What is the meaning of Christ’s coming?
Look at Hebrews 2:14 - This one verse gives us valuable insight!
Jesus came for IDENTIFICATION - THE BIRTH OF CHRIST MEANS THE INCARNATION - Because we are human, Christ became a human - Christ Partook of Flesh and Blood - He shared in this experience…… (because His children were partakers of the same...)
Hebrews 2:14 FORASMUCH THEN (BECAUSE / SINCE) AS THE CHILDREN ARE PARTAKERS OF FLESH AND BLOOD, HE (CHRIST JESUS) ALSO HIMSELF LIKEWISE TOOK PART OF THE SAME (FLESH AND BLOOD); that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Not only identification but Christ’s coming also means TERMINATION - DEATH - CHRIST'S DEATH, IN THE MIND AND HEART OF GOD, PRECEDED THE INCARNATION, BECAUSE HE COULD NOT DIE UNLESS HE WAS BORN (WITH A BODY OF FLESH AND BLOOD) - HE CAME AMONG US FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF DYING… Read Hebrews 2:14 again.
God cannot die, but the body that was Jesus, was specifically prepared to die.
Consider also the thought in Hebrews 2:14 referencing RUINATION - Jesus must die so that he might destroy the one who has the Power of death….the Devil
Next, consider LIBERATION - Yes, it is in Hebrews 2:14-15.
Human beings are in bondage, through fear, because of certain impending imminent death - The writer of Hebrews supposes and intends for us to believe that there is an innate fear of death in the heart of man that is a lifelong slavery-like experience. many people live their whole lives animated/controlled by this fear of death.
So then, how did/does Christ Destroy the Devil and deliver us from his power and the fear of death?
He did this through PURIFICATION (OR PURGATION - THE PURIFICATION OR CLEANSING OF SOMEONE OR SOMETHING). In other words, FORGIVENESS)
Colossians 2:13–15
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
The Handwriting of Ordinances - v. 14 - It means the Law in its judgment aspect.... against all lawbreakers....It was against us - it was antagonistic to us. It was in conflict with us. It was contrary to us - Hostile toward us - It is the exact opposite of us - The Law is right and we are wrong. The Law is pure and we are impure. The Law is Good and we are bad. The Law is Holy and we are unholy.
But thank God For this Next Word....
Forgiven -
He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us! - Paul never states that the Law was done away with....what he states is that the condemnatory aspect of the Law has been removed, canceled/erased for the child of God!
How was this done? Calvary - Christ took the law and its penalty out of the way (v. 14) - by nailing it to His Cross. There could be no forgiveness until this was done. When Christ died for us the record of debt against us was cancelled. He nailed our guilt and condemnation to the cross and God's wrath was poured out upon it and now we can be freely forgiven.
We are liberated from the penalty and guilt of sin.....thank God....But it goes further than that
This transaction also means the defeat of the Devil - By nailing the record of my guilt and violation of the Law to the cross, Jesus took away the one weapon that the Devil could use to damn my soul...
Now go back to Hebrews 2:14, 15
The Bible says that when Jesus died, he destroyed the Devil...He deactivated the power of death that he had (He did this by nailing the record of my sins and guilt to the cross). He took the one weapon that the Devil had out of his hands
Christ also, by dying in our place can now also deliver us from fear of death! I no longer fear death...I see it now NOT as a doorway to Hell, but an entrance into the presence of my Lord.....
None of this could have happened had he not partook of flesh and blood!
This is the real reason for Christmas
No doubt we should look into each other's eyes and from the bottom of our hearts say "Merry Christmas."
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