We’re OK !

In our Sunday night sessions we have begun a study of I John. We have looked at the introduction for two weeks, I John 1:1-4. The question was raised: “Was it necessary for Christ to come in the flesh? What did it accomplish? What does it mean to you?” Firstly, God required a sacrifice for our sins, but all men since Adam were sinful, so it was necessary for Christ to become human to sacrifice himself for our sins – as a sinless sacrifice, the spotless Lamb. He could do this only by being God and thus without sin. So it was absolutely necessary. Secondly, we looked at Hebrews 2: 14-18:

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Christ can be our merciful high priest because He was a human who was tempted like us, and yet was without sin. So in addition to the Atonement, we end up with a high priest who mediates for us continually before the throne of God, and yet as truly human one we can relate to.

While we were discussing this on Sunday night, it occurred to me that there was another effect of the Incarnation (not that it was necessarily God's main purpose, but of course He thinks of everything!), is that it makes it OK to be human. John was writing his letter during a time when the heresy of Gnosticism, and also (and more appropriate to my line of thinking here, Docetism) was making inroads among the churches. Besides teaching that knowledge is superior to virtue, and that only a nonliteral interpretation of Scripture understood only by a select few was correct, they taught (like some Greek philosophers) that matter was inherently evil while only the spirit could be good. Docetism taught that deity cannot unit itself with anything material, including the body. Therefore one could live a sinful life without concern. The Gnostics also believed that there is no resurrection of the flesh.

But all their arguments are undone in Christ. Because in the Incarnation, God took the form of a human, lived a sinless life, and died and was resurrected. It seems very interesting to me that while God is a Spirit, and the angels are spirit beings, and we have a spirit, God intends for us to remain around forever with a body, (albeit a glorified one). And Christ himself will reign over us with His bodily form. So the Gnostics and Greek philosophers had it it all wrong! We are God’s creation, intended for His glory, and so it is great to be a human! While we can't live totally sinless lives, we can, through God's power, begin to come closer than the unregenerate human -- we are made in the image of God and it does matter how we live.

While Gnosticism and Docetism died out centuries ago (seemingly), I think we are seeing a resurgence of it again today. I recently read an action adventure called "Map of Bones" by James Rollins-- sort of a DaVinci Code without the blasphemy. Its story line included references to “Gnostic Christians,” and long-lost mysteries and secret knowledge maintained by a few. So as ever, we need to be on guard.

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phillipians 2:5-11

posted by d. rogers