The Mighty Revealer of Secrets

The apostle John emphasized in two places in the Epistle of 1 John the teaching ministry of the Spirit.  Notice in 1 John 2:20, he said, “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.” This “Unction” is a reference to the Holy One, the Spirit of God, as the Teacher of the believer. This Professor dwells within. Then John later emphasized this same truth in 1 John 2:27, which says, “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”  The “Anointing” in this passage is none other than the blessed sweet Spirit of God in the ministry of teaching believers the things of the Lord.  He remains in believers to teach and affirm the truth of the Word. Praise the Lord, the believer is not left to figure it out alone!  The Spirit will diligently teach the children of God.

THE REVEALER 

The Apostle Paul taught how believers can know God’s thoughts and plans through the study of the Scriptures. Revelation is what Paul emphasized in 1 Corinthians 2:9-12. He illustrated the futility of human wisdom, compared with the power and wisdom of God (1Cor. 2:1-8). The apostle reminded the Corinthians of his ministry among them and how he sought to glorify God and not himself.  Complete dependence and submission to God’s authority marked Paul’s ministry (Eph. 6:5; Phil. 2:12). He came to Corinth proclaiming the testimony of God, but not with excellent oratory or human wisdom. He was not at all interested in showing himself off as a gifted speaker or astute philosopher. His style of preaching was unimpressive from a human point of view (2 Cor. 10:10). Paul’s unembellished message was Jesus Christ, and Him crucified as the only means of salvation.

MacDonald and Farstad (1995, p. 1751) affirmed that the Apostle Paul recognized the difference between ministry that is soulish and that which is spiritual. By soulish ministry, he means that which amuses, entertains, or generally appeals to man’s emotions. Spiritual ministry, on the other hand, presents the truth of God’s Word in such a way as to glorify Christ and to reach the heart and conscience of the hearers. This is clearly the aim of the Holy Spirit as He open to believers the Scriptures. Therefore, as Paul preached the Gospel, dynamic faith was induced by a “demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1Cor. 2:4) and was not a product of human ingenuity or rhetorical excellence. Paul wanted to be sure their “faith” would not rest “in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1Cor. 2:5). Then Paul is lead by the Spirit to unveil the wisdom of God’s great plan of salvation. The result is insight into God’s thoughts and plans!

Never-the-less, I am reminded that people do not understand everything with respect to God’s Word and will!  This is why revelation is necessary. In 1 Corinthians 2:9, Paul said, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” This wonderful passage communicates how believers often are not ready to comprehend everything in reality as God knows it. Some things Christians may consider “hidden wisdom” (2:7) that are not understandable to them at the moment. The Spirit must lead believers into the deeper truths of God. Also a part of living by faith is trusting God with those things we do not, as of yet, understand. God did not promise to answer all of our questions. Everything consistent with salvation and spiritual growth needful for our, the child of God’s, current experience the Spirit will help us learn.

Through what the Spirit reveals to Christians, we can know the plans and thoughts of God through the Scriptures. In 1 Corinthians 2:10, Paul says “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” Clearly the primary Teacher of Christians is the Spirit of God!  The Bible Exposition Commentary (Wiersbe 1989, p. 575) affords some helpful insight into Paul’s emphasis.

We have considered two fundamental truths of the Gospel: this message centers in the death of Christ and it is part of the Father's vast eternal plan. The believers at Corinth had forgotten the cost of their salvation; they had gotten their eyes off of the cross. They … had lost the wonder of the greatness of God's plan for them. They needed to return to the ministry of the Holy Spirit…. 

The Holy Spirit then is the ‘Revealer’ of the mind of God.  The blessings of salvation were prepared by the Father, carried out by the Son, and applied by the Spirit (Eph. 1:3-14) to all believers. “God hath revealed them unto us by [through] His Spirit” (1Cor. 2:10)—these truths foretold in the Old Testament were made known to the apostles of the New Testament era. It was by the Spirit of God that the apostles and prophets were enlightened, because “the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1Cor. 2:10). In other words, the Spirit of God, a member of the Godhead, is infinite in wisdom and understands all the truths of God. He is able to impart such insight to Christians who are willing to learn. The only way the Corinthians could know God’s redemptive plan was by the Spirit, who knows and reveals these “deep things of God” about salvation. Certainly every believer should turn to Him for a spiritual education.  While it is good to listen and learn from gifted Bible preachers and teachers, the Christian must not overlook or ignore this ministry of the Spirit in their Bible study life.

Now that the Spirit is understood to be the Revealer, what is “revelation?” Revelation is the unveiling of something previously hidden so that it may be seen for what it is. “Revealed” in 1Corinthians 2:10 expresses how God has made known to men truths and realities that men could not discover for themselves (Deut. 29:29; 1Cor. 2:7-10). The Holy Spirit, as God, reveals God to people. He ministers to them and makes the Father real to them. Without revelation, people would not know anything about God or even that there is a God. Thus it is vital to accept the premise that God desires to make Himself known to man, and has in fact revealed Himself at various times and in different ways (Heb. 1:1-2). This automatically eliminates mere imagination, reason, philosophy, intuition, speculations, Aristotle, Plato, and any other love of knowledge as equals with the revelation of God in the Bible.  Only the Apostles and Prophets knew the mind of God; Christians have it today in the written Word of God.  God has revealed Himself to man and the Scriptures are the single authoritative disclosure of Him to modern humanity.  If believers really want to know God they must turn to the Scriptures.  No other writings should be placed on the same level with them. They are Spirit-given—His revelation of God to man—and He skillfully uses them to teach believers.

The Goal of Spiritual Change

2Cor. 3:18

Theme: The goal of spiritual change is transformation into the likeness of our Lord Jesus.

Introduction:

The frog was lucky. When the princess kissed him, there was a loud “PPppoooff!” The frog was gone. In his place stood a handsome young prince with golden, wavy hair; he was the picture of perfection. Of course the princess fainted. No worries...he caught her in his powerful arms and carried her effortlessly to his faithful steed, mounted swiftly, and raced off toward their happy ever after. (Anders)

His change was instantaneous, complete, and permanent. He did not have to struggle to change the way we do. No, the fairy tale frog was lucky. Real life for the Christian is not so easy. Our change from a frog to a prince is a gradual transformation, and not an unbroken, uphill progression. Rather, it is like a stock-market chart. Some days up, some days down, but overall, we hope, an upward movement. This can be pretty unnerving for us.  But it does help us to focus if we understood what our goal is. (Anders)

Message:

Second Corinthians 3:18,  says, "But we all, with open [unveiled] face beholding as in a glass [mirror] the glory of the Lord, are changed [transformed] into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

Clearly this is a supernatural, glorious, progressive—lifelong—transformation wrought from the inside out by the Holy Spirit advancing each Believer from one level of the unveiled glory of Christ to the next greater resemblance of Him.  This is our transformation experience.  It is an inward change that has an outward evident effect.  And what a glorious change it is! 

But how can such a drastic change transpire?  Well, the power lies in the Holy Spirit of God.

I.      The Power for Change—This Wonderful Process Is the Work of The Holy Spirit—“even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

A.     The Holy Spirit is the Power.  The third member of the Godhead who effects this splendid modification in believers. 

                                                 1.      He draws the believer’s attention to the perfections of Christ, highlights areas of deficiency and sin in the people of God, urges us on to our spiritual potential in Christ and then literally empowers us to attain it. 

                                                 2.      Clearly it is not through mere human effort, psychological reform, or mere human determination, for no such energy and power resides in the “flesh” of humanity (Rom. 7:18).  While men can alter their behavior, it is utterly impossible to affect the spectacular transformation mentioned here. 

B.     Every Believer Must Rely on Him for Spiritual Change! Even the child of God, who has a new nature and is indwelt by God’s Spirit, must depend on, trust in, yield to, and cooperate with the Spirit of the Lord to experience these changes.

                                                 1.      Also some reflection on the word “change,” employed strategically by Paul, is helpful here. The Greek word is “metamorpho,” which means “to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure.”

i.         Our English word metamorphosis is a transliteration of this Greek word. Metamorphosis describes the process that changes an insect from a larva into a pupa and then into a mature insect. The changes come from within. –The Bible Exposition Commentary

ii.       Metamorphosis reminds me of the TV show, the Incredible Hulk where David Banner was transformed into a giant muscular monster because of a gamma radiation overdose.

iii.      The term refers to Christ’s appearance in Matthew 17:1-9 as ‘changed and resplendent with divine brightness on the mount of transfiguration’. 

iv.     It is the same word the apostle Paul used in Romans 12: 2, where he commanded, “be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Obviously the nature of this transformation is fantastic.

                                                 2.      But how can such a drastic alteration of morals, values, and character transpire?  The power for change is the Holy Spirit of God: “even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”  

                                                 3.      William MacDonald observed, “As we behold the Lord of glory, study Him, contemplate Him, gaze on Him adoringly, the Spirit of the Lord works in our life the marvelous miracle of increasing conformity to Christ.” (MacDonald) 

II.   The Goal of Change—The Aim of Spiritual Change Is Christlikeness—“are changed into the same image….”

A.     The “Image” of Christ is what we Aim for. 

                                                 1.      The marvelous hope of conformity to Jesus Christ; the Son of God (Rom. 8:29)! But what image did the Lord Jesus give us? What are we to become?

i.         Jesus was always perfectly devoted to God (Jn. 4:34; 6:38; 8:29).

ii.       Jesus loved others as Himself serving them and dying for us all

iii.      Jesus was the flawless demonstration of godliness and holiness—He always did right

iv.     Jesus is the fullest expression of godly character and the fruit of the Spirit

                                                 2.      The Spirit leads Christians from justification through sanctification to glorification. As believers manifest the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), they are progressively being transformed into His likeness. Christlikeness is the goal of the Christian walk (Eph. 4:23-24; Col. 3:10).–Walvoord

                                                 3.      Transformation typically does not happen overnight. But God invites us to go with Him on a lifelong journey—an expedition we know brings us, and His Churches, closer and closer to Christlikeness.  The Spirit of Christ is still effectively executing this ministry in each believer.

B.     An Old Proverb says, “The apple never falls far from the tree.”

                                                 1.      It means that children are often like their parents, both physically and in some nonphysical characteristics. God also wants us to not fall far from His tree. His goal for us as Christians is that we be changed from our pre-Christian nature into the likeness of our Lord Jesus.

                                                 2.      We see that we are being transformed by the Spirit of the Lord into the image of our Lord Jesus.

III.           The Tool for Change—The Spirit uses the Word of God—“beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord….”

A.     It Is True That The Bible Is The Mirror That We Are To Gaze Into (2 Cor. 3:18).  The Bible is the mirror that we are to study, meditate upon, memorize, and apply to life situations. Once again Paul said, “But we all, with open [unveiled] face beholding as in a glass [mirror] the glory of the Lord” (2Cor. 3:18).  The word “glass” refers to a mirror, which is a type or representation of the Word of God (1Cor. 13:12; Js. 1:23).  The word shows the image of Christ and reveals the great chasm between the believer and the Savior.

B.     Expect The Spirit to Use the Bible. 

                                                 1.      The Spirit uses predominantly the one Book He Himself authored—The Holy Bible. The word of God is the essential element the Spirit of the Lord uses and He faithfully brings the believer’s attention to Christ Jesus. 

                                                 2.      There have been occasions when I misread the Word or tried to use the Bible to justify my sinful anger. The Lord Jesus expressed righteous indignation when He cleansed the Temple (Matt. 2:13-17; 21:12, 13) on both occasions, but I tried to use this to excuse my sinful and selfish anger. Later the Lord showed me my anger was rooted in sin, and Christ’s anger was a zeal or jealousy for God to be honored in His Temple. The Bible reveals our lives in the light of Christ’s perfections.

                                                 3.      Certainly this addresses the questions of what believers responsibilities are and how the Spirit effects this change. We Christians are to “behold” Him—the brilliant and glorious unveiled Son of God in the Word—we are to concentrate our spiritual and mental faculties on Christ.

                                                 4.      In other words, the Word of God does more than regenerate believers (we are regenerated by the Spirit of God using the Word of God, 1 Pet. 1:23).  Likewise “the Spirit of the Lord” uses His Bible to transform God’s children.  This is monumentally important! (Jn. 17:17; 1Pet. 2:2)

C.     Focus Your Attention on the Lord Jesus.

                                                 1.      Further the context of this passage contrasts the Old Covenant of Moses and its fading glory with the New Covenant of Christ with its brilliant and ever increasing glory.  Israel could not look on the glory of God not even for a moment, but Christians are privilege to “behold” Him gazing continually upon Christ.

                                                 2.      As we are occupied with the glory of the risen, ascended, exalted Lord Jesus Christ, we are being transformed into the same image. Here, in a word, is the secret of Christian holiness—occupation with Christ. Not by occupation with self; that brings only defeat. Not by occupation with others; that brings disappointment. But by occupation with the glory of the Lord, we become more and more like Him. –Believer’s Bible Commentary

D.     Let the Word Reveal the Glorious Christ! 

                                                 1.      The “glory of the Lord”—this is the reason the people of God must consistently study the Bible.  As we meditate on Him, we are moved closer to His image—reflecting more of Him inwardly and outwardly. O that God’s people would spend more time glaring in the mirror of the Word, beholding Him more.

                                                 2.      In the Scriptures we see His “open face” free of obscurities and obstructions. We are exposed to the explicitly declared Christ in His superb character. Oh, how terribly wondrous He is in glory!  Great is our privilege to see, know, and gaze upon Him!

E.     Beloved, Do you really want to be Christlike? Then spend time beholding Jesus.

                                                 1.      Turn your eyes upon Jesus;

Look full in His wonderful face;

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace. --Helen H. Lemmel, 1922

                                                 2.      I need this. I hope you, too, sense a need of seeing Jesus Christ on the pages of the Word of God so that you might grow more like Him. –McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible Commentary

                                                 3.      We must read, meditate, and live out the Word daily (Ps. 1:2; Matt. 4:4; Heb. 5:14).

Conclusion:

We are in a continuing process of transformation into the very image of Christ. Christlikeness is the ultimate goal of our journey (Eph. 4:23–24; Col. 3:10). One of the greatest compliments a Christian can receive is, “I see Jesus in you!” or “You handled that situation like Jesus would have were He here.”

While we are keenly aware of the importance of the externals, we must put forth greater effort in the cultivation of the inner life—inner grace moving us to think, desire, value, appreciate, and love as Christ would. We not only want to do the right things, but also be the right person. Being is as important as doing or not doing. Yes, it is right to have some standards and it is right to denounce sin, but do not fail to magnify the Lord Jesus Christ through actual internal change.  

The Spirit of Christmas

PHIL. 2:5-8; 1 TIM. 3:16

SUBJECT: THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST

THEME: let Jesus Christ and the spirit of selfless service be the focus of our Christmas observance.  

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Php 2:5–8, KJV)

INTRODUCTION:

1.  This is Probably one of the More Uncommon Christmas Passages.

      A.  No shepherds and their Sheep. 

      B.  No wise men and their Gifts. 

      C.  Not even Mary and Joseph.

      D.  But, Christ is in It!  We see:

             1) What Jesus Was: “the form of God,”   “equal with God”

             2) What Jesus Became:   “Made in the Likeness of Men,” “found in fashion as a man”

             3) What Jesus Did:

                     a)  He Sacrifice His outward Glory as God.  “He made himself of nor reputation”

                     b)  He Sacrificed His Body as a Man.   “He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death”

             4) What Jesus Is:   “Confess the Jesus Christ is Lord”

      E.  Actually the Passage Makes a Beautiful Christmas Carol!

2.  The Birth of Christ Is One of the Fundamentals of the Christian Faith. 

This is not something about Christ that is nice to know; instead it is a truth that is absolutely essential to our faith.  Christ's unique birth is one proof of His deity, eternity, pre-existence, and His sufficient blood Sacrifice for our Sins.

QUOTE:   Kenneth Kantzer:

         “Many Christians only pay lip service to the truth of Christmas.

         To accept the idea that the Bethlehem babe really is the

            incarnate God is to alter every truth with which we comfortably live.

         To say that Jesus Christ really is the incarnation of the

            living God is to say that his testimony is unalterably true.

         When I go against his teachings, I am not merely

             asserting my own judgment, but that I am fundamentally in error.”

                                                                    

3.  The Christmas Season Should Mark the Time of Annual Reflection on the Truth That God’s Son Left Heaven and Was Birthed into a Literal Sinless Human Experience. We call it the incarnation.  Simply stated, “Christ Jesus . . . was made in the likeness of men,” and was “found in the fashion as a man” (Phil. 2:5, 7, 8). Jesus’ actions define forever what it means to be humble, selfless, and sacrificial. They leave us utterly stripped of any reasons for living in pride and selfishness.

4.  Please Allow Me to Provide Some Familiar Verses as Food for Thought During this Holiday Season.  With our minds, hearts, and attitudes, let us celebrate one of times grandest events ever, the Birth of Jesus Christ.

Lesson:

I.  Why Is The Birth Of Christ Important?

Many people around the world celebrate Christmas for different reasons. What should a Believer's focus be? Why should we regard the birth of our Lord as important?

A.  BECAUSE THE BIRTH OF CHRIST IS A CLEAR STATEMENT OF SCRIPTURE!

1 Tim 3:16, And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

John 1:14, And the Word was made 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.

Col 2:9, For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

If the Scripture exalt the life and birth of Christ then certainly we should! While there is no explicit command to celebrate Christmas and Christ’s birth, He is always worthy of our worship, praise, adoration, and celebration. In fact, He is worthy of our worship and adoration all year long!

B.  BECAUSE THE BIRTH OF CHRIST CLARIFIES THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS!

Unfortunately Christmas has traditionally become a time of getting instead of giving. 

The spirit of Christmas has become more selfish then selfless. The spirit and attitude of our Lord at His coming is quite different and remarkable (Phil. 2:4-5).

When we get back to Jesus Christ we see that the attitude we must have is one of Service, Sacrifice, Selflessness—an “Others first” spirit!  This is the theme of Philippians chapter two in the Word of God.

What Did the Incarnation of God the Son Involve? 

    

    1.  It Involved a Humble Attitude.

What Exactly Happened When God Was Made In the Likeness of Men? 

Phil 2:5-6, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6, Who, being in the form of God (His eternal existence and true essence as God), thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (He did not hold on to nor consider the outer manifestation of His deity and heavenly position as a treasure to be grasped and retained for Himself at all costs.  In Christ’s incarnation He was not concerned with retaining all His privileges and honors for Himself.  He willingly set aside some prerogatives and privileges of heavenly existence without losing even one divine quality–He sacrificed his divine rights for us!)

Jesus Christ Humbled Himself for the benefit of others; He considered you and me before He considered Himself!

    2.  It Involved a Selfless Attitude.

Phil 2:7,  But made himself of no reputation, (He emptied Himself of His positional equality with the Father and veiled his glory in a body of human flesh) and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (He never ceased to be fully God, but He willingly took on a fully human nature, even the status of a lowly slave) 8, And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  (He died the cruelest and most shameful death of the cross; executed like a vile and murderous criminal, but willingly that He might provide full payment for our sin!)

Jesus Christ expressed an unequivocally unselfish attitude for others!

    3.  It Involved a Sacrificial Attitude.

Did the Son of God Cease to Be God When He Took on a Human Nature? 

          A.  No, Jesus Did Not Give Up His Divine Nature or Abilities.

We understand the answer to this question by looking at the context of the phrase and especially the words that follow— “the form of a servant,” “was made in the likeness of men.” Obviously, the Lord Jesus did not cease to be holy God!

Phil 2:7, But made himself of no reputation, (He sacrificed his positional equality with His Heavenly Father, but retained His personal divine nature) and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (He stooped so low as to veil his divine glory in a human body and circumstance.)

The self-emptying of the Son of God (vs 7) is one of the most complex and profound doctrines in Scripture. 

            B.  The Sacrifice Was the Addition of a Human Nature.

The self-emptying permitted the addition of humanity, and did not involve in any way the subtraction of deity or the use of the attributes of deity.

ILLUSTRATION: Can you imagine a mighty, magnificent, and powerful earthly King? Who for a while decided to lay aside his storehouse of wealth, and leave behind an adoring amazed court, and take upon himself the body of a lowly ant? Can you imagine being the princess who kissed the frog and becoming one yourself! What about yourself being lowered to the existence of a cockroach or a single grain of sand on a large beach? When God the Son took on a human nature, he condescended in colossal proportions!

            C.  Jesus Christ Is Now 100% God and 100% Human at the Same Time. 

He has a fully divine nature and a completely human nature, but yet he is one person. 

                     1)  He Exhibited Divine Qualities (all powerful, eternality, all knowing, and infinitude, everywhere present).

                     2)  He Exhibited Human Qualities (hunger, thirst, tiredness, limited, appearance, but sinless) through the same Person.  (Heb. 4:15)

                     3)  He Exhibited Two Natures (unmixed, unchanged, and undivided but yet one person).  My Friend the Scriptures says that “God was manifested in the flesh” and that Jesus “was made in the likeness of men”!  (Ex. 33:18, 20; 1 Tim. 6:16)

Jesus Sacrificed Himself for Others! He did all of this for me and you.  

                                  “Aside He threw His most divine array,

                                  And hid His Godhead in a veil of clay,

                                  And in that garb did wondrous love display,

                                  Restoring what He never took away.” –Source Unknown

APPLICATION: The spirit of Christmas should be this “attitude of Jesus Christ” filling and giving direction and meaning to our own lives as servants of God every day!

II. Why Was Christ Made In The Likeness Of Men?

But Why Did God Bother To Come Into The World, Take On a Perfect Human Nature and Live Among Men?  For What Purpose Was the Son of God Manifested? Why did He choose to be “made in the likeness of men”?

Once Again I want to first inform you of each purpose of our Lord in His Incarnation. Secondly, I want to encourage you to realize the benefit of His Accomplishments in your and my Christian walks.

Understanding the reasons that Christ came into the world, should motivate us to fully rest and rejoice in what the Lord has accomplished for us.  Jesus Christ is God’s provision for our Christian experience.

A.  CHRIST WAS MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN TO REVEAL GOD TO US.   

John 1:18, No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared (Made God Known) him.

Will you worship Jesus Christ as God the Son this Christmas?

B.  CHRIST WAS MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN TO BE THE CHRISTIAN’S EXAMPLE. 

Philip. 2:4-5, Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. [5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Phil. 2:8, And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

1 Pet 2:21, For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Matt 11:29, Take my yoke (His Work and Ministry Example) upon you, and learn (To learn by observation) of me ; for I am meek (gentle) and lowly (humble)  in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Will you determine in your heart to truly follow the humble example He gave us?

Will you conclude that your sufferings in the ministry make you more like Him?

                                                                                                                                     

C.  CHRIST WAS MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN TO PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE SACRIFICE FOR SIN. 

Phil 2:7,  But made himself of no reputation,   (He emptied Himself of His positional equality with the Father and veiled His glory in a body of human flesh) and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (He never ceased to be fully God, but He willingly took on a fully human nature, even the status of a lowly slave)   8,  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  (He died the cruelest and most shameful death of the cross; executed like a vile and murderous criminal, but willingly that He might provide full payment for our sin!)

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

(Rom. 3:21-26, KJV)

Christ was literally born of a woman to die like a man!

Will you trust Christ the perfect sacrifice for your sin today?

CONCLUSION:

It was for these reasons the Son of God was manifested! He came into this world to make Christian salvation and experience possible! Not merely for a Christmas Day, but for a Christmas life!

Are you daily looking forward to his kingdom?  Is Christ the ruler of your heart, mind, body, and spirit?                                    

Will you appropriate daily the victory of Christ over Satan when you are tempted to sin?  Habitual sins can be broken and conquered!

Will you turn to your heavenly high priest to comfort, encourage, strengthen, and help you in times of trials, testing, and temptation?

Will you actually worship Christ Jesus the Savior this Christmas holiday season?

In the home Christ-likeness is kindness;

In business it is honesty;

Toward the weak it is burden bearing;

Toward the sinner it is evangelism;

Toward ourselves it is self-control;

Toward God it is reverence, love and worship. —Source Unknown

May the mind of Christ, my Savior, live in me from day to day, by His love and pow’r controlling all I do and say.

May the Word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour, so that all may see I triumph only thru His pow’r.

May the peace of God, my Father, rule my life in ev’rything that I may be calm to comfort sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me, as the waters fill the sea; Him exalting, self-abasing— this is victory.

May I run the race before me strong and brave to face the foe, looking only unto Jesus as I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me as I seek the lost to win, and may they forget the channel, seeing only Him.—Source Unknown