WAS JESUS DIFFERENT FROM US?

     Using the Scripture in Phil. 2:7 “But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men”: I think one would have to say essentially, “No”! While He was not born with a sin nature as are all other human beings, still, that should not have made a difference. He had to be a man like all other men, or else, His Work and Function would be to no avail. That is why the Holy Spirit through Paul referred to Him as “the last Adam” (1 Cor. 15:45). 

Some scholars argue that Jesus could not have sinned. In other words, it would not have been possible for Him to have sinned.

   

    I’m convinced basically that is incorrect! Had it been impossible for Him to have sinned, the whole thing would have been a farce. While God certainly cannot sin, it definitely is possible for man to sin. Therefore, the possibility had to be there with Christ as well.

     SO, emptying Himself of the expression of His Deity, thereby, becoming a Man, subjected Him to all that what is possible with man. Hence, He would say, “I thirst,” when, of course God cannot thirst (John 19:28). As well, He grew hungry, and God cannot hunger (Mat. 4:2). Also Jesus grew tired as a human being will, but God cannot tire, at least in that fashion (John 4:6).

     YES, it would have been possible for Jesus to sin, but He did not sin despite every effort of Satan to make Him fail.

    Be watchful for the next post where I will address, using same scripture in Phil. 2:7, talking about SATAN HAS NO PART IN ME.

JESUS CHRIST IS THE SOURCE OF ALL THINGS WE RECEIVE FROM GOD

As we begin, I believe we must address the Question: WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?

    

     Let’s quickly state, “Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God,” in reality, “God manifest in the flesh.” He is “the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, and the Savior of man.”

    

     Were Jesus Christ a mere man, albeit ever so talented, ever so educated, ever so charismatic, and ever so intelligent, that would be one thing. However, if Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God, and He most definitely is, then that’s something else altogether.

     Please note the following:

       The only way to God is through Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:6) See below.

       The only way to Jesus is by Means of the Cross (Lk. 14:27) and whosoever does not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 

       The only way to the Cross is a denial of self (Lk. 9:23) And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. .

      Jesus personally stated, and unequivocally so:

   

      “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life (proclaims in no uncertain terms exactly who and What Jesus is); no come comes  unto the Father , but by Me (He declares positively that the idea of God as Father; this approach to God for every man is through Him – through what He is and what He has done)”  (Jn. 14:6).

     Folks, it is Jesus Christ who paid the price at Calvary’s Cross for man’s Redemption. No one else paid that price simply because no one else could pay that price. He Alone paid it; therefore, to be Saved, one must accept Christ. There is no other way.

   

     Listen: It must be understood, if any doctrine is wrong about Jesus, then whatever else it is they say and do is of no consequence. As stated, He Alone is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life:”

   

     I know I said it a few minutes ago, but everything that we receive from God the Father, and I mean everything, comes to us by and through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One who paid the price that that door may be opened. No one else did because no one else could.

     John the Beloved probably gave the greatest definition of Who Christ is of any writer in the Word of God. He did so as the Holy Spirit moved upon him and in such a way that it all description. Let’s look at it phrase by phrase. It is taken directly from the First Chapter, even beginning with the First Verse of the Gospel that bears his name.

HOW DO YOU THINK & ACT?

Romans 12:9-16

9) “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10) Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; 11) Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12) Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13) Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14) Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15) Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16) Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”

Introduction

A preacher once told about three kids who made a new club. They had three rules. Nobody acts big. Nobody acts little. Everybody acts medium. Pretty good advice!

In the verses that precede this section of Romans twelve, Paul talks about
being living sacrifices and that it starts inside. We become what we think about
(and what we think about ourselves). Now this is part two of being a living
sacrifice—living sacrifices living together.

I.      Love Must Be Sincere (v. 9).

(This is a Greek word that you know, anhupocritos, not
hypocritical, not fake.)

A.  Love and pretense cannot exist together.

B.  It has little to do with sentiment, but a lot to do with determination,
commitment, decision.

 II.     Love Hates Evil. It Clings to Good (v. 9).

A.  Love is not real if it fails to discriminate between evil and good.

B.  If I love you, I won’t lead you off toward something ungodly.
Standards work. A standard-less society does not work. Love clings to
good things, and quickly turns away from low things.

III.     Love Is Being a Devoted Friend (v. 10).

IV.    Love Honors Another Above Yourself (v. 10).

A.  This may be the hardest on the list.

B.  To do this I have to have enough sense of my worth as a child of God
and as a possession of the Son of God that I don’t have to scratch and
battle for the upper hand with you.

V.     Love Is Zealous, with Spiritual Fervor (v. 11).

Right in the middle of this is a spiritual reminder; “serving the Lord.” If
we need to outdo others, outdo them in devotion to Christ.

VI.    Love Is Joyful (Because of Hope) (v. 12).

VII.   Love Is Patient in Affliction (v. 12).

It holds out. We will not be delivered from all misfortune, but in the
midst of misfortune we will be sustained.

VIII.    Love Is Faithful in Prayer (v. 12).

We mentioned mother. This one has mother written all over it. One
father of adult children prays for his sons and their wives every day. That
might get him up to a third of his wife’s prayers for them.

IX.    Love Shares with God’s People Who Are in Need (v. 13).

It shares with godless people too, as it can. But God’s people are a first
priority.

X.     Love Practices Hospitality (v. 13).

Is your house a place where children clamor to come, where
missionaries and traveling friends can always find a bed, where a lot of
folks in the church family have pulled up under your table, where brothers
and sisters can find an ear, a chair, and a prayer?

XI.    Love Blesses Those Who Persecute (v. 14).

XII.   Love Rejoices with Those Who Rejoice (v. 15).

It will do that even with those who have achieved a success that you
want, but may never enjoy yourself.

XIII.  Love Mourns with Those Who Mourn (v. 15).

It lifts up part of the pain.

XIV. Love Stretches Its Social Range Past Its Comfort Zones (v. 16).

Conclusion

Remember, all letter long, Paul reminds us that this is God-guided through the Holy Spirit living that we cannot produce on our own. We need a Savior (Jesus) who died on the Cross. We need the Holy Spirit. We may have them.

A REFRIGERATOR LIST FOR WINNERS

Romans 12:9-16

9) “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10) Be kindly affection-ed one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; 11) Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12) Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13) Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14) Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15) Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16) Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”

Introduction

A preacher once told about three kids who made a new club. They had three
rules. Nobody acts big. Nobody acts little. Everybody acts medium. Pretty good
advice!

In the verses that precede this section of Romans twelve, Paul talks about
being living sacrifices and that it starts inside. We become what we think about
(and what we think about ourselves). Now this is part two of being a living
sacrifice—living sacrifices living together.

I.      Love Must Be Sincere (v. 9).

(This is a Greek word that you know, anhupocritos, not
hypocritical, not fake.)

A.  Love and pretense cannot exist together.

B.  It has little to do with sentiment, but a lot to do with determination,
commitment, decision.

II.     Love Hates Evil. It Clings to Good (v. 9).

A.  Love is not real if it fails to discriminate between evil and good.

B.  If I love you, I won’t lead you off toward something ungodly.
Standards work. A standardless society does not work. Love clings to
good things, and quickly turns away from low things. 

III.     Love Is Being a Devoted Friend (v. 10).

IV.    Love Honors Another Above Yourself (v. 10).

A.  This may be the hardest on the list.

B.  To do this I have to have enough sense of my worth as a child of God
and as a possession of the Son of God that I don’t have to scratch and
battle for the upper hand with you.

V.     Love Is Zealous, with Spiritual Fervor (v. 11).

Right in the middle of this is a spiritual reminder; “serving the Lord.” If
we need to outdo others, outdo them in devotion to Christ. 

VI.    Love Is Joyful (Because of Hope) (v. 12).

VII.   Love Is Patient in Affliction (v. 12).

It holds out. We will not be delivered from all misfortune, but in the
midst of misfortune we will be sustained. 

VIII.    Love Is Faithful in Prayer (v. 12).

We mentioned mother. This one has mother written all over it. One
father of adult children prays for his sons and their wives every day. That
might get him up to a third of his wife’s prayers for them. 

IX.    Love Shares with God’s People Who Are in Need (v. 13).

It shares with godless people too, as it can. But God’s people are a first
priority.

X.     Love Practices Hospitality (v. 13).

Is your house a place where children clamor to come, where
missionaries and traveling friends can always find a bed, where a lot of
folks in the church family have pulled up under your table, where brothers
and sisters can find an ear, a chair, and a prayer? 

XI.    Love Blesses Those Who Persecute (v. 14).

XII.   Love Rejoices with Those Who Rejoice (v. 15).

It will do that even with those who have achieved a success that you
want, but may never enjoy yourself. 

XIII.  Love Mourns with Those Who Mourn (v. 15).

It lifts up part of the pain. 

XIV. Love Stretches Its Social Range Past Its Comfort Zones (v. 16).

Conclusion

Remember, all letter long, Paul reminds us that this is God-guided living that
we cannot produce on our own. We need a Savior. We need the Spirit. We may have them.