19).
II. GOD BECAME MAN WITHOUT GIVING UP GODHOOD, Phil. 2:5-11.
A. Christ Emptied Himself of the Form of God and Took the Form of a Servant (Man). (He did not empty himself of deity, nor of deity’s powers). We are to have the same mind!
1. Emptied himself of the form (morphe) of God: the form by which a person or thing strikes the vision; external appearance. Christ laid aside his appearance and glory of deity (cf. Matt. 17:2).
2. Took the form (morphe) a bondservant: Likeness of men (flesh). This equipped him to die for the sins of the world.
III. CHRIST BOTH REVEALED THE FATHER AND BECAME THE SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS.
A. The Son Reveals the Father to Us, Heb. 1:1-3.
1. By his words, Jno. 8:26-28.
2. By his life, Jno. 12:45; 14:9.
3. The Son is the brightness of God’s splendor and the express image of God’s person (God’s real essence, nature).
B. The Son Upholds Everything by his Power, 1:3 (Col. 1:17).
-This answers the speculation and error over whether Jesus gave up the power of deity when he came to earth!
C. He Purged our Sins, 1:3. (Rom. 5:8-10)
IV. THE DAYS OF HIS FLESH, Heb. 5:7-9.
A. His Life as Man Equipped Christ to be a Perfect Sacrifice for Sin.
1. He lived by faith (prayers and supplications), 5:7.
2. He possessed godly fear, 5:7.
3. He was obedient and endured suffering, 5:8:
a. The sufferings of trials and temptations (Lk. 22:28). Did not sin, Heb. 4:14-16. (God calls on us to withstand temptations!)
b. The sufferings of the cross, Heb. 2:9-10.
B. His Sacrifice for our Sins was Possible because he became Human, Heb. 2:9; 10:5-7, 10 (9:26; Jno. 1:29).
-A body was prepared for the Son in order to accomplish the will of God (sacrifice for our redemption). (A spirit was not prepared for him…a body was.)
V. HOW THIS AFFECTS ME AND YOU.
A. Without this Belief we will Die in our Sins, Jno. 8:23-24, 58 (20:31).
B. Christ did not give up the Powers of Deity when He became a Human. Every doctrine that minimizes his deity before or during the days of his flesh is false.
C. Christ Chose not to Sin, Heb. 4:14-15. Every doctrine that minimizes his humanity is false. God commands us to make the same choices about sin that Jesus made (Heb. 4:14, 16).
D. We Must Hear Christ to be Saved, Matt. 17:5 (Jno. 12:49-50).
Conclusion
1. Our faith is in the Christ, the Son of the living God.
2. All we need to know and be is found in Him (his word); be content, thankful and obedient.