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Grace Bible Church

4000 E. Collins Rd.   P.O. Box #3762   Gillette, WY  82717   (307) 686-1516

 

- Preaching the Living WORD through the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 -

 

 

 

 

CHRIST’S MANIFESTATION IN THE FLESH

 (1Ti 3:16) 12/9/12

Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming

Pastor Daryl Hilbert

 

I.     INTRODUCTION TO MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH

 

A.    As we have been looking at the ecclesiastical view of the church: the living church, the local church, the ordinances (Lord’s Supper and Baptism), doctrinal confession, and church membership, it only seems right to view Christmas from the early church’s perspective.

B.    Let me say at the onset that the early church did not celebrate Christmas as we do today. Without question, they believed in the Scriptures and the Scriptures state that Christ was born, born of a virgin; therefore Christ was manifested in the flesh so that He could die for man’s redemption. But they did not have a Christian holiday called Christmas celebrated on Dec 25th.

C.    Let me also say that I am not in the least suggesting that as Christians we are wrong in celebrating Christmas on Dec. 25th. Though the actual date of Christ’s birth is sketchy, we indeed hold to the beliefs in Scripture and openly confess what the early church believed.

D.    Speaking from our calendar, some early church writers suggest that Christ’s birth was possibly in the spring (March - May), some December, and others the beginning of the year (January). Along with others and tradition, Chrysostom argued that the plausible Dec 25th date would separate Christmas from any other Christian holidays.

E.    It is to Christmas that Christians today assign all those biblical and historical beliefs, which emphasize that Christ was “manifested in the flesh.”

 

II.    THE MEANING OF CHRIST’S MANIFESTATION IN THE FLESH

 

A.    He Who

 

1.     There is a lot that could be said about the early church’s perspective on the birth of Christ, but perhaps the phrase in 1Ti 3:16 describes it best; “He who was manifested in the flesh.”

2.     The phrase begins with “He who, “and is equally important to becoming flesh. Who is the “He?” There really is no debate that Paul was referring to Christ in vs. 16. Who else was revealed in the flesh? Vindicated by the Spirit? Seen by angels? Proclaimed among the nations? Believed on in the world? Taken up in glory? It is Christ and only Christ, the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity.

3.     However, there is some debate on the translation, though it does not change the meaning of the person of Christ or the fact that He became flesh. Some translations read, “God was manifested in the flesh.” Is Christ God? There is absolutely no question that the Scriptures teach the deity of Christ. Furthermore, the early church held this as their “common confession” (adverb - homologoumenous - to say or confess the same thing, agree).

4.     Many Scriptures attest to the truth that Jesus was God.

a)    Jesus, as the Word, “was God” in Jn 1:1. The verb ê,n, being in the imperfect tense, teaches that Christ continually was God from the beginning.

b)    Jesus claimed not only to exist before Abraham but identified Himself with the Jehovah, the Great “I AM” (Jn 8:58 cp. Ex 3:14).

5.     The very fact that Christ was “manifested in the flesh” begs the question as to what form He possessed before being manifested in the flesh? The answer is that He was in the form of God, i.e. God.

a)    Christ always existed (present participle hupa,rchō - continually existeing) in the form of God (Php 2:6). “Form” (morphê, - essence and nature) means that Christ possessed the nature of God along with all the properties that constitute what God is.

b)    Before He was man, He was first and always God, eternally.

6.     The oldest and best manuscripts of 1Ti 3:16 read ho,s (relative pronoun in the nominative masculine singular) translated, “who” or “He who.” Later manuscripts, for one reason or another replaced the pronoun with theo,s (God). While warranting against such free liberty, it does not change the fact the vs. 16 is referring to Christ who was God.

 

B.    revealed or manifested

 

1.     The word “revealed or manifested” is the Greek word phanero,ō. It comes from the root phai, and means to bring to light or cause to appear (Mk 16:14). In addition, it can mean to make something known as in God’s revelation to man (Mk 4:22).

2.     In the context of 1Ti 3:16, both ideas are expressed. Christ became human and took on visible human appearance (Php 2:8), also the Son of God was being revealed (Jn 2:11), and He Himself was revealing the invisible God (Jn 1:18; 14:7-11; Col 1:15; Heb 1:3a).

3.     In the context of His birth, it especially means that He came into the world to be seen by men. “in the flesh

4.     Here the text says that He was specifically being manifested “in the flesh.” As previously mentioned, phanero,ō can mean to appear of become visible and Christ appeared in the flesh.

 

C.    in the flesh

 

1.     “Flesh” (sa,rx) has  various meanings. It can have a figurative meaning that the Scriptures often refer to the sinful nature and it base desires and passions (1Jn 2:16; Ro 13:14; Ep 2:3). It is of utmost importance that we realize that this is not at all what is meant in regard to Christ.

a)    Christ never sinned. Otherwise who could not have been our Savior not to mention that it would disprove that He was God (1Pe 1:19; 2:22 cp. Is 53:9; He 4:15).

b)    Christ did not possess or share in our sinful nature. God, did not permit the sinful nature of Mary to transfer to Jesus (Lk 1:35; He 7:26; 1Jn 3:5).

2.     “Flesh” can also mean a literal physical body and its consistency. With reference to Christ, it certainly refers to His physical body. He took on human flesh and human likeness and became a man (Php 2:7).

 

III.  THE EXTENT OF CHRIST’S MANIFESTATION IN THE FLESH

 

A.    The idea of “extent” here is the scope of Christ’s manifestation in the flesh in his life. Does the phrase “in the flesh” of 1Ti 3:16 have a wider view than just His birth? I believe it does which by no means diminishes the importance of His birth.

1.     Incarnation - The phrase “in the flesh” is explained by the theological term called “incarnation” (Latin - en carno - in flesh). Christ came “in the flesh.” This includes His birth but encompasses more. It includes its reality as well as its purposes, which could only be accomplished “in the flesh.”

a)    John states in Jn 1:14 that He “became flesh” so that He could live (“dwelt” - skêno,ō - lit. tent, or take up residence, live) among us.

b)    Man would also be able to see His glory as the Son of God by His person and works.

c)     Man would see that God’s grace and truth was offered in Christ.

2.     Prophesy - Christ’s incarnation was not a surprise injected into the history of mankind, but God’s redemptive plan from the beginning which included signs and purposes.

a)    The birth of Christ was important to Christ’s incarnation, but it also was a sign to identify the Messiah, who would be born of a virgin (Is 7:14 cp. Mt 1:22-23).

b)    The prophecy of the birth of Christ was a prediction that God would give His own Son to save sinful mankind (Is 9:6).

3.     Birth - Aside from being a sign of the Messiah, the birth of Christ was the sole means of Christ’s incarnation (“in flesh”) through the Holy Spirit (Mt 1:20; Lk 1:35). As the means of His incarnation, the birth of Christ is of great importance because it obviously is how Christ came into the world to save sinners (Mt 1:21). Had Christ not come into the world “in the flesh,” there would be no incarnation and no redemption.

4.     Life - The birth of Christ was just the beginning. Christ being “manifested in the flesh,” was able to live out His divine life (never ceasing to be God, rather humanity was added to His deity), be man’s example of perfect righteousness, and become man’s Savior through His death.

a)    Christ’s life “in the flesh” is the believer’s example of how he ought to walk in righteousness as Christ walked in righteousness (1Jn 2:6; 1Pe 2:21).

b)    Christ’s “manifestation in the flesh” is what made him human and mortal. Christ’s mortality gave Him the ability to die on the cross as man’s substitutionary atonement. This was Christ’s ultimate purpose for being “manifested in the flesh” (Ga 4:4-5; He 2:9).

 

IV.  OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

 

A.    Though the early church did not celebrate Christmas as we do is no reason for us to abstain from its celebration. Rather, by understanding Christ’s purpose for being “manifested in the flesh,” believers are able to celebrate Christmas today in its truest meaning.

B.    Though we celebrate Christ’s birth, we understand that His birth allowed Him to be “manifested in flesh” so that He could accomplished many purposes, including our redemption and eternal life.

C.    Christ’s manifestation in the flesh lets believers understand Christ’s divine glory, the grace and truth that is found in Him, the example left for them to emulate, and rejoice in the blessing that the Son of God died to taste death for us.