Consecration.

 

Members of the Body.

 Present Truth Articles - Members of One Another - By A.T. Jones

(Excerpt)

We have often noticed those Scriptures which set forth the church as the body of Christ, and the members of the  church as members of the body of Christ, and therefore members one of another, as they by "joints and bonds"  are "knit together in love." As the members of the church are members of the body of Christ, and also members one of another, how can it be but that there shall be unity in the church. If I am a member of the body of Christ, and you are a member of the body of Christ, then if we have any respect for Christ how can it be that we shall have any disrespect for one another? If we love Christ how can we have anything but love for one another? But more than this, we are also members one of another, and as "no man has ever yet hated his own flesh," how then can it ever be that we should not love one another.

This is the very test of our love for Christ: "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that  loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" 1 John 4:20. No man can appreciate the love of Christ while he is cross and spiteful and cruel to his brother, for whom Christ died. 

Church members cannot expect to honor Christ while they dishonor one another. In dishonoring one another they do dishonor Christ, because "we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones." But when each

one sees in his brother one for whom the Saviour died, and one who is a member of the body of Christ, then each one will treat his brother tenderly, lovingly, as the Saviour is tender and loving. When each one sees in his

brother a soul so precious as that Christ died for him, he is not going to treat him slightingly, nor needlessly cause him pain. To cause a brother pain cannot be without causing Christ pain, for we are members of His body,

and He is the Head of the body, and it is the head always which is really conscious of any pain in the body. The Scripture would have us realize the closeness, the intricacy, of the relationship between Christ and the church,

and between the members one with another in the church.

Paul sets this forth as follows:--

"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles,

whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And

if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; it is therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath

God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him.

And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

Nay, much more those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary; and those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely

parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need; but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked; that there should be no schism in the

body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ,

and members in particular." 1 Cor. 12:12-27.

In this it is shown that in the church--the body--of Christ, the members make up the body, as in the human body the eyes, the hands, the feet, etc., form the body. As in the human body the different members are joined one to another, each in its proper place, to form the perfect body, so also is the body of Christ. And God hath "set the members every one in the body as it hath pleased Him." And as in the human body one dislocated member disconcerts and deforms the whole body, so also is it in the body of Christ. As in the human body, each member can properly fulfill its function only by working in the place in which it belongs, so also is it in the body of Christ.

For each member to know his place, and keep it, in the church, is just as essential to the efficient working of the church as that each member of the human body shall properly be set in its proper place, in order to the easy,

comfortable working of the human body. But "all members have not the same office:" all cannot be hands, all cannot be eyes, all cannot be feet.

Let the eye and the hand change places, and the good of both would be destroyed, and each would be an evil to  the whole body. Let the hands and the feet change places, and the efficiency of all would be destroyed. But with

all the members--eyes, hands, and feet--in their proper places, each can be efficient in its own place, and all working together can do that which the hand finds to do. The eye sees that which is to be done, the feet carry us

within reach, and the hands perform the task, and each is essential to the working of the other. Except they all work together no task can be efficiently executed. "The eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee; nor, again, the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary." To no part of the body can any other part of the body say, "I have no need of

you."

Thus it is with the human body, as everybody knows; and thus it is with the body of Christ--the church--as everybody ought to know. Each member of the church, in his place, is necessary to every other member of the church. Yea, even "those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary," and those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, upon these we should bestow more abundant honor.

Christ has honored them with a place in the church, shall we despise them? "The members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored,

all the members rejoice with it." Or as it is said in another place: "Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body." Heb. 13:3. "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." And, oh, that everyone who is a member of the church would realize how sacred is the relationship into which he has entered! Then, indeed, would the disciples of Christ be one, and the world would believe that God sent Him.

For the edifying--the building up--of the church, the Lord has placed certain gifts in the church. "When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Eph. 4:8, 11-13. In another place it is written of these gifts, "God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily

prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, government, diversities of tongues." 1 Cor. 12:28. Thus we see that the gift of teaching the Word of God is only third in importance of the gifts of the

Spirit of God to members of the church. It is second only to the gift of prophecy, and is before miracles, or gifts of healings, or diversities of tongues.

Paul expressed the matter thus: "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all; yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand

words in an unknown tongue." 1 Cor. 14:18, 19.

But though all could speak with the tongues of men and of angels, if they have not charity--the love of God--they are but as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. Though all had the gift of prophecy, and the gift of wisdom to the understanding of all mysteries and all knowledge; and though all had faith that could remove mountains, if they have not charity they are nothing. And though all were so benevolent as that they would bestow all their goods

to feed the poor; and though they were all so perfectly assured of what they believe that they would die at the stake as witnesses to it, if they have not charity it will profit nothing. Charity is love. It is the love of God shed

abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost. It is that love which keeps the commandments of God, "for this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments;" and "love is the fulfilling of the law." Therefore, though all have all these wondrous powers, and have not the keeping of the commandments of God, they are nothing. "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." 

But if there be in the church the love of God, keeping the commandments of God, then all these gifts, working together with charity, build up the body of Christ, make increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love, and increase it with the increase of God. 

How long shall it be ere the church of the living God comes up to the fullness of its high privilege?

 

One True Example.

 "Miracle Worker, oh, he was here a long time ago." That was one response Rarnee had heard all too often.

"Oh, he hasn't been here in months, maybe over a year." Another common reply.

"Yes, I know of him. No, I don't know where he's gone." 

All those responses in village after village. Finally Jerusalem loomed near and she was sure it would be in that great city she'd find the Miracle Worker. The Holy Temple was there, and the High Priest did the work of God in that temple and most assuredly he would know of the Miracle Worker. For all she knew, the Miracle Worker had been given his own place of honor in the Holy City, what else could befall one who could do the works of God this man was able to do?

*

Present Truth Articles- The One Example - By A.T. Jones (Excerpt)

Jesus Christ is the one only example for men to follow. To every man He commands absolutely, 

"Follow Me."

"Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me." 

"I am the door,"

"he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber."

"By Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved."

The Lord Jesus is the one only person whom this world ever saw who met perfectly, in the fullest measure, every requirement of the perfect law of God. He was made flesh, and He in the flesh and form and nature of man, stood in every place and met every temptation that any man can ever meet, and in every place and in everything He met all the demands of the perfect law of God. He did it from infancy to the prime of manhood, and never failed. "He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin." 

Therefore, as He is the only person whom this world ever saw who ever met to the full all the perfect requirements of the law of God, it follows that He is the only person whom the world ever saw, or ever shall see, who can be an example for men, or whose example is worthy to be followed by man.

Therefore, when preachers and leaders of theological thought anywhere present before men any other example, even though it be the example of the apostles, and seek to induce men to follow any other example, even though

it be proposed as apostolic example, such conduct is sin against God, and treason against our Lord Jesus Christ.

And that there are men, in this day, Protestants too, who are doing that very thing only shows how far from Christ the religious teachers of the day have gone. It is time that they and all men should be told, that the law of God is the one perfect rule of human duty; that the Lord Jesus Christ is the one perfect example that has been worked out, in this world, under that rule; and all men who will correctly solve the problem of human destiny must solve it by the terms of that rule as exemplified in, and according to, that example. Whoever attempts to solve the problem by any other rule, or according to any other example, will utterly fail of a correct solution; and whoever teaches men to attempt to solve it by any other rule, or according to any other example, even though it be by "the example of the apostles," both sets and teaches treason against the Lord Jesus Christ.

What, then, is the example of Christ in regard to keeping the first day of the week? There is no example about it at all. He never kept it. But where there is no example of Christ there can be no example of the apostles. Therefore

there is not, and cannot be, any such thing as the example of the apostles for keeping the first day of the week.

What, then, is the example of Christ in regard to keeping the seventh day? He kept the first seventh day the world ever saw, when He had finished His great work of creation. When He came into the world, everybody knows that

He kept it as long as He lived in the world. And "he that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk even as He walked." Therefore, those who walk as He walked will have to keep the seventh day. His steps led

Him to the place of worship on the seventh day for thus "His custom was" (Luke 4:16), and He taught the people how to keep the seventh day, the sabbath of the Lord (Matt. 12:1-12). And He has left "us an example that ye

should follow His steps." And all who follow His steps will be led by those steps to keep the seventh day, and to turn away their feet from the Sabbath, for such is His example. 

Paul said "Be ye followers of men, even as I also am of Christ." Now was Paul a follower of Christ in the matter of the seventh day? Let us see: "And He [Christ] came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His

custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read." Luke 4:16. And of Paul it is said, by the same writer, "They came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews, and Paul, as his

manner [custom] was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures." Acts 17:1, 2. Paul did follow Christ in His "custom" of keeping the sabbath day--the seventh day--therefore, if any

man will obey the Word of God by Paul, and will be a follower of Paul as he followed Christ, it will have to be his "custom to go to the house of God, and to worship God, on the seventh day. For the keeping of the seventh day we have the commandment of God and the example of the living God (Ex.

20:8-11; Gen. 2:3), and of the Lord Jesus Christ, both in Heaven and on earth, both as Creator and Redeemer. And there is neither command nor example for the keeping of any other day. Will you obey the commandment of God, and follow the divine example in divine things? or will you, instead, obey a human command and follow human example in human things, and expect the divine reward for it? Answer now as you expect to answer in the

Judgment.

*

I will obey the commandment of God, and follow the divine example in divine things. All by the grace and will, the love and mercy of my Savior, Jesus Christ my Lord!

Self-Sinner.

 Self…sins.

That's right, self…sins. 

The self-serving part of us sins. Name a sin that isn't self-serving in some way. 

The ironic thing is, what we consider self-serving is in fact ultimately going to kill us. The wages of sin is death. We kill ourselves through our sins and it's not a death necessarily of our flesh. You can sin until you're a hundred years old, but ultimately the death you'll reap from all the sin is a permanent death of non-existence. Non-existence. If you think your life of a hundred years is long, ask all those who are on the brink of a hundred years of life how fast all those years went by for them. They'll tell you it went very quickly. In the grand scheme of things, a hundred years is something that can go by very quickly. A hundred years when held against eternity is absolutely very little time.  Your years of sin revelry won't last, can't last, what you believe you're doing when you sin- serving self- is actually killing you and not serving yourself at all. You've been deceived into believing your sinning serving self is doing you good in some way or else why would you continue on in sin?  Not all sins that so easily beset us are easy to sin no more, but at the very most you must hate the sin and strive against sin. A true repentance, a genuine lamentation, a very real soul affliction must be made. A Holy Spirit conviction, a constant dying daily to self,  a surrender, an opening of the door to the One who knocks, the mystery of Christ in us, this must be our life! Only Christ in us- our hope - can give us the eternal salvation He alone can offer.  Christ our hope. 

(Excerpt- A.T. Jones)

The word of Christ to every man is this, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself." Luke 9:23.

All sin is of self, and self is of Satan. All righteousness is of Christ, and Christ is of God.

Therefore let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, "who emptied Himself" that the Father might appear to men, and that men might be saved. Let it be in you. As surely as you will let this mind be in you, so surely will it be in you. And so surely as in Him it led Him to empty Himself, so surely it will lead you to empty yourself of all self. And so surely as you are emptied of self, so surely will you be "filled with all the fullness of God." Eph. 3:19.

*******

"I just want to die! Let me die! Please, let me die!" Venjeran screamed. That scream however was nothing but a hoarse whisper to those who sat near him. 

"More balm, get more balm," Aljudia, one of two healers called to the servant boy who instantly rushed off. 

"The balm is not working," Whygni countered, but didn't yell for the servant boy not to go. 

"Nothing is working, nothing. We need stronger bark for the tea, and more of the soothing incense. The incense will help him sleep it's the only thing that does," Aljudia sighed, and reached out with a cool cloth touching it to the suffering man's brow.

"I'll get the incense," Whygni mumbled and left the room with forlorn parting remark. "Rarnee needs to return, and soon, or Venjeran is going to will himself to die."

*

"Are you sure you should go? You've scarcely recovered and…"

"Yes, I have to go. Venjeran…" Rarnee sighed leaving her sentence unfinished.

"Venjeran needs you, I understand," Luida commiserated. She wished things could be different for Rarnee and her ill husband. 

She'd been away from him for over two months and in truth didn't know if he were dead or alive. Unless she found the Miracle Worker and brought Him to Venjeran she couldn't return. How could she live with herself if she didn't do everything she could to help her husband. Some might question her leaving him in his time of desperate need, but he'd wanted her to help him and she could do nothing for him, nothing.  Putting a cool cloth on his head as he screamed in agony, did nothing. Crying hot tears as he cried tears of pain, did nothing.  When knowledge of the Miracle Worker came to her she knew right then she had to try to find Him because only a miracle could save her husband. Yes, she'd thought about the possibility of Venjeran dying while she was gone and every time the thought came she pushed it hard away from her, refusing to entertain the idea as any sort of reality. 

"I leave tomorrow morning and I can't thank you enough, Luida," Rarnee said, and reached for the woman's hands with hers, squeezing gently.

"All thanks goes to God, Rarnee, all thanks and all glory. He brought you to us and you've blessed us with your presence. You revived the memories of the Miracle Worker and all the blessings we received at His hands. You'll find Him, Rarnee, I know you'll find Him." 

Would she? She had to.

"Yes, I'll find Him."

Jesus Is the Acceptable Part of Us.

 The Greatest Mystery. 

Guess what?! You're invited to this greatest of mysteries!

The Riches of the Glory of This Mystery--Christ In You--Christ the Hope of Glory--Every Man Perfect In Christ Jesus.

You HAVE to admit that it is the greatest mystery -how we can be made perfect by Christ Jesus. 

From the worst most blatant sinner to the saint-seeming sinner, we are ALL corrupted. God will look for Christ in us because only Christ in us is worthy of redemption. Our works will be brought into judgment and only one work we do will be acceptable. The work of believing on Jesus Christ whom God sent to us, and believing over and over and over again- every day a renewed belief!

Christ in you, the hope of glory- not you in Christ, the hope of glory. There is a difference. Christ comes to live in us, we invite Him into our lives. We do not do the work of entering into Christ, we do not knock on His door. We have to believe truly that our salvation rests solely on Christ and His merits, and not a single merit of our own. Our believing is our work. Our believing that He draws us to Him and that alone brings us to Him for Him to enter into us, this is our work. We stand before Christ by invitation. We must accept the invitation, the rest is for Christ Jesus to do, for the Holy Spirit to enable.

When we are invited to an event -unless specifically stated we are under no obligation to bring something to that event (social dictation may require us to bring a token gift to a small, intimate event, or the nature of event may be to garner gifts). This particular huge event, this royal event does not dictate we bring anything- we are being gifted even by the invitation- our presence is all the reciprocation desired. Our showing up to the event we've been invited to, this is all important. Not showing up automatically leaves us empty, not able in any way to experience the event. We must show up. You can't show up to an event that doesn't take place.

The event you are allowed to attend has you escorted into, and given all you need, to take part in the event you've been invited to. Not wearing the appropriate clothing? Of course you're not. Clothing is offered to you. Not clean enough to don the appropriate clothing, a bath is offered to you. So hungry you fear you can't last until the main feast, a snack of ample substance is given to you. So thirsty you can't think straight, you are offered something to drink. In fact everyone who accepts the invitation to this event must partake of all the services offered, because this event is so unique, so inexplicably intricate and fancy, and such a mystery that none are ever appropriately prepared for the event. The invitation is not only for the event, but for that preparation for the event. You can only be prepare by allowing the host to do all these things for you, you simply must let him do what needs to be done. You must yield yourself to the host. Nothing you can ever think to do to be prepared will be acceptable, because the event is otherworldly, out of your realm of comprehension, filled with the wondrous.

Christ extends the invitation we accept the invitation and invite Him in and as soon as we invite Him in we are inviting Him to change us completely. This change is something that is done in mystery, we are just told to believe it will take place and be done in us. We are told to believe. Believe even when we cannot see, even when we cannot comprehend, even when we notice no change at all, we are told to believe -this is our work. The change will come in us and it's not supposed to be recognized as a change in us but recognized as Christ in us. That recognition may very well be unrecognizable to keep us from the tiniest sliver of laying claim to our making the change by something we've done- other than believe. We cannot force our own change try as we might, and boy, do we try. We sometimes try so hard we forget completely to yield and begin to do all kinds of things we think are commendable and acceptable, but none of those things are because NOTHING we do can be acceptable. It must all be done by our Savior every last bit, nothing excluded.  Jesus alone is the acceptable, when Jesus enters into us He is the acceptable part of us. 

Col 1:26  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 

Col 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 

Col 1:29  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. 

Joh 6:28  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 

Joh 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent

God-Man, Miracle Worker.

 The Miracle Worker- all knew the man who was meant by such a name, but none knew his given name in order to ask after him. Some could remember knowing his name at one time, hearing his name more than once, and yet could not remember that name now. The collective memory loss revolving around a single name confused the villagers but one of their wisest villagers simply remarked- "All glory to God."  

They all agreed the Miracle Worker mentioned God often, and gave glory to Him endlessly. On Sabbaths the Miracle Worker had spoke in such a way they had their hearts touched and their spirits awakened as never before. The Miracle Worker was a miracle in and of himself, they knew this at the very core of their being. Never before in the history of all history had there ever been a time when such a man could heal as he, never.  Yes, each village had their healers, but their healing abilities were basic in comparison to this man's. They could clean and dress a wound, he could heal the wound to completion. They could give teas of herbs and spices for illnesses, he spoke a word and their illnesses were gone. They could wrap a broken bone, splint it and such, but he could make it so that is was as if the broken bone had never broken. They could offer as much comfort for things completely out of their realm of being able to help- leprosy, lameness, blindness, demon possession, mutism, deafness, wasting diseases and the like. The Miracle Worker cured all of those things, all of them! 

The Miracle Worker was from God, no one in their village would dispute that claim, who else could have sent such a prophet! God had blessed them richly and they couldn't even remember the Miracle Worker's name. All glory to God. He was a God-sent man, a prophet, but what was his name? All prophets had names. All glory to God - proclaimed the God Prophet, Miracle Worker, all glory to God.

They would have deemed him an angel sent by God, if they hadn't learned of his continued work all through their land. He was no angel, at least not an angel they'd ever been taught existed and walked among man before. He was a man, but a God man, they knew this in their hearts. Not a single villager would say different for all had been touched by him, healed by him in one way or another.

When their sicknesses began to return they didn't feel regret, they didn't feel anger, they continued to feel blessed, because they had been blessed. The blind never lost their sight, all those with diseases cured did not succumb to them again, and so on.  Did the newly diseased lament their new conditions having come too late for the Miracle Worker to cure? Sure, in some ways they couldn't help but mourn their fate, but they were still grateful for all he'd done, and when he'd done it.  

All glory to God- as the God-man proclaimed, all glory to God.

*******

A.T. Jones (Excerpt)

'So entirely did He empty Himself of all self that He could say with perfect truth, 

"I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me." John 6:38. 

"I can of Mine own self do nothing: As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is just because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me." John 5:30.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do; for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." Verse 19. 

"The Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works." John 14:10. 

"My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me." John 7:16. 

"The words that I speak unto you, I speak not of Myself," "But the Father which sent Me, He gave a commandment, what I should say and what I should speak." John 14:10; 12:49.

He came not doing His own will, nor speaking His own words, nor doing His own works.

It was the Father's will which was done in Him; it was the Father's words that were spoken by Him; and it was the Father's works that were done in Him. 

That is to say, He emptied Himself that the Father might appear in Him. And when He emptied Himself, the Father did appear in Him. And so, "in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." He was "God manifest in the flesh," "God with us."

But He did all this that men might know the Father as He really is. 

Therefore, He says none know "the Father but the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him." "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father." 

This is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world.

What the Father was to the Son and in the Son in this world, that is just what He wishes to be to every person in this world. And just as certainly as any man will empty himself of self, as Christ did, so certainly will the Father be to him, and in him, what He was to the Son, and in the Son.

He Humbled Himself

 

God Jesus stripped off His divinity when He chose to humble Himself knowing that when He took on the flesh of humanity, He was taking on death.  He died for us unworthy creatures. 

Satan longs to be a god, equal with God the Father, equal with God Jesus. Satan's twisted mind, warped through pride, has Him believing he is a god- not equal, but better than the Father and Jesus, as well as the Holy Spirit. Satan took one third of God's created angels, angels just as He was an angel and through deception, the angel gathered other angels and began a life separated from the Gods of Heaven. Satan chose to target God's created human beings and was able to deceive them. They were now Satan's! They belonged to him! However, they were destined to die. He could NOT offer them eternal life, he didn't even try, it wasn't his to give. He offered them deception. He convinced them they needed to live their lives for themselves just as he lived his life for himself. He set up lie after lie, after lie. The first lie he set up was telling mankind they wouldn't die. He lied. To spin his lie, he told them once this body they possessed stopped living they had another body waiting for them, a body like his, a spirit body. He lied. 

Satan is the Father of lies and proud of it.

Jesus God who was in every way equal to God the Father willingly gave up His God power just to become a human being, to become part of a created race. Not only did He become part of a created race, but part of a created race that had succumbed to a created fallen angel's lies, a race of weak, sin inclined flesh. He humbled Himself. 

Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 

Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 

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

A.T. Jones

'Then, when the fullness of time was come, the Father would reveal Himself to mankind as He really is, and His bearing toward the world of sinners. And in order that this might be done in its fullness and perfection, Jesus emptied Himself, and "took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Phil. 2:6-8. 

"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." John 1:14.

So entirely did He empty Himself of all self that He could say with perfect truth, "I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me." John 6:38. "I can of Mine own self do nothing: As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is just because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me." John 5:30. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do; for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." Verse 19. "The Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works." John 14:10. "My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me." John 7:16. "The words that I speak unto you, I speak not of Myself," "But the Father which sent Me, He gave a commandment, what I should say and what I should speak." John 14:10; 12:49.'