Thursday, January 24, 2019

Our Hands Have Handled the Word of Life.


Chapter 7 -- THE INCARNATION ACCORDING TO JOHN IN HIS EPISTLES AND THE REVELATION


John introduced his first Epistle with the reality of Jesus in the flesh. He who was in the beginning with God, became flesh, and the reality of the experience was such that John declared - "We have seen [Him] with our eyes... and our hands have handled [Him]"  Coupled with this firm declaration of the reality of Jesus in the flesh is the warning that many false prophets have gone out into the world, which do not confess that Jesus did come in the flesh. This John declared to be "that spirit of antichrist."   2

Here is the great divide in the theologies that purport to be Christian.  a  Did Christ come all the way down in taking our flesh, or did He possess some higher kind of flesh unknown to man in his fallen state? On this point, Paul had emphatically stated that "without controversy great is the mystery of godliness, God was manifest in the flesh."  3  Paul had further emphasized that Christ partook of the "same" flesh and blood as man.  4  John declared that to deny this fundamental truth concerning the Incarnation was to reveal the spirit of antichrist.

If Christ came and lived on a different plane than man, in a different flesh than man has, then there would be no way for Christ to be man's Example, and a Christian could not really represent Him in the world. But John indicated that "as He is, so are we in this world." 5  And what was He? It is written:  To human eyes, Christ was only a man, yet He was a perfect man. In His humanity He was the impersonation of the divine character. God embodied His own attributes in His Son, - His power, His wisdom, His goodness, His purity, His truthfulness, His spirituality, and His benevolence. In Him, though human, all perfection of (a  See Appendix A)

p 53 -- character, all divine excellence dwelt. 6

The same relationship between Christ and His people as stated in the Epistle of John is also reiterated in the book of Revelation in the message to the overcomers of the church of Laodicea. Christ's followers are to overcome "even as [He] overcame."  7  Christ accepted the liability of "the" flesh, and met the Law of Equivalence, so that man might also experience victory by the way and through the means provided in the sacrificial offering on Calvary, and High Priestly intercession. On this point it is stated:       Christ came to this world to counteract Satan's falsehood that God had made a law which men could not keep. Taking humanity upon Himself, He came to this earth, and by a life of obedience showed that God has not made a law that man cannot keep. He showed that it is possible for man to perfectly obey the law. Those who accept Christ as their Saviour, becoming partakers of His divine nature, are enabled to follow His example, living in obedience to every precept of the law. Through the merits of Christ, man is to show by his obedience that he could be trusted in heaven, that he would not rebel.

Christ possessed the same nature that man possesses. He was tempted in all points like as man is tempted. The same power by which He obeyed is at man's command.  8
In the book of Revelation, the One exalted to the throne of God is revealed as still "the Son of man."   9  His pre-existence, and His incarnation are presented in the symbolism of Chapter Twelve. There, He as Michael - the name means, One who is like God - is portrayed in deadly conflict with the originator of sin and evil - the great-red dragon - who is declared to be the devil and Satan.   10  He is revealed as Christ - the Messiah and the Lamb - who cast down the "accuser" of the brethren, and through Whom the brethren in turn overcome the accuser.  11  But in the introduction of this whole chapter, there is portrayed in prophetic symbolism the first gospel promise made to Eve in Eden. The seed of the woman would bruise the serpent's head.  12   This seed of the woman
p 54 -- is declared to be "a man-child."

In the Greek, there are three words that John could have used to describe Jesus as a man. He could have chosen -anqrwpoV - which is used to indicate man in the generic sense. Such a designation is found frequently in the gospels where Jesus refers to Himself as the Son of man.  13  He could have selected the word - anhr - which means man in reference to his sex, but also has broader shades of meaning. It is used to contrast an adult with a boy, and a husband in relationship to a wife. In the Scriptures this word is also used to designate non-sexual heavenly beings such as the angels."  14  John, however, moved by the Spirit chose the word - arsen or arsena - to express the thought conveyed in regard to the Man-child. This word denotes singularly the male sex. Jesus Christ was a man in every sense of the word. The emphasis is heightened by the fact that this designation is quoted from a prophecy of Isaiah, where the Hebrew word - zakar - is used to distinguish the male child.  15  The etymology of this word indicates the emphasis to be drawn.  16

Our Saviour in accepting humanity was not bereft of any organism or glandular structure common to the rest of the sons of Adam, but became liable to all the temptations such as are common to man. He understood the drives which the enemy could stimulate in seeking men to violate the seventh commandment. He was not a eunuch, nor an angel. Neither did He isolate Himself from contacts with the opposite sex. Seven times did the sexually weak, but evidently very desirable Mary hear Jesus pray for her, and rebuke the power that held her captive. There is no evidence that this was done in public meetings, but rather on such occasions which could be construed in modern parlance as private counselling sessions. But Mary came to understand how offensive was her sin to His
p 55 - unsullied purity.  17  So victorious was the Man-child that He could pin-point the violation of the seventh commandment to a mere look, and then after a ministry which involved close contact with the opposite sex, and with women as a part of His traveling company,  18  could ask the question - "Which of you convinceth Me of sin?" - and not one could lift an accusing voice!  19  He who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, must first set an example that He was able to rule the nature of man with an iron rod.

The glory of this revelation is found in the simple declaration that "her child was caught up unto God and His throne."  20  There at the throne of God is One who understands all the feelings of our infirmities; Who was tempted in all points like as we are. He is able through His intercession to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him. He is indeed a complete Saviour because He completely identified Himself with the race He came to save, meeting in every respect the Law of Equivalence.

The final picture of this chapter "the remnant of her seed"  21  - overcome as He overcame, for they keep the commandments of God, revealing in their lives the testimony of Jesus.

1     I John 1:1 
2    1 John 4:1-3
3    1 Timothy 3:16
4    Hebrews 2:14
5    1 John 4:17
6    E11en G. White, Youth's Instructor, Sept. 16, 1897
7    Revelation 3:21
8    Ellen G. White, That I may Know Him, p. 292
9    Revelation 1:13
10 Revelation 12:7-9
11  Revelation 12:10-11
12  Revelation 12:1-5
13  Matthew 16:13
14  Luke 24:4; Acts 10:30
15  Isaiah 66:7
16  William Gesenius, A Hebrew and English Lexicon, 9th Edition, pp. 278-279
17  E11en G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 568
18  Luke 8:1-3
19 John 8:46
20  Revelation 12:5 
21  Revelation 12:17

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