Many do not understand the difference between Jesus as “The Christ,” and Jesus as a Man (full of The Holy Ghost and power) for our example in serving GOD upon this earth.
First of all, Jesus was a “Man” while upon the earth. Not GOD/man, but as a flesh and blood man while upon the earth. From the time he was born until the time of his death upon the cross, he was a “Man.” He ate, slept, drank, thirst, hungered, wept, had like passions as we do, he died as a man (flesh), and was buried as a man (flesh). GOD the Father sent him as a man to be an example unto us in all things. To show us that as a man we do not have to sin, that as a man, GOD has given us his Spirit and power, and that like as he was resurrected, we also shall be resurrected. Anything else would take away from what GOD the Father planned and designed to happen, (1 Cor 15:21) and did happen.
“For since by “Man” (Adam) came death, by “Man” (Jesus) came also the resurrection of the dead.” Romans 5:15; …much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ hath abounded unto many. I Tim 2:5 …the man Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:7 – 8 …and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Paul is writing full of the Holy Ghost and the knowledge of Christ but wants to continually remind us that what Jesus did, he did as a man (his sufferings, his passions, etc...), nothing extra, other than the Holy Ghost.
We find this so hard to accept and yet we don’t question Adam. Adam didn’t have a natural Mother or Father (he was not born by way of sexual relations). GOD was his Father as he created him, he made a natural man.
GOD now makes a spiritual man; Jesus. Jesus was the first spiritual man (1 Cor 15:45). Mary was selected by GOD (a virgin) and impregnated by The Holy Ghost/Spirit of GOD (Luke 1: 27 -35), which made GOD the Father of the child Jesus (GOD’s Spirit). This is the only way it could happen. It could not be a natural man and a woman, else it would be a natural birth and a natural man, and he would not be The Son of GOD. Jesus is born by The Spirit of GOD (with GOD’s Spirit in him). The Holy Ghost is the only difference between first man and second man. Jesus is the first man to be born of the Spirit. That he might have the preeminence in all things (Col 1:18). First to be born of the Spirit, firstborn from the dead (1 Cor 15:23), first spiritual man (1 Cor 15:45). Does that make him different? Or does that make him First? He is the firstborn among many brethren (all are going to be born of the Spirit; John 3:8, "so is every one that is born of the Spirit”), he is the firstfruit from the dead (1 Cor 15:23). We also have been born of the Spirit (Born Again) and we also shall be raised from the dead. Jesus set the standard for all of his brethren to follow. Does that make him different? Or first? “Jesus didn’t need anything else or extra, other than the Holy Ghost. Is there anything more than the Holy Ghost? Do we need anything more, else or extra, other than The Holy Ghost?”
Jesus could have just made a man or taken on the body of a man as he created man. He did not. He went through the entire process. Mary was impregnated by the Holy Ghost/Spirit. Jesus was born a baby, went through being a child and grew into a man. This was so that the scriptures might be fulfilled concerning him but also so that we could see and follow him growing into a man, just like us. Now, he was born of The Spirit. This also that the scriptures might be fulfilled. Colossians 1:18, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence (be first). The first to be born of The Spirit. Romans 8:29, “So that he would be the firstborn among many brethren.” But as Jesus tells Nicodemus in John 3, “so is everyone that is born of the Spirit.” Jesus set the stage and all who will be born of The Spirit will follow.
The Word of GOD and The Holy Apostles go about to make a clear distinction for our understanding.
The Apostles did not have the Holy Ghost while Jesus was with them. They did not receive the Spirit until after Jesus death. When writing the 4 gospels, the Apostles, now full of the Spirit and with the knowledge and understanding that Jesus is “The Christ,” write the gospels and the only reference given by any of them is to “Jesus.” They are not calling him the Christ, why? Because they understood that all these things that Jesus did, he did as a man, full of the Holy Ghost and for their and our example and understanding.
The Apostles are giving an account of all they saw and heard Jesus do as a Man (by The Spirit of GOD). In 1 John 1:1, he writes that they had heard, seen him with their eyes, looked upon him, handled him with their hands (John was there, and he is testifying to it, the fact that Jesus was a man). Luke 24:39 Jesus told them he had hands and feet and that he was flesh and bone and not a spirit. He ate with them. This was to show them that as men, like as he was resurrected, we also would be resurrected. Romans 8:3 “GOD sending his own Son (Jesus) in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” By Jesus living as a man (in the flesh) and not sinning, condemned sin in the flesh and showed us as a man we don’t have to sin, even though we are in this flesh (if we are full of The Spirit).
Jesus the first fruits of man “born of The Spirit,” resurrected from the dead (1 Cor 15:20). Romans 8:29 Jesus is the firstborn of many brethren (Those born of The Spirit). 1 Cor 15, Paul is writing to show us that Jesus (who is the Christ), was seen by Cephas, then the twelve, after that seen of above five hundred brethren, then of James, then all the Apostles. This was in the flesh and not as a spirit (they saw a man Luke 24:39).
Jesus as “a Man (full of The Holy Ghost; born of The Spirit),” came into the world and the world knew him not, but to as many as received him and believeth on his name to them gave he power to become the sons of GOD (John 1: 10 -13). They could not see Spirit (Nicodemus, the Apostles while Jesus was with them), they could only see flesh (They were not Born Again). What they could see was the Spirit of GOD coming forth from this man to perform miracles, healings, teaching, preaching, etc. and all the things Jesus did while on earth as a man. John 3:1-3, Nicodemus approached Jesus and stated, we know you are a teacher sent from GOD: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except GOD be with him. Jesus let Nicodemus know that fleshly man can do nothing. Only by the Spirit (Born of The Spirit of GOD, as we must be) can anything righteous and godly be done. Jesus was speaking of himself and any man that will have the Spirit of GOD dwelling in him, having been born of The Spirit (John 3:3-8).
Now, the understanding of what made Jesus different as a man is this: He was born of the Spirit/Holy Ghost. He was full of The Holy Ghost (Luke 4:1), GOD giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him (John 3:34), he was led of The Spirit. This was done for us as an example to us of how we as men of GOD should now be (“Born of The Spirit/Holy Ghost (Born Again), full of The Holy Ghost, led of the Spirit. We must be “Born of the Spirit,” but Jesus was already Born of The Spirit (Firstborn).
Jesus was a man. GOD set this in order and was and is a part of his plan to reconcile man back to himself through Jesus. To make it anything else we take away from GOD’s plan and his design. To say he had anything else other than the Holy Ghost/Spirit of GOD we diminish what Jesus did, and what GOD sent him here to do. A “man,” led of The Spirit of GOD and full of The Spirit of GOD, which is what we as the new man (born again or born of the Spirit) are. The world will say that; “Jesus was not a man,” “I can’t do it I am not Jesus,” “Jesus did it because he was GOD.” 1 John 4:3 “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of GOD: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is in the world.”
We have got to let the world and The Children of GOD know that Jesus was a man and teach that all that he did was by The Spirit of GOD in him, just as all that we now do is by the Spirit of GOD in us. He showed and is continuing to show us how to do it!
When the Apostles saw Jesus, they saw a man. They believed on his words and that he was The Christ. They did not receive the Holy Ghost until we see this happen in The Book of Acts. When they are writing the gospels, they are now writing as Apostles filled with The Holy Ghost and now understanding that Jesus is The Christ and all the scriptures concerning him have been fulfilled.
Jesus referred to himself throughout the 4 Gospels as “Son of Man.” This is so that we would understand that GOD had given power unto men on earth to do the things that he did. These things that I do, will you do also and greater, because I go back to the Father (John 14:12). He went back unto The Father and now sits on the right hand of GOD as The Son of Man.
Now we see them writing as Apostles filled with the Holy Ghost and telling the story of Jesus, who is The Christ.
Matthew 1:1 is showing the book of the Generation of Jesus Christ, showing Jesus The Christ was before Abraham. The lineage goes all the way from Abraham back to Jesus who is The Christ (verse 16). Jesus the Christ birth was not of man but by The Holy Ghost (verse 18 and verse 20, The “Word” became flesh, or a man). From Matthew 2:1 throughout the rest of the Gospel according to Matthew the reference is always to Jesus. Please understand, I am not taking anything from who Jesus the Man (who is still The Christ), who is full of the Holy Ghost and power. But all that he is doing from this point, or his time on earth, is as a Man (full of The Holy Ghost) and for our example of what we can do as men (full of The Holy Ghost). That is the whole purpose of the exercise. All of the preaching, teaching, every parable he gave, all the healing, casting out devils, death, resurrection, etc.. The only other reference to Jesus as “The Christ,” is in Matthew 16:16, when Peter said by the Spirit of GOD, “Thou art The Christ…” In Matthew 28:18 Jesus is The Christ, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Jesus is the Christ (“the anointed one,” “the Messiah”).
Mark 1:1 opens the same way with Jesus The Christ. After that all reference throughout Mark is made to Jesus as a Man (full of The Holy Ghost). This is being done to make sure we have no excuse (“I can’t do what Jesus did because he was GOD). Jesus did these things as a Man, by The Holy Ghost, by Faith in GOD and by the power of GOD, for our example. Luke 2:26 the Lord had told Simeon he would not see death until he had seen the LORD’s Christ (Jesus is The Christ). He saw Jesus as a man, who is The Christ. Luke 3:38 Jesus The Son of GOD which is The Christ. Throughout the remainder of The Gospel According to Luke all reference is to Jesus as a Man (full of the Holy Ghost). The Apostles are giving an account of all they saw and heard Jesus do as a Man (by The Spirit of GOD). They believed he was the Christ and are giving an account of him to be, “The Christ” after his death and resurrection and are testifying to the fact that Jesus was and is the Christ. Jesus speaks to them as The Christ in Luke 24:25 – 26 and confirming that he is The Christ. Also, in Luke 24:46 – 49, Jesus confirming himself as The Christ. Luke goes on in the Book of Acts in the opening and says; ”The former treatise have I written thee “O, Theophilus,” about all that “Jesus (as a man full of The Holy Ghost)” began both to do and teach.”
In John Chapter 1 the Apostle is speaking by the Spirit and telling us (verse 1) Jesus is The WORD of GOD. He (Jesus The Christ) was with GOD in the beginning (also see 1 John 5:7). Jesus as “The Christ,” all things were made by him (Jesus; verse 2), in him Jesus “The Christ,” was life and that life was the light of men, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world (verses 4 -9).
Jesus (The Word of GOD) became flesh (as a man full of The Holy Ghost; born of The Spirit); verse 14). In Romans 8:3 “GOD sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” This was his mission and Jesus fulfilled his mission of what The Father sent him to do! Also 1 Cor 15: 21 – 23, Jesus mission!
Jesus (The Christ John 1:18) saw GOD and hath seen GOD, as he is GOD’s only begotten son (he proceeded forth from GOD, GOD created him, he is a part of GOD). When GOD said, “Let there be light,” was he talking to himself? No. He was speaking to the other portions of the Godhead (Jesus the Christ and the Holy Ghost). Jesus “The Christ,” then began to make all things (Gen 1: 3 – 31). John 1:3 “all things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. GOD the Father gave him the power to do.
Because they do not understand Jesus mission (II Cor 5:18) – GOD reconciling us back to himself by “Jesus Christ,” they go about to make it one and the same and it is not (he was in this flesh as a man, but serving GOD with his Spirit).
As the Christ in heaven with The Father, He is all Spirit and not flesh. For since by man came death (Adam), by man (Jesus) came also the resurrection of the dead (1 Cor 15:21). John 1:17 grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. The Christ is the sacrifice. He died on the cross, he took on the sins of the whole world. He was reconciling man back to GOD. “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto to me (John 12:32 - through his death on the cross, as the ultimate sacrifice). He went back to where he came from sitting at the right hand of the Father.
It is he (Jesus The Christ) that walked in the garden (Gen 3:8; GOD the Father, hath never left the throne). It is Jesus The Christ that went before the Children of Israel as a “pillar of Cloud,” by day, and as a “pillar of fire,” by night (Exodus 13:21 – 22).
In all the Epistles the Apostles always refer to Jesus as The Christ because this is what their spiritual understanding is and what our spiritual understanding should be and what the scriptures have proven him to be. Our understanding according to The WORD of GOD that Jesus is The Christ in heaven sitting on the right hand of The Father in all his glory. The Christ did not die on the cross the flesh did (Jesus), Jesus “The Christ Spirit” can never die. A man died, but spiritual man and GOD’s plan is fulfilled I Cor 15:21 – 22 (through his death on the cross).
The Word says, “Jesus Christ, Jesus the Christ, Christ Jesus, Jesus, the Lord, Son of man; meaning to us: Son of GOD on earth.” Jesus (who is The Christ) lived in the flesh, he was named Jesus, as a man, so man could see he could live in the flesh and not sin, but only because of the Spirit of GOD dwelling in the fleshly body. So, it is with all that are “Born Again,” or Born of The Spirit. Jesus could never please GOD in the flesh as the Word states, we cannot please GOD in the flesh. He pleased GOD because he served GOD with his spirit by The Holy Ghost, and not with his flesh, just as we now also please GOD when we serve him with our spirit and not our flesh and are led of The Holy Ghost. He is as he was as before, coming to earth, with the Father on His right hand, all spirit.
This is why the Word is trying to get us to understand, GOD is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. GOD has given us power, by the Spirit, to become the “Sons of GOD.” Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 2 Corinthians 5:17, therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away, all things have become new. This is so we can be pleasing to the Father. We must understand the difference of Jesus as the Christ in all his glory and the sacrifice that he made for us by becoming a man; stepping down from his heavenly estate, and coming to earth to show us that by being “born again” or “Born of the Spirit,” filled with the Holy Ghost, we also as men, can do the things that Christ did and greater! We also are the “Sons of GOD,” and “Joint Heirs with Christ.” Ephesians 4:15 ….may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Jesus set the example in all things as he is the first in all things. First spiritual man! Thank GOD for Jesus, who is The Christ! Amen!
