The first mention of Christ's death is that of bruising (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 53:10). “He emptied himself, being born in human likeness.” God is most often disguised in the ordinary, the humble, the human. He might have avoided it (Matthew 26:53), but so far from that He anticipated His executioners (John 19:33). title of "Lord", which the Father has bestowed on him. Born in a stable.2. Irons.I. In becoming a man He did not necessarily become mortal, for mortality is not an essential condition of humanity. For if Christ be not absolutely a man, if His divinity come in, in the least degree, to qualify His humanity, then He practically ceases to be an example, and, indeed, a substitute.I. All these Jesuses had need of and were glad "to lay hold of the skirts" of this Jesus to be saved by Him. I summarize the sermon with this theme: BIBLICAL CHRISTMAS SPIRIT IMITATES CHRIST: HE EMPTIED HIMSELF. Exalted He shall be with our wills or without them. It was a most convenient touchstone to prove the genuine disposition and work of men, so as to discriminate those who can discern and love true goodness though so disfigured, and not be scandalized by the Cross.4. Not to reward in the one case may be churlishness; in the other it would be to break one's word; whilst in the third there would be positive dishonesty. He trod not one step awry in sin, but many of the footsteps of sin appeared upon Him: e.g. Infidels and Christians little better are forced to "fall backward," and in the end to cry "Vicisti Galilaee," though they guard their tongues when they have done. The Atonement was no compromise between the demands of justice and the pleadings of mercy. Merit in the sense of an action to which a reward is due on grounds of justice can only exist where there is some stipulation. ITS PRACTICAL EFFICACY. It should breed a disregard for the world and its vanities, and reconcile us to even the worst condition? There is nothing derogatory to the sacred manhood of Christ in this covenant. —(1) Poverty. But Christ's obedience was unto —(a) Death. God ever exalts for a cause. As a subject of the state He pays the tribute at the same moment that He asserts His claim and privilege as the Son of God. (3)The Spirit assisting the Son to offer Himself without spot.2. The Ruler of all brought to the state of a creature.1. Respect a body which has such fellowships; be tender to the corporeal wants of the members of the body of Christ.(J. Plato says that to approve a man righteous, he must be scourged, tortured, bound, have his eyes burnt out, and, at the close, having suffered all evils, must be impaled. "Render unto Caesar," etc.IV. But although He merited for all, all do not receive the grace He purchased. Our body is to afford her part, and not the upper parts, the tongue in the head, but also the lower, the knee in the leg. —(1) Poverty. That Scripture prophecies might be accomplished (Isaiah 63:1; Genesis 3:15; Luke 24:25, 26).2. A. The atoning value of the Cross lay in the removal of a hindrance: its meritoriousness acquired a positive gain. This honour is awarded Christ for the death of the Cross; shall we, then, rob Him of it? The merit which appeals to goodness sets up no claim; that which rests on fidelity involves a promise; that which trusts to the justice of the rewarder implies a covenant. To this end, Christ, who was always the real original of that man as he lay in the purposes of God, determined to take our nature. The obedience of Jesus unto death became the exhaustive ground on which God could justly remit the penalty pronounced against the sinner.3. (5)As a child of God He fulfilled the spiritual law.2. But Christ's obedience was unto —(a) Death. Plato says that to approve a man righteous, he must be scourged, tortured, bound, have his eyes burnt out, and, at the close, having suffered all evils, must be impaled. It is possible to conceive that Jesus might have assumed our nature without submitting to the law of death. It should yield great joy to know that Christ hung there not only as a resolute sufferer, but as a noble conqueror over the devil, the world, the flesh, death, wrath, enmity, and strife, etc.4. (5)As a child of God He fulfilled the spiritual law.2. (3) Our Lord's actions could have obtained no merit, whatever their perfection, had they resulted only from His natural powers. Seeing that our Lord's death was a satisfaction to Divine justice, it was most fit that it should be in a way wherein God's right is most nearly concerned and plainly discernible. (b) The worst death. The obedience of Jesus unto death became the exhaustive ground on which God could justly remit the penalty pronounced against the sinner.3. True, but by a kind of anticipation, for it never had its perfect verification till after the crucifixion. (3) Christ is willing to do anything for thee. That He that hath the power of death might be destroyed (Hebrews 2:14).6. How far obedient? The heinousness of our sins.3. (2) But how perfect was His course of servitude, how continuous, laborious, devoted (Psalm 40; cf. WHAT HE ENDURED IN THAT FASHION.1. That which is due may be cheerfully parted with as though it were a gift. Shall we therefore abandon hearing as well as kneeling? He was at every one's call. For what cause? All his offices were derided: His Priestly (Matthew 27:42); His prophetical (Luke 22:64); His Kingly (John 19:2-3). No point is more fruitful in wholesome instruction, more forcible to kindle devout affections, more efficacious in affording incentives to a pious life.1. How certain, then, His sympathy.III. His person is out of sight, but His name is left behind that we may do reverence to it. He foresaw it from the beginning, and regarded it with satisfaction.2. He stooped to become a man. (3) The service He rendered you was hard service; the yoke He puts upon you is easy, and the burden light. Is it then to be said, in the ignorance of our pride, in the supercilious presumption of our poor narrow thought, that the Infinite One must always be in Divine state and glory, in one manifestation, in one form of His infinite life, that whatever transpires in the history of the world or the universe, He can do nothing except what He has been forever doing — speak no new word — make no new revelation of Himself? (1) "He humbled" — so great a person. First, He was natural; then, after His resurrection, He was spiritual; then, after His ascension, He was glorious; and now, still a man, entirely a man, wearing our framework, and carrying our affections, He is that very eternal man conceived in the bosom of God, and of which both Adam in Paradise and He in Bethlehem were made to be the copy and the likeness.(J. (2:10-11), "Before me every knee will bow;by me every Merit ceased with the Cross: what follows is reward (John 19:30).4. A king need not always wear the royal robes and sit on a throne. Thus is depicted the lot of our common humanity. Of His own accord. Christ's actions in perfectness contrast with those of the creature. Christ might have been man without humiliation: e.g., had He assumed the "glorious body" He now wears.3. He industriously shunned a death such as might have brought Him honour when exposed to it by the malignity of the Pharisees. Christ's actions were of this character (Romans 15:36; Luke 22:42). This, ignominious in itself, exposed the sufferer to the scorn of the rude vulgar.2. A. Let us trace on the likeness into His spiritual being. These verses also provide important underpinnings to our How far obedient? It was not simply glory for His body that He purchased, but exaltation and kingly power; a name above every name.2. Without dying, His object in coming into the world would have failed of being accomplished. No slave could have any right as a citizen. (4) Heaven is opened to thee (Hebrews 10:19).(J. that Jesus is a Lord to save (Matthew 14:30), and a Lord to serve (Acts 9:6). His childhood and early manhood were subject to parental authority.3. The late Indian Jesuit priest-psychologist Antony de Mello wrote that while we are searching wildly for that “great experience of God,” there are a … It was His Father's business He was employed in (Luke 2:49; John 9:4).II. Paul is saying, if Christ has benefited you in any way, I beg The first we like well, but the latter not so (Luke 6:46).5. That Scripture types might be fulfilled — Isaac, the offerings, the brazen serpent, etc.3. Adam was human, but he was not created mortal. Even in Christ grace imparted worth to His natural actions (John 5:19). Conquering Lamb of Revelation
Barrow, D. D.1. IN WHAT MANNER CHRIST UNDERWENT THIS DEATH.1. There is nothing so sharp and intolerable, not even pain, to a noble spirit as shame (Hebrews 12:2). It was not simply glory for His body that He purchased, but exaltation and kingly power; a name above every name.2. The manner thereof. As the reward of His obedience Jesus was empowered with the prerogative of bestowing the gift of eternal life on all that believe on His name.(R. (1)This obedience was perfect — "to death."(2)Acceptable. Elsewhere in the Greek language you can find He might have avoided it (Matthew 26:53), but so far from that He anticipated His executioners (John 19:33). (b) He had it before. THE CROSS AS ITS FOUNTAIN.1. Christ as man had within Himself the foundations of a true merit, and by His Divine personality communicated to His actions an infinite value.2. And He will not have us worship Him like elephants, as if we had no joints in our knees; He will have more honour of men than of pillars in the Church. "No," said he, "my father told me to stay till he came back." There are things we come in contact with which, though not hurtful, leave a feeling of debasement. (c) But if given Him ἐχαρίσατο "of grace," where is the merit then? So painful was it in thought that Christ shrunk from it (Matthew 26:39). The most beautiful feature about Christ's humiliation was that it was never prominent, but always self-forgetful. To bear up under fierce pain for a few hours is a greater test of moral strength than the lifelong efforts of a healthy person. Death was the objective end of His mission. In the latter sense the Cross outstrips all other portions of our Saviour's life in its value. It was the fitting crown of a life whose explanation was "My meat is to do the will," etc.III. From time to time, in earnest of His future purpose, He appeared as a man to the Old Testament saints. TO WHOM He became a servant. It will incline us to submit cheerfully to God's will to remember that Christ learned obedience by the things He suffered.(L. (1) God had made the power of Jesus to do His work depend on His faithfulness. Merit in the sense of an action to which a reward is due on grounds of justice can only exist where there is some stipulation. 9; Titus 1:2).V. That His will and testament might be firm and effectual (Hebrews 9:16, 17; Luke 22:20).4. The nature of His kingdom was thereby signified. "That at the name of Jesus," etc. Now the hymn builds to Pharaoh was humbled by His ten plagues. (5) The extent of our obedience is a matter considerable. (4)As a man, He fulfilled the whole moral law. He industriously shunned a death such as might have brought Him honour when exposed to it by the malignity of the Pharisees. The Cross completed the treasure of merit. But He was more than willing (Luke 12:50).2. The better sort get to their knees gladly, and cheerfully confess Him. (3)The Spirit assisting the Son to offer Himself without spot.2. The nature of His kingdom was thereby signified. That which is due may be cheerfully parted with as though it were a gift. In this respect His death differed from ours; we are not brought into this world simply for the purpose of dying; we die because we cannot help dying. But he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. )Christ's humiliation and exaltationBishop Andrewes. The Atonement was no compromise between the demands of justice and the pleadings of mercy. There are two possibilities. The Servant of servants had not where to lay His head; no money to pay His taxes; no clothes but such as privileged hands had made for Him.3. A. Answer. Raleigh, D. D.We have no difficulty in conceiving how a man of highest virtue, and noblest birth, and clearest intelligence, could assume an outward garb which would completely belie or hide his real character. His childhood and early manhood were subject to parental authority.3. The merit of the Cross rested on the whole of His life: as He foresaw His passion, so He accepted it.2. He suffered without the gate (Hebrews 12:12; Leviticus 24:14).3. )The humiliation of ChristJ. Jefferey, D. D.The phrase states the landing place of Christ's career of humiliation, the antipodes of the contrast, the nadir below which it was impossible for Him to go.I. A. To us death is the chalice whose poison has been changed by the chemistry of redeeming love into nectar; to Jesus it was a cup full of the concentrated dregs of woe. He gave His life with all its preciousness, a freewill offering, a priceless sacrifice "of a sweet-smelling savour unto God."(J. (4) This is sad and dreadful news to all impenitent sinners (Hebrews 10:29).2. Christ was anointed that He might be Jesus — Saviour. (3)The slowness and gradual approach of death. Death, to us, is a surrender to an inevitable, from which we would prefer to be exempt, and at the best in most cases, it is a passive submission to a necessity, but the death of Jesus was Jesus in action.3. A fountain is useless to the thirsty unless they drink. (2) "Every knee" —(a) "Shall bow," for what better way to exalt Him than by our humility, who for His humility was exalted. They reproached Him for disobedience to the Father, and breaking the law which He gave. (d) Encouraging (Hebrews 2:18; Hebrews 4:15). From time to time, in earnest of His future purpose, He appeared as a man to the Old Testament saints. At thirty His argument for baptism is "Thus it becometh us," etc.4. (4) But there is an obedience which cometh from natural reason; but some other there be wherein there is no other reason but the will of a lawful superior. He was at every one's call. Justice was exacted of Jesus, and mercy was proffered to man. His humiliation had been to the ground, into the lowest parts of it; His exaltation was from thence. (d) See our lot. THE PERMANENCE OF THAT FASHION. This honour is awarded Christ for the death of the Cross; shall we, then, rob Him of it? In this respect His death differed from ours; we are not brought into this world simply for the purpose of dying; we die because we cannot help dying. Of all causes not for that, says the world. THE PERMANENCE OF THAT FASHION. A fountain is useless to the thirsty unless they drink. Rather than that sin should go unpunished He spared not His own Son (Romans 3:25). Our Saviour in any other way could hardly have displayed so many virtues to such advantage. (text and following): —I. you up." But here is true humility. Even so; rather than lose His obedience He lost His life. It should breed a disregard for the world and its vanities, and reconcile us to even the worst condition? (1) These are outward acts: so the exalting of the soul is not enough. (1) This lets us see the transcendent and inexpressible love of Christ to poor sinners (Galatians 2:20). A. Pride is madness in the presence of Him who made Himself of no reputation.5. And He will not have us worship Him like elephants, as if we had no joints in our knees; He will have more honour of men than of pillars in the Church. )The passion of our blessed SaviourL. Personal. He was content to he thought able to covet the creatures which He had made, and, like us, to prefer them to the Father; yea, and the very lowest of the creatures, which even man can despise. Christ was anointed that He might be Jesus — Saviour. (1) These are outward acts: so the exalting of the soul is not enough. How will they jeopard dignity and even life but to leave a glorious name behind them. It is well to drive away superstition, but it will be well not to drive away reverence with it. (5) In deep thoughts he had the counterpart of ours, the shrinking back of the obedient and willing spirit as it recoils from nature's throes. That staggers the best of us. But death, in the person of Jesus, was the culminating catastrophe in the history of the "Man of sorrows." He is Lord of the Sabbath, but obeys the Sabbath.7. (c) But if given Him ἐχαρίσατο "of grace," where is the merit then? Simon was compelled to humble his neck under the Cross. Answer. He had His life either to give or to keep. It affords strong engagements to charity, to know that out of compassion for us Christ suffered.9. Part of the JesusWalk Bible Study Series. As an infant He was obedient to circumcision.2. Wherefore seeing that a superabundant dignity of person was required God's arm brought salvation.5. But how? His person is out of sight, but His name is left behind that we may do reverence to it. For who can suffer as Christ suffered. (b)By doing good as we have opportunity (Galatians 6:10). The nature of His kingdom was thereby signified. We must have union with Christ for pardon and life (John 15:16; John 1:16; 2 Peter 1:4). As a child He was subject to His mother — but if interfered with in His work there were the "Woman; what have I to do with thee?" Not so.II. God ever exalts for a cause. or "Who is My mother?"2. Where are they, then, who deny any tongue the faculty here granted, or bar any of them the duty here enjoined, that lock up the public confession in some one tongue or two? Death was the objective end of His mission. Sinless. It should yield great joy to know that Christ hung there not only as a resolute sufferer, but as a noble conqueror over the devil, the world, the flesh, death, wrath, enmity, and strife, etc.4. (b) To us. It was a most convenient touchstone to prove the genuine disposition and work of men, so as to discriminate those who can discern and love true goodness though so disfigured, and not be scandalized by the Cross.4. or "Who is My mother?"2. Meriton, D. D.)The obedience of ChristJ. WHAT KIND OF DEATH CHRIST HUMBLED HIMSELF UNTO. genuine Christian: "This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: (1) It has been well said that "no man expresses such a devotion to virtue as he who forfeits the repute of being a good man, that he may not lose the conscience of being such." Mortality, with Him, was a consequence of disobedience; and so Jesus, in becoming human, had He seen fit, might have been exempt from the law of death, or might have passed away by a translation, such as is recorded of Enoch and Elijah, and such as did transpire in His own history after He had risen, to die no more. Merit may be calculated by the condition of the person who merits, or by the difficulty of the action. Even in Christ grace imparted worth to His natural actions (John 5:19). The atoning value of the Cross lay in the removal of a hindrance: its meritoriousness acquired a positive gain. Christ might have been man without humiliation: e.g., had He assumed the "glorious body" He now wears.3. It was His will to die; and yet He died not of His own will, but of His Father's. A cause there is. And reason: that member of all others is our glory (Psalm 57:8), our peculiarity above the beasts; they will be taught to bow, we have tongues to do something more than they. But what name was given here? As an infant He was obedient to circumcision.2. It will incline us to submit cheerfully to God's will to remember that Christ learned obedience by the things He suffered.(L. "It is appointed unto men once to die," and when death comes, he comes resistlessly. So until their name go abroad in the world He fulfilled the spiritual law.2 imply His Deity to away... 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