Man That Is Born of Woman

Q: What does the Bible say about human suffering?

The Bible teaches that life is filled with trouble, as seen in Job 14:1-2, and that suffering is a reality for all mankind. The Bible acknowledges that human life is characterized by suffering and tribulation. Job 14:1-2 declares, 'Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.' This reflects the fallen state of humanity and the trials we face in a sinful world. However, these sufferings serve a purpose, often teaching us reliance on God and shaping our character in ways that ease and comfort cannot. Believers are encouraged to turn to God's word and find solace in His promises during times of trouble.

Q: How do we know God cares for us?

God's care for humanity is exemplified by His incarnation in Jesus Christ, who was born of a woman as a display of His love. In Job 14, the question arises whether God even looks upon man, who is frail and full of trouble. The ultimate proof of God's care is seen in the person of Jesus Christ, who came to earth as 'man that is born of a woman.' This act is not just a mere glance of concern but signifies God's deep commitment to redeem humanity. Philippians 2:7 tells us that Jesus took on the likeness of sinful flesh to provide salvation, demonstrating that God is intimately aware and caring about our plight.

Q: Why is it important to understand our unclean nature before God?

Recognizing our unclean nature is crucial because it highlights our need for Christ's righteousness to stand before a holy God. Job acknowledges in his questions that he is a sinner and unclean, raising the significant inquiry of who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean. This understanding is vital in Reformed theology, as it places emphasis on our inability to achieve righteousness before God on our own. Scriptures confirm that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory. Thus, acknowledging our sinful nature reveals our total dependence on Christ, who alone justifies the ungodly by His grace and imputed righteousness. This brings us to the heart of the Gospel: we are made clean through Christ's redemptive work.

Q: What happens to the soul after death according to the Bible?

The Bible teaches that upon death, the soul departs from the body and is immediately present with the Lord for believers. In Job 14, Job questions, 'Where is he?' referring to the state of man after death. The biblical response indicates that while the physical body decays and returns to dust, the soul transcends earthly limitations. 2 Corinthians 5:8 reinforces this by stating, 'To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.' This means that for believers, death is not an end but a transition into eternal life with God. We see further proof of this in Jesus' words to the thief on the cross, affirming, 'Today you will be with me in paradise.' Therefore, understanding this truth brings comfort amid the sufferings of this life.

Q: Will we recognize each other in heaven?

Yes, the Bible confirms that we will be ourselves in heaven and recognize one another after resurrection. In his discussion of life after death, Job raises the question about man's existence after decay. The assurance is found in passages such as Job 19, where he proclaims, 'I know that my Redeemer lives,' asserting that he will see God in his own flesh. This indicates a continuity of identity. Jesus' post-resurrection appearances confirm that He had a recognizable form, with flesh and bones. Likewise, believers will maintain their identities and relationships in heaven. We will be known as we are known, allowing for the sweet fellowship among the redeemed throughout eternity.

I'm reading from the book of
Job. If you want to follow in your
Bibles, and I wish you would, I'll be using several verses
of Scripture today from Job 14, the 14th chapter of Job. Now, we'll begin our reading
with verse 1. I'm going to read the first two
verses of Job 14. Now, you're familiar with this
Scripture. You've heard it read many, many
times, mostly at funeral services. But you know, sometimes the most
familiar scriptures are read too hastily and too carelessly,
and we sometimes miss the truth of that particular scripture
because of our familiarity with it. Now, you'll immediately,
when I read this, you'll think, I've heard that read before dozens
of times. I've heard it preached from.
Now, listen to it again. Would you listen to it again
one more time? Let's see if the Spirit of God
will reveal some things from this scripture that we need to
hear and we need to know. Job 14, now get your Bible and
let's read. Man that is born of a woman,
and that's the title of this message, man that is born of
a woman, is a few days and full of trouble. He cometh forth like
a flower and is cut down. He fleeth also as a shadow, and
continueth not." Now, I want to look at this passage very
carefully today. I want to look at it with a careful
eye, with a hearing ear, and with an open heart. And the reason
is Job was a believer. He knew God. The Lord called
him, My servant. I'm listening to God's servant
speak here. And God said that Job was not
only a man who feared the Lord, but he was a man who avoided
and hated evil. Tell you something else about
Job. He was not only the servant of the Lord and a man who feared
God, but Job was a man who was acquainted with trials. I don't
suppose any man suffered any more than this man Job. He was
a man who endured many hardships and many trials. He was under
the hand of God. And then another thing about
Job. Job spoke for God. How do you know that, preacher?
Well, God said this about Job. When the Lord, at the end of
this book, when the Lord rebuked his friends, he said now, he
said to these men, you haven't spoken of me that which is right. He told these men, that were
sitting around talking to Job, he said, You haven't spoken of
me the thing that's right, but Job has. Job, he says, has spoken
of me the thing that is right. Now, wouldn't it be wise, wouldn't
it be wise to listen to a man of God, to a servant of God,
to a man who has, who has learned his theology in the school of
affliction? in the furnace of God? Listen
to a man whom God Himself said, He speaks for me." He speaks
for me. Now, the key to this passage
of Scripture, Job 14, there's a key to this Scripture. And
the key to this Scripture is five questions asked by Job in
these verses. Job asked five questions, five
questions about life and death. Five questions about man's relationship
with God and his relationship with eternity. So let's take
the time today to look at these five questions asked by Job here
in Job chapter 14. Now, he said, Man that is born
of a woman is a few days and full of trouble. He cometh forth
like a flower and is cut down. He fleeth also as a shadow, and
continueth not." Now here's the first question. Oh Lord, dost
thou open thine eyes upon such a one as this? That's the first
question. Does the eternal almighty God
of heaven and earth, the God of holiness and purity and truth,
does he care about such a creature as this? that cometh forth like
a flower that is cut down, is a few days and full of trouble,
fleeth as a shadow, as a thing of darkness?" Does God regard
such a creature? Does the Holy God actually look
upon such a frail, corrupt, decaying creature? David asked the same
question. David said, O Lord, when I consider
the heavens, the sun, the moon, the stars, the things which Thou
hast made, what is man? What is man that thou art mindful
of him? Job said man's born of a woman.
God is spirit. Job said man's a few days. God's
eternal. Job said man's full, just full
of trouble. He produces trouble. He invites
trouble. He makes trouble. Why? Because he's a sinner. He's full
of trouble, full to overflowing with trouble and sin, but God
is holy, immaculately, infinitely, eternally holy. Man is frail,
comes forth like a flower. James says he's like the vapor,
just a puff of smoke. Job said he's like a weaver's
shuttle, his days move so rapidly. He comes forth like a flower
and is cut down. Man fleeth as a shadow. Every
imagination of his heart is evil. There's none good, no, not one,
none that understands, none that seeketh after God, a shadow. A shadow has no substance at
all. A shadow, there's nothing as fleeting and empty and nothing
as a shadow. And that's the way we're described.
Does God, and this is what Job is saying, does God who dwelleth
in the heavens, the heaven of heavens won't contain him, the
earth is his footstool, does God look upon such a one as this? Does God care about something
like this? Does God have anything for men?
We don't deserve it. We don't earn it if God did choose
to look in our direction. Just look in our direction. Just
glance in our direction. It'd be by a mighty work of grace. It'd be mercy on the part of
God. Well, let's answer the question. Man born a woman, few days full
of trouble, cometh forth like a flower is cut down, fleeth
as a shattering, continuous not. Doth God open his eyes? upon such a one as this." Well,
the greatest proof that He does, the greatest proof of His love
and mercy towards creatures like you and me, is the fact that
He not only opened His eyes upon such a one, not only looked upon
and regarded and showed His care and concern for such a one, but
He actually came to this earth in the form of such a one." God
became a man born of a woman. That's right, man that is born
of woman. And that's exactly the way you
describe Jesus Christ, our Lord Jesus Christ. He was born, made
of a woman, made under the law. He came into this world. He took
upon Himself the likeness of our sinful flesh. He who made
the world was in the world. In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was made flesh. And the Word was with God, and
He dwelt among us. The Word was God, and we beheld
His glory, God in human flesh. For God so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish, but have everlasting life. Philippians 2.5 says, be
in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who thought it not robbery
to be equal with God, and yet made himself of no reputation,
took upon himself the likeness of sinful flesh, was made in
the habit of a servant, and became obedient unto death, even the
death of the cross. Dost thou open thine eyes upon
such a one? Oh, yes. and more than just opening
his eyes and caring, but he actually was numbered with the transgressors. He came down here himself and
became a man. All right, here's the second
question. Look at it, Job 14. Man that is born of woman is
a few days full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower
that is cut down. He fleeth also as a shadow and
continueth not. Does thou open thine eyes upon
such a one? Now question number two, and
will you bring me into judgment with you? Will this holy God
bring me into his presence? This is what David asked in Psalm
24. Who shall ascend into the hill
of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place? Psalm 1 says the ungodly cannot
stand in the judgment. Cannot stand in the judgment.
Sinners cannot stand in the congregation of the righteous. Is it possible
that such a creature that cometh forth like a flower that's born
of a woman that fleeth as a shadow shall actually stand in the presence
of the Lord, in the hill of the Lord, in the judgment of the
Lord? Shall I dwell in the presence
of holiness? Can sons of Adam really be called
sons of God? Will God actually Job asked first,
do you look upon such a one? Now he asked, will you actually
bring such a one unto yourself? Not only look upon such a one,
but will you bring us, will I stand with you in the judgment? Well,
listen to what God says. I have the answer for that too.
Revelation 21, 3 through 5, and I heard of great voice. out of heaven, saying, Behold,
the tabernacle of God is with men, he will dwell with them,
and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with
them and be their God. And God will wipe away all tears
from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, no more cutting
down, No more fleeing as a shadow, no more passing away, no more
sorrow, no more crying, neither shall there be any more pain,
for the former things are taken away. Bringest thou me into judgment
with thee? That's the second question. O
Lord God, is it possible Well, that leads to the third question.
Job recognizes when he asks these first two questions that if the
answer's yes, that he's got a third question that poses a major problem,
a major obstacle. He says, first of all, talks
about what we are, what we are by nature. and who God is. And then he says, Does thou look
upon such a one, even regard such a one? Now, will you actually
bring me into your presence? Now, he asks the third question.
Look at it, verse 3. But I'm a sinner. I'm unclean. Who can bring a clean thing out
of an unclean? Not one. Not one. Now, God is holy. Job knew that. Who shall stand in His presence?
Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? He that hath clean
hands. But I'm unclean. He that hath
a pure heart. I don't have a pure heart. He
that has not lifted up his soul to vanity. That's not me. He who's never spoken deceitfully. Well, that's not us. We're unclean. We're unclean. All have sinned
and come short of God's glory. All we like sheep have gone astray.
We've turned everyone to his own way. We all do faith as the
lead. Even our righteousnesses are
filthy rags. Now I have to be clean to stand
in God's presence. I have to be as pure and holy
and perfect as God. So if you look upon such a one
and even decree that such a one should stand in your presence,
Who's going to bring a clean thing out of that unclean thing?
He has to be clean to stand in God's presence. Who can do it?
We can't do it. Who can make us clean? Who can
make the unholy holy? Who can make the unrighteous
righteous? Who can make the ungodly godly? Not one. Not one in heaven,
earth, or under the earth. Not one. Oh yes, there's one. There's one. The Lord Jesus Christ
can make the unclean clean and the unholy holy. The Scripture
says this is why He came to the earth. This is why He took upon
Himself our nature. It says this is a faithful saying
and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the
world to save sinners, of whom I'm chief. He said, I've come
to seek and to save the lost. He said He died just for the
unjust that He might bring us to God. He says in II Corinthians 5,
20, He was made sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be
made, actually made the righteousness of God in Him. I can't bring
a clean thing out of an unclean, but He can. I can't establish
a perfect righteousness before God's law, but He can. I can't
please the Holy God, but He did. And the Scripture says in 1 Corinthians
1.30, Of God are you in Christ, who of God is made unto us wisdom,
righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. This is the gospel
message. This is the gospel message. This
is the record that God has given to us eternal life. And this
life is in Jesus Christ our Lord. He that hath the Son of God hath
life. He that hath not the Son of God
hath not life. These things have I written unto
you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that you may
know you have eternal life. Now, if you can believe like
Abraham of old, then you can stand in the presence of God. Not in your strength, not in
your holiness, not in your righteousness, but in His. Now here's the fourth
question. Job goes on talking about man
that is born of woman is a few days and full of trouble. He
cometh forth like a flower and is cut down. He fleeth as a shatter
and continueth not. Dost thou look upon such a one?
Wilt thou bring me into judgment with thee? But Lord, who can
bring a clean thing out of an unclean? And that's been established.
Christ is our righteousness. Christ is our holiness. Now, here's the fourth question.
Look down at verse 12. But Job said, Man dies, but man
dies, the flesh dies, and wasteth away. You see that word? And
wasteth away. Man dies and decays. He gives up the ghost. Now, here's
the question. Where is he? Where is he? You say, Lord, that you do look
upon such a one. You say, Lord, that you will
bring such a one into judgment or into thy presence, and that
you do make us clean. But after all that's done, we
still die. We still die. The old flesh dies,
and we're placed in the grave. And when we're placed in the
grave, we just decay, and there's nothing left. You can go back and dig someone
up that's been buried two or three years in a foreign country
where they don't have these vaults and metal caskets and all these
things, you know, where they just put them in a box and put
them in the ground and there's nothing left. It's all just gone
back to the soil. How can man dwell with God and
live in a grave? How can man decay and rot and
return to the dust And yet you say he'll stand in judgment with
you and stand in your presence. The body returns to the dirt,
to the earth, to ashes. Yes. But man's not a body. Man's not a body. I hear people
say, well, man's got a soul. You're wrong. You're wrong. Man doesn't have a soul. Man
has a body. Man is a soul. God created Adam
from the dirt and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life
and Adam became a living soul. This earthly tabernacle here,
this frail, perishable tent is not me and that's not you. That's
where you live. You're looking out of those windows.
You're hearing with these receivers. You're speaking with this tongue.
But when you leave this body, There won't be a thing changed
as far as the body's concerned, except life is gone. You're gone.
You've moved out. The old house is empty. You've
moved out. And the body returns to the dirt
from which it came, and the soul returns to God who gave it, Job. But man dies, he says, and man
wasteth away. He gives up the ghost. Where
is He? Well, He's not in that body.
He's not in the casket. He's not in the ground. II Corinthians
5-1 says, If our earthly house of this tabernacle, that's a
tent, be dissolved, and it will be. And down there where they
don't embalm them, you have to get them in the ground in 24
hours. It's like Martha said to the Lord, He's been dead four
days. He stinketh. He's rotten. He's decaying. He's
wasting away. But if this earthly house of
this tent be dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens. And to be absent from
this fleshly tabernacle is to be present with the Lord." That's
what our Master said to the thief on the cross. He said, today,
you'll be with me in paradise. Well, his body wasn't in paradise.
His body was taken down. They came by and they broke his
legs to make sure he was dead, the thief. Took him down from
the cross, wrapped him in a sheet, and stuck him in the ground.
But Christ said, today you'll be with me in paradise. This
is what had Job confused. He said, how can I go to the
grave and go to be with God? How can I go to the grave? How
can I dwell with God and lie in the tomb? My old house is
buried. No man has the answers. Somebody
says, well, what kind of, when we die, just if we die like that,
we've dropped dead and our bodies start decaying and the soul goes
to be with God, what kind of covering, what kind of body do
you have in heaven while you're waiting the resurrection? I don't
know and nobody else does. But I do know this. I do know
this. I know it's a building of God.
house not made with hands and it's eternal in the heavens and
I do know this Christ said I am the resurrection and the life
he that believeth on me though he were dead yet shall he live
you see Moses came back from heaven Moses died and he came
back from heaven and talked to the Lord Jesus Christ Moses and
Elijah they stood on this earth And then Lazarus, the beggar,
you remember dwelling in Abraham's bosom? Well, Lazarus was dead. His body was in the tomb, but
Lazarus was in Abraham's bosom. Abraham had died, body buried,
but Abraham was talking to this rich man in hell. You see, there
is no soul sleep. That's not talking God's Word.
There's no purgatory, talking God's Word. To be absent from
the body is to be present with the Lord. Paul said, I'm in a
straight betwixt the two. I have a desire to depart and
be with Christ, which is far better. So, Job, the answer to
your question, but man dies and wasteth away. He gives up the
ghost. Where is he? The ghost you're
talking about, the spirit, the soul, that's the man. His earthly
tabernacle is where it came from, back to dirt. Now, the last question. Verse 14, he comes to this question. Well, if a man die, shall he
live again? He. Shall that man live again
or another man? Shall that man, shall he live
again? Well, my friends, the answer
to that is found in Job 19. He answered it himself. He said,
I know that my Redeemer liveth. and shall stand on this earth
in the latter day. And though after my skin worms
shall destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see God,
whom I shall see for myself, and not another." Oh, yes, this
man will live again, and that man will live again, and every
man who's in Christ will live again. We'll know each other
in heaven. We'll be ourselves in heaven.
When Moses came back and spoke to the Lord Jesus on the Mount
of Transfiguration, he was Moses. He lived on this earth as Moses.
He died as Moses. He went to heaven as Moses, and
he's Moses now. Elijah, he didn't die. He was
translated to heaven, but he was Elijah when he walked this
earth. He was Elijah when he went to heaven. He was Elijah
when he came back. You know, King Saul, even by
God's permission, had brought Samuel back to this earth. Well,
he was Samuel when he lived, and he was Samuel when he died,
and he was Samuel when he came back. And when you die, you'll
be yourself when you die, and you'll be yourself wherever you
go, and you'll be yourself throughout eternity. Well, shall that man
live again? Now, shall he, man dies, shall
he live again? Shall he live in flesh and bones? Oh, yes, that's what Christ said.
Luke 24, when He died on the cross, was buried and rose again,
He appeared to His disciples. He said, Reach hither your hand
and touch my hand. A spirit doesn't have flesh and
bones as you see me have. Touch my hand, touch my feet.
It is I, be not afraid. Flesh and bones. And then He
asked them for something to eat. You see, 1 Corinthians 15 says
that we'll have glorified flesh. There's different kinds of flesh. This is not the only flesh in
the world. There's a flesh of fish and the flesh of birds and
the flesh of beasts and the flesh of men. And there's glorified
flesh. And glorified flesh is as far
above the flesh of men now as the flesh of men is above the
flesh of fish. You don't compare your flesh
to fish flesh, do you? You don't have much compassion
for a fish. You'll take a knife and scrape his skin off. Shall
that man live again? Yes, that man will live again.
And Christ said he'll never perish. I give him eternal life and he'll
never perish. Well, if you want this message
on tape to listen to, give to a friend, or study a little bit
more of the five questions of Job, man that's born of a woman,
send $2. Here's the address. You send
the $2, we'll mail you this tape, and the message I'll preach next
week, we'll send it right away. Till next week, God bless you,
everyone.

Man That Is Born of Woman

What does the Bible say about human suffering?

How do we know God cares for us?

Why is it important to understand our unclean nature before God?

What happens to the soul after death according to the Bible?

Will we recognize each other in heaven?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

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Man That Is Born of Woman

What does the Bible say about human suffering?

How do we know God cares for us?

Why is it important to understand our unclean nature before God?

What happens to the soul after death according to the Bible?

Will we recognize each other in heaven?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

Comments

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