"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made... And the Word became 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 1:1-3, 14
The Word is the part of the Trinity with which Christians should be the most familiar. Had He not become flesh, lived a perfect, sinless life, died as a blood sacrifice and defeated death through His resurrection, we would still be under the control of sin with no real life of which to speak. In keeping with the image of man metaphor I've been using, the Word is God's body, or at least His earthly one. He represents the benevolence and unconditional love God showed His people, giving us a chance at repentance and atonement, not to mention tearing down the wall that we sinners of the world had built between us and God. Obviously, we know Him as Jesus.
But Jesus didn't just appear to come to earth and atone for our sins. He was with God in the beginning of it all. He was a part of God before anything we know even existed. He is the the Word of God, that spilled from His mouth calling all creation into being (John 1 and Gen. 1). When Jesus came to earth, God formed a human child within Mary, just like all of the rest of us were formed within our mothers. He was fully man, just like you and I. But instead of an earthly father to share DNA with this child, God imparted Himself into Jesus, making Him both God's Son and also fully God, allowing Him to remain sinless and deny His flesh.
The Word gave up His deity in order to have the ability to spill His human blood and die as a sacrifice for the atonement of sin. God made Himself a man without blemish, a spotless Lamb, to be sacrificed on His altar to atone for the sins of His people (Lev. 3:27-35). There is no greater love than to lay down your life for those you cherish (John 15:13). No greater gift or sacrifice that has ever existed. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:16-17
God, thank You that Your Word became flesh so that I could deny mine and follow You. Thank You that, through Your sacrifice, my debts are payed-in-full and I will one day kneel before Your throne with awe and thanksgiving. In Jesus' name, Amen.
The Word is the part of the Trinity with which Christians should be the most familiar. Had He not become flesh, lived a perfect, sinless life, died as a blood sacrifice and defeated death through His resurrection, we would still be under the control of sin with no real life of which to speak. In keeping with the image of man metaphor I've been using, the Word is God's body, or at least His earthly one. He represents the benevolence and unconditional love God showed His people, giving us a chance at repentance and atonement, not to mention tearing down the wall that we sinners of the world had built between us and God. Obviously, we know Him as Jesus.
But Jesus didn't just appear to come to earth and atone for our sins. He was with God in the beginning of it all. He was a part of God before anything we know even existed. He is the the Word of God, that spilled from His mouth calling all creation into being (John 1 and Gen. 1). When Jesus came to earth, God formed a human child within Mary, just like all of the rest of us were formed within our mothers. He was fully man, just like you and I. But instead of an earthly father to share DNA with this child, God imparted Himself into Jesus, making Him both God's Son and also fully God, allowing Him to remain sinless and deny His flesh.
The Word gave up His deity in order to have the ability to spill His human blood and die as a sacrifice for the atonement of sin. God made Himself a man without blemish, a spotless Lamb, to be sacrificed on His altar to atone for the sins of His people (Lev. 3:27-35). There is no greater love than to lay down your life for those you cherish (John 15:13). No greater gift or sacrifice that has ever existed. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:16-17
God, thank You that Your Word became flesh so that I could deny mine and follow You. Thank You that, through Your sacrifice, my debts are payed-in-full and I will one day kneel before Your throne with awe and thanksgiving. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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