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THIS VERY PURPOSE JESUS THE SON OF MAN For the sake of unity we often avoid issues in the Bible that we disagree upon. Some times we hear people say, "Let's just agree to disagree", but he word of God teaches that we shaould ALL speak the SAME thing. At times, simply avoiding the issue may be a good thing, in order to give time for some to grow or mature in the faith. However, keeping the truth suppressed in some instances has held back the body of Christ from walking in its fullest potential, and has caused many Christians NOT to mature or grow in the Lord as they ought.
I believe with all my heart that when the Holy Spirit shows us a truth in the word of God, that it is revealed for the purpose of helping us ALL to grow in faith, and not just for ourselves alone. So therefore this revealed knowledge should NOT be withheld from the body of Christ by suppressing it on the grounds that some are still babes in Christ and not yet able to fully understand the deeper truths of God's word. Many Christians remain babes in the Lord, because they are never given strong meat.
Sometimes baby Christians understand deeper truth more than the, so called, "mature" Christians, because they have not yet had time for their minds to be filled with the traditions of men and other well meaning, but still yet FALSE doctrine, which they have heard through their years of going to church. Many Christians have been DECEIVED simply because they have not gone to the word to PROVE for themselves whether or not the things that they have been taught are in fact the TRUTH of God's word, the WHOLE word of God.
So let us begin this study id God's word by taking a look at Acts 17:10,11,
“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea; who, coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily, whether those thing were so”.
Every book we read, and all that we hear, whether it be a sermon at church, a bible teacher on the radio, or just a conversation with a friend ought to be closely examined in the light of God’s word. In other words, you need to prove it out for yourself by using God’s word as your sole foundation to see whether or not you are being taught the TRUTH, and not just being taught PART of God's word which has been taken out of context.
This study which you are reading now is no exception. I strongly urge you to examine the scriptures I have used to support what I am saying very closely to be absolutely sure that they were not taken out of context, or misused in any way. Prove it out for yourself, so that you yourself will be fully persuaded in your mind and in your heart that it is the TRUTH, the WHOLE TRUTH, and nothing but the TRUTH.
I began this study in the word of God to answer the question: Did Jesus do the miracles that he did while he was in the earth as:
These questions arose within me, because I had heard some people say that Jesus is God or that Jesus is God in the flesh. Some teach that Jesus was God and man at the same time. Some maintained that Jesus is 100% man, and yet also 100% God at the same time, in othes words, FULLY God and yet still fully man. While others say Jesus is 50% God and 50% man. And still others maintain that Jesus is God in the flesh giving no emphases on how much man, or how much God, Jesus actually was. Some say that Jesus WAS God and BECAME flesh while he was on the earth, but he is still equal with God. However, the more I searched the scriptures to see which view was right I quickly began to see that none of these views I just mentioned are soundly based upon the SCRIPTURES, that is to say, the WHOLE word of God.
Those that that teach that Jesus is God in the flesh have of course used scripture to support what they are teaching, but they have NOT used the WHOLE word of God. What I mean by this is they they have only used a few isolated verses of scripture which have been taken out of context and have been misinterpreted or twisted to fit what they are trying to teach.
Now please understand that it is not my intention to be little Jesus in any way, but I believe the church has missed out on a vital TRUTH in God’s word by the teachings that Jesus was a God-man, that he was 100% God and 100% man at the same time, that he was half God and half man while he was in the earth, or that Jesus became man, but he was still equal with God.
Again I want to stress that in no way do I want to strip or take away any glory or honor that is due the mighty name of Jesus. God the Father has HIGHLY EXALTED his Son, but this is another area to study separately in order that you the reader will be able to see the TRUTH and know the difference between being exalted and the ONE who does the exalting.
But FIRST, we must grasp fully the TRUTH of God’s word that Jesus is the Son of God. The Word was made FLESH and dwelt among us, as the Son of Man, born of a woman. And while Jesus was in the earth he was 100% flesh and blood, “a human being”, a man just like you and I, completely void of all divine nature with the exception of the anointing of the Holy Ghost, the SAME Holy Ghost that is available to every believer.
Now before you will be able to come to this knowledge of truth you will need to hear and understand the WHOLE MATTER. In other words, you must hear ALL that I have to say upon this subject and NOT pick and choose what you want. Sometimes we reject things that are taught to us, which are in fact the TRUTH, because of what we have come to believe by the previous things which we have been taught, therefore we automatically reject this new teaching as being false. And the reason for this is because we think we already know the truth. However, in some instances we have been deceived and what we think or believe is the truth is in fact FALSE doctrine. So in order to come to the knowledge of TRUTH we need to lay aside any preconceived ideals that we have come to believe through the years.
Think to yourself, Am I above being able to be DECEIVED? If you say yes , then you are alredy deceived. Pride comes before the fall.
This study is not intended for you to simply know the truth for truth's sake alone, but so that you will grow in God's grace and strength to overcome the enemy. You see, when this truth that I am teaching you in this study is fully grasped and held close to your heart it will empower you to live your life completely free from sin just as Jesus lived his life free from sin setting for us an example for us to follow, because you will begin seeing and knowing that Jesus was a man just like you and I, and had no special advantage over us when he lived his life without sin.
Let us continue with Philippians 2:6-8 which says,
“Christ Jesus who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in the fashion as a man, he humbled himself unto death, even death on the cross”
. The words, “no reputation” here means to make empty, to abase, to lower, to neutralize, to make of none effect, void, being without. In other words Jesus emptied himself of the glory of God, and became the Son of MAN, being without any divine power other than the Holy Spirit of his God and Father, the SAME Holy Spirit that is promised to EVERY believer.
In John 17:5 Jesus says to the Father,
“And now, O Father glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world was”.
It is clear from these scriptures that while Jesus was in the earth, he was the Son of MAN being without, and completely void of the glory that he HAD once previously shared with the Father before the world was created, or more precisely, before Jesus was born of a woman and became flesh and blood just as you and I.
Let’s read Philippians 2:6-8 from a few other translations. The Phillip’s Modern English says,
“For he who had always been God BY nature (because a SON bares the nature of his father), did not cling to his privileges as God’s equal, but stripped himself of every advantage by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born a MAN. And plainly seen as a HUMAN BEING, he humbled himself by living a life of utter obedience to the point of death”.
The word of God teaches us here that Jesus stripped himself of every advantage. In other words Jesus became a man in order to become EQUAL with MANKIND for the purpose of overcoming the ememy to show us the WAY. Jesus set before us the example of HOW we too may ALSO live our lives free from sin and overcome the enemy in every area of our lives BY becoming a man himself to show us that it is possible to live our lives without sin.
Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus was tempted in all points LIKE we are, yet without sin. This means that Jesus did not have any special advantages over us in resisting sin. Again the same Holy Spirit that Jesus was anointed with by God is the same Holy Spirit that God the Father has sent to be our comforter and helper. Jesus lived his life without sin, and we ought to be living our lives without sin as well, because he is our EXAMPLE that we are CALLED to follow.
Look at 1st Peter 2:21
“For even hereunto were you called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should FOLLOW his steps”.
So what example did Jesus leave us to follow? The answer is in the very next verse,
“Who did NO SIN neither was guile found in his mouth”.
Are you seeing it yet? Through the teaching that Jesus was 100% God and 100% man while he was on the earth has consequently led the church to believe that Jesus was, is, and ever shall be the ONLY man to live without sin, which is totally contrary to what the Bible actually teaches. This type of false teaching disarms the believer and keeps Christians from overcoming the enemy.
Again, I fully realize the TRUTH, that we all have sinned at one time or another and fall short of the glory of God. However, I am speaking of living a sin free life after being redeemed from sin by the blood of Jesus, and being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Now look at this same verse we read earlier from Philippians 2:6-8 from the Jerusalem Bible, which says,
“His state was divine yet he did not cling to his equality with God, but he emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave and became as men are, AND BEING AS ALL MEN ARE, he was humble yet even to accepting death on the cross”.
Notice that Jesus EMPTIED himself to be as all men are. Jesus was a man just like you and I in every way in that he did NOT have any advantage over us when he lived his life without sin.
Think about this for a moment, if Jesus truly was God, as some falsely teach while he was in the flesh, then he would have had an advantage over us when he was tempted. But the TRUTH is God cannot be tempted with evil, THEREFORE if the teaching that Jesus is God in the flesh and EQUAL with God were in fact true, then the word of God is found to be a lie, because God CANNOT be tempted with evil. If Jesus is truly God in the flesh as some falsely teach, then it would have been impossible for Jesus to be tempted in all points like as we are, because God CANNOT be tempted with evil. You see, we have NOT been taught the WHOLE truth by those who have taught us that Jesus is God in the flesh.
Read James 1:13,
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God CANNOT be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man.”
You see, Jesus could not truly know our feelings, when we are tempted if he truly was, as some falsely teach, to be God, FULLY GOD and man at the same time, because this false teaching would also make Hebrews 4:15 a lie, which tells us that Jesus was tempted in ALL points LIKE we are. But we know from Hebrews 6:18 that it is IMPOSSIBLE for God to lie. So since we know that God's word is TRUTH and is no lie we can be confident that God's word will never CONTRIDICT itself.
Therefore we can be assured that Hebrews 2:14,18 is the TRUTH of God's word when it tells us that Jesus did in fact become flesh and blood in every respect just like we are, and he suffered being TEMPTED .
“… Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he (Jesus) also likewise took part of the SAME (flesh and blood nature): that through death he might destroy him that had power of death, that is the devil....... For in that he himself suffered BEING TEMPTED he is able to succour them that are tempted.”
If Jesus HIMSELF suffered being TEMPTED, then he could not have been God in the flesh, because this would contridict the WHOLE word of God. This verse CLEARLY says that Jesus took part of the SAME flesh and blood nature as we have. Jesus did not have any advantage over us by being God in the flesh. I do not know about you, but this encourages and stengthens me to live my live without sin just as Jesus left us this example to follow.
The word “succour” means to aid, relieve or help. Again I don’t know about you, but it helps me knowing that Jesus did not have any advantage over me when he was tempted. When I am tempted it succors (helps) me to know that we have a high priest, which was touched with the feelings of our infirmities. And who was in ALL POINTS TEMPTED like as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 5:14).
Knowing that Jesus was a man just like me, and that he was able to live his life without sin gives me strength to live my life also without sin. If Jesus can do it, then so can I. Jesus is my example, my pattern to follow. Make it personal. Jesus is MY example. You see, Jesus showed us that it IS POSSIBLE to live our lives without sin (how?) BY becoming a MAN, a human being, just as we are and living his life free from sin through the power of the Holy Spirit of God the Father, the SAME Holy Spirit that is available to EVERY believer.
You will not be able to develop this attitude, “ that if Jesus was able to live totally free from sin then so can I!” as long as you hold on to the false teaching that Jesus is “God in the flesh”. You see the only true way for Jesus to be tempted as we are, was to literally and totally become as we are; that is say, to become a man, a human being, 100% flesh and blood, as we are, because God cannot be tempted. (James 1:13) And the Bible clearly teaches that this is exactly what Jesus did.
Galatians 4:4 tells us,
“But when the fullness of time was come God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoptions of sons”.
We must fully come to realize the importance that Jesus became the Son of man, leaving behind his mighty power and glory in order to FULLY partake of a flesh and blood nature, and become 100% MAN just as you and I.
1st John 1:14 says,
“…and the word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”
Who would know more if Jesus was God in the flesh or the Son of man more than Jesus himself?
Jesus refers to himself eighty times in the four gospels as being the Son of man. Even when Nathanael called Jesus the Son of God, Jesus turned it around and referred to himself as the Son of man. Read this account for yourself in John 1:45-49.
In Matthew 16:13 Jesus asked his disciples,
“Whom do men say that I the Son of MAN am?”
The word of God seems to go out of its way to emphasise the fact that Jesus is the Son of MAN. Jesus HIMSELF personally referred to himself 80 times as being the Son of man in the four gospels. Compare this to the number of times the phrase “the Son of God” is found in the four gospels, which is only 26 times. And please understand that I am in no way inferring that Jesus is not the Son of God. The Bible emphatically teaches that Jesus is the Son of the Most High and living God, to this TRUTH there is no doubt. However being a SON does not make Jesus equal with Almighty God, or to being one and the same as God the Father. The word of God teaches that Jesus is the Son of God and that the Word was made flesh, therefore Jesus became the Son of man.
In the entire NewTestament the phrase “Son of Man” occurs exactly 88 times, and the phrase “the Son of God” is found only 44 times, precisely half as many times. So that is TWICE as much emphasis being placed on Jesus being the Son of MAN as opposed to being the Son of God, which is again not to be argued, because the Bible does in fact teach that Jesus is the Son of God. I myself find this fact very interesting that the Bible places MORE emphasis on the fact of Jesus being the Son of MAN, rather than on him being the Son of God, since the Bible teaches that he is BOTH. However, on the other side of the coin, you will NOT find even ONE, no not even one verse of scripture that plainly states that Jesus is God or that Jesus is God in the flesh.
Those that teach that Jesus is God as I said before use a few isolated scriptures to try and support what they teach, but these verses CONTRADICT the WHOLE word of God. I deal with these verses used to teach that Jesus is God in some of other studies such as "THERE IS BUT ONE GOD", "JESUS THE CHRIST", and "THE DIETY OF JESUS AND THE TRINITY", "IS JESUS THE FULNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY?" Please follow up this study by reading these other indepth studies in the word of God.
For you see, if we continue to ignore the scriptures that plainly show that Jesus was the Son of MAN while he was in the earth, and keep insisting that Jesus was able to do the miracles that he did because he was God in the flesh, FULLY GOD and yet still fully man, then we are antichrists according to the Bible. These are not my words, but the very word of God.
Look at 1st John 4:1-3
“Beloved believe not every spirit, (or every Bible teacher that you hear) but try the spirits (or teachings which you have heard) whether they are of God, (why?) because many false prophets are gone into the world. Hereby know you the Spirit of God (or the TRUTH of God's word). Every spirit that confesses Jesus is come in the FLESH is of God. (in other words that Jesus is a MAN) And every spirit that confesses NOT that Jesus is come in the flesh is NOT of God, and this is the spirit of antichrist.”
Can't you see that holding on to the doctrine that Jesus is God in the flesh and is 100% God and yet 100% man at the same time is saying that Jesus did NOT come in the FLESH is antichrist and is NOT of God? If Jesus maintained even 1/100th of a percent deity while he was on the earth, then he did not truly come in the flesh and therefore this teaching would NOT be of God and an ANTICHRIST teaching as the above verse plainly states.
In other words, don't just blindly believe every thing you are taught, but search the scriptures daily to prove for yourself those things with you are taught are in fact the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God.
You see, teaching that Jesus is God while he was in the earth is the same as saying that Jesus did NOT come in the flesh, and therefore is antichrist. This antichrist teaching that Jesus was God in the flesh has deceived the church, and has kept believers from living their FULL potential, which is to live their lives free from sin and to do the works of Jesus and even greater works. For a deeper understanding on this subject please read the studies entitled "HOW TO LIVE YOUR LIFE FREE FROM SIN" and "THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER"
2nd John 7 says it this way,
“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess NOT that Jesus is come in the FLESH. This is a DECEIVER and an ANTICHRIST.”
Either Jesus came in the FLESH and became 100% man and was tempted in all points as we are, or he did not. Again you must fully realize that if Jesus was even 1/100 of a percent God while he was in the earth would mean that Jesus did not come totally in the FLESH and become a MAN just as we are, and would have had an anvantange over us, and thereby would not have been tempted in all points like as we are tempted. Therefore if we say Jesus did not come in the flesh and lay aside 100% of his glory, and every anvantage, then we are ANTICHRIST. Not because I say it, but because the word of God clearly and plainly declares it to be so.
The TRUTH of the matter is that Jesus is the Son of God, who then became the Son of MAN by being BORN of a woman, and taking upon himself the nature of flesh and blood. Hebrews 5:7 calls this time period that Jesus spent in the earth as the days of his FLESH. Yes, the TRUTH is that God the Father sent his only begotten Son into the world, and Jesus, the Son of God, stripped himself of his divine nature, and became flesh and blood, the Son of MAN. Are you seeing this truth of God's word yet? The scriptures therefore clearly teach that Jesus was 100% flesh and blood while he was in the earth. So now all that remains is to answer the question, “How did Jesus do the miracles and live a sinless life while he was in the earth?” We now know based on a solid scriptural foundation that without a doubt that Jesus did not accomplish these things as God in the flesh. Nor did Jesus have an advantage over us as the Son of God. So how then did Jesus do the miracles, and live his life without sin clearly seeing and now knowing that Jesus was only a mere man as you and I? To answer this question let’s begin with John 5:19 where Jesus says,
“The Son can do NOTHING of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for what things soever he (that is the God the Father) does, these also does the Son likewise.”
Jesus could do nothing of himself, and he says this again in John 5:30
“I can of mine ownself do NOTHING: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which has sent me.”
What Jesus saw the Father do, either in a dream, or a vision he did likewise. In other words Jesus simply acted out the vision, or dream given to him by the Holy Spirit. And what Jesus heard the Father say, whether in an audible voice, or the small still voice of the Holy Spirit, he promptly obeyed, and thus fulfilled the will of the Father, his God.
Luke 4:18 says it this way,
“The Spirit of the Lord (that is the Spirit of God the Father) is upon me (why?), because he has anointed me (Jesus and as well every believer that chooses to believe) to preach the gospel to the poor, he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and the recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.”
And then in Acts 10:38 we read the following,
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the HOLY GHOST and with power: who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; (how?) for God was with him.”
God the Father was WITH Jesus in the person of the Holy Ghost. You see, Jesus was NOT God and man at the same time, but rather God was WITH Jesus in the person of the Holy Spirit. The SAME Holy Spirit that is promised to every believer.
Jesus said in John 14:10
“Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself but the Father that dwells in me (in the person of the Holy Spirit) he does the works.”
As Jesus heard, and saw from the Father through the Holy Spirit he simply obeyed, and spoke what the Holy Spirit was saying, or did what the Holy Spirit was directing him to do through a dream, or a vision. And then the Holy Spirit did the works. God always confirms his word with signs following. We are told about this in Mark 16:20.
Jesus did the miracles, and lived his life without sin NOT because he was God, or even as the Son of God, but rather Jesus did the works because he was the Son of MAN ANOINTED with the Holy Spirit. The SAME Holy Spirit that dwells in you and I, if so be, that you have been baptized with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of your heavenly prayer language, that is speaking in tongues. If by chance you do not understand what I have just stated, and have not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, then I strongly exhort you to seek the Holy Spirit with all your heart. If you desire to know more about this, read the study entitled “THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER.” Satan does not want believers to see this TRUTH that Jesus came in the flesh, 100% flesh and blood like you and I, and that it was for this VERY REASON of becoming a MAN that gave Jesus the very authority he posessed while he was in the earth.
Look at John 5:27
“And has given him (Jesus and us as well) AUTHORITY to execute judgment also, (why?) BECAUSE he is the Son of MAN.”
It was legally necessary for Jesus to become a man, 100% flesh and blood, a human being just like you and I, to be condemned to death on the cross an innocent man, because our enemy, Satan the devil, stole the authority of mankind when he deceived Adam to disobey God. So in order to restore our authority Jesus needed to be a MAN and live a life without sin and be crucified as an innocent man in order to redeem mankind back to God the Father. For BY one MAN sin entered the world, and BY one MAN sin is detroyed in those who BELIEVE. For a deeped understanding on this subject please read the study entitled "UNDERSTANDING WHY?" which shows you why God could not just step in and help man until man asked for his help first. This is why sometimes bad things happen to good Christian people.
Remember when Jesus went into the country of the Gaderenes, and there met him a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out with a loud voice. What have we to do with you Jesus, you the Son of the most high God? Are you come hither to torment us before the time? I adjure you by God that you torment us not.
The word “adjure” here means to charge, or command by authoritative obligation, to order. So in truth the devils said to Jesus we adjure thee by God to torment us not, or in other words we COMMAND you Jesus by the authority of Almighty God that you leave us alone, because neither God nor his Son had any right or authority in the earth. I exlplain what I mean by this in the study I mention above, "understanding why?"
But because Jesus was the Son of MAN and NOT God in the flesh as we have been falsely taught, he had authority to execute judgment, and command the devils to come out of the man. The devils had no choice but to obey the Son of Man, because Jesus was truly 100% MAN, who was anointed with the Holy Ghost, and was WITHOUT SIN. You see, sin cripples you and tremporarily stips you of your God given aurthority over the enemy and the earth.
God gave MAN dominion over all the earth. So, if Jesus were in fact God in the flesh, then he would illegally be exercising authority in the earth, and could not have cast out the devils in this man. Therefore Jesus could not have authority in the earth as God in the flesh, or even as the Son of most high God, as others have falsely proclaimed. The TRUTH is Jesus had authority and power to do all that he did in the earth BECAUSE he was a MAN like you and I anointed with the Holy Ghost.
Jesus not only depended upon the Holy Spirit to do the miracles, but he also relied upon the Holy Spirit to live his life free from sin. Hebrews 9:14 says,
“How much more shall the blood of Christ WHO THROUGH THE ETERNAL SPIRIT offered himself WITHOUT SPOT (SIN) to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
Just as Jesus could do nothing of himself, but depended totally upon the Holy Spirit, so must we also depend upon the Holy Spirit to live our lives free from sin also.
Galatians 5:16 tells us to,
“WALK IN THE SPIRIT AND YOU SHALL NOT FULFILL THE LUST OF THE FLESH.”
Remember that Jesus is our EXAMPLE that we are to follow. Jesus lived his life without sin, and therefore we ought to live our lives free from sin as well.
Yes, you will suffer temptation just as Jesus did, but you do not have to obey your LOWER nature, and give into what tempts you. It is your CHOICE whether or not to obey God or whether to obey the deceiving voice of the enemy, Satan. Remember you are the servant of whom you CHOOSE to obey. So just believe and obey the Holy Spirit as Jesus did.
In the study entitled "THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER" I will show you HOW to discover your true authority and power over the enemy and how to become an overcomer. May God bless you richly in your search to draw ever closer to him.
Yours in Christ Jesus Always and Forever, Mark |