“Who is Jesus? Jesus is the God-Man”
John 1:14-18
Sermon Series: “Getting Acquainted With Jesus”
Introduction: Last weekend, we began looking at the question, “Who is Jesus?” Let’s continue this weekend by looking at the second half of the answer. We saw last week that Jesus is God (“the Word was God”). This week, we will see that He is fully God and fully man (“the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”). Remember that this is so important because Christianity is about the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is whom we believe in more than what we believe in.
I. The Person of Christ: He is the God-Man. The eternal God added humanity to His deity. He left heaven and came to earth as a man. He is 100% God and 100% a human being (see Philippians 2:5-11). Historical, orthodox, Christian theology affirms:
-the reality of His two natures
-the integrity of His two natures
-the unmingled union of these two natures in one Person
How can this be? How can He be both God and man? Philippians 2:5-11 probably gives the most detailed explanation of this truth. It says that He “emptied Himself.” What did He empty Himself of? Well, it was not deity. He continued to be God. But, He did temporarily give up:
The outward expression of deity, which is glory. He still manifested the glory of God, but it was veiled to a degree because human beings cannot fully see God’s glory and survive.
The independent exercise of His divine attributes. Millard Erickson writes, “Jesus gave up the independent exercise of His divine attributes. This does not mean that he surrendered some or all of his divine attributes, but that he voluntarily gave up the ability to exercise them on His own. He could exercise them only in dependence upon the Father and in connection with possession of a fully human nature.”
The position of authority and equality at the right hand of the Father. This does not mean that He ceased to be God or even equal with God but that He voluntarily submitted Himself to the Father as a servant for a period of time (John 14:28).
His possessions.
His privileges.
II. Characteristics of the God-Man:
He manifested the glory of God because He was the person and presence of God in the world (v. 14).
He is preeminent because of His preexistence (v. 15).
Grace. The unmerited favor of God is heaped upon us through Jesus Christ.
Truth. He was a great teacher of truth but so much more than that. Ultimately, He is the Truth (John 14:6). He is the ultimate reality.
He is the unique revelation of God to man (v. 18). Only begotten does not refer to Him being created, but it refers to Him being God Incarnate, the unique, one of a kind, Son of God, who enables us to become sons of God. However, we are children by adoption while He is God in His nature.
III. Implications for our Lives:
If we want to see or know God, we must look to Jesus.
His perfect deity and humanity make Him the example for how we should live.
He is worthy of our worship.
He is worthy of first place in our lives (Colossians 1:18).
He is where to find reality in life.
He understands and empathizes with us because of His humanity (Hebrews 4:14-15).
His grace is the all-sufficient, always available enabling and sufficient power and favor of God in our lives that is available for the asking (Hebrews 4:16).
Salvation is available through His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9).
