Now faith is the
substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of
things not seen. For by it
the elders
obtained good testimony.
By faith we
understand that the worlds
were framed by the
word of God, so that
the things which are
seen were not made
of things which are
visible.
Hebrews 11:1–3
This study
on the book of Romans is so important as this is probably the most doctrinal
book of the Bible along with the book Hebrews. We have learned what God accepts
and condemns and acceptance and condemnation is clearly and plainly spoken so
that there can only be that which is to be believed (that is, unless a person
chooses just not to believe), His will for man, for we are not destitute and lack the knowledge
revealed to us by God. This study has led us into the realm of faith and this
subject, faith, is the thrust and purpose of this blog. Therefore, we must
continue this subject so that we are built up in the faith. Let us then begin
with this: That by God’s grace, all things that are in existence is due to the
word of the Father who is Himself divine, and that by the word, His will and
power all things are moved and receive their being. At this point in time, that
is, Christmas time, a time in which Christians celebrate the coming of the
Savior Jesus Christ we must take a step further in our faith, that faith of
our most holy religion and we must then consider this: the Word became Man and
appeared in our world. This mystery, a mystery that may even give you great
concern and has for many become a stumbling block, reducing one’s faith, in the
least has caused faith to not be fully understood for the truth is missing, for
many have traduced this fact of the coming of Jesus. In fact this world, as it
has from the beginning of the coming of Jesus Christ say: “He is of little
worth, and that God did not become a Man.”
Yet, it this mystery, the coming of Jesus Christ as a babe born in a
stable, a manger, lowly, the one whom we adore, and our love, devotion to this
world is derided by the world, and yet, our understanding of this mystery will
increase our faith making us willing witnesses for God. Men rule this coming of
Jesus, this coming of God as to be something that is impossible, and yet, the
life of Jesus Christ makes His Godhead evident. Man may say this is unfitting
of God and even makes wisecracks, laughing at such a possibility. He by His
inherent might declares His Divinity. Jesus shows this to be possible, and His
goodness is most fit and by what, at least to the world, that which seems to be
His utter poverty, and weakness. In fact, they point to the cross. He by His
life, His teachings overturns such thinking and by His demeanor, quietly and
even hiddenly shows those mockers and unbelievers to recognize Him as God. It
is necessary to deal with this matter and to come to an understanding why the
Word of the Father manifested in bodily form. The Word, or the Wisdom of God
having so high and greatness by His being Divine, the Second Person of the
Trinity, being of Spirit, that is, His nature, His Person is Spirit, then to
come into that which was not of His nature, to have a body, a man’s body. Why?
This manifestation being in a human body was for this reason only, and this due
to the love and Goodness of the Father: first to pay the debt that man could
not pay, a debt of death, a debt that the Justice of God demanded. This God
paid Himself by sending His Only Begotten Son, this Son who for all eternity
was and is the Only Begotten of God, His very Wisdom, all for the salvation of
us, the children of God.
I opened
this blog with the first three verses of Hebrews, a chapter known as the faith
chapter, and these verses pointed out this fact: “By faith we understand
that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that
the things which are seen were not made of things which
are visible” (Hebrews 11:3). God, the Son of God, the Word of God, and the
Holy Spirit is the maker of all things visible and invisible. By the coming of
Jesus Christ, to become incarnate, to take on man’s body, to be a baby and grow
into manhood came because of the grace, goodness, and mercy of God and by His
coming to earth there is now a renewal of creation by this Self–same Word, who
made all things in the first place. There is no inconsistency between creation
and salvation for God, the Father has employed the same Agent for both works,
by the One who made the world in the first place. So, why, am I discussing the
origin of men when I have set about to speak about the Word’s becoming Man, and
how this will enhance our faith? The subject of creation is relevant to the
latter for this reason. Sin, our sin, the sin of Adam, that original sin is
what caused the Word of God to come down into our world and become Man. Our
transgression had need for reconciliation, and God seeing our sorry state, out
of His love for us, made the provision to help us, and this He did by appearing
among us. We made cause for the Spiritual to take on the physical human form,
and this, done for our salvation. God had made man and given to men, a spirit,
embodied men with a soul and had willed that man should remain in incorruption.
God willed this to be and at the same time did not make man some robot that
could not choose and knowing, for God is omniscient, knew that man would turn
down His will and devise evil, thereby come under the law of death. Man, Adam,
and even now us, did not and often in our lives will not remain or even desire
the state in which God created man. Man has become ever increasingly corrupt,
and death from the first fall had complete dominion over man. Man came from non–existence
and now due to sin are returning to non–existence again. By God’s love man
called into existence and by sin they have lost the knowledge of God, and by
this loss have lost existence with God Who alone exists, and this evil which is
non–being is the negation and antithesis of good: therefore the badness of man
cannot exist with goodness. Man by nature is mortal and God made man in His
image, and having this likeness of Him, if they would remain, or preserve that
likeness, they would have all the power that God would grant to them. If man
then lost that nature through sin, corruption then man’s nature remains
deprived of that power and then remains corrupt.
As we begin
to contemplate this season of celebration for the birth of Jesus Christ, let us
not get caught up in the commercialization. Christmas trees, gifts, songs, are
to bring joy and happiness. This is great and wonderful. The most wonderful
thing that must not be forgotten is that God came to earth, the Son of God,
Jesus Christ, to die and pay this debt of sin, and by the grace of God through
His Son, the death of His Son on the cross, this propitiation is applied to the
children of God. Now this is truly a reason to celebrate His birth.
Thus says the LORD:
“Heaven is
My throne.
And earth My footstool. Where is
The house
that you will build
For Me? And where is the place of My rest?
For all those
things My hand has made,
And all those things that exist,” says, the LORD.
But on this
one will I look: On him who
Is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles
At My word.
Isaiah 66:1––2
Jesus Christ: Our Immanuel
Richard L. Crumb
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