Jesus the Bondage-Breaker

Over the summer we are doing a study on Biblical Doctrine at our Men’s Bible Study.  This morning we looked at the humanity and deity of Jesus Christ.  The Bible teaches us that in the one person of Jesus Christ there are two natures; one divine and one human.  The relationship of the two natures is inscrutable, it is a Biblical mystery.  The eternal Son of God became a man so that He might reveal God to us, atone for our sins, destroy the works of the devil and be a perfect example for how to live and please God.  Look at what the following Scripture say concerning God becoming a man,
 

John 1:14-18
 14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,  who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ” 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.
 

Philippians 2:5-11
 5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
 6Who, being in very nature God,
      did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
 7but made himself nothing,
      taking the very nature of a servant,
      being made in human likeness.
 8And being found in appearance as a man,
      he humbled himself
      and became obedient to death—
         even death on a cross!
 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
      and gave him the name that is above every name,
 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
      in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
      to the glory of God the Father.
 

Hebrews 2:14-18
 14Since 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— 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17For 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. 18Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
 

Jesus is the unique God-Man.  He is the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except by Him.  He is the One we worship and the One we proclaim in preaching the gospel.  Take some time to thank the Lord that He saved you and ask Him to use you to be His witness.

Do you believe in absolute truth?  My daughter and I are doing a Bible Study this summer on “Making Right Choices” and this was the question from today’s study.  Moral relativism, post-modernity and situational ethics are heady topics for a 13 year old to consider. Yet every day we are all bombarded with choices that bring us back to what we believe about right and wrong and what is true versus what is false.  In our discussion we looked at Genesis 3 and Eve’s seduction into relativism by the serpent.  When I asked my daughter Read the rest of this entry »

Mechanics have their tools, surgeons have their instruments and soldiers have their weapons. Just like these trained specialists, every Christian has the Word of God to study, obey and share with others. 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2 says,

“Remember from what sort of people your knowledge has come, and how from early childhood your mind has been familiar with the Holy Scriptures, which can open the mind to the salvation which comes through believing in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the Read the rest of this entry »

This morning in my Quiet Time the Lord impressed me with how He uses both the Word and the Spirit to bring about growth and transformation in my life. It is not one or the other but both working in conjunction to accomplish God’s purposes. If I study the Word but do not rely upon the Spirit, then I can become legalistic and prideful. If I seek the Spirit but do not abide in the Word, then I can become subjective and prideful. One produces an unbalanced intellectual Christianity that prides itself in having all the answers. The other produces Read the rest of this entry »