Playlist:

playlist Go to the Jesus Christ's Incarnation (topic) playlist

Filter by Categories

Christ Coming in the Flesh

Sermon/Bible Study by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Jesus Christ's Incarnation stands as a cornerstone of our redemption, for He came in the flesh to pay for the sins of mankind. He, who is called Yahweh, the God of the Old Testament, did not cling to His equality with the Father but sacrificed all to become a lowly servant in the likeness and composition of a human being. As Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God and Son of Man, He humbled Himself further, obeying as a man and enduring crucifixion, bearing all abuse in Jerusalem to complete His task of redemption. Throughout His life as a fleshly human, Jesus retained His essential personality and character as God, enabling Him to accomplish this great work. His coming in the flesh was the only way human sin could be atoned for, requiring an offering so great that it could cover all sin for all time, yet it had to be done by a human of unparalleled character and value. Born of a woman through the Holy Spirit, He was both Son of God and Son of Man, a unique nature that made Him the perfect Redeemer. He was conceived in Mary's womb, born as any human, yet His Father being God, He embodied as much of God's nature as a man could hold while remaining human. His glory, full of grace and truth, shone through His actions and words, revealing the goodness and truth of God. This truth of His humanity is affirmed repeatedly: He was visible, could be touched, heard, and felt, possessing blood that He shed as a lamb without blemish for our forgiveness. As a human, He could die, and God raised Him from the dead, restoring His glory. From the prophecy in Genesis of the woman's Seed who would overcome sin, to the fulfillment in His birth as Immanuel, God with us, His human and divine origin is clear. He was born under the law, subject to it as any human, to redeem those who had sinned. The Incarnation is a mystery to many, yet through God's Spirit, we understand that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, a truth witnessed by angels, Gentiles, and the world. His humanity is proven by His blood, His visibility, and His death, all essential for Him to be our Redeemer. Those who deny He came in the flesh undermine God's plan of salvation, for only as a human could He pay for human sin, and only through His divine nature could He remain sinless to be the perfect sacrifice.

Hebrews (Part Four): Who Was Jesus?

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Jesus Christ's Incarnation stands as a profound reality, revealing His unique nature and purpose in the grand design of creation and salvation. He, who possessed all intellectual powers to design and bring into existence this immense creation, willingly became flesh, as stated in John 1:14, where the Word came to be flesh. This transformation is not ordinary; though He assumed human nature, He remained God, never ceasing to be divine even while experiencing human functions and dependencies, such as the need for blood to sustain life and the capacity for human emotion. He could die if He allowed it, and indeed He did, giving Himself over to death for our sake. This perfect blending of divine and human worlds showcases His unparalleled humility and love, as He pitched His tent among us, living and teaching in real-life situations over three and a half years. The apostles, who closely examined Him with care, witnessed the contrast between mankind's rejection and His unstinting outpouring of love, recognizing Him as the only begotten Son, existing from eternity alongside the Father. There was never a time when He was not God, a truth that underscores His glory. His Incarnation was not merely a temporary state but a deliberate act to reveal the Father to us, to live in us, to work in us, to direct and teach us. He is all in all to us, essential for our salvation beyond just the forgiveness of sins. His becoming human and ultimately sacrificing His life exemplifies the utmost love, loving to the last and highest degree possible, as He interacted with the public and taught His chosen disciples. Through this act, He established a new teaching method, one rooted in daily life experiences and a personal relationship between Teacher and disciple, ensuring that His way of life is ingrained in those who follow Him.

The High Christology of Colossians

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

High Christology as a doctrinal stance was not enough to prevent the eventual apostasy of those in Asia Minor. Doctrine must produce the right conduct.

Hebrews (Part Three): Who Was Jesus? (cont.)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

John identifies Christ as co-eternal with the Father, equal in character, but subordinate in authority. Christ's sonship was unique; He was the 'only Begotten Son.'

Christ's Revelation of the Father

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

John 1:1-3 reveals Jesus' pedigree as the Logos (Spokesman), whose function was to declare or reveal the Father. He had existed with His Father from eternity.

Jesus in the Feasts (Part Five): Tabernacles

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

We should consider the temporary dwellings as a foreshadowing of Christ as our ultimate Tabernacle—the divine presence with and within His people

Jesus in the Feasts (Part Four): Atonement

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Isaiah 53 and passages from the New Testament substantiate Christ's dual role in shedding His blood and bearing away sins, thereby reconciling humanity to God.

'Unto Us a Son Is Given'

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

It is high time for our conception of Christ to rise above the mere physical, which Christmas tends to emphasize, to the glories of His present and future work.

Preternatural, Natural, Unnatural, Supernatural (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God, before He created Adam and Eve, preternaturally planned the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to save humanity from the curse of sin and death.

John (Part Three)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Even many extra-biblical sources such as Tacitus, Seconius, Justin Martyr, Pliny, and Josephus corroborate and validate the biblical accounts of Jesus.

Deceivers and Antichrists (Part One)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

John's epistles are the only places the term "antichrist" is used. This word has taken on a life of its own, especially within Evangelical Protestantism.

Deceivers and Antichrists (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

John says that those who do not confess Christ as 'coming in the flesh'—or 'as appearing in flesh'—in the present—are deceivers and antichrists.

Hebrews (Part Eight): Greater Than Angels (cont.)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Hebrews 1:3-4 describes the dramatic transitional period in which God begot Christ, making Him the only human being who could qualify as our Messiah and Savior.

Psalms: Book One (Part Five)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Book One of the Psalms, parallel with the spring season, focuses on the Messianic prophecies, revealing God's plan to redeem Israel by crushing Satan.

Fear of Death

Sermonette by Ronny H. Graham

Fear of death originated with Adam and Eve's sin of eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and, in response, they tried to hide from God.

Psalm Genres (Part Three): Messianic

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Messianic Psalms serves as a powerful corrective to shallow or misguided views of Christ fostered by nominal Christianity.