John chapter 1. I looked at that,
what is man that thou art mindful of him? I looked at that passage
and almost preached from that. So it's good to see that again
because what is man? What are we? You know, I know
a lot of times we're told by family, friends, you know, whatever,
even believers, how important we are, and there's a certain
extent to that that it, you know, it's fine, but, oh, we take it
and run with it, you know, we get a couple titles, and then
we think we're something, and what is man? You know, that's
man on man, and any time we compare ourselves to somebody else, we
usually will come out a little bit ahead, make sure of that,
but what are we? Compared to God, what are we? We're nothing. We're less than
nothing is what the scripture says. But I want to look at,
as amazing and as truthful as that is, this text right here,
this portion of scripture in John chapter 1 starting in verse
14, I mean, who can fully explain the incarnation of God, God incarnate
in the flesh? But it's amazing, it's wonderful,
just to put your mind to consider certain things. Well, let's look
at this in John chapter 1 starting in verse 14, we'll go to verse
18, and then I'll have you turn with me to Hebrews chapter 2. So you can stick your thumb there
in Hebrews chapter 2. Let's look at John chapter 1
starting in verse 14. The Word was made 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 bare witness of him and
cried, saying, this is he of whom I spake, he that cometh
after me is preferred before me, for he was before me, and
of his grace have all we received, and grace for grace. For the
law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by 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 word was made flesh and dwelt
among us. Turn to Hebrews chapter two.
We'll look at verses 11, 14, 16, and 17. Hebrews chapter 2, starting in verse 11. For both
he, that's sanctified, and they who are sanctified are all of
one. For which cause? He is not ashamed
to call them. God in Christ is not ashamed
to call us brethren. Verse 14, for as much then as
the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself,
Christ, likewise took part of the same, that through death
he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is,
the devil. Verse 16, for verily Christ took
not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of
Abraham. And verse 17, wherefore in all
things it behooved Christ to be made like unto his brethren,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things
pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. In both these texts we see the
incarnation of divinity, of sovereignty, I want us this morning to consider
these words, absolute amazement and wonder at the grace of God
towards sinners. The word was made flesh and dwelt
among us. And not only that, but it was
that that word was full of grace and truth and of his fullness. Have we all received grace? Now that, I think that's life-changing. You know, these people who say,
well, you can confess Christ, get dipped in the water, and
come out and be not different, they don't understand the gospel.
They don't understand the doctrine. They don't understand the incarnation
of Christ. Faith without works is dead. Now, I don't know if I'm going
to preach it or not. print it and put it on the table but there's
article by a man that I was reading this weekend lessons on love
and I had Melinda read it and she said thanks for that stepped
all over me and I said well stepped all over me but do people know
this church by the love that we have for one another and that
we have for other folks? I don't know I feel oftentimes
I'm selfish. I get my way first, and he deals
with that. And I kept reading it, it's just kind of like, oh,
he's kind of a glutton for punishment, reading stuff like that. But
we're going to be dealing with that in James. That's why I went
to James, because I felt like I needed it, and I felt like
you needed it. And we're going to get ready to get into some
difficult passages, not to understand, to practice, to practice. But let's step back from that
and let's look and consider the word made flesh. Firstly, I want
us to consider, did our Lord become flesh? The scripture says
He did. What an almost inconceivable
mystery. God became flesh and blood. And if he did, and the scripture
says he did, in this passage in John and in other passages,
but those two passages, this one in John and in Hebrews chapter
two, then he has brought salvation to his people, his chosen, his
elect bride. He has done so. J.C. Ryle said that he is almighty
because he is God, and yet he can feel with us because he is
man. He was at all points tempted
like us, yet did not sin. Secondly, consider, did he become
flesh? Yes, he did. then he has supplied
us with complete and total forgiveness. You don't need to seek forgiveness
in any other acts, because there isn't forgiveness in any other.
There's only forgiveness in Christ, in Christ. the main forgiveness. Now we ought to forgive one another,
I'm not saying that, but to be forgiven of our sins only, not
some guy in a suit in a Catholic church, he can't absolve anything,
not gonna Pope, Joseph Smith can't, Mohammed can't, Confucius
can't, the word made flesh does and did. Not only does he supplied
us with complete and total forgiveness, but he is a pattern to imitate
here in this life. We are to, he's our, and I know
Lynn and I were talking about this, you know, some preachers
that kind of cringe at the word Christ is our example. He is
our example. He is our example. That's all
there is to it. Paul said to emulate him in as
much as he emulated Christ. How could he say that? He said
it under inspiration. I can't say that. But I do know
this, that Christ is our substitute. Christ is our savior. Christ
is our justifier, our sanctifier, will glorify us. But he's our
example. He's our example. Do this in
remembrance of him, the Lord's Supper. But if he was an angel,
or merely a spirit, and I never really thought about this, we
could have no proper example, we would have no illustrations
of love or for instances of kindness or truth or long suffering, but
he is a perfect pattern, says J.C. Ryle again, because he is
God, yet he is a perfect, a pattern exactly suited to our wants because
he's man. because he's man. You know, I'm
not into that what would Jesus do thing, but I understand what
they're saying. I don't like that phraseology. It's, you know,
some of these contemporary things. No. No. How did he treat his enemies?
How did he treat his neighbors? When the disciples were trying
to figure out who was going to be the greatest in the kingdom,
he rebuked them and he got a little child and he sat him down in
the middle and he said, we like this little child. And I got
to thinking about our children. particularly the three boys.
They come in, they just have at it. They just have at it. They enjoy one another's company,
and they just have at it. Now, when we get a little older,
we get a little bit more particular. We get a little bit more, I'm
gonna talk to this person, not that, this, whatever. No, when,
and I see it in my grandson. You put him in a bunch with the
little kids, they just get together. Christ is our pattern. Christ
is our pattern. When He was hanging on the cross,
He said, Lord, don't charge it to their account. How could He
say that? Because He's God's flesh dwelling
among us. Thirdly, I want us to consider
in 1 John, look at the 16th verse, and of His, Christ's, Fullness
have all we receive grace for grace all his fullness that word
fullness is completion There's not Christ is not incomplete.
He's complete complete salvation complete sanctification complete
justification Completion What is that how is that what
is that I of His fullness, of His fullness, all we have received. We couldn't help but receive
it. Why? Because He made us willing in the day of His power. It's
His power. Upon us that makes us willing
to receive his fullness, but we have his full we have his
completion So I would say that that includes we are saved to
the uttermost out of Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25 I would also
say that we are fully supplied Wanting nothing David said in
Psalms 23 the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want I'd say that
we have that as well. I Or perhaps in Hebrews 4 verse
16, we have help in time of need. Help in time of need. And I'm
convinced in my own life, and I'm sure in yours, we don't go
to our Heavenly Father as near as we should. He's there for
everything. For everything. And we ought
to go to Him. The smallest thing, the smallest
matters. Because not to do so says, well, I think I can handle
this on my own. I don't need any help. No. No. We have these because of His
fullness, His completion. We have all received grace for
grace. Let us go to Him for grace and help in time of need. So
to these truths, I ask myself as I was writing this down, and
I ask all of us here, Why then, if of His fullness have we all
received grace for grace, the Word was made flesh and dwelt
among us, we beheld that glory, if these things are true, why
do we not go to Him daily? Why do we not go to Him daily?
Secondly, why do we complain so often? Humanly speaking, we
have so much in this country. We still complain. We get out
of sorts. Why? Why are we so frequently
discontent with what we have or finding the situation we're
in? I get that way. Something happens and you get
discontent. You get out of sorts. Why? Why
is it so hard to believe that he is on his throne and will
not and has not relinquished his authority to anyone? As we look at the news and see
what's going on and concern about world events. He has them in
his hands. Why are we worried about that?
World War III. If I had seen that another one
more time on YouTube, everybody's, the sky's falling. World War
III, it will be if he ordains it. Why worry with that? Why worry? Just shut the thing, just turn
it off. Because there's nothing but, old Don Henley said, he
wrote a song called Dirty Laundry. And that's exactly right. It
doesn't get any press if it's not dirty laundry. Why are we so concerned with
such things? If He is on His throne, if of
His fullness we have all received grace for grace. Fourthly, consider
this, we must look at our Redeemer now and as He was in the flesh. We must set our eyes by His grace
upon Him and our thoughts and actions upon Him. Seek Him always. Seek Him early. Children, seek
Him early while He may be found. Seek Him constantly, young adults. Seek Him daily, older saints.
There's not a group in there. We have no excuse to not seek
Him and seek Him always, early and often. He only has infinite
fullness for now and for our future. That's what Colossians
chapter 1 verse 19 says. Let's take a look at it. Colossians
1 and verse 19. Colossians 1 verse 19 for it
pleased the father That in him Christ should all fullness dwell
if I had somebody a neighbor That could supply all my needs
and knew about electricity knew about construction knew how to
fix cars knew how to paint knew how to hang sheetrock and I'd be over there. I'd be over
there and fix my lawnmower when it got broke down. I would be
constantly knocking on his door. Christ, all the fullness of the
Godhead dwells in him bodily. Let us go to him. We have no
excuse. Those of us who are called by
his name and those who do not know him yet, there is salvation
in no other. Go to Him. And then don't stop. Continue to go to Him. He only
has infinite treasury, a boundless supply to meet every need, whether
it's to counter a lack of faith. So I don't have faith to do this. Go to Him. Go to Him. To mortify
indwelling sin, you got a problem with anger? Go to Him. You got
a problem with believing the news more than what this Word
says? Go to Him. You got a concern that you may
not make it at the end of the month financially? Go to Him. Go to Him. You're wondering if you're raising
your children right? Go to Him. Go to Him. To crucify a wandering
spirit, That's the problem I have. I told somebody, I was talking
to David Pledger, and I said, I like to look at these devotionals.
I've got three new ones, so I'm looking at those. Because if
I get something that's... I just stop, get up, see what
the cats are doing. You know, that's what we do.
You know, and we've talked about this before. That song, Sweet
Hour of Prayer. When was the last time I spent
an hour of prayer? prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave
the God I love. He has a supply to help that,
to help that. If any man, which we'll be looking
at, we already looked at, any man lack wisdom on Wednesday
night, let him ask God who gives to all men liberally and doesn't
upbraid. And in this treasury, It can
be appropriated or applied to us and for us at any time, any
place, any situation, because we can boldly go to the throne
of grace anytime, any situation. Ask for mercy, ask for grace,
ask for peace. He is the great root, says the
scriptures. Let us draw our sap, which would
be strength, life, and communion from him. What a privilege, dear
ones, Such a privilege need not be squandered or passed over.
That's what I'm trying to get to is the fact that he was made
flesh and did all he did for a people. I don't know that. I know there's people, there's
chosen, there's bride, there's church. Not everybody. I don't
know who that is. So I give general, I make general
calls, general statements and ask the Lord Holy Spirit to apply
them. I don't know who he, who he suffered and bled for. I know
he did, and I know he's successful. Or this stuff means nothing.
This means nothing. Let's just sell the building,
and let's just go do our own thing. Well, we are constant debtors
to the grace of God, and such grace was shown us who know our
need and know our nothingness. He'll show you that. You gotta
know your nothingness. You gotta know your need. If
you're not thirsty, you're not gonna go seek out a water fountain.
but he'll give you that thirst. I pray that for myself, I pray
that for you. Oh, that we would hunger and thirst after righteousness.
Because this world tugs, tugs, tugs. And you want to look good. And you want to show everybody
that you're a regular guy and you're a regular girl. Henry
made a comment years ago in a message. He said, you'll have plenty of
time to show people you're regular. Serve the Lord. And I like what
he said. Be yourself, but don't violate the gospel. What does
that mean? Well, I think you know what it
means. Don't violate the gospel. The word became flesh and dwelt
among us. Lastly, I want us to consider
these things in closing. Let this thought that Christ
was made flesh and dwelt among us and of his fullness we have
all received. Let this humble us. as we do
not deserve the least of his incarnate mercies. He didn't
have to come one sense, but the only other sense he did, he came
to honor his father. He was bound and determined. He had a baptism
to be baptized with, and he was in a straight until he got it
accomplished. So let this thought humble us. For me? He did this
for me? If there's one thought I could
ever get from John Sebaugh, was that he was amazed who wasn't
a great thinker. I don't know, I guess he finished
high school, but you know, no, he didn't finish high school.
All these different things, and he just kept saying, why me?
And all of his family, why me? That's a good attitude to have.
Why us? Why this place? It could have
just, Kentucky, Tennessee, different places, but there's a church
here. So let this thought that he became
The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and He did everything
necessary to accomplish our salvation, to put sin away by the sacrifice
of Himself. And let this thought humble us,
because we don't deserve the least of His mercies. Secondly,
let this thought console and encourage us, because it says
in Hebrews 2 that He's not ashamed to call us brethren, the Son
of God. This is high cotton we're talking
about now. If he calls himself our brother
and he was tempted in all points yet without sin, surely he will
perform all that that relationship warrants to usward. Brother or sister? You're kind
of concerned about them first, sometimes before, you know, other
people in the community or strangers or whatever. If he's not ashamed
to call us brethren, that's a special relationship. And he'll perform
all that that relationship warrants. He will commune with us. He will
defend us. He will provide for us. He will
cover our many faults. Why? Because charity covers a
multitude of sins. Instead of pointing one another
things out that aggravate us, the blood of Christ covers us
from all sins. And I like this illustration
one of the writers brought up just as Joseph supported all
his father's house, did he not? He was the top man in Egypt. When that famine came, the whole
family came, he provided for the whole family. He provided
for the whole family. So we are God's own household. We are of the household of Jehovah
God, who incidentally was made flesh and dwelt among us. And
why did he do that? I don't know. All I know is he's
not ashamed to call us brethren, for we are his own flesh and
blood. I pray that we would emulate.
I just read this the other day. I'd never heard of this, never
thought about it, never heard of it. Omar Luther supposedly
had a family seal. You know, in those days, they'd
write something and then stamp it in wax. Well, that seal consisted
of a rose, a heart, and a cross. The rose, and in the middle of
the rose was a heart, and in the middle of that heart was
a cross. And what it meant was this, we ought to possess the
sweet fragrance, like the rose, of a believer's life. Not just
show, don't be doer, you know, be doer, don't, you know, don't
just listen to the message, obey the message, obey the words.
When we see people, fragrance of Christ, the aroma should be
there, and it should be in the heart. for not a mere profession, but
true conviction. We're convinced of our sin. We're
convinced of his righteousness. But then thirdly, the cross is
in the middle. Christ has got to be the center
of it all. I thought that was good, so I wrote it down. Rose,
the heart, and the cross. May we look to Christ for everything,
because to the believer, he is everything. Nathan, would you
close us?