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. The implications of this can
in no wise be received nor truly 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 is 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. The glory of this
hidden mystery is revealed in its glory to a relative few.
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 identity among men would be. When the
Lord sent the angel to Joseph, he made mention of his name,
Thou shalt call his name Jesus. And the purpose for which he
came, he shall save his people from their sins. Thus he was
hidden until the time appointed that he was to be 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. 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,
who has come to call His own sheep by name. He is 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. God has now revealed not only
His identity, but 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 and the work of redemption. While this purpose
is hinted at throughout the Old Testament, it has now been 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. The very reason that he called
a people his own and made the world was for his glory alone. This is a fact which is disregarded
by those who preach for the purpose of saving souls rather than for
the purpose of declaring the glory of God in the redemption
of his elect. He is identified as one with
his people, being their substitute. They stand complete in Him, since
He has imputed His righteousness to them, and carried their sins
and iniquities away as far as the east is from the west. This
man Jesus is indeed the Savior of sinners, who is mighty to
save. 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. This concludes
another broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. If you would
like a free transcript of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor
at wingstring.net.