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Hebrews 6:13-20
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can also download our service at Baptist-Christian at iTunes. As we turn our attention to the Christmas season, it is appropriate to consider the Biblical doctrines that concern Christ’s coming. We believe Jesus was fully human and fully divine. The theological term for the perfect union of Christ’s divine and human natures is called the hypostatic union. It comes from the Greek word hypostasis which means “being.” The question is often asked, “Why did Jesus have to be fully human, and fully divine?” Today and next week we want to consider some Biblical answers to those questions.
- MAN NEEDED REPRESENTATIVE OBEDIENCE. When we speak of representative obedience we mean Jesus obeyed God for us in all parts of human life where Adam failed and disobeyed. We notice that Jesus’ obedience was (A) personal. Read Phil. 2:8 and follow your chain reference to learn this doctrine Jesus’ of personal obedience permeates Scripture. We also learn (B) Jesus accomplished salvation for us. Read Heb. 5:8-10 and Rom. 5:12-21. In 1 Cor. 15:44-49 Paul uses the term 1st Man speaking of Adam as representative of the race. Paul then speaks of Christ as the 2nd Man speaking of Christ as our representative. To properly represent us Jesus had to be fully human and fully divine.
- MAN NEEDED A SUBSTITUTE SACRIFICE. Read Heb. 10:1-7, then 2;1-17. The first passage helps us understand our need for a substitute sacrifice. The second explains that Christ was that substitute. Jesus became our High Priest offering Himself as the sacrifice. To offer Himself He had to be fully human. Jesus was also a sinless High Priest Who didn’t have to atone for His own sin. Only God is sinless and therefore “qualified” to offer the proper sacrifice. All the work Jesus did for our redemption was sinless which made it acceptable to God as satisfactory for our salvation. What would you be willing to sacrifice so others might be saved?
- MAN NEEDED A MEDIATOR BETWEEN HIM AND GOD. Read 1 Tim. 2:1-6. A proper mediator had to represent, in this case, Man to God and God to Man. There are at least three Biblical reasons we can’t mediate for ourselves: (1) we are already spiritually dead because of our transgressions and sins. Therefore, we have no means by which to stand in front of God. (2) Our allegiance to the principalities and powers of evil darkens our hearts with sin and sinfulness. (3) By (our sinful) nature we are naturally God’s enemies and the objects of His wrath. Eph. 2:1-3. Jesus, fully human, fully divine met the qualifications to be a proper High Priest; He was a Prophet to represent God to Man (Heb.1:1-3); and as a Mediator Christ becomes King as an honor for being the perfect Mediator, Sacrifice and Redeemer for the race; and to ensure God’s Law is always properly given and obeyed. God planned and brought all this to pass simply because of His infinite love for you. He has already done all the things we can’t to redeem us, so we can do all we can to show our gratefulness for such a magnificent gift as eternal spiritual life in Christ.
If we can help you answer your spiritual questions, call us at (574) 643-9419.
