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. 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.
The eternal divine Word who was with God and was God, through whom all things were made, truly became flesh as a real human being and lived among people. In becoming flesh he united deity with humanity, remaining fully divine while clothing and veiling his dazzling glory in human flesh so fallen people could draw near and know God without being consumed. He dwelt like in a tent pitched among sinners, revealing the Father's character full of grace and truth, with that glory seen not in outward pomp but in meekness, humility, love and goodness crowned at the cross. Though he made the world and came to his own, the world did not know him and his own did not receive him, yet to all who receive him and believe in his name he gives power to become sons of God by new birth from God. He came as substitute and surety to bear sins and the curse on the cross and to live perfect obedience, so that beholding him transforms believers into his likeness and makes them partakers of divine nature.
Word Became Human Flesh
The eternal divine Word who was with God and was God from the beginning, through whom all things were made and in whom was life and light, the preexistent Creator, source of life and only-begotten Son one with the Father in nature, character and purpose, truly became flesh as a real human being and lived among people. His glory seen in flesh was the glory of the Father's only begotten Son, full of grace and truth, and from His fullness people receive grace upon grace. Becoming flesh means He was made like His brethren in all things, standing at the head of humanity to win men back to allegiance. This joining of power with human weakness enables living by God's law, and receiving Him gives power to become children of God by birth from God, not by blood, flesh, family descent or human will.
The same eternal Word who became flesh had announced at the fall His purpose to become man's substitute and surety to redeem sinners. He led Israel out of Egypt, gave light to Moses, and led Israel in the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. He existed with the Father from eternity before John the Baptist with surpassing glory and authority, was with the Father before the world existed as both God and man, and was already Redeemer revealed through patriarchs, sacrifices, law and prophets, promised to Adam and Eve as invincible Deliverer coming in human flesh bringing grace and truth. His incarnation continued His work for Israel and set a perfect standard of purity, righteousness and love with bright prospect of immortal life.
In becoming flesh He united deity with humanity, clothing divinity with humanity while remaining fully divine and sinless, without exchanging divinity for humanity, possessing both natures for complete redemption, so that to look at Him in humanity is to look upon God. He became bone of human bone and flesh of human flesh, and by that human relationship drew men close to God, demonstrating before the heavenly universe and unfallen worlds how much God loves men. His humanity shared the humbling conditions of a fallen race and the condition of the poor and laboring, yet He lived out Jehovah's law in human life and raised humanity by joining it to the divine nature. He could bear human weakness, endure temptation, taste death for every person, and give Himself as sacrifice so they might live His life, meeting need with compassion, patience and gracious help.
The incarnation is God manifested in the flesh and the mystery of godliness. It is a revealed fact too deep for finite minds to explain or fully comprehend, to be accepted as true on God's word even when Scripture gives no explanation of why or how. Like the entrance of sin, regeneration and resurrection it presents wonders beyond human ken, and inability to understand gives no reason to doubt, since the difficulty lies solely in the weakness and narrowness of the human mind. Its greatness human words, intellect and wisdom cannot trace or penetrate, the most powerful intellect is empty before it, and it requires faith and strengthening by the Spirit to begin to grasp its breadth and length and depth and height.
Denying His incarnation denies His divinity and His place as personal Saviour, for He was one with the Father from the beginning as preexistent divine only-begotten Son become human in miraculous incarnation. The mystery should be more fully understood and experienced, since obedience to God's commandments and searching His word would help people understand and appreciate redemption, and many understand it only dimly. Experiencing this truth is essential both to redemption and to daily sanctification. His taking human nature was marvelous condescension revealing God's great love and the divine wisdom devising grace, rightly melting hearts with gratitude and moving to humble adoration, and what is to be accomplished for humanity by it can be comprehended in measure.
Becoming human was voluntary, humble condescension: though Prince of heaven and Commander of heavenly hosts, equal with God, He laid aside royal position, kingly crown, royal robe, brightness of glory and high command. He left sinless worlds and the ninety and nine that loved Him, and came without outward pomp, display, earthly riches or angelic retinue as a frail helpless babe in humble surroundings. He veiled outward display of divinity and accepted mortality, poverty and humiliation to make atonement, teach all classes, and show a life free from selfishness and sin as example of what people may become through grace. Had He come in glory no one could have looked upon Him and lived, but humanity might touch humanity while divinity laid hold on the throne, and for our sake He became poor that believers might share eternal weight of glory.
He took human nature not angelic nature, in the seed of Abraham, sharing deteriorated human flesh, infirmities, poverty, grief, weakness, hunger, thirst, weariness, sorrow, temptation, mockery, suffering and death, from manger to cross. He was sustained by food and refreshed by sleep, sharing the lot of men, exposed to all sharpness of temptation and bitterness of keenest sorrow. Yet without losing dignity He lived spotless, untainted and sinless, fulfilling prophecy, perfecting character after the divine similitude by prayer and strong supplication and by perfect obedience procuring redemption for the obedient. He alone could make atonement, put away sin by sacrifice of Himself, open Paradise, and place fallen people on vantage ground, with the cross as center of hope, and He can sympathize, succor the tempted and deliver the godly.
He came in the fullness of time at the appointed time when darkness covered the earth and the world seemed wholly given to Satan. Nearly two thousand years ago He came as visitor from heaven and Light of the world to a guilty world. He lived nearly thirty years hidden in obscurity at Nazareth, unhonored and unknown, working as a carpenter for wages as servant without claiming greatness though all the angel host was at His command, preserving the level of humanity. Even toiling as carpenter He fulfilled His mission as Pattern Man as certainly as when walking on the sea, raising the dead or dying on the cross, teaching how closely men may walk with God in common life. Then He ministered three and a half years displaying the glory of the only begotten, full of grace and truth, continually refreshing humanity as source of life and comfort, imprinting followers' hearts and identifying with fallen humanity in weakness and need.
Humble Sinless Earthly Life
He lived as a stranger and sojourner in the world, in the world but not of the world, tempted and tried as men and women are yet living a life free from sin as the blameless Son of God. He took human nature, not angelic nature, and suffered in man's behalf as the only possible substitute, bearing the penalty to open Paradise to the fallen race. In that human life he lived by faith in continual dependence upon the word of God, sustained by life and strength and grace, and though cruelly crucified he rose from the grave in triumph over death in which his Godhead shone forth and proclaimed the resurrection.
In human nature he was tempted in every point as people are yet without sin, overcoming by prayer and strong supplication, and he passed over the same ground where Adam fell and endured the test Adam failed. His perfect obedience to God's eternal word secured redemption for the obedient, so that had he failed in even one point Satan would have won. He endured God's test as a perfect example proving that human beings may obey, and as a child his divinity showed in distinguishing right from wrong, holding up God's commandments like a mirror with firm justice joined to tender love.
His life among men was tender, compassionate, sympathetic and ever considerate, representing the character of God in constant service with complete kindness and truth. He shared people's concerns and poverty and grief, fed the hungry, healed the sick, went about doing good, brought hope to the downcast and peace to the distressed, and blessing wherever he went. His feeding of the five thousand shows his care for human need and that he can do great things for his people, and though surrounded by mockery and suffering he retained real dignity while divinity flashed through his humanity.
He took ordinary human features with no striking beauty to attract admiration, shared the condition of the poor and laboring people, tasted death for every person, and made his light available to every rank. He stooped to poverty and deepest abasement, having nowhere to lay his head, born poor to lowly parents and living humbly as a child growing day by day rather than coming as the earthly king expected. He submitted to insult, mockery, contempt, ridicule, misapplication of his love, rejection of his Sonship and reproach over his birth, tasting every bitter woe and every part of the curse to bring many sons and daughters to God.
Though heir of all things and with all the angel host at his command, he did not live idly or indulge himself or seek his own comfort or pleasure. He served in self-denial doing the Father's will, endured hardship, taught righteousness by word and example, spoke truth without deceit, and showed kindness as God's law lived out and a perfect pattern of moral excellence. He walked from place to place to teach, knew hunger and cared for needs, shared his disciples' poverty, cared for them and bore their burdens, and his earthly work culminated in giving his life as the price of redemption. His life as minister of healing to body and soul grounds the missionary work to be continued by those united with him.
He came as divine Teacher, Instructor and Elder Brother to give expression to the mind of God and show what true ministry is, teaching men and women how to live perfect lives and what man might become as a son of God. His divinity clothed with humanity stood as perfect teacher illustrating the high and holy principles the saved must reveal, living God's law in purity, explaining its true meaning, and correcting errors and traditions that had obscured it. He taught through example, words and actions and preached saving gospel truth showing how to be saved, and his teachings in Old and New Testaments are to be sacredly cherished and obeyed so that beholding his example reforms life.
As Good Shepherd he took human nature and lived among human beings as the sheep of his pasture to teach the way of life. He pitched his tent among human encampments close to the poor and lowly though King of glory, coming near to humanity to lead followers. He worked as true medical missionary and great miracle-worker bringing healing to soul and body, the one on whom people can rely as source of strength, glory and power.
By dwelling in the common course of daily life through childhood, youth and manhood with severe trials, he gave a living example of the truths he taught. He dwelt long at Nazareth unhonored and unknown, living nearly thirty years hidden in obscurity working as a carpenter for wages without claiming greatness, just as certainly fulfilling his mission as Pattern Man as when walking on the sea, raising the dead, or dying on the cross. In that daily life he taught how closely people may walk with God, showed heaven may be very near in common walks, and drew sympathy by showing himself capable of sympathizing with all.
Dwelling Veiled in Glory
“Dwelt” means tabernacled, as a tent pitched in the camp among erring sinners. He lived close to people, continually refreshing humanity as a source of life and comfort. He sought to imprint his character upon the hearts of his followers, and identified himself with fallen humanity in its weakness and need. His presence among people was heaven’s tabernacle set up among them, bringing the character of God before the world and beginning his appointed work as Mediator.
His divine glory was clothed and veiled in visible human flesh while he remained joined to God. Dazzling splendor, fullness of glory, majesty and divine claims were hidden without outward display. This was so fallen people could draw near, talk with him, become acquainted with their Creator and know his character without being overwhelmed or consumed. Had he come in his glory no one could have looked upon him and lived, just as Daniel fell as dead before unveiled glory until the messenger veiled it. The disciples therefore did not fully recognize his glory during his earthly life, but after the Holy Spirit came they understood they had been with the Lord of glory.
No imagery, description or angel could personate God. Sinners could not have lived in the presence of the glory he had with the Father, nor looked on him in full divine power and lived. So he took a prepared body with human faculties to walk and talk as Teacher sent from God, not as an angel. He veiled divinity lest unveiled divinity quench sinners’ lives. Through him people became conscious of God’s presence, and heaven came down to humanity encompassed by his love.
Through what was familiar and visible he made the unseen God known. Divinity flashing through humanity in softening light revealed divine character and life in human form, so invisible glory became visible. In every act and lesson people see and hear the Father, and God’s treasure of goodness is made available to them. His coming as man was joined to the Father’s gift of him to die for the sins of the world, correcting Satan’s false picture of God as justice without mercy and revealing goodness, love and compassion. Divine power had to be joined to human nature to make overcoming possible and give hope of everlasting life.
He became one with the human family in complete identification, joining himself to fallen beings. He spoke human language, bore trials and poverty, ate at tables and shared toils, meals and work. This close contact and sympathy broke down barriers and was the only means to reach hearts, for even in human form his wonderful works and the mystery of his character inspired awe that tended to shut people away. When Adam’s sin plunged the race into hopeless misery, God answered with still nearer approach instead of banishment and wrath, giving his Son to become bone of human bone and flesh of human flesh and by that human relationship drawing men close to God. He left his heavenly home and took human nature so humanity could meet him in human form, humanity helping humanity so divinity might grasp humanity and humanity might grasp divinity.
Because he once tabernacled here, this cursed world will be ransomed and exalted above all worlds. He is Immanuel, God with us, and his becoming human is part of his work to redeem humanity. In taking human nature he bound himself to humanity by a tie never to be broken, remaining linked as brother through eternal ages, so fallen people become more closely united to God than if they had never fallen. The earth can be known as the Father’s house filled with his presence, never a lonely and desolate place to those who know him in nature and in the Bible. When all things are made new God will dwell with his people and the tabernacle of God shall be with men forever.
Glory Full Grace Truth
His glory is his character, full of grace and truth, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father and the glory of God's character itself. That glory is not worldly pomp or power but meekness and humility and love, discerned as lessons are treasured and life is brought into harmony with the divine pattern. By looking to Jesus and beholding that glory people are changed into his likeness, so that his goodness, wisdom, mercy, love and tender sympathy are woven into practice and shown in unselfish traits that glorify God. At the cross spiritual sight beholds that glory in God's goodness, mercy, pity, sympathy and love. As humanity's head and representative before the Father he received everything needed for fallen people, so that in him they are reckoned to have endured the penalty and fulfilled righteousness, and he gives his character to those who receive and trust him to become one with him. His fullness is offered to all who come, giving rest and peace, saving those who trust, forming a noble and elevated character in those who yield and feed on him as the bread of life. He is to be diligently taught in households as God's great gift, with the Spirit helping children understand and behold him.
He alone is full of grace and truth and all glory is his alone. He is the model of meekness and lowliness and the great Teacher of truth, whose mind is received by learning of him in humility, inspiring and purifying motives, controlling outward actions, and appearing in home life and in enduring, healthful, wholesome, pure and ennobling work. Self-exaltation and high ideas of human importance blind the eyes to his glory, but when he shines upon the soul he is seen as he is, all glory is given to him, and his glory alone fills the soul. Seeing Jesus as he is reveals this character and draws souls to him, giving nearness to God and views of heaven and calling for his character to be represented in daily service through meekness, humility and doing good. That fullness is to appear in those one with him, with self hidden and truth alone as watchword, so that Christ alone is seen and through those united with him life and immortality are brought to light.
The title Only Begotten identifies Jesus, the first-begotten, one with the Father from the beginning, whose glory will be displayed as King of kings and Lord of lords amid heaven's radiance in triumph of his mediatorial work to recover and exalt humanity. He came among humanity as God's divine representative, bringing God's character before the world, with his presence as heaven's tabernacle set up among people and the Father's love revealed as rich and broad, full of grace and truth as he began his appointed work as Mediator. He claimed this identity as the only begotten of the Father, and knowing the only true living God includes knowing him with heart knowledge, to be preached as Christ crucified. He offered himself at Calvary for the fallen race, and the sacrificial system was founded on him with its sacrifices pointing forward to his sacrifice. Denying his miraculous incarnation denies him as personal Saviour and turns from heavenly truth.
The verse records the firsthand testimony of appointed observers who personally saw his divine glory as God's only Son. During his earthly life the disciples did not fully recognize that veiled divine glory. After his resurrection and ascension the Holy Spirit brought his teachings back with vividness more powerful than their first hearing, impressing dormant mind and soul as a new revelation of pure truth, so they understood they had been with the Lord of glory, grasped his character and saving mission, and proclaimed what they had seen with his experience become their own. By beholding and valuing his character John was changed into his likeness, presenting him as the pattern to be reflected especially in love for one another.
His glory must be discerned by faith and beheld with spiritually anointed eyes as altogether lovely, and no earthly art can represent that divine Model. Truly seeing it turns from earthly-mindedness, disobedience, unthankfulness, unholiness and iniquity that dim his glory, keep him in the background, and veil his mercy, forbearance, long-suffering and matchless love. It leads to lifting up Jesus, talking of his love, telling of his power, losing self behind his person and the cross, searching the heart, rejoicing when his gospel is preached by whomsoever it is preached, laboring together with God, and drawing souls that they in turn draw others. His professed followers dim that revelation when their lives are earthly-minded and disobedient, and they are called to reveal him as he is rather than obscuring his mercy, patience and love. Yearning for God's will, holiness and peace opens understanding to the Word and strengthens for faithful service.
From his fullness all receive grace upon grace, favor added to favor, repeated gifts that make believers complete in him, abundantly provided with sufficiency for every soul. Self-righteousness earns nothing, but full and complete acceptance of Christ by faith brings grace upon grace. As Prince of heaven become human he longed for God on humanity's behalf and received power to impart. He clothed divinity with humanity so he could bear weakness and endure temptation, coming full of grace and truth so that those who receive him share his fullness. He was made flesh to redeem fallen man who had lost God's image, for man was made to bear that image as a son of God, and only through this ransom can the original design be accomplished by choice and obedience, with Christ's righteousness supplying lack. Receiving this incarnate Christ gives power to become children of God by birth from God, not by human birth, and this receiving is how overcoming is understood and worked out.
Grace received from his fullness flows out to others in speech, influence, willing offerings and service to win souls into safe paths. Grace in the soul flows through the heart to reveal Jesus to others, which is experimental Christianity, and as it is shared more grace is received and returned to God, continually renewed in increased measure as believers consecrate themselves wholly to God. Every grace received is to be imparted, and giving prepares the soul to receive new grace, while the change makes receivers carry out his principles and represent him by compassionate tenderness, unity and love revealing that God sent his Son. The truth in him lights every step of the narrow way for the ransomed.
Rejected Yet Received
Though He made the world and came to His own home as the promised Messiah, the Light of the world and the bread of God come down from heaven to give life so that none need hunger or thirst, the world lying in curse and darkness did not know Him. His own people, the Jewish nation entrusted with the oracles and redeemed from Egypt, led by Him out of Egypt and given light through Moses, did not recognize, acknowledge or receive Him when He lived among them in human flesh. The incarnate Word's glory is the glory of the Father's only begotten Son, full of grace and truth, yet even those He came to save sought to kill Him, under Satan's influence, and this calls believers to awaken to earnest missionary activity and to work by faith.
The verse shows God sending His only begotten Son last of all after His messengers were persecuted and put to death, sent in the fullness of time to redeem those under the law and to save Israel and win the Jewish people back. Those He came to save refused Him, wanted none of Him, would not hear His voice, repaid good with evil under Satan's control, yielded themselves to Satan's forces after leaving allegiance, and sought opportunity to put Him to death. Stirred by Satan, they condemned Him to crucifixion in Pilate's judgment hall, and in that treatment Satan revealed his murderous character and what he would do if he controlled the nation.
He did not come as the Jews expected, and their fixed expectations led them to refuse Him. The natural, carnal heart does not love Christian graces, and because He came to bless humanity with goodness and mercy yet without expected display, people rejected Him, though His love draws people to come to Him for happiness and rest and knowing Him gives strength to overcome through divine power. His divine glory and majesty were veiled in humanity as a frail helpless infant born in humble surroundings, heaven welcomed His coming, but the great people of earth and the religious leaders did not recognize Him or understand how the Messiah would appear.
God was with humanity in the flesh in the person of Jesus, yet people judging only by human standards failed to recognize Him as God. His brothers professed faith in God but did not know God was with them in the flesh, and the world did not recognize His divine identity. Despite lowly human circumstances He was the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth, His words and works revealed His character, and all whose hearts were open to divine illumination and whose minds were spiritually enlightened could recognize who He was and behold His glory.
After Israel failed to communicate the entrusted light, God sent His Son to make known His character and kingdom, and receiving Him and believing in His name gives power to become sons, children and daughters of God. That birth is from God, not by blood, flesh, family descent or human will, and in Him is life and that life is the light of people, so all spiritual light is also spiritual life and people are fully dependent on Him. This receiving is how overcoming is understood and worked out, drawing grace upon grace from His fullness, bringing vital connection with God who is Spirit and Life, the great transforming power and partnership with God, calling for courage and earnest action now to open the heart and let the heavenly Guest in.
Accepting Christ as a personal, sin-pardoning Saviour contains the whole science of salvation and is the only true mind cure that can save the perishing soul. Self-righteousness earns nothing with God, but from His fullness all receive grace upon grace, and even defective, willfully stubborn people who come in humility, contrition and sincere repentance receive pardon, have sins taken away, have His righteousness credited to them, and through the Holy Spirit presenting the things of Christ have salvation secured. God satisfies their longing for peace and holiness, opens understanding to see truths of His Word, strengthens and establishes them, and while resting in His love they stand steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.
This divine birth must be personally experienced to see the kingdom of God and to be a Christian, requiring a complete turnaround from bitterness and uncleanness. It means having Christ within as the hope of glory and dwelling in the heart by faith, working a radical change of thought, capacity for enjoyment and character, making God all and in all as the perfection of happiness and purifying the nature from all moral defilement. Those who receive Christ obtain power to become sons and daughters of God as newborn souls translated into His kingdom, made new creatures with old things passed away, becoming God's property and co-laborers redeemed by His precious blood from earthliness and uncleanness to devote themselves unreservedly and obey God, filled with knowledge of His will, fruitful, strengthened to patience and joy, and made fit for the saints' inheritance with redemption and forgiveness.
Receiving Him means of one's own accord consenting to renounce sin, laying open the inmost soul to Him to whom men belong by creation and redemption, heartily cooperating with God, willingly obeying His laws, feeling dependence upon God, having faith in Christ as personal Saviour and keeping the Lord ever before him. He clothed divinity with humanity to cooperate with man in salvation by blending human and divine strength, grace and sufficiency being abundantly provided for every soul, imparting the virtue of His righteousness so that from His fullness all receive grace upon grace. Of himself man has no strength against darkness and no merits to present, human effort avails nothing without divine power, no human method can make a person loyal, and those truly adopted are changed by His Spirit from self-indulgence and supreme love of self to self-denial and supreme love for God, appropriating what His atonement accomplished and commissioned to carry salvation and make known grace and truth with grace continually renewed as they consecrate themselves wholly.
Those who receive Him behold His glory in personal experience, knowing Christ not only by reading about Him but by His grace transforming heart and character. That receiving gives power to become sons of God by new birth from God and enables a decided testimony of faith working by love and purifying the soul, with vital connection to God who is Spirit and Life. When a person truly sees Him as God manifest in flesh the sight impresses the mind indelibly, makes Christ the center around which life moves, brings willing subjection, new birth and new heart, realization of God-given value and responsibility, illumination by the Spirit, and transforming influence as a new creature.
Though full of grace and truth He repeatedly seeks admission to hearts, yet people may refuse Him. The verse presents Him as the promised Messiah whom even people greatly privileged to know God could fail to recognize, and His followers too may go unrecognized by the world. The world did not know Him, and for the same reason it does not know and appreciate those who belong to Him when they strictly keep the Sabbath, for He clothed divinity with humanity as Majesty of heaven and King of glory to lift the race from degradation.
Redemption He Accomplished
The Word made flesh is man's substitute and surety, come after Adam yielded and fell to fulfill the announced purpose to delight to do God's will with God's law in the heart, suffering in man's behalf as the only possible substitute, bearing the penalty, punishment, sins and curse to make atonement, put away sin by sacrifice of Himself, wounded for transgressions and tasting death for every person. He took human nature, not angelic nature, lived a life untainted by sin, and bore the transgressor's penalty to open the gates of Paradise to the fallen race. The incarnation is the ground of hope: He took humanity's place, bore sin's punishment, and came to redeem, so that from His fullness believers receive grace upon grace. In flesh He knew hunger and thirst and weariness, was sustained by food and refreshed by sleep, lived as stranger and sojourner in the world but not of the world, tempted and tried as people are yet free from sin, with tender compassionate sympathetic ever-considerate life representing God full of grace and truth, leading to His being wounded for transgressions and bruised for iniquities. Clothing divinity with humanity He could die for humanity and atone for sin, and in Him grace and truth were made known for those with living experience to make known to the world.
He clothed Himself with humanity so He could die, bear sins on the cross, give His life to redeem everyone who receives Him, save from Satan's yoke, open Paradise, place man on vantage ground before world and heavenly universe, with His blood paying ransom and His death bringing life and immortality within reach. As helpless babe without royal display or angelic retinue He stood at the head of the fallen race and met temptations people face, giving opportunity to see God's love and receive eternal life through belief, and His union of humanity and divinity makes it possible to share divine nature and escape corruption. The power to become God's children comes from Christ, not any human agent, for He gave His life to save from Satan's yoke. In Christ God bridged sin's gulf and began restoring the moral image, suffering in humanity's place to give another trial to show whether they would be safe subjects of His kingdom, with resurrection and intercession making Him humanity's representative before the Father.
He alone could make atonement for sinners and open Paradise, and only those who realize the cross is the center of hope can understand the gospel He taught. The sight of Jesus the Commander of heaven dying with human sins laid on Him so sinners could have another chance and their faithfulness proved reflects Him as full of grace and truth. By prayers and strong supplications He overcame, tempted in all points yet without sin, and in human nature perfected character after divine similitude, and by perfect obedience to every requirement procured redemption for all who will be obedient. By His sacrifice forgiveness is secured and the law's demands satisfied for every repentant believing sinner, God not turning from justice in showing mercy nor dishonoring law, with perfect obedience the condition of life under the new covenant and exceeding rich pardoning mercy in the covenant of peace for the confessor. As God-man He lived in perfect obedience to God's law on behalf of the family, redeeming what was lost through the fall and making obedience possible, with sins of receivers charged to Him and God's justice satisfied. He kept the commandments as human child showing the fallen race can overcome and become spotless, coming because the law is sacred and unchangeable, His death restoring to the favor Adam lost.
As head of humanity and representative before the Father He stands to win people back to allegiance, having received everything needed for fallen people, so in Him they are reckoned to have endured penalty and fulfilled righteousness. His glory is His character, given to receivers who trust Him to become one with Him in character. Sharing human experience He acted as representative of believers, accepting their responsibilities and suffering though innocent in place of the guilty that the world might be saved through faith. Uniting divinity with humanity and taking place at the head of fallen humanity so sinners could be fully recovered, His coming and work provide the example for self-sacrificing missionary labor with all time and talents devoted to God. His descent into human life was deep humiliation because sin existed, to stand at humanity's head and testify people could live without sin, giving the race another trial to uplift and ennoble.
As Elder Brother at the head of humanity, sharing all trials and afflictions, tempted in all points like as we are that He might succor the tempted, He offered perfect obedience to place man on vantage ground. Equal with God, He laid aside royal robe and kingly crown and came in likeness and fashion as man so humanity might touch humanity and divinity lay hold of God's throne, for none could have looked on Him in glory and lived. Exposed to sharpness of temptation and bitterness of keenest sorrow seeing many yield to Satan, become like men in all things yet without sin, He sympathizes with the tempted and knows how to deliver the godly, giving every encouragement to come boldly to the throne of grace for mercy and help and to receive grace upon grace with everlasting life for believers. Born poor to lowly parents in Nazareth sharing family care, He revealed God and formed perfect character, experiencing trials to know how to help the tempted. Taking Abraham's seed not angels' nature with divinity veiled, He lived perfect obedience to law, able to help the tempted, giving exceeding great promises by which believers partake divine nature and escape lust's corruption, leaving no excuse for self-will.
He is the one Mediator between God and humanity, the one who was with God and was God through whom all things were made and in whom were life and light, whose human life revealed the only Son's glory full of grace and truth. This union makes Him the medium through whom prayer passes to God and blessing to people. He stands as Lamb of God taking away the sin of the world, come as Light to a guilty world, in the world He made yet not known, come to His own who received Him not, yet giving receivers power to become sons by birth of God. He is to be made known and uplifted as the only one who can take away sin, heaven's Majesty in human form unrecognized. By becoming Sin-bearer He ransomed man from the destroyer and broke Satan's power, becoming center of the redeemed world. Revealed through Old Testament types, shadows and prophecies, He is the central truth to be revealed to prepare people to receive Him.
For our sake He became poor that through His poverty believers might share far more exceeding eternal weight of glory and be made rich. This condescension was in the plan to redeem and restore God's moral image and leave example of self-denial, teaching the poor are not despised for poverty and the rich that earthly wealth never secures eternal riches and immortal inheritance. His becoming poor and taking nature is heaven's gift displaying immeasurable love, making eternal riches available to those returning to loyalty, with grace upon grace from fullness. Through His blood He made every gift one, Jesus God's richest gift and costliest sacrifice expressing love for the fallen, displaying unsurpassable grace whose glory saints will know eternally. Leaving heaven to live among fallen people in sin and misery for humanity's sake, He made eternal riches available to many, giving Himself as example and great sacrifice to lift souls endangered by Satan's temptations.
Through Him mercy could deal justly in punishing transgression and justice forgive without losing dignity or purity, so at the cross mercy and truth embraced and righteousness and peace kissed in wonderful provision calling for appreciation. Possessing Godhead fullness with human perfections, He revealed God's character and the Father's love, and His self-denial, suffering and death showed that love and made atonement, bearing death's penalty to save sinners from it. His becoming human is part of redemption: He suffered in humanity's place so people could have another test and trial, through which God restores His image in them. As substitute and surety in human nature He exposed and overcame the Christ-Satan conflict, defeated darkness, showing every son and daughter of Adam may partake divine nature and through Christ lay hold on immortality. His coming, life and victory made another trial possible, through His merits people overcoming temptation, gaining moral power and breaking slavery to habit and perverted appetite. Clothed in sinless human flesh He showed God's value of humanity, coming to suffer to save from eternal death and restore connection with God, that through belief of truth human beings might be sanctified and redeemed, made whole into relationship with divinity by practicing His life and acknowledging Him as Saviour.
Revealing Father Truth Light
As the Word to the invisible Father as speech is to thought, Christ is the revelation of God and the manifestation of His character, law, love and life, sent into the world with divinity clothed with humanity so man might bear the image of the invisible God. He made known in His words, His character, His power and majesty the nature and attributes of God, with divinity flashing through humanity in softening, subduing light. He was the embodiment of the law of God, which is the transcript of His character, full of grace and truth, and the world saw God imaged in His purity and benevolence but because of depravity and darkness did not recognize Him as the Son of God. Receiving God's word is receiving Christ, and Christ is the only foundation for a character that will endure.
His human life as divine Teacher met humanity's need in a world marred by sin, revealing God's great goodness, benevolence, love, grace, mercy, long forbearance, patience and perfect obedience in a way people could experience within human reach. The Eternal Word, Creator and Son of God, took human nature and lived among people in the fullness of time, joining Himself to humanity and veiling divinity in humanity to become its example and pattern so that those who receive and follow Him may have God's moral image restored. In Jesus people can behold God and commune with Him despite sin making direct approach impossible, and His life and death reveal God's character even more fully than the holy ones of Eden knew. Nature testifies to power but not moral perfection, while Christ's coming as light when spiritual darkness covered the earth brought truth and revealed God as grace, mercy and benevolence that could win hearts and minds. Studying this contains new views of truth never fully exhausted, most valuable work taxing the intellect, strengthening mental ability, and rewarding diligent searching with discovered hidden treasures.
He reveals the Father as full of mercy and truth and represents the Father's love, making God's glory and character known in a form people can trust as brightness of the Father's glory. His presence among people was heaven's tabernacle set up among them, and in Him the Father's love was revealed as rich and broad as He began His appointed work as Mediator. God united divine nature with human nature in Christ, making the invisible God a definite object of contemplation and love, with His glory softened in humanity so people could endure seeing it, for Christ is heaven's light and in His face people see God. By laying aside royal position and taking human nature He associated with humanity and lived a perfect life, showing by words and deeds both the love of God and the kind of character human beings may possess. His life displayed divine mercy, goodness and power, and at His resurrection His Godhead shone forth as He triumphed over death and the grave.
In Him is life and that life is the light of men, for He is the Word who made the world and then became human, the true Light lighting every man and source of spiritual light and life on whom people are fully dependent. All spiritual light is life, and light and life come together from Him, while those who reject and do not walk in His light remain dead in sin. As Substitute and Surety He suffered sin's penalty to enlighten sinners and make them alive to God, though He was in the world He made yet was not known and came to His own who received Him not. He came when the fullness of time was come because God could reveal Himself in no other way, the Eternal Word, only-begotten Son and Majesty of heaven made flesh to meet human necessity, lift the gloom where darkness covered the earth and gross darkness the people, banish Satan's shadow, give hope to those sitting in death's shadow, melt hardened sin-bound hearts and open sonship as manifestation of compassion and without-parallel mercy and love. To all who receive and believe He gives power to become sons of God by birth of God, not by human blood or will, and stands as the Lamb of God taking away the sin of the world.
He came to declare the truth so people could be sanctified by it, manifesting the light of truth and the way of life, with God's truth revealed in Jesus echoed in the phrase the truth as it is in Jesus. His coming is linked with God giving Him to die as propitiation for sin. From His fullness believers receive grace upon grace, and faith unites them with Him as sons and daughters of God born of God when they receive Him as personal Saviour and believe in His name.
The Word is the law become flesh, whose life is the pattern of character for the human family, whose righteousness is to be beheld and virtues practiced, revealing God's righteousness and character. His life was God's law lived out and a perfect pattern of moral excellence, showing what people may become by sharing in the divine nature, serving rather than seeking comfort or pleasure, enduring hardship in self-denial doing the Father's will, teaching righteousness by word and example, speaking truth without deceit and showing kindness though heir of all things. One with the Father and exact image of His person, He came into a world marked by transgression where human traditions had obscured commandments with error, taught truth in its purity, removed that error, and revealed the true character and far-reaching claims of God's law, accepting the Father's law and living its principles showing its spirit and power in moral excellence and purity. He came because God's law is sacred and unchangeable, and His death made it possible for humanity to be restored to the favor Adam lost.
He came to correct Satan's false picture of God as justice without mercy, to remove false impressions, dispute Satan's sovereignty, break his hold, confront deception, expose plans so people can discern them and escape ruinous corruption. Remaining sinless and faithful to the Father through suffering and death, He showed Satan's claims about God and His law false, revealing sin's aggravating character and settling before the heavenly universe the question of Satan's character and policy. Though surrounded by mockery, suffering, humiliation and death in sensitive human nature, not for Himself but to save others, divinity flashed through His human face and life as the Only Begotten, retaining real dignity and revealing God's character with loving sympathy that makes Him our brother whose strength and counsel sustain sufferers. Christ alone can defeat the enemy, and His taking human nature combining divinity and humanity within reach counterworks Satan's false principles so fallen people may again reveal God's image.
The Jewish sacrificial system was founded on Him, its sacrifices and offerings pointing forward to His offering of Himself at Calvary as sacrifice for the fallen race. As Creator who in the beginning made man, gave Eve to Adam as helpmeet and gave the marriage law, He commenced public ministry by His presence at the marriage festival in Cana, thereby sanctioning marriage as an institution He Himself had formed. He is also the rock struck in the wilderness from which pure water flowed, and His life from manger to cross fulfilled prophecy as truly human only begotten Son of the Father. The same Teacher who gave directions on Mount Sinai later spoke in human flesh as Christ Jesus, repeating the command given to ancient Israel to love God with all heart, soul and might and to keep His words in the heart, coming to teach people how to be saved.
The union of divine and human in Christ, both Son of God and Son of man, illustrates the Bible, whose truths come from God but are expressed in human language through imperfect words, varied styles and capacities without becoming less from God. As His humanity does not cancel His divinity, Scripture's human expression does not undermine its divine origin, and this union should strengthen faith. Though conveyed through imperfect human writers, the Bible remains God's testimony, and believers beholding it see divine glory and power full of grace and truth, which the obedient recognize.
The Word embraces His teachings given to the world in both Old and New Testament Scriptures, lessons to be sacredly cherished and obeyed, so that beholding His example of ministry as divine Instructor showing what man might become as son of God reforms the life and reflects light. His lessons are the Word made flesh, and He is to be lifted up so people may see His mercy and righteousness and know Him personally as Saviour. His words are His flesh and Spirit and life, source of promises believers receive by faith, connected with truth that gives life and ennobles and purifies. Feeding upon Him as living Bread from heaven, feasting on the Bread of life, eating the flesh of the Son of God and drinking salvation's waters happens by thirsting for salvation, studying Scriptures, closely studying His words, taking heed to lessons and practicing truths in daily life, bringing nourishment and transformation.
Transformed For Service Mission
Beholding the Word made flesh as the Son of God and Light of the world, full of grace and truth, gives spiritual sight, new birth and transformation of character, making beholders partakers of the divine nature and reflectors of his purity, forbearance, mercy, righteousness, goodness, wisdom, love and sympathy in word and life. As Prince of life and Light drawing every soul, without his light the world would be dark, yet many turn from its bright rays so the light is not admitted into the heart and does not illuminate the soul. Beholding him calls for reflecting his image and character, and only those who reflect his image and character will be pronounced worthy of everlasting life. This beholding is done by sincerely doing the Word under Christ as Instructor, receiving grace for grace from his fullness, receiving truth in Jesus and seeing his righteousness in the law, with safety in keeping him in view rather than self-righteousness. The change is wrought through the Spirit into Christ's likeness from glory to glory, with single-hearted desire for heavenly things, and with power to become God's children born of God by receiving him and believing in his name.
Beholding his glory as the only begotten, full of grace and truth, brings nearness to God and views of heaven, and when created anew in Christ the human and divine unite, the believer is clothed with his righteousness, has Christ abiding within, receives the mind of Christ, is drawn from strife into rest and peace, and is changed into likeness lived out in meekness, lowliness and doing good in daily service. His life among humanity as minister of healing to body and soul grounds the continuation of his missionary saving work through those united with him.
Through his grace humanity can overcome temptation and keep the law, for he came bringing grace and truth because human beings have no power of themselves, joining his power to human weakness so believers receive power to overcome, escape corruption through lust, be sanctified and become all God requires as sons of God. He was without sin yet took human nature with temptation and sorrow, laid aside royal robe and crown to come in likeness of man so humanity might touch humanity and divinity lay hold on the throne, became poor that believers might share eternal weight of glory, and as Elder Brother and head of humanity sharing trials and tempted in all points offered perfect obedience to place man on vantage ground. Receiving him means consenting to renounce sin, cooperating heartily with God, obeying willingly, feeling dependence, having faith as personal Saviour and keeping the Lord ever before, since human effort avails nothing without divine power and man has no strength or merit against darkness.
He came to redeem fallen man who lost God's image, for man was made to bear his image as son of God not to be redeemed, and only through ransom by choice and obedience can that design be accomplished, with Christ's righteousness supplying lack, his fullness giving grace for grace, completeness, grace, knowledge and access otherwise unobtainable by self. By becoming one with humanity and veiling divinity he revealed God in flesh as example and pattern for restoration of the moral image, coming as light and grace, mercy and benevolence when darkness covered earth to win hearts, combining divinity and humanity within reach to counter Satan's false principles. In him mercy could deal justly in punishing transgression and justice forgive without losing dignity, so at the cross mercy and truth met and righteousness and peace kissed.
His sinless life without selfishness, as Prince of heaven and Commander laying aside royal position and clothing divinity with humanity, is example, model and all-perfect pattern of God's likeness showing what people may become through grace and how to serve, to be seen by faith as only hope and guide calling to look away from self to Jesus. He humbled himself to give expression to God's mind and show true ministry as servant and divine Instructor of what man might become as son of God, with his teachings in Old and New Testaments to be cherished and obeyed so beholding reforms life and reflects light. As Son of Man he is the model in fullest sense proving man's link comes from above from the Highest Model not from beasts, bringing oneness with the Father, power to become sons with fellowship, comprehending all human necessity, lifting from degradation, and representing the Father in every circumstance joining upholding majesty with meek compassion.
His life in human nature revealed how to serve in saving souls, and his character with the indwelling Saviour's power is to be revealed in followers, with truth genuinely believed and received refining, elevating and ennobling rather than making coarse, harsh or discourteous, making them agents through whom unseen angels carry out holy principles, and as they reveal it more power is manifested.
Studying his life as revelation of God's benevolence, mercy, long forbearance, patience and perfect obedience taxes intellect, strengthens mind and rewards searching with inexhaustible new views and hidden treasures, most valuable work for understanding God's character and attributes. Study aimed single-mindedly at God's glory succeeds by receiving completeness in him who holds all divine fullness as head over rule, with repeated gifts of favor making complete, instead of relying on human philosophy and worldly tradition.
Christ not fallible ministers is the one to look to for guidance, strength, glory and power, since ministers are compassed with infirmities and must not be put in God's place, though new converts may ask counsel of the experienced while depending on Christ from whose fullness all receive grace and power to become sons. Safety lies in keeping Christ in view rather than self-righteousness or self-exaltation, looking with single-hearted desire to be changed like him.
His coming carrying redemption commissions and qualifies all who receive him as personal Saviour to carry salvation, make known grace and truth, reveal him as full of grace and truth with self hidden so Christ alone appears, and continue his work as greatest missionary and minister of healing to soul and body by uniting with him as agents advancing the kingdom, with no stronger reason for discouragement than the Redeemer had who was not known or received by his own. Human agents with heavenly messengers are to present the world's Redeemer, with grace given to others continually renewed in increased measure as they consecrate wholly and live under transforming divine grace.
He left heaven to share suffering and showed through feeding hungry and healing sick what receivers must do, with loving service belonging to gospel work, practical help to sick leading to salvation of soul and body, and his pitying love exposing selfishness and hardheartedness. He willingly left high position to head fallen humanity and became poor that people might be made rich, joining divinity with humanity to make divine help receivable, teaching, showing compassion and doing good in words and deeds to weary and oppressed in a world marred by sin.
Seeing Jesus as he is full of grace and truth draws souls and is the reason to help souls come to him, and his grace enables redeeming lost time through renewed redoubled effort, deepening broadening interest in souls for whom he died, keeping love of truth and working untiringly to win souls as time passes and the end nears, lest unconsecrated golden opportunities be lost.
His fullness supplies grace so love fills disciples with burden for the redeemed through suffering, gives rest and peace, saves those who trust, forms noble elevated character in those who yield and feed on him as bread of life, and fills with knowledge of will, worthy walk, fruitfulness, increase in knowledge, strength to patience and joy, and fitness for saints' inheritance with deliverance into his kingdom, redemption and forgiveness. Receiving him makes new creatures with old things passed away, which God accepts as he rejoiced in finished creation pronounced very good.
Receiving blessings brings heaven into earthly life, brings power to reveal character and live as born of God, and to everyone coming believing he becomes wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, glorifying God, binding hearts in sympathy and unity, and giving power of an ever-abiding Saviour for greater emergencies. Knowing Father and Son is eternal life, quenching unbelief, kept in preaching by having Jesus abide by faith and being clothed with his righteousness.
That union with Christ by receiving him and beholding glory and receiving grace for grace adorns Bible truth, fills heart with love of Christ, removes quarreling, creates oneness, carries out principles with compassionate tenderness, unity and love, and shows divine credentials leading the world to believe the Father sent him, with minds and characters showing truth's influence by birth of God not blood or human will.
Looking constantly with faith brings strengthening and precious revelation so he becomes personal Saviour, feeding on his Word kills earthly nature and creates new life, bringing the Comforter, replacing hatred with love, reproducing image in new birth, yearning for conformity to will, holiness and peace opening understanding to doctrines, strengthening, establishing and making steadfast and abounding in the Lord's work. Steadfast living faith beholding goodness transforms by experiential knowledge leading to right estimate of God's character and duty.
Of his fullness believers taste that the Lord is gracious, nourishing new-born life through sincere milk of the word so they grow, making sure work for eternity by bringing promises to mind in perplexity and trial to comfort and strengthen faith, while laying aside malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies and evil speakings. The beheld glory pledges parental love in giving the Son, proving he will not leave believers unassisted but with Christ freely give all things, grounding God's plan in giving his Son for everlasting life with every noble gift held in trust, and with covenant grace making obedience possible and fullness linked to mercy received.
He is given as God's gift to restore humanity and convince that all love comes from God, with happiness in loving God, doing will and keeping precepts, through whose blood every gift is one as costliest sacrifice displaying unsurpassable grace whose glory saints will joyfully know eternally, making heaven's vast goodness available.
His taking human nature proves man's link from above from the Highest Model not beasts beneath, and his life full of grace and truth is example for parents and learners whose motives are purified when grace and truth reign in hearts, controlling outward actions seen in home life, associations and enduring humble, meek, wholesome, pure ennobling work, with holy willing humble hearts confessing Christ by fruit not words alone.
He humbled himself to give expression to God's mind and show true ministry, and by living in humanity instructed how to lay hold on divinity, with humanity helping humanity from babyhood so divinity might grasp humanity and humanity grasp divinity, saving many souls. By sharing besetting temptations and showing disciples how he met them he taught how to live and prepare for work as perfect Pattern reachable by humanity, through whom they partake divine nature. His coming as perfect teacher illustrating high holy principles everyone saved must reveal gives power to overcome and become sons, partaking divine nature, overcoming corruption through lust and being sanctified.
He came to form the church and restore the moral image, with becoming human the foundation for consecrated service, to win back to allegiance and lead from Satan, teaching self-value because he paid infinite price, showing divinity joined with humanity could overcome and correcting Satan's picture of God as justice without mercy by revealing goodness, love and compassion while fighting darkness on behalf of sympathized humanity. He came to stand at humanity's head testifying people could live without sin, associating and living perfect to show God's love and possible character, showing what servants may become, with great possibilities requiring every talent used without going back in unbelief.
His coming expresses boundless love in form fallen people can understand, nothing he could say or suffer overstating it, making propitiation for the whole world, cooperating freely with receivers, not far from any, gladly receiving all renouncing worldly favors to make him all, assuming humanity from boundless love. His taking humanity showed God's value of humanity, suffering to save from eternal death and restore connection, calling to represent character in daily service and despise none of any status, wealth or race, since a soul's price is the Son's life.
Because human nature must be transformed by new birth to harmonize with God's kingdom, his bringing divinity veiled in humanity makes rescue possible, and through perfect faith taking hold of divinity and through faith in merits and practice of truth his grace is revealed in kindness, courtesy, sympathy and singleness enabling perfect character, overcoming, following footsteps and preparing for the kingdom.
He came to show people can cooperate with him in salvation and enlist them to cooperate in saving souls by obedience and example, and as overflowing Fountain he receives to communicate to all who accept while his people impart what they receive, opening great possibilities requiring use of every talent without going back in unbelief. His example calls to serve with him in winning souls by precept and example, obeying requirements and reflecting life in successful service watching for souls.
The Lord sent Jesus to be Saviour ready to pardon all transgressions of those who come and accept pardon, cooperating freely, not far from any, gladly receiving all renouncing worldly favors to make him all, so if every soul takes hold as personal Saviour giving self he will receive them, and people need not become worthy first for they cannot make themselves worthy, with humanity grasping him by living faith.
He is Redeemer in whom was no deceit inviting sinners to come, and those accepting and earnestly desiring will conformed to God's will receive peace and promised rest looking to him as only Saviour, while seeing more of Jesus leaves less of self and putting away puffed-up self to cling to him brings fruit to God's glory, meeting people where they are as veiled glory met Daniel's weakness.
He abides in the person who receives the Spirit's light and opens the heart, with the Spirit leading the will while the person responds in faith and cooperates, and when heart is open and mind responds to truth Jesus abides and turns inclinations toward him.
To know the only true living God is to know Jesus as only begotten sent by God with heart knowledge not book learning, and those having it preach Christ crucified with plain earnest simplicity creating conviction, while receiving truth as in Jesus requires the Spirit to convert heart and shape spirit and character beyond accepting doctrine.
His word challenges desires and condemns sinful habits, and his teachings and example are the standard while professed Christians following impulses do not represent his pure love for God and fallen humanity, yet God was daily manifest in Jesus and keeping commandments means reproducing his character, with his humiliated fleshly life as model and his word to guide as law and life against despising it.
He came to begin spiritual reform showing how to reject ostentation and live by pure principles, and through his grace character can be made pure and people brought close to God's throne, with truth in him lighting every step of the narrow way and his coming joined to grace forgiving and renewing, every grace received to be imparted preparing to receive new grace.
Through the Son becoming human God's purpose to dwell in humanity was fulfilled so the heart darkened and defiled by sin, no longer revealing glory, becomes again God's temple through saving grace, and he dwells among people when they receive and obey precepts, with receiving and doing his words as eating flesh and drinking blood bringing illumination, uplift, strength, transformation and immortality.
He became human tabernacle binding himself as brother forever so fallen people become more closely united to God than if never fallen, with heaven enshrined in humanity and humanity enfolded in infinite love, and because he tabernacled here this cursed little world will be ransomed and exalted above all worlds with God's tabernacle with men forever when made new. Contemplating his wondrous beauty and matchless charms wins the heart, transforms life daily, fills soul with love, makes him guide and portion eternally, producing zeal, heavenly spirit and melting sympathy convincing of truth and convicting of sin though not changing the heart.
Remaining divine while taking humanity he joined humanity to divinity so people through faith may partake of divine nature as heaven's blessing, and that union is what God wants today showing he wants closest union, with all fullness dwelling in Christ for believers to work together and follow example, his obedient life sustained by life, strength and grace through crucifixion to resurrection proclamation.
Because only humanity could reach humanity, he clothed divinity with humanity to touch and lay hold of humanity and by divinity bring power, health and grace so humanity might grasp divinity, and he came to bring divinity to humanity which young and old need and which gives wisdom so Bible study and living suffices. He revealed God's character through purity, trust, submission and humiliation, with compassion and unparalleled tenderness, drawing humanity to divinity and moving followers to care for perishing by self-giving love.
Only by partaking divine nature can people overcome hereditary and cultivated evil, requiring training in Bible principles including learning the science of eating and drinking to God's glory to become wise with sensible influence, and steadfastly beholding him as only begotten full of grace and truth sanctifies, changing into likeness with new nature in righteousness and true holiness revealed in words and actions. Beholding through faith gives inward assurance of indwelling, shares Spirit and righteousness, draws from political strife into rest and peace, and means looking steadily to the Lamb taking away sin where is life beyond temporal bread.
He took humanity so perfection of character could be beheld as pattern for Christian courtesy through which defects are overcome, and coming as child in humiliation he lived obedience revealing God's character showing what human nature may become when people receive him and become Christlike, escaping corruption through connection.
Sent in fullness of time with divinity clothed as appointed Instructor, he came to put his hand a second time to forming man in God's image after obliteration by temptation, to re-create humanity, reveal perfection amid corruption and bring all grace, healing, efficiency and bread of life as tree of life. He left heaven to secure Israel's salvation and bring light through them.
He left heaven and the Father's presence exchanging angels' companionship for fallen humanity to save those who would be saved, reaching down to uplift the fallen, drawing near to help, and leaving honor to become poor to work for them and secure eternal riches, laying aside robe, crown and kingly honor in a world marred by sin and misery.
He came voluntarily to face Satan's schemes in every life stage, defeat the deceiver and redeem the led astray, living obedience so every nation may obey and know the Father, meeting the Prince of evil in human weakness with its adversities, sorrows and temptations to conquer him since Christ alone can defeat the enemy, exposing plans to escape ruin. In united humanity and divinity he bore all temptations, lived spotless untainted sinless from manger to cross, bringing redeeming grace and pardon on repentance, faith and return to loyalty without transgression, as men's advocate.
Though Commander, he hid dignity to serve, encircling race with human arm while grasping infinite throne with divine arm, and though possessing Godhead fullness he came to become one with us so guilty humanity may attain perfection, paying ransom through shameful death from highest glory to deepest humiliation at the cross where self-denial could go no further, veiling fullness because none could look upon it. He could have come with heavenly host but came to seared cursed world to represent God and bring moral power near while retaining divine connection.
God's beloved Son left indescribable glory, the Father's bosom and angels' adoration for a world marred, blighted, darkened with death's shadow and curse, to redeem by living, suffering and dying amid shame, insult, humiliation, hatred and death that people might partake everlasting joy, bringing closer connection and power to overcome Satan.
The divine Son came as Redeemer in self-denial and perfect submission revealing truth, exposing Satan's deceptions, and by dying defeating Satan and opening salvation from evil, with earthly work culminating in giving life as redemption price in poverty-sharing, burden-bearing service without pomp, his character light revealed more fully after death, resurrection and ascension.
His grace is sufficient to cover sin and make the sinner pure within, and by taking flesh he could reach across sin's gulf, making salvation possible, for redemption was accomplished not by remaining in heaven but by becoming incarnate, living in sinful flesh likeness without frailty to place true principles in minds never to be obliterated and bring unstainable new life of excellence with eternal life to fallen beings beyond what authority, commands and promises could do.
His human life was essential as representative facing temptation and danger without using divine power to free himself, and the eternal Word from the Father dwelt as Jesus in sinful flesh likeness as covenant Messenger, Sun of Righteousness, divine Teacher and King where mercy and truth met and righteousness and peace joined to answer sin's need while making the world a school for heaven's higher life through education, discipline and training.
Though one with God in the Father's bosom, he humbled himself to death in infinite sacrifice able to save completely those who come to God, to reveal the Father, reconcile and renew in Creator's image, and by clothing divinity with humanity he demonstrated God would connect fallen man with himself without which none can be happy, with the Father unsatisfied till love embraces the repentant transformed through the spotless Lamb, ample to make complete through forgiveness and imputed righteousness.
Equal with God in character he revealed the Father through words and works so people accept him for heavenly qualities not outward attractions, bringing souls into comparison with law in light of Sun of Righteousness so beholding changes into divine image, and everyone beholding with supreme love and unswerving trust receives light shining in Christ's face with spiritual discernment and knowledge of God's glory, changed from character to character by the Spirit.
He clothed divinity with humanity while retaining dignity to become Son of humanity, stand at humanity's head and join race to God, living and suffering without escort so his death makes partaking divine nature and escaping corruption through lust possible, with judgment given into his hand.
When people look to him as author and finisher of faith they behold glory pledging parental love in giving the Son, proving he will not leave believers unassisted and will with Christ freely give all things, and he is head of new creation, Way, Truth, Life, prophet, priest, king and author of faith of whose fullness all receive, with salvation only through his name as Emmanuel God with us.
As Father's only begotten full of grace and truth and great gift he is to be diligently taught in households with the Spirit helping children understand and behold him, and the Holy Spirit brings his excellencies before the renewed heart with the mind dwelling on him as altogether lovely and chiefest among ten thousand rather than relying on external images.
He is presented through John's words not artist's representation because neither God nor Christ as Father's image can be truly represented by human art, and his real divine Model required spiritual perception while his word while bearing commission from the Excellent Glory with heaven's authority and at times true greatness is to be received as law and life with submissive attention while he speaks.
In becoming human he revealed truth and restored and established God's principles with disciples to preach the Word in his power, and in him grace and truth were made known which those with living experience are to make known to the world, clothing divinity to die and atone.
His obedient human life displayed holy obedience and sympathy setting example to follow, and standing at humanity's head after laying aside robe, crown and high command he revealed what human beings could become by receiving the power he came to give, the privilege of becoming sons and daughters partaking divine nature, escaping corruption and no longer continuing in sin.
By living in humanity he instructed how to lay hold on divinity and this receiving is the sanctification needed in every healing institution, by which Bible truth is exemplified in graces and good works, character made complete by obedience in him who knew no sin, new nature implanted and divine nature partaken having escaped corruption, with covenant grace making obedience possible and temptations met as Pattern preparing for work.
The verse gives essential instruction about Christ and heavenly things, and knowledge of God and Jesus restores God's moral image, grounding God's plan in giving his Son so believers may receive everlasting life with every noble gift held in trust even to highest standing.
When it was decided the Son would redeem fallen people and restore God's image, the Word took human nature and lived among them, and his oneness with the Father brings close union with the Father through the Son with God becoming one with man, bringing people into close relationship with God, fellowship and power to become sons, proving the Highest Model.
He is the Desire of Ages who fed the five thousand showing care for need and power to do great things, the source of life and truth come down from heaven where knowing Father and Son is eternal life quenching unbelief, and the precious truth and light to be received and valued which God's people must comprehend and preach with abiding and righteousness.
The truth about Christ buried under customs is now to be dug out, unfolded and proclaimed so all believing as personal Saviour receive eternal life, and his incarnation and saving work as Lamb taking world's sins reveal God's love for humanity.
His life of humble service not as ruler demanding honor but as servant obedient even to death to cleanse people so they could share eternal glory is the example of humility, simplicity, self-denial and sacrifice followers are to imitate, as Majesty clothed divinity coming to sin and suffering, living humiliation and dying shame to pay penalty, lead from Satan, answer accusations and carry out redemption as only begotten.
All light John received came from Christ the true source of light and life, and by creation and redemption people belong to him, yet he came to his own chosen people who rejected and crucified him in unbelief, with his coming in flesh joined to grace forgiving and renewing from fullness upon fullness.
His taking human nature showed the value God places on humanity, and his self-sacrifice revealed God's love breaking barriers and restoring connection, with his coming, life and victory teaching cooperation in salvation, suffering to save from eternal death, making whole for relationship with divinity to be saved by practicing life and acknowledging as Saviour.
Accepting Christ brings life where Adam's sin brought death, and his followers are to hide self and make Christ alone appear showing God's beauty, with power to overcome self and selfishness enabling reflection of character, receiving strength through his perfect ministry to overcome evil, share divine nature and escape lust's corruption.
The incarnation is the ground of hope, and from his fullness believers receive grace upon grace bringing transformation making them children and royal family members, with the linked fullness connected with mercy received, bearing sin's punishment to redeem.
He came for no other purpose than to place man on vantage ground bearing testimony that fallen beings through faith in his power as Son of God may partake divine nature, making it possible to share divine nature, escape corruption, see God's love and receive eternal life through belief, with sinless untainted life condemning sin and showing unsullied life possible by God's power with compassion, patience and gracious help, taking not angelic nature with cross as center of hope and atonement opening paradise.
Receiving him is sanctification through the Holy Spirit by which new nature is implanted, man partakes divine nature having escaped corruption, and Bible truth is exemplified in graces and good works before the world as light glorifying the Father, with birth not of blood or will but of God, change from self-indulgence to service, adoption, commission to make known grace and truth with continually renewed grace, divine nature imparted to overcome Satan when seeking wholeheartedly, and co-laborers redeemed from earthliness to obey, standing on Christ and complete righteousness as immovable platform.
The Majesty answers Satan's accusations and carries out redemption as only begotten, and the only begotten Son equal with infinite God given to live and die took human nature to lift the fallen to Adam's purity entering conflict as soon as humanity joined Satan and winning the battle, living humiliation as model, revealing Father as mercy and truth to be discerned by faith. In sanctified humanity he made manifest what humanity may become and must be, enabling mercy and justice to meet at the cross.
Existing with God before the world to reveal heavenly things, he clothed divinity to possess both natures for complete redemption and restoration to higher privileges, beginning as helpless baby and living a life humans may live by receiving God's gift and plan.
Coming with divinity clothed to bring his great heart close reveals condescension and love for rebels, continual watching over souls for whom he died to draw them, and humiliated life to help all who want help, with gracious compassion meeting need, dispelling doubt and unrest, and turning enmity and unbelief into confidence and faith, showing unsullied life possible through power from above under trial and temptation.
Beholding his glory inspires faith working through love purifying the soul made visible in unselfish words and actions, and a life shaped by his religion reflects grace and truth with grace continually needed to keep life undivided and bring joy and peace.
Spiritually enlightened minds behold the glory full of grace and truth, and steadfast living faith looking to him beholds goodness and is transformed, knowing him by experience leading to right understanding of God's character and duty, brought into covenant oneness from guilt and condemnation into liberty and full acceptance, beholding God despite sin with all Deity represented. Beholding character and virtues with receiving fullness gives power to become children, declaring beauty no words fully record.
His earthly life manifested divine perfection with eye single to Father's glory in obedience to reveal God's purpose to bring closest connection without whom none can be happy, and his laying aside glory to unite humanity with divinity gives power to receive and follow teachings fully with resistance to evil and work for others as highest education.
He willingly left high place to head fallen humanity and became poor revealing gospel in compassionate words and deeds helping weary, feeding hungry and healing sick, showing loving service belongs to gospel work.
He is man's example of perfected humanity showing in sanctified human nature what humanity may become and must be, lifting people by merits to share divine nature, joining the fallen race to stand at its head since people can accomplish nothing without God, chosen as way to cooperate in uplifting.
He came to suffer so people might be saved from eternal death, made whole and brought into relationship with divinity, and people may be saved by practicing his life and acknowledging him as Saviour, bearing sinless flesh valuing humanity and restoring connection.
He left heaven to secure Israel's salvation and bring light through them, and his coming teaches compassion moving followers to care for perishing, with his love made plain through teaching and lives showing kindness, patience, mercy and love in form understandable, drawing humanity to divinity.
The Son became man to give sinners condemned for violating law and facing infinite punishment assurance of favor, so they must look away from self, cease torturing over sins, cast themselves on the Redeemer trusting his life's righteousness and death's atonement, listening to and loving him who first loved, bringing peace to troubled souls.
He took human nature becoming one with humanity while remaining blameless, sharing hunger, thirst, weariness, sleep, affection, sorrow, temptation and trial to reveal the Father, displaying compassion, tenderness, consideration and service while free from sin and not of the world, depending on God and joining humanity to divinity to show people may receive help and share divine nature, developing perfect character, bearing penalty and securing life as representative and substitute overcoming where Adam failed.
Though sharing Father's glory before the world he laid aside robe and crown to become Babe in Bethlehem assuming liabilities to be proved where Adam fell, remaining partaker of divine nature and gaining in new sense the title Son of God as Son of God and Son of man allied by birth, testifying by sinless life under all assaults without swerving that every child of Adam can resist and receive overcoming power.
Laying aside robe, crown and command he came as little child under temptation with sufferings greater than any other's, with Satan determined to make him sin lest the world perish and righteousness be lost, but he worked out salvation without failing on a single point, making it possible by faith to lay hold on divinity, escape corruption, avoid corruption and share victory personally accepted.
The Son of infinite God became one with humanity to show what people may become through obeying principles and manifesting unselfish love and faith, through whose grace they may live pure holy lives one with him and God.
Possessing all attributes of God he shared flesh and temptations while displaying excellencies, so he could meet law's demands, answer Satan's objections to obedience and show believers can be changed into likeness to serve with God, constantly beholding changing into likeness with power for new life. In meeting needs with love, compassion and gentle grace he changes sinners into saints replacing enmity with love and unbelief with confidence, patiently removing what disturbs the soul.
The eternal Word consented to be made flesh entering salvation's plan knowing all descent required, a humility amazing angels beyond description beginning ever lower through insult, reproach, shameful accusations and abuse to lowest depth to lift man for this world and universe from moral degradation to make expiation.
Heaven's majesty clothed divinity to draw near and help, reaching down to uplift the fallen, and laying aside glory and kingly honor to bless through presence and example he calls people to unite with him in redemption's work.
At his first advent he laid off crown and robe from pity when satanic agencies controlled bodies and minds, because he alone could break the enemy's power, meeting darkness to check Satan as counterworking influence from highest authority in human flesh.
He came from heavenly courts to represent God in human form being made man and dwelling among people, and his life of obedience prepared for death where types reached fulfillment with flesh torn in suffering, his divinity clothed and veiled though one with God and Creator, difficult even for disciples, tenderly humbly serving, unrecognized with concealed claims and without display.
His taking human nature is marvelous condescension only partly comprehensible revealing great love and wisdom devising grace, rightly melting hearts with gratitude and moving to humble adoration for what is accomplished.
The Word made flesh is Christ who became flesh for us and died, giving assurance that those dying with him will live with him, pass through what he passed, be where he is and dwell forever, with his death the pattern and ground of confidence where dying for him is little since he died for us.
He is the Word of God made flesh standing pre-eminently as Faithful and True Witness, the fullness for Jew and Gentile, and his preexistence, humiliation and gift of life to save a perishing world form powerful foundation for faith.
His coming in human nature taught that obedience to God's will makes victory over sin possible, and receiving and assimilating God's word means receiving life and nourishment from Christ until his spirit and work become followers' spirit, changing them into likeness and reflecting divine attributes with word shaping character and actions, as he accepted the law and lived its principles showing spirit and power to bless.
Genuine faith in him is shown in Christlike works and spirit, making believers living witnesses who come out of darkness of error into heaven's light to live by faith working by love purifying the soul, born of God not human descent or will, while evil deeds choose darkness.
Those hungering and thirsting for righteousness long to become Christlike, be made like his image and possess his righteousness, and when the heart is emptied of pride, vanity, selfishness and self, faith takes hold and Christ fills lack, lives in heart, and gives pardon, peace, assurance, hope, confidence, new heart and new song, receiving grace from fullness with unseen God made known by birth from God not blood or will.