Hebrews 5 ... concerning Jesus ...7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Of course, in heaven Jesus was perfect. Jesus was THE WORD who created all things, heaven, earth and all things therein... perfection.
Jn. 1 ... 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
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.
THE WORD was made flesh, came to earth in the flesh in the form of a man. With this came the sufferings known to all flesh. For now Jesus has become flesh which suffers. And Hebrews 5 said Jesus learned obedience by suffering ... and the suffering perfected HIM while HE was here in the form of flesh.
Jesus was created a little lower than the angels.
Hebrews 2:7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
This had to be because Jesus was going to pay for our sins through suffering and by HIS blood on a cross. Jesus was going to die for our sins and make a way for us to come to God through HIS own body. Angels do not die nor do angels suffer in the flesh. To do this work, Jesus had to be made as a human to suffer for us and to die as a human.
Hebrews 5 ... 9 And being made perfect, HE became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey HIM;
After the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus rose into heaven and gave all those who are of God HIS Spirit so we can know HIS will and obey HIM.
Like Jesus, we are "perfected", made into HIS image, through the various trials of this present life (sufferings) as we hear the way of God in the trial (by the Holy Spirit) and obey what Jesus says by the Holy Spirit, thus choosing to go in the way directed by Jesus.
Obey means:
- carry out HIS command or instruction
- behave in accordance with what HE says
- hear & go in the direction HE says
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Psalm 61:5 ... Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear THY Name (THE WORD) ...
Fear The Word:
- Belief that it is dangerous and likely to cause pain to a person if he chooses to go against THE WORD. (safety & well being in jeopardy to do so)
- Reverence for THE WORD
- Deep respect for THE WORD (regard or treat with deep respect)
- Honor the WORD by obeying the Word
- Bow down to the Word by giving up one ways and desires to do THE WORD
- Stand in awe of THE WORD
- Understanding the likelihood of something unpleasant happening if I go against THE WORD
- Being afraid to go against THE WORD for that is likely to be dangerous to me, painful to me, or threatening to me.
- Regard THE WORD with reverence or awe
This is what it means to fear the Word.
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What does it really mean when we say, "Do you believe Jesus Christ is come in the flesh?"
Even unbelievers believe there was a man born named Jesus and called the Christ.
But to believe Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is to believe Jesus is THE WORD who gave up HIS position in heaven with God and took on the form of a human and died for the sins of all and was then raised from the dead by God.
Phil. 2 ... Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus was "in the form of God" with God in heaven. HE even created all things, THE WORD. But HE humbled HIMSELF to come to earth "in the likeness of men" as a human. So HE could taste suffering as all humans suffer so HE could comfort all who suffered for HE suffered all things, "yet without sin." And therefore HE is able to help us in temptations for HE was tempted in all ways like as we are tempted.
So being God (in the form of God) HE made Himself of no reputation and took on the form of a human. HE went to the cross, laying down HIS life, paying for sins of all with HIS blood. Then God raised HIM from the dead and put HIM at HIS own right hand in heaven and now Jesus is seated beside God in heaven and intercedes for us.
So when you ask, "Do you believe Jesus Christ is come in the flesh?", this is what it means.
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In a secular, CIA type book, there was a passage where two men were talking, both CIA agents. One man was a Muslim religion though he was American. The other man said he was Christian.
The Muslim asked the Christian if he really believed Jesus Christ had been raised from the dead. The Christian admitted he did not believe this. Neither did the Muslim.
This started me to thinking about people who call themselves Christian but really do not believe Jesus Christ was raised by God from the dead. I feel certain there are many like this.
Paul dealt with people who did not believe in the resurrection ... Paul spent a good deal of time with this subject in I Cor. 15 ...
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am:and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all:yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ:whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order:
Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? 30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
33 Be not deceived:evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God:I speak this to your shame.
35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh:but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial:but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars:for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory:it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:44 It is sown a natural 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 was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy:the second man is the Lord from heaven. 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.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.