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God Came in the Flesh

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The apostle John had to combat false teachers who denied Jesus came in the flesh (1 John 4:1-3; 2 John 7). Jesus Christ was born of a virgin in fulfillment of a divine prophecy uttered over half a millennium beforehand (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14). It was not only the virgin birth that made Christ’s entrance into the world unique. God was manifested in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). This means Jesus Christ existed before His entrance into the world. He could most assuredly say to the Jews with whom He conversed, “before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). He the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is everlasting (Isaiah 9:6). He is God with us (Matthew 1:23).

Photo by Joel Holland on Unsplash

Jesus Christ is distinct from the Father and the Holy Spirit. Matthew 3:16 and Luke 3:21-22 give the account of John immersing Jesus. Jesus came up out of the water, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove, and the Father said of Jesus, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” The Pharisees accused Jesus of not having a reliable message since He bore witness of Himself John 8:13. Under the law of Moses, the testimony of two or more was required (Deuteronomy 17:6). Jesus, however, had the right to bear witness of Himself because of His divine nature. Nevertheless, two witnesses were presented, “I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me” (John 8:18). This reply would be nonsense if Jesus and the Father were identical, just different names for one person. The Holy Spirit is also another distinct from Jesus (John 14:16). The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit make up the One God, but only the Son, Jesus Christ, came in the flesh to live as a human for a third of a century.

Jesus shared in the same part of human life, being flesh and blood, as you and I are presently experiencing (Hebrews 2:14). He became tired, hungry, thirsty, and sick. He was tempted in all points as we are, yet He never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). He can identify with us in our struggles. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3). He offered up prayers to the Father in the midst of vehement cries and tears (Hebrews 5:7). He now stands as our mediator when we pray to God; He does not stand as God who never struggled with human frailties, but as the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). While those outside of Christ have trouble seeing the divinity of Jesus, in the church we may have trouble grappling with the humanity of Jesus. As we partake of the Lord’s supper together this first day of the week, let’s remember John 19:5, which says, “Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”

-Mark Day

To Grow Like the New Testament Church

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Once the church of Christ was established, the Lord was daily adding the saved to it (Acts 2:47). The multitudes that were added kept increasing (Acts 5:14) to the point that the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly (Acts 6:7). The reason for this growth was continual teaching and preaching. The first-century church taught Christ’s word even when persecution arose because of it. Early Christians filled Jerusalem with the doctrine of Christ (Acts 5:28). Right after the apostles had been detained by the council and warned by them not to speak in the name of Jesus (Acts 5:40), they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the Lord’s name (Acts 5:41), and continued preaching and teaching Jesus. Acts 5:42 says, “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” To multiply, the church must teach and preach the gospel to the world (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16).

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The rest of the book of Acts is filled with examples of great numbers of souls being added by the Lord to His church (Acts 8:12, 31; 35, 42; 10:47-48; 11:21, 24; 13:12, 48; 14:1; 16:5; 17:4, 12; 18:8). The church of Christ at Flatwoods has had as its motto a determination to go and grow like the New Testament church. Just as we strive to follow the pattern of the New Testament in the organization and worship of the church, we also must strive to grow like the church in the New Testament. This past week, I noticed the statue of a blue mustang outside the Denver airport. Thinking of this statue compared to real flesh-and-blood racehorses that come to Kentucky to compete, I was reminded of a quote. Regarding churches of Christ, Donald McGavran observed: “For a church to claim to be a New Testament church because it has the right form, as regards deacons and elders, and right ritual in regard to communion and baptism, and right name is, to be sure, good. But the claim sounds a little hollow when the New Testament life and exuberant ability to proclaim the Gospel and propagate churches are lacking. A marble statue of a horse might exhibit all the outward forms, but lacking the ability to run and father colts, it can’t really claim to be a horse. To truly be New Testament churches, the gathering of Christians must want to grow, know how to grow, and pay the price to grow.” Let not this criticism be valid regarding us.

The Goshorns assemble with us this Lord’s day for the last time before their departure to Peru to do mission work. We have the expectation of seeing them again in their return visits. We pray for their family here, their safety there, and their success—that many souls are added by the Lord to His church due to their efforts. We should also be convicted as a congregation to be in mission here in Flatwoods, KY. Daniel, Audrey, Caleb and Charlie are dear friends. Daniel and Audrey have the desire for the Lord’s church to grow, have greatly increased their knowledge of how the church can grow, and are willing to pay the price for the church to grow. Let us all have the desire, know-how, and willingness to pay the price so that souls may be saved.

-Mark Day