I was reading Herbert W. Armstrong’s Mystery of the Ages last week and I came across this section titled, “Why Jesus Came.” Mr. Armstrong was fond of saying that the world was mixed up and preached a gospel about Jesus Christ—not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This section that I was reading was about Jesus – “Why Jesus Came.”
And I got to thinking, “Yes, the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God needs to be preached to the world for a witness to all nations… But as Christians, we are to be striving to be like Jesus—to be as He actually was on earth.
On page 216 of the Mystery of the Ages (original hard-back edition) I came across this short section of 5 reasons – Why Jesus Came:
Jesus had come 1) to qualify, where the first Adam failed …
He had come 2) to announce the … the Kingdom of God…
He had come 3) to take on Himself, …the penalty of our sins…
He had come 4) to be resurrected from the dead by God… And
He had come 5) to establish God’s Church…
Mr. Armstrong’s last book, Mystery of the Ages came out in 1985 – less than a year before he died.
I got to thinking, “Surely there are more than these 5 reasons that Jesus came to this earth.
How many times did Jesus use phrases like:
I am come that they might have…
For this cause came I into the world…
I am come to set…
I am come to send…
Think not that I am come to… but to…
I am come into this world, that they…
I started listing some more reasons – off the top of my head – I even asked some of my grandchildren why Jesus came—and they thought of a few reasons.
And since we are Christians—and we are to emulate Jesus Christ in every way – I thought it would be good to look at “Why Jesus Came.”
And, let me add right up front that Jesus did everything in order to bring about the Kingdom of God and to fulfill the Plan of God. Our incredible human potential is to become God – in the eternal family of God as spirit born children of God.
But before we could enter into God’s spiritual realm, it was necessary that God enter into our physical, material world. Before we could be with God – it was necessary that, Emmanuel, God be with man.
In today’s sermon we are going to look at a few of the reasons that God the Father found it necessary to Have His son walk among men in the flesh. Have you ever asked yourself the question, “Why did Jesus come to earth?”
The Bible reveals the incredible transformation and transition that took place in the nature of Jesus Christ—from the time that He was the God of the Old Testament—to His time while He was on earth—and then back again to the reestablishment of His creative magnificent power after He had completed His purpose in the flesh. Brethren, have you ever asked yourself the question, “Why did Jesus come to earth?”
Couldn’t God have mandated everything that Jesus accomplished on earth – without all the complexities of Jesus being born? As I was reminded this week by one of the members, we are told:
Hebrews 4:
14 … that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
What is our profession – but being Christians? We are to follow Christ and emulate His characteristics.
Jesus the Son of God, is our role model. We are to live our lives just as He lived His life. Let’s begin with the list of five reasons that Mr. Armstrong gave on why Jesus came – expound on them and go from there. Let’s try to answer the question, “Why Jesus came?”
The apostle Paul tried to put it all together – and he realized that the first man Adam had failed to qualify to rule the world in righteousness.
**Jesus came to qualify where the first Adam failed.
Adam’s first job and destiny was to rule the earth in place of Satan.
Hebrews 2:
8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his [man’s] feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
Genesis 1:
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Very clearly we are being created to be as God is—but we are not there yet while we are in the flesh. This tells us that Adam’s job and duty was to be king of the earth!
Paul is explaining that though it has been a long time since Adam—his throne is still open and unoccupied by a righteous ruler—and in need of someone righteous to reign over the earth. In order to perform where Adam failed – it was necessary that Jesus come in the flesh.
1 Corinthians 15:
44 It is sown a natural [physical, carnal] body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [Jesus Christ] was made a quickening spirit.
Jesus is able to give life.
1 Corinthians 15:
46 Howbeit that was not first [Adam] which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward [Jesus] that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
Paul explains that physical life and spiritual life are two different things.
1 Corinthians 15:
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Paul says that we are not going to make it into the Kingdom of God in these physical bodies that we are in. The entire point is how Jesus is making it possible for us to be in the Family of God – in the eternal Kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 15:
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Paul had taught the Italian Christians at Rome some of these same points – and the Corinthians most likely had a copy of Paul’s teachings.
Romans 5:
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
**Jesus came to atone for sin.
Hebrews 2:
17 …to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
That is speaking of our reconciliation to God the Father by the death of Jesus.
Romans 5:
12 Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13 For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who [Moses] is the figure of him that was to come. [Jesus]
15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
Jesus Christ, coming in carnal flesh, overcame carnal flesh where Adam had failed.
Romans 8:
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
**Jesus came to be flesh and blood.
Hebrews 2:
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He [Jesus] also himself likewise took part of the same [flesh and blood].
Jesus was a man during His incarnation.
1 John 4:
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
** Jesus came to announce the Good News of the Kingdom of God and proclaim liberty for the oppressed.
Luke 4:
43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
Luke 4:
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, [downtrodden]
Mark 1:
14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
**Jesus came to take to Himself the penalty of our sins by His death on the cross.
**Jesus came to be resurrected from the dead by God the Father, making possible eternal God-Life for the people of God.
Romans 6:
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ wasraised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
**Jesus came to establish / build His Church.
Matthew 16:
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Luke 12:
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
**Jesus came to reveal and establish the New Covenant.
**Jesus came to train disciples and to teach that prophetic Good News of the Kingdom of God to His chosen future apostles.
**Jesus came to reveal the Father.
Through Christ’s works and actions we “see” God the Father’s compassion, love, healing, sacrificing…
Matthew 11:
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Colossians 1:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Colossians 2:
9 For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
John 14:
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
John 14:
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it suffices us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
John 17:
26 And I have declared unto them thy name [reveal the Father], and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
**Jesus came to bear witness to the truth.
John 18:
37 Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.
**Jesus came to serve and teach us how to serve.
Luke 22:
27 For whether is greater, he that sits at meat, or he that serves? is not he that sits at meat? but I am among you as He that serves.
**Jesus came to be a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister [serve], and to give his life a ransom for many.
Yes, we were in bondage and slavery to sin—and we have been redeemed.
** Jesus came to reconcile us to the Father.
Our sins had separated us from God the Father.
Isaiah 59:
21 Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.,
Romans 5:
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
**Jesus Christ came to fulfill all the Messianic Prophecies.
Messianic Prophecies are Old Testament prophecies foretelling that Jesus Christ would come to the earth to bring about the Plan of God.
There are literally hundreds of Messianic Prophecies about the coming Christ – the Anointed Messiah. And it is easy to find their fulfillment in the New Testament. A Messianic Prophecy predicted that the Christ would be born of a virgin. We see that prophecy here:
The Title of this sermon is here:
Isaiah 7:
14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
We find the fulfillment of the Messianic Prophecy here in the New Testament:
The Title of this sermon is here:
Matthew 1:
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
At this point we have come to the fulcrum—the incomparable day in the Plan of God.
We have been redeemed to be the literal Children of God—redeemed to sonship in the very Family of God. We are being delivered from this evil world—which was God’s Plan from the very beginning.
John 1:
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Galatians 4:
4 But when the Fullness of the Time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman…
God wants to accent the fact of Jesus’ humanity.
**Jesus came to become man – so that man could become God. Notice:
Galatians 4:
5 … that we might receive sonship.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Luke 2:
10 And the angel said unto the [shepherds], Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ / Messiah the Lord.
God alone knows the end from the beginning. And that is because God is able to bring about the end.
Let’s leave prophecy to God. There is a terrible scourge on the Church of God these days where ministers are into making self-serving prophecies. They prophesy deaths… that other ministers are going to die... giving the dates. They prophesy earthquakes… They prophesy wars… They prophesy Christ’s return – and set dates... Prophesying, for these ministers, is a great temptation – and many have wrecked their reputations in doing so.
Of a more serious concern is that foolish brethren believe their bold predictions – even after those prevaricating ministers are wrong over and over again.
Only God can make prophecy come true.
Next we see that the Messiah would be heir to King David's throne.
Isaiah 9:
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Put an “MP” in the margin of your Bible whenever you come across all these Messianic Prophecies. It will make them easier to find.
Luke 1:
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.
Here is an interesting point: Though there are literally hundreds of Messianic Prophecies about the coming Christ or Anointed Messiah – when pressed for a sign that He was indeed the Messiah, Jesus game them only one sign – the sine of Jonah.
Matthew 12:
39 But [Jesus] answered and said unto the [scribes and of the Pharisees], An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
John 2:
22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, [about Jonah] and the word which Jesus had said.
**Jesus came to destroy Satan's power and to replace him on the throne of the earth.
Hebrews 2:
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Here is an incredible point that Paul brings out. In this colossal battle of man against Satan – man wins!
We are able to be delivered from the evil one – Satan.
Hebrews 2:
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. [the same nature as the Children of Abraham.]
17 Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
1 John 3:
8 He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
**Jesus came to suffer in our place – that we might obtain healing – physical, psychological, emotional, and especially spiritual healing.
**Jesus came to taste death for everyone.
Hebrews 2:
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death [men suffer and die], crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Was Jesus imperfect? That is not what this verse is saying. He is the perfect mediator between God and man because He has suffered as a man and can relate to us perfectly.
Mark 8:
31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
**Jesus came to learn obedience.
*Hebrews 5:
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
This does not mean that Jesus was disobedient—but what does it mean?
Hebrews 5:
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Jesus knows what it means to be human – he knows what we go through.
Philippians 2:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But Jesus laid aside the glory He had with the Father before being born of a woman.
Philippians 2:
7 But made himself of no reputation [emptied Himself], and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Jesus set aside His divinity to come to earth as a man, and was unable to utilize His creative powers—He became weak - just like us.
John 14:
10 Believe thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me, he does the works.
However, by His Father’s Spirit, Jesus was able to overcome all. Jesus said that of Himself, He could do nothing. Jesus was made in the likeness of men while on earth:
Philippians 2:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
While Jesus was on the earth, He was tempted as we are. We know without a doubt that Jesus Christ our mediator fully comprehends the extent of the trials that we endure.
While on earth Jesus retained His personal identity as “The Word of God,” the “God of the Old Testament” while setting aside His personal power and glory to become a man in the flesh.
Isaiah 9:
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Then, when Jesus had completed His earthly course, He asked the Father to restore the Glory they shared before Jesus came to the earth.
John 17:
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
And, of course, God the father did restore Christ’s glory after the resurrection.
Romans 1:
4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
And so we see that the Bible has confirmed the incredible transformation that took place in the nature of Jesus Christ while He was on earth and the reestablishment of His creative magnificent power after He had completed His purpose on the earth.
Hebrews 1:
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
**Jesus came to set a right example in all things.
Hebrews 4:
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
In order for Christ to overcome sinful flesh, he had to live in flesh and be subject to all its temptations and weakness.
Hebrews 2:
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same [flesh and blood]…;
Hebrews 2:
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor [help and comfort] them that are tempted.
1 Timothy 3:
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
**Jesus came to fulfill Passover, change the symbols, and add the Footwashing Part of the service.
**Jesus came to lay down His life and teach us to lay down our lives.
**Jesus came that we might have eternal life.
John 10:
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
2 Corinthians 8:
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich [as God in heaven], yet for your sakes he became poor [made in the likeness of men], that ye through his poverty might be rich [eternal life in the Kingdom of God].
**Jesus came to teach us how to pray.
Matthew 6:
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
**Jesus came to do the will of the Father.
John 4:
34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
**Jesus came to fulfill the Law.
Matthew 5:
17 Think not that I am come to destroy [abolish] the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
**Jesus came to bring judgment.
John 9:
39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
**Jesus came to take away our sins.
1 John 3:
5 And ye know that [Jesus] was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
**Jesus came so that we are able to know that He is Truth.
1 John 5:
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
**Jesus came to call sinners to repentance.
Mark 2:
17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
**Jesus was sent by God the Father to redeem mankind by paying man’s debt of sin.
Revelation 13:
8 … [Jesus is] the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
**Jesus came to be the foundation on which men could believe.
1 Corinthians 3:
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Notice that this is also a Messianic Prophecy:
Isaiah 28:
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Ephesians 2:
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the Lord:
**Jesus came to show us God’s glory.
John 1:
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
And Brethren, here is the bottom line:
**Jesus is coming again to establish the Kingdom of God over all the earth!
***
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"Emmanuel" |
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