Jesus Christ Who Share in the Flesh and Blood

2008-06-14 20:00

"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:14-17).

Flesh and blood gives birth to flesh and blood, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. The children of God are spirits because God is not flesh and blood, but spirit. It is written, "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24). And also, "Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!" (Hebrews 12:9).

However, God made His children have flesh and blood as long as they are minors so that they might taste sin and death. It is written, "What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons." (Galatians 4:1-5). God made His children have flesh and blood.

Therefore, God had to send His Son Christ in the flesh into the world to free His children from slavery of sin and death. The Bible says about it, "For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:17).

Therefore, the Bible says, "This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God." (1 John 4:2).

If Jesus Christ had come in the flesh other than the flesh that the children had, he would not have known the pains that the children had in slavery to sin and death, and would not have known the temptation that the children suffered, and would not have died.

And so, the Bible says, "he too shared in their humanity." And again, "he had to be made like his brothers in every way."

Such testimony is very important. If Jesus Christ had come in the flesh other than the flesh that the children had, he could not have become a high priest who could make atonement for the sins of the people.

The Bible says, "Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, 'You are my Son; today I have become your Father.' And he says in another place, 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.' During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission." (Hebrews 5:1-7). It testifies that the flesh of Jesus Christ is the same as the flesh that the children have.

If the flesh of Jesus Christ had been different from the flesh of the children, he could never have saved them. The Bible says, "Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, 'I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.'" (Hebrews 2:11-12). And also, "Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess." (Hebrews 3:1).

Therefore, it is written that Christ is the mystery of God. The Bible says, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5).

If the son of God wants to save the children of God who are held in the flesh, he has to come in the same flesh as the flesh in which the children are held. And so, the Bible says, "For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:3-4). And also, "Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully." (2 John 1:7-8).

If Jesus Christ had not shared in the flesh and blood like the children, they could not have united with him. If they had not united with him, there would not have been salvation for them. Therefore, I forever praise God our Father, who made Christ share in the flesh and blood like the children, and Jesus Christ. Amen. Thank you, Lord.