The Son of God Became the Son of Man that the Sons of Men Might Become the Sons of God-Calvin

By Rev (Dr) Timothy Tow
(Preached at Life Church Christmas Eve Service, Dec 24, 2000, 8.00 pm )

Text: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (Jn 1:14 ).

The religions that have dominated China are three, viz. Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism (though Christianity is now coming up). Does any of these three religions seek to know the God of the universe? Of the three it is Taoism that tries to seek the deepest truth.

The founder of Taoism is Lao Zi. He was born about 600 BC. He wrote the famous Tao Teh Ching, a small book of 5,000 words, but most profound. Lao Zi said:

Something mysteriously already made,
Existing before heaven and earth
In the silence and the void,
Standing alone and unchanging
Ever present in constant motion

Perhaps he is the source of myriads of things
I do not know his name
Call him Tao,
For lack of a better word,
I call Him "the Almighty".

Tao is the word that translates the Biblical word "Logos" which the Greeks thought is the mediator, the Word, from which the world has come about. Tao means "the Way." Lao Zi amazingly gave to the Creator the name of Tao (which, as noted, is also called the Word by the Greeks).

Lao Zi believed the universe was created ex nihilo , out of nothing, from something. "Heaven and earth have been created from something. Something has come from nothing."

Such profound statements about the Tao attracted the attention of Confucius, born 551 BC. Confucius visited Lao Zi in his old age and learned the mystery of the Tao . Confucius being a philosopher of ethics and not of metaphysics, nevertheless, bowed to the teachings of Lao Zi. He humbly declared, "If I should know of the Tao in the morning, I am prepared to die in the evening".

Canst thou by searching find out God?
Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do?
Deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
(Job 11:7-9)

Though Lao Zi has touched upon the mystery of the Tao he is like building a ladder to reach heaven. He has such knowledge of God as derived from the cosmological or teleological argument. But this knowledge cannot lead him unto salvation.

The saving knowledge must come from God, by special revelation. By God sending His Son, born of the Virgin, that He might live among us. Thus, "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (Jn 1:14 ).

The fact that Christ took on himself the form of flesh, He did so that He might live a human life from babyhood to manhood. He went through all our human experiences, of sorrow and suffering, yet without sin. Thus, he is able to sympathise with us. "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Heb 4:15).

Without our Lord, the Son of God becoming Man to save us, by paying the penalty of our sins on the cross and rising again the third day, we would forever be lost. But with His full revelation to us He is able to take us with Him to Heaven.

The Word, Tao , by the incarnation of the Son of God, is fully revealed. He, the Son of God has become the Son of Man that the sons of men might become the sons of God. This is the wonderful Christmas message that we preach to you.

Too many people are trying to work their way to Heaven. By doing good according to the precepts of their religion they think they can gain entrance. But God declares all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isa 64:6). "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (Jas 2:10 ).

The only way to being saved is to come humbly to Him and ask Him to come into your heart. And He will save you, that the sons of men will become the sons of God.

The Tao of Lao Zi is none other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God. "In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not . . . He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace." (Jn 1:4-5, 11-16). Amen.

Technorati Tags: Christianity,Christmas,Jesus Christ,Gospel,John Calvin

Jesus Came to Save Sinners

(Message delivered by Rev Hien Nguyen at the Sunday Worship Service, 2 pm, Dec 16, 07)

Text: 1 Tim 1:15

We must thank God and praise Him for giving and sending His holy, glorious and dearly beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to this cursed world of darkness and sin to save sinners like you and me! Although the 25^th of December is not the exact Birthday of Jesus Christ, His first coming (incarnation) is a true event recorded in the Holy Scriptures (Matt 2, Luke 2) and in human history, dividing the world timeline: BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini: in the year of the Lord). Then, what did Jesus Christ come into this world for? Satan is using worldliness, materialism and pleasures to lure many away from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Centre of Christmas. Many just celebrate Christmas without any concern for who Jesus Christ is or what He came for. They enjoy themselves and indulge themselves in worldly gatherings, parties, pleasures and entertainments instead of coming to worship Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the Saviour of the world. How about you and me?

The apostle Paul shared his testimony, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Tim 1:15). How about your and my testimony?

The Word of God: True, Sure, Faithful, Trustworthy

“The word of God is quick (living) and powerful” (Heb 4:12) and effectually works in those who reverently accept it and believe it, “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thess 2:13). Therefore, Paul tried his best to persuade readers to receive God’s Word with faith and without any doubts or questions in order to get all the blessings from the Lord. Sadly, many so-called “Christian leaders” nowadays are spending their time and efforts in questioning, criticizing, and casting doubt on God’s Word! Their conscience is so dull that they do not see that doing such wicked thing is really damaging God’s Word, shaking the faith of young believers, and confusing many!

Here we see, to confirm God’s trustworthy Word, Paul used the phrase “This is a faithful saying” five times in his pastoral epistles (I Tim 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; II Tim 2:11, Titus 3:8). The term faithful is from the Greek word pistós, which means faithful, trustworthy, true, sure, believable; and the term saying is from the Greek word logos, which John used to refer to the living Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1), and to the written Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17; cf. 10:35). Then, “let God be true, but every man a liar” (Rom 3:4) because “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven…Thy word is true from the beginning” (Ps 119:89, 160), and “the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23), and “We have also a more sure word of prophecy” (2 Peter 1:19), etc. Dear friends, would we not rather listen to God’s sure, true, faithful and trustworthy Word than human words?

And Paul continues, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation.” The term acceptation (apodochē) has only two occurrences (the other is the same statement in 1 Tim 4:9), denoting acceptation with ready or willing acknowledgment and approval. Then, if a person receives God’s Word with “all acceptation,” there will be no room in his heart for any doubts. How about you and me? Do we have any doubts when reading, preaching, or accepting God’s faithful, true, sure, and trustworthy Word? Let us remember that doubt is not of faith, and “whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Rom 14:23).

The Purpose of Jesus Christ’s Coming: To Save Sinners

To Save Sinners: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Our Lord Jesus Christ came into this world with His purpose of saving sinners; and to fulfill this purpose, He finished His Father’s work, glorified His Father, and obeyed His Father’s will unto death (John 17:4; Phil 2:8). To save sinners, our Lord had to keep His life holy and righteous in order to die for sinners as a perfect Substitute. He overcame Satan’s temptations luring Him away from this purpose with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (Matt 4:1-11; 1 John 2:15-17). He even ignored the challenges of religious leaders asking Him to come down from the cross (Matt 27:41-42). Dear friends, if we have been saved by God’s grace, we should have the same purpose as our Lord’s. May God use our lives to continue fulfilling His purpose of saving sinners. And to be used by God, we are to submit to Him and His Word. There is no other way!

To Save Repentant Sinners: Our Lord Jesus came to save sinners, but not all sinners will be saved, only those who acknowledge their sins and return to Him from sins in repentance, but the corrupt texts omit the word “repentance” in Jesus’ statements, “I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matt 9:13), and “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mark 2:17), and even omit this whole sentence, “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost” (Matt 18:11). A patient who refuses or does not submit to the instructions and treatments of a doctor cannot be cured. It is worse if he does not believe in the doctor’s diagnosis or warnings, assuming that he is healthy without any illness or disease! Likewise, God loved mankind and sent His dearly beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into the world to save sinners, but many do not come to Him nor submit to Him and His Word, thinking that they have no serious sins or that there is no Hell. Then they can never blame God if they perish and are condemned to Hell! God’s Word confirms, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23) and, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). How about you and me? Have we acknowledged our sins and our hopeless condemnation to Hell and then come to the Lord Jesus Christ in sincere repentance and full submission?

To Save Repentant Sinners to the Uttermost: Our Lord Jesus Christ came to save repentant sinners perfectly to the uttermost as He is ever living, making intercession for them, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb 7:25). The term to the uttermost (pantelēs) means completely, wholly, always, forever. Then, by His death, resurrection and intercession, the Lord Jesus Christ has power not only to forgive our sins but also to deliver us from the power of sin and the power of darkness of Satan (Acts 26:18; Rom 7:24-25; Col 1:13) and to keep us secure unto the end (John 10:28-29). Then, a believer who is once saved by the Lord will be forever saved by Him. Praise the Lord! Do you and I have this assurance of our “eternal salvation” in the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb 5:9)?

Moreover, as Paul is “a pattern” or an example (1 Tim 1:13-16) of God’s love, grace, longsuffering and power to save and to transform him from a sinner, a blasphemer, a persecutor and a violent man unto a humble, gentle, godly and faithful servant of God, let us commit our lives totally to the Lord as the clay in the Potter’s hands so that God may mould, refine, sanctify and use our lives for His purpose and glory.

The Proper Attitude toward God’s Grace: Humble Submission, Thanksgiving, Praise

By God’s Grace Alone: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” and it is by God’s grace through faith alone that we are saved with our sincere repentance and humble submission to the Lord and His Word. Paul said, “And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (v 14). That is God’s irresistible grace (Calvin’s TULIP) that, by His great love and His election of grace, He has drawn us to Himself (John 6:44, 65), quickened us together with Christ (Eph 2:1, 5), delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us His kingdom (Col 1:13), even granted us faith to believe and to be saved (Eph 2:8) and be justified and sanctified (Acts 26:18; Rom 3:24). Dear friends, it is by God’s grace alone, so we have nothing to boast of ourselves except to humbly give all thanks, glory and praise to the Lord.

Humble Submission: As “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6), the proper attitude to receive God’s grace is humility and submission. When meeting the Lord Jesus Christ on his way to Damascus and realising that he was persecuting the Lord, Paul “trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6) This shows his fully humble submission. Paul also gave his testimony, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood” (Gal 1:15-16). Paul did not confer or consult with flesh and blood (human beings). Sadly, many professing Christians, even leaders, nowadays let themselves be influenced and misled by human ideas or unbiblical doctrines from ungodly “scholars” who arrogantly preach or write against God’s perfect Word without any submission to the Lord and His Word at all! How about you and me? Shall we say to Jesus Christ, “Lord,” not just on our lips but from a fully submissive heart, “what wilt thou have me to do?” without any consultation with human ideas, mindset, or thinking except God’s will and Word alone?

Moreover, after many years of faithful and fruitful service to the Lord, Paul confessed, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” before he was about to be executed (2 Tim 4:6-8). Truly, the more we know God and the more we know ourselves, the more we shall humble ourselves. This is true. Let us have a look at the life of the apostle Paul. In his first epistle to the Corinthians written about A.D. 56, Paul compared himself with other apostles and confessed, “I am the least of the apostles, that I am not meet to be called an apostle” (1 Cor 15:9). Then in his epistle to the Ephesians written about A.D. 60, he compared himself with other believers and said, “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints,” (Eph 3:8). And here in his first epistle to Timothy written about A.D. 65, he compared himself with sinners and confessed, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Tim 1:15). Paul used the simple present tense “am” to denote his humble every-moment need of the Lord Jesus Christ and His grace. It is safe and wise for you and me to have the same humble attitude, always realising our need of the Lord and His grace, His life, His Word, His wisdom, His guidance, His holiness, His righteousness, His protection, His strength, His love, His mercy, His peace, His joy, His comfort, etc. This will help us look unto the Lord, our All and in All, with our full trust, dependence and submission.

Thanksgiving and Praise: Paul said, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry… Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen” (vv 12, 17). Truly enjoying God’s eternal salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus alone while we only deserve condemnation to Hell, we shall humbly give thanks, honour, glory and praise to the Lord alone; and by God’s sufficient grace we may press on and persevere even in difficulties, temptations, trials, persecutions, giving thanks to Him in all things with a submissive heart to God’s sovereignty and His will, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thess 5:18).

Conclusion

Dear friends, Jesus Christ came into this world to save repentant sinners. That is the good news for all mankind. By His death, resurrection, and intercession, He is able to save you and me completely and forever by His grace alone. May God help us humbly receive His faithful, true, sure and trustworthy Word without any doubts or questions no matter what sinful human beings may say, and then submit to Him and His Word with our full trust and submission, giving thanks, glory and praise to Him in all things, and sharing this good news to others until our Lord comes back again. Amen.

Technorati Tags: Gospel,Jesus,Christianity,Christmas

God Sent Forth His Son

by Rev. Tan Kian Sing, Pastor of Berean Bible-Presbyterian Church

“When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Gal 4:4-5).

At every Christmas we spend time to rejoice in and to reflect on the virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of God. We marvel at how He became flesh taking up the form of a human body in order that the loving God may carry out His great plan of salvation to save mankind from sin. This is a very important and significant event in the Christian religion. Truly the incarnation of the only begotten Son of God is the grandest and most marvelous fact that ever was or ever will be. For this is the initiation of God’s great salvation plan for sinful mankind.

For years the promise of the virgin birth of the Son of God had long been expected to take place since the Fall of Man when God gave His promise in the Garden of Eden. Mankind since the Fall has been in bondage under sin in this world. But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, born of the virgin, to redeem us, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Yes, we all can become sons of God. And this is possible because Jesus the Son of God became the Son of man so that the sons of men might become the sons of God. And this event took place because “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16).

Do you believe that God loves you? That he gave His only begotten Son for you? That if you believe in Him you should not perish but have everlasting life? Do you believe? Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? The Bible says, “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God” (1 Jn 4:15). Confess that Jesus is the Son of God and God lives in you.

Are you struggling with sin in your life? Do you want to overcome the world of sin? The Bible tells us, “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 Jn 5:5). Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and you will overcome worldly lust and sin. Come, come and believe in the Son of God who became flesh to save us from our sins. Believe in Him, and thou shalt be saved.

How did Jesus the Son of God save us from our sins? He saves us from our sins by dying for us on the cross shedding His precious blood to redeem us. He took our place on the cross for our sins. “He was manifested in the flesh to take away our sins; and in him is no sin” (1 John 3:5). Yes, He who was without sin but took upon Himself our sins and went to the cross to die for us in our place. And in order to die, He must first become flesh. And so the Son of God in His humiliating condescension became the Son of man, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil 2:6-8). By dying on the cross, the Righteous and sinless Son of man died for the unrighteous and sinful sons of men such as you and me.

We are therefore justified by this sacrificial love of God in not sparing His only begotten Son. To be justified is to be declared righteous before the thrice-holy God. It is to be declared just as if you have not sinned. The Bible says, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” (1 Pet 3:18). And this is precisely why the Son of God became the Son of man, so that he might suffer death in the flesh for us, the just dying for the unjust. Yes, the Lord took upon Himself flesh and blood so that He could suffer and die, “that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb 2:14-15). Christ was born in the flesh to die for us and by His dying He destroyed the devil who has power over death and deliver us from the fear of death. Christ was born to die to conquer death for us. He was made like unto us to make reconciliation for our sins. Though He was the Son, He was obedient to the Father and suffered for our sins through death, offered as a Lamb of God without spot and blemish to bring justification to our souls. God had prepared a body for our Lord, for it is His will that “we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb 10:10). Christ had consecrated for us His flesh by being born and than died to save us.

Do you believe these sayings? The Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Do you recognise that you are a sinner and fallen short of God’s standard of righteousness? Believe in Jesus who alone is able to make us just before God, that is, just as if we have not sinned. Come unto Him and ask Him to wash you in His blood and to clothe you with the righteousness of Jesus Christ that you may be just and righteous before God.

The Son of God condescended to earth to become the Son of man. But God later exalted Him. He ascended back to heaven to His Father having accomplished the Father’s will to be born and to die to save sinful men. The Lord Jesus after His bodily resurrection was seen of many, and after 40 days, He was taken up into heaven, and is now sitting on the right hand of Almighty God. It was a bodily ascension for the disciples beheld Him when He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight. Again here we see the importance and significance of the incarnation of the Son of man that it precedes His bodily ascension back to heaven.

And even so as the Lord was received into heaven bodily, He will also return in the clouds bodily. When Jesus ascended back to heaven, the Bible says, “And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:10-11). O what a glorious day it will be when the Lord returns.

But are you ready for His return? Let us realise for sure that He will return not as an infant in the manger. The Bible says, the Son of man first came “not to judge the world, but to save the world” (Jn 12:47). But He will return as a Judge to judge the world. The Bible says, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (Jn 12:48). Those who reject Him and receive Him not, Jesus will judge them when He comes again. The same Lord Jesus, who came to save the world through His incarnation, will come again to judge the world. The Bible firmly says that the Son of man is He which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead (Acts 10:42). The Almighty God “now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained” even His Son Jesus Christ (Acts 17:31). Have you repented of your sins? Are you ready to face Jesus as Judge?

After having read all these truths concerning the Son of man, is there anything that is hindering you from coming to Him and to receive Him as your personal Saviour? Would you believe in Him and be saved? The Bible says, “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).

Dear friend, be it known unto you, that there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved but only by the name of Jesus Christ, who was born to be crucified, but God raised Him from the dead, and He is now seated at the right hand of God the Father. The day will come when the fullness of God’s salvation plan for sinful mankind shall be revealed when all will see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven, not as a Baby sleeping in the manger and as a Saviour to save mankind, but as King ruling from His throne and as a Judge to judge the world.

Dear Reader, if you have not yet received the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you will also not be ready to receive Him as your Judge. Confess and repent of your sins. Ask Him to come into your heart now and to save you for eternity.

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