There is much we can learn from today's reading, but I was impressed with something I had not paid attention to in the past, not in this chapter. Today, there are two things that we ought to pay attention to. We see it in Scripture, and we are reminded again today.
Jesus did not receive baptism as a confession of guilt on His own account. He identified Himself with sinners, taking the steps that we are to take, and doing the work that we must do. His life of suffering and patient endurance after His baptism was also an example to us.
If we have not yet discovered that the life of a Christian involves suffering, then realize that the example that Jesus gave included His suffering. It works for our good and His glory when we are truly converted. The world has a demonstration that there is a vast difference between those who love Jesus with the whole heart and those who don't.
Another truth that many have not recognized yet is that Jesus did not come in Holy Flesh. Yes, He was God, but He was born of the flesh of humanity, fallen flesh. But, this is not an excuse for sin. He was the Sinless One. It was not an excuse for Him, nor for us. He has made provision for us to live a life of perfect obedience if we will learn of Him and make a whole heart surrender of everything we are and everything we have. In return, the Holy Spirit will take possession of the heart and purify it from all sin no matter how evil it had been. He will wash it so it is whiter than snow. Yes, that means we have two natures like Jesus had. We are then partakers of His divine nature and retain our fallen evil flesh.
His upturned face was glorified as they had never before seen the face of man. From the open heavens a voice was heard saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
These words of confirmation were given to inspire faith in those who witnessed the scene, and to strengthen the Saviour for His mission. Notwithstanding that the sins of a guilty world were laid upon Christ, notwithstanding the humiliation of taking upon Himself our fallen nature, the voice from heaven declared Him to be the Son of the Eternal.
Yes, I know that ordained pastors teach otherwise. But so do some teach this truth. This is God's church and from it you will hear the leading edge of truth.....and the gospel of grace. The gospel can be found in other denominations, but not the leading edge of truth. It has been entrusted to the remnant church of God. One of the reasons it remains in a Laodicean condition is that the foundation of our faith, the gospel, has been perverted as it had been in Israel of Old. But, today unlike Israel, God will bring about revival and reformation which begins with a correct understanding of the power of grace to not only converted sinners into saints, but to keep them in a converted state. And, as we have read today, it is suffering that will strengthen the character of the saints so that one day very soon Jesus can close shop in the Most Place in heaven. He will stand up, throw down the censor and say "It is finished." There will be no more forgiveness of sin, yet there will still be living on the face of this Earth Christians who have been sealed and will be prepared to go through a time of trouble such as never was. This is the power of God's grace!
By the way, we do know that Jesus took upon Himself our fallen nature, and it was not the nature of Adam just after he fell. No, He came into the world 4,000 years later when the race had been much further weakened by sin and disease. He inherited the nature of fallen man after these longs years had almost destroyed mankind. Between Adam's fall and the birth of Jesus, God had almost all of mankind and the animals to give humanity a chance to survive until the second coming of Christ. It is a most amazing story that we know, that God allowed His Son to come into this dark world where Satan hated Jesus. He came in this fallen nature a helpless baby!
The story of Bethlehem is an exhaustless theme. In it is hidden "the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God." Romans 11:33. We marvel at the Saviour's sacrifice in exchanging the throne of heaven for the manger, and the companionship of adoring angels for the beasts of the stall. Human pride and self-sufficiency stand rebuked in His presence. Yet this was but the beginning of His wonderful condescension. It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man's nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity. What these results were is shown in the history of His earthly ancestors. He came with such a heredity to share our sorrows and temptations, and to give us the example of a sinless life.
Satan in heaven had hated Christ for His position in the courts of God. He hated Him the more when he himself was dethroned. He hated Him who pledged Himself to redeem a race of sinners. Yet into the world where Satan claimed dominion God permitted His Son to come, a helpless babe, subject to the weakness of humanity. He permitted Him to meet life's peril in common with every human soul, to fight the battle as every child of humanity must fight it, at the risk of failure and eternal loss.
The heart of the human father yearns over his son. He looks into the face of his little child, and trembles at the thought of life's peril. He longs to shield his dear one from Satan's power, to hold him back from temptation and conflict. To meet a bitterer conflict and a more fearful risk, God gave His only-begotten Son, that the path of life might be made sure for our little ones. "Herein is love." Wonder, O heavens! and be astonished, O earth!
Repeat this story as often as you have opportunity, for here is the power that transforms sinners into saints.