THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AS A PARTNERSHIP (21 OF 23)
by J.D. Jones
Scripture: I PETER 4:13, I PETER 5:1, II PETER 1:4
This content is part of a series.
The Christian Life as a Partnership (21 of 23)
Series: The Hope of the Gospel
J.D. Jones
2 Peter 1:4; 1 Peter 4:13; 1 Peter 5:1
That is a great and notable saying of Augustine's with reference to the Incarnation, that the divine became human in order that the human might become divine. Christ shared our lot in order that we might share His. That was how our redemption was accomplished-Christ shared our lot; the divine condescended into the human; the Eternal Lord submitted to the conditions of space and time; the Son of God became a man. I am not going to stay to discuss the reason for all this. I am not going to try to answer Anselm's question, 'Cur Deus homo?'-why did God become a man? I am satisfied for the moment just to accept the fact. There was a divine 'must needs' about the Incarnation. Christ had to stoop low in order to lift us up high. He had to empty Himself in order that we might be enriched. He had to become a man before He could become men's Redeemer. And He did not shrink from the sacrifice. 'Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, He also Himself in like manner partook of the same.' He shared our lot. He partook of our nature. And the partaking was real and the sharing absolute. Christ was a true man. He was born; He grew; He acquired knowledge; He labored; He was tempted; He suffered; He died. There was no make-believe about Christ's humanity. 'He also Himself in like manner partook of the same.' He was as real a man as you or I. He was made in all things like unto His brethren. In no other or cheaper way could redemption be achieved. The divine became human; the Son of God partook of our nature; He shared our lot. And that is why the divine became human, that the human might become divine. He shared our lot, that we might share His. This was the means of redemption-the Son of God living as man in the midst of mortal men. This is redemption itself-mortal man living in Christ.
Harold Begbie's Broken Earthenware has passed ...
Series: The Hope of the Gospel
J.D. Jones
2 Peter 1:4; 1 Peter 4:13; 1 Peter 5:1
That is a great and notable saying of Augustine's with reference to the Incarnation, that the divine became human in order that the human might become divine. Christ shared our lot in order that we might share His. That was how our redemption was accomplished-Christ shared our lot; the divine condescended into the human; the Eternal Lord submitted to the conditions of space and time; the Son of God became a man. I am not going to stay to discuss the reason for all this. I am not going to try to answer Anselm's question, 'Cur Deus homo?'-why did God become a man? I am satisfied for the moment just to accept the fact. There was a divine 'must needs' about the Incarnation. Christ had to stoop low in order to lift us up high. He had to empty Himself in order that we might be enriched. He had to become a man before He could become men's Redeemer. And He did not shrink from the sacrifice. 'Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, He also Himself in like manner partook of the same.' He shared our lot. He partook of our nature. And the partaking was real and the sharing absolute. Christ was a true man. He was born; He grew; He acquired knowledge; He labored; He was tempted; He suffered; He died. There was no make-believe about Christ's humanity. 'He also Himself in like manner partook of the same.' He was as real a man as you or I. He was made in all things like unto His brethren. In no other or cheaper way could redemption be achieved. The divine became human; the Son of God partook of our nature; He shared our lot. And that is why the divine became human, that the human might become divine. He shared our lot, that we might share His. This was the means of redemption-the Son of God living as man in the midst of mortal men. This is redemption itself-mortal man living in Christ.
Harold Begbie's Broken Earthenware has passed ...
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