This is the manuscript of the fourth sermon in the "God's Affirmative Action Program"
In 1965 the federal government of the United States initiated affirmative action programs to see that businesses right some wrongs, balance some imbalances, correct some faults—ultimately, to bring reconciliation. God also had an affirmative action program designed to bring reconciliation—reconciliation between God and man. On these Sundays leading up to Christmas, we will examine God’s affirmative action program.
God’s affirmative action program became a reality on a cold winter’s night when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. At that time the eternal Word took on human flesh and came to dwell among us.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 NIV).
Scripture Reading:
John 1:9-18 NIV [9] The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. [10] He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. [11] He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. [12] Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— [13] children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. [14] The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. [15] (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”) [16] Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. [17] For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. [18] No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
Introduction
God’s affirmative action program became a reality on a cold winter’s night when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. At that time the eternal Word took on human flesh and came to dwell among us.
Text:
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 NIV).
From this point on in his gospel, John no longer calls him “the Word” but gives us his name—Jesus Christ.
John 1:29-31 NIV [29] The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! [30] This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ [31] I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
God took affirmative action toward us. He came into our world through Jesus Christ. What people had hoped for and looked toward had become a reality.
Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV [6] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [7] Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
Under God's affirmative action program, through his Son Jesus, God came into the world to fulfill his plan to bring people back to himself and provide all mankind with an equal opportunity for reconciliation with him.
I. The reality involves exaltation (John 1:14–15).
The amazing reality of God’s affirmative action program is the reality of the Word becoming flesh.
John 1:14 NIV [14] The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
There were some limitations that came along with the Word becoming flesh before His ultimate exaltation. This verse, which is our text, indicates twomways in which the Word was limited through the incarnation, through His becoming flesh. They are:
The limitation of human personality
The limitation of transience or having only a definite time finite time for life as a man
1. The limitation of personality.
The Word became flesh. Jesus actually became a human being. He took on the full personality of a person. Jesus’ appearance in history was not a theophany, or manifestation of God. A theophany is a visible appearance of God, and in the Old Testament period it was often, but not always, in human form. God’s appearance to Moses at the burning bush was a theophany.
Exodus 3:2-4 NIV [2] There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. [3] So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” [4] When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”
God took possession of the burning bush for his purpose which was to get Moses attention because He had an assignment for him.
Exodus 3:10 NIV [10] So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
Another example of a theophany, this time in human form was when God told Abraham He was going to destroy Sodom
Genesis 18:1-2 NIV [1] The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. [2] Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
Jesus’ appearance, on the other hand, was an incarnation which means that God assumed human nature and became a man in the form of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the second person of the Trinity. His human nature was critical to His mission of salvation.
The biblical record tells us that the child Jesus developed and increased in wisdom. As any child grows physically and matures mentally, so did Jesus. To make him anything else makes him less than human.
Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV [14] Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. [16] Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Two significant aspects of Jesus’ character are grace and truth
John 1:14 NIV [14] The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Grace is the unmerited favor of God. Truth shows us that God is determined to be predictable, consistent, trustworthy. In Christ we see truth that is thoroughly trustworthy. It is a truth that sets us free, that liberates us from the bondage and baggage of sin that has bound us.
2. The second limitation of becoming flesh is the one of transience. Transience is a noun that means the quality of being temporary, brief, or fleeting. It can also mean the state of not lasting forever or for a long time suggesting the inevitability of ending or dying.
The eternal Word who had existed from the very beginning became a person who lived during a certain time in human history. He who transcended all time was born at a specific time.
As a man Jesus’ life on earth was temporary. He was limited to one life, and a brief life at that, only 33 years. Even though Jesus was fully God, he was also fully human. He experienced the limitations that all humans face.
In spite of these limitations Jesus was exalted.
In other words lifting Jesus has the highest place in our lives and He should be given first place in our thoughts, words, and actions.
You know, glory is a word used throughout Scripture, especially by John. The word glory is used 147 in the NIV translation of book of John. One of the definitions of glory is splendid beauty, resplendent beauty or magnificence.
When the Israelites were in the wilderness Moses was given instructions on building and transporting the tabernacle. There the people could sense the glory of God. His glory was given the name shekinah, which means “that which dwells.” The glory of God inhabited the tabernacle, so the glory of God really means the presence of God.
Exodus 40:34-38 NIV [34] Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. [35] Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. [36] In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; [37] but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. [38] So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.
In Christ there is exaltation because the very presence of God is there in Him in all his glory.
Colossians 1:19-20 NIV [19] For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, [20] and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Colossians 2:9-10 NIV [9] For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, [10] and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
In the KJV translation of the bible,Jesus was called “the only begotten son of God.
John 3:16 KJV [16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The word begotten literally means “the only one of a kind.”
In the Bible, Jesus is referred to as the "only begotten son" because he is the only person to be born of a mortal mother, Mary, and an immortal father, God the Father.
Here is John 3:16 as translated in the NIV
John 3:16 NIV [16] For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Jesus is not simply another son of God; he is the one and only Son of God. He can be compared to no one else.
So let’s evaluate God’s affirmative action program that was made real when the Word became flesh.
John 1:16-17 NIV [16] Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. [17] For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Because of Jesus’ incarnation, we can know the fullness of God. We can know with confidence that God is not just something or someone “out there.” He is right beside us and shares life with us completely.
Ernest Shackletom was an explorer who had three expeditions on one of his expeditions he and two companions had a thirty-six-hour march over ice to the South Pole. During this march he said that he sensed that often there were four of them rather than three. One of his companions said to him, “Boss, I had a curious feeling on the march that there was another person with us.” The third companion confessed to the same It is the same with us, God is indeed always with us as we march through life.
We never exhaust the blessings of God.
His blessings are constantly coming one after another.
Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV [22] Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. [23] They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Ephesians 1:3 NIV [3] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
2 Peter 1:3 NIV [3] His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV [8] And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
John 1:16 NIV [16] Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
Let's talk about grace for a minute. In our Bible study we learned three things about grace.
Grace redeems us
Titus 2:11 NIV [11] For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
Grace reforms us
Titus 2:12 NIV [12] It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
Grace rewards us
Titus 2:11-13 NIV [11] For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. [12] It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, [13] while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
In our evaluation of God’s affirmative action program we realize that Jesus, the Word is the one through whom comes the realization of the grace of God and the reality of the truth of God.
John 1:17 NIV [17] For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Moses was the great hero of Jews. Moses had led them from captivity in Egypt. Moses had led them on the wilderness wanderings. Moses had led them to the promised land. Moses had given them the law of God that directed their lives and determined their relationship to him, but Jesus gives grace and truth. In any evaluation, then, Jesus would be deemed superior.
III. Here’s the final reality
John 1:18 NIV [18] No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
From the seen, Jesus Christ, we can know the unseen, God. Jesus Christ has made God known to us precisely and clearly. By Jesus’ teachings and actions, we can know what God is like.
When we want to know about God, we look to that Word who was from the very beginning with God, who was God himself. From the Son we can see the Father.
Conclusion
God’s affirmative action program worked! Its reality is seen in the incarnation. The eternal Word took on temporal flesh and shared life with us. As we celebrate the birth of Christ tomorrow, may we thank God for his unspeakably great mercy and love.
Dear Father God, thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ our Savior and for the salvation that we have received through trusting in His death on the cross and His resurrection. Our hearts overflow with grateful thanks and praise for His amazing sacrifice for sin.
Thank You, that He was sent to pay the price for our sins and the sins of the whole world. Lord, we simply want to live in Him and be rooted in Him. We pray that we may grow in grace, mature in the faith and to find our strength in Him.
There is no greater blessing that You could have given to us than the precious life of Your only begotten Son, so that in Him we may be redeemed from death and hell and receive forgiveness of sins and everlasting life.
I pray that we may live our lives in a manner that glorifies Thank You, Father, for Your amazing gift of salvation, and we pray that many who have not accepted Jesus as their Savior will do so before it is too late. This I ask in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
