HANDOUT FOR SERMON: The Embodiment of Jesus Christ in Us.                             November 13th, 2022, Manchester, TN

INTRODUCTION: What does it truly mean to be a Christian? The word “Christian” is used very loosely in our society. What really matters is what God reveals to us in His word about what Christians are truly to be. The Word of God has to do with God giving us advice and teachings that deal with “life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).

LESSON:

1.DEFINITION OF THE WORD: EMBODIMENT.

A tangible or visible form of an idea, quality or feeling.
The representation or expression of something in a tangible or visible form.
Synonyms: personifications, manifestation, realization expression, representation, concretization.

JESUS OF NAZARETH WAS THE EMBODIEMTN OF DEITY IN THE FLESH.

Scripture: Colossians 2:2-3 & 9, Colossians 1:15, John 1:1-17, Philippians 2:5-7, John 10:30, John 14:8-10, John 12:45, Hebrews 1:3

Why did Jesus come in the flesh?

To give understanding and so we may know Him who is true. 1 John 5:20
So that mankind could see the glory of God, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-4 & 14
He came to reveal the Father. John 17:25-26
He came to fulfill the requirements of the law, Matthew 5:17
To seek and save the lost. Luke 19:10
To shed His blood and purify us, Hebrews 9:11-14 & 22
To be a perfect High Priest and Advocate, Hebrews 4:14-16

WE ARE TO BE THE EBODIMENT OF JESUS CHRIST.

Ephesians 3:17-18 That Christ may dwell in your hearts.
Colossians 1:17 To make known the riches of the glory of God, Christ in you.
1 John 3:24 That Christ may abide is us by the Spirit who He gives.
John 14:20 That we may know and understand the relationship between the Father and the Son.
John 17:23 That we may know and understand our relationship with the deity and to teach the world about God.
Galatians 2:20 Christ lives in us by faith in Him and we willingly crucify self.

FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST.  Do you realize that we can have fellowship with Christ in this life? What does it mean to have fellowship with Christ?  1 John 1:3 “that you too may have fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ, if we walk in the light as He is in the light….”

Fellowship means we belong to each other in a relationship.
A sharing together with Christ, a connection with Christ.
A partnership with Christ, an agreement of unity in purpose.
Oneness in heart, like-mindedness.
There is a sense in which our relationship with Christ prohibits us from fellowship with the world and with anything contrary to Christ.

Scripture:                                                                                                                                                                   1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Corinthians 6:17, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 John 1:3, 1 John 2:6, 1 John 4:13

5.THE WAY WE EMBODY JESUS CHRIST IS TO IMITATE AND FOLLOW HIM.

John 13:15 I have given you an example so that you also should do as I.
Ephesians 5:1 Be imitators of God, as beloved children.
1 Peter 2:21 Christ leaving you an example so that you can follow Him.
1 John 2:6 You ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.

What does this mean and what does this “look” like?  It is much more than just simply obeying the commands of Jesus. It involves so much more than just knowing truth and having great Biblical knowledge.  It involves being the very embodiment of who Jesus was, who He is, how He lived and how He treated others.  It involves Christ LIVING in us!

When others listen to you it should remind them of Jesus. When others observe you life, they should see Jesus in YOU! John 14:16 Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by Me.”

Embodying Christ:                                                                                                                                SERVE with humility, John 13,

SACRIFICE as Christ did, Matthew 6:33, Ephesians 5:2,                                                       

FORGIVE like Christ forgave, Ephesians 4:32,                                                                

RESISTED & REJECTED sin as He did, Romans 6:1-2,

RESIST TEMPTATION as He did Luke 4:1-14, 1 Peter 2:22.

Let us have the heart and mind of Jesus Christ our Lord, Philippians 2:5