The grandest of all mysteries which
the Lord has seen fit to manifest to the world is the incarnation
of the Lord Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time.
The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father,
He hath declared Him. The fact that he who is the creator
of all things should take upon himself the likeness of the creature
and walk among men is beyond the understanding of men. This
can in no wise be received and believed by natural men apart
from a supernatural revelation. It is well within the power of
men to consider that this man who is named Jesus has some divine
characteristics, even that he is some sort of secondary figure
in a panoply of gods. Yet only by the gift of faith
can a man see that this One who was born of a virgin in Bethlehem
is the God, the everlasting Father, the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
Not only is He One with the Father, He is the Father, so that he
that hath seen Him hath seen the Father, who is of purer eyes
than to behold sin, and yet He became sin for us. He who is
the epitome of righteousness, and the one who hates the workers
of iniquity, did take upon himself the likeness of sinful flesh,
and did come into the world to save sinners. Oh, who can fathom
such a display, and who can embrace it in its glory? The Old Testament
saints knew that a Messiah was coming, and they knew that he
would be born of the tribe of Judah, but they did not know
what his name or identity among men would be. At the proper time,
the Lord sent the angel to Joseph to tell him his name, saying,
Thou shalt call his name Jesus. He also declared the purpose
for which he came, for he shall save his people from their sins.
Thus he was hidden until the time appointed, that he was called
from the womb of the Virgin as the spotless Lamb of God, who
was ordained to fulfill and consummate the purpose of the Almighty in
the earth. He came forth from his mother's womb with the sharp
two-edged sword of God in his mouth as the Word of God who
was with God and who was God, declaring, I am the way, the
truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father
but by me. Whereas the natural man despises
the will of God, Jesus of Nazareth came to perform the will of his
Father and to fulfill his law in every jot and tittle for that
elect people for which he was ordained as a Redeemer. The Lord
has in all ages communicated with His people by various revelations
of His word delivered by prophets. Yet in these last days He has
spoken unto them by the one and only true prophet, Jesus Christ. An arrow which flies straight
to its mark must be straight and perfectly fashioned in the
hands of a skilled maker. So we see Jesus Christ come forth
as the only begotten Son of God. He is thus that polished shaft
spoken of in Isaiah 49, 2, both perfect in his spotless character
and perfected in the fires of temptation and trial as that
son of man who came as the sinless high priest over the house of
God, and being tempted in all points like as we are, can be
touched with the feelings of our infirmities. This polished
shaft was hid in the shadow of His hand and in His quiver. By
this we understand that God has now manifested His purpose to
redeem His people by the work of this One who was perfectly
fitted for the specific task of bringing glory to the Father
through the manifestation of His grace in the work of redemption. This purpose, though hinted at
throughout the Old Testament, is now fully made known in the
birth, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of our sin-bearer,
advocate, and great high priest, and will see its final fruition
when he returns for his purchased possession. None of this was
an afterthought with God. Rather, the very reason that
he called the people his own and made the world was for his
glory alone. Even every one that is called
by my name. For I have created him for my glory. I have formed
him. Yea, I have made him. This is a fact which is disregarded
by those who preach for the purpose of saving souls rather than for
the one purpose of declaring the glory of God in the redemption
of his elect. He is identified as being one
with his people whom he calls by name. Jesus Christ is the
substitute for his people. Their sins and iniquities are
borne by him and carried away. His righteousness is imputed
to them and is that in which they are seen before their Father's
face. They are the apple of his eye,
and that one he calls my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled. Thou art worthy, for thou was
slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every
kindred and tongue, and people and nation. Thou art worthy,
O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou hast
created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.