William P. Goff
In John 1:14 We are told: “And the Word (our Lord, the “Logos”) 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.”
I want to speak a little today about this “flesh” that Jesus was made. We need to know just how human was Jesus when He walked this earth, nearly 2,000 years ago?
Was He flesh and blood like you and I, or was He different than us?
This is an important question, because we are instructed to become like Him, to walk like He walked, and to follow in His footsteps.
Both Peter and Paul admonish us to conform to His ways, that He is our Chief Corner Stone.
(Ephesians 2:20) and (1 Peter 2:6). (Not turning.)
In construction, the corner stone sets the standard for the entire building.
But, I ask, is it possible for us to walk this earth like He walked?
In (Philippians 2:5-8) we are told: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, 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.”
Is it possible for us to be like Him when He put on the form of a servant, and was made flesh, in the likeness and fashion of man, and walked this earth? Or was there too much God in Him for us to mimic (or be like)?
The Apostle John says He was made “flesh”. Well, what kind of “flesh”? We are flesh, was He flesh and blood like us, or was He made into a different kind of flesh?
When looking up the word “flesh” in my Funk & Wagnall’s International Dictionary, we read that the word “flesh” is defined as: “Mankind in general” “The Human Race” “Human Nature; specifically, the carnal nature of man as affected with evil thoughts.”
I look up the Greek word that John used (SARX) translated “flesh” in Zodhiates’ Greek lexicon, and it says the following, speaking of “Jesus” becoming Flesh:
“He became man (or took human nature upon Himself) and became subject to suffering and mortality Also, the infirmity of human nature the corrupt nature of man subject to the filthy appetites and passions.”
(Mortality means He was subject to death, or can die.) (Same as all of us.)
(Infirmity means: physical or mental weakness.) (again. Just like us.)
So far, these definitions say that the “flesh” that Jesus became (or was made into) is the same “flesh” as the rest of us.)
Now how about Stong’s concordance? This Greek word translated “flesh” (SARX) is # 4561 meaning human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specifically), a human being (as such) carnal.
Brethren, the word “flesh” which John tells us our Lord was made, or became, is the same exact word , with the same exact meaning, used everywhere else in the Scriptures for the rest of us.
Scripture says He was flesh like you and me, capable of suffering, capable of sinning, capable of dying.
We know that He was tempted in all points, like we are. (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.”
Now there are a lot of fables and myths going around within the church of God, concerning just how human Jesus was.
Many (if not most) in the church have been led to believe that He (our Lord) was “different” than you and I. That the “flesh” that He was made into, was different then our “flesh”.
Many believe that He was able to walk this earth upright and sinless, but that it is impossible for us to do so while we are in the flesh.
We are told in numerus places in the Holy Scriptures to “Be Ye Holy” and to “Be ye Perfect”. (And that word “perfect” doesn’t mean you can never make a mistake; it just means to be “of full growth” complete – full age.)
Believing and teaching that Jesus is different than us, that He could walk this earth upright, like He did, but that we cannot, is a false teaching, and it’s known as the “spirit of antichrist”.
This is very important for us to understand. This “spirit of antichrist” actually permeates the church of God today.
It’s being believed and taught by most of the splinter churches of God. It’s also known as the “spirit of error.”
This is why John tells us to “test the spirits” to see if one has the “Spirit of God” or the “spirit of antichrist.”
Testing the spirits, is a way of knowing if a leader (or a disciple) is of God, or not of God.
In (John 13:35) our Lord says: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Testing the spirits, is another way of knowing if one is of God, or not of God.
Let’s go to (1 John 4:1-3). And test the spirits, it’s a very easy test to take.
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth (the word means acknowledges) that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
And every spirit that confesseth (acknowledges) 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 it in the world.”
Dropping down to (1 John 4:6) “ We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”
Brethren, our Lord came in the “flesh.” When He walked this earth, He was flesh and blood same as you and me.
Now He did have the Father’s Holy Spirit “without measure” Yes. But we also have been given that same powerful Holy Spirit of the Father.
And, it’s a free gift. If we want more, all we have to do is ask.
With His Holy Spirit in us, it is possible for mere human men like you and me, sinners, to change our evil ways, and walk this earth as He walked?
Now in (Isaiah 7:14) our Lord was called “Immanuel” (God with us) And there is no doubt that He had a lot of power when He walked this earth nearly 2,000 years ago, as He went around healing the sick, raising the dead and preaching about the soon coming Kingdom of God.
But where did Jesus get all this power if He was just a mere man?
In Canaan, He changed water into wine. On the Sea of Galilee He calmed the storm. He even “walked on water.”
Let’s be reasonable here brethren, can a mere man “Walk on Water”?
I guess Peter and the disciples would have to answer yes, mere men can walk on water, because they saw Peter do just that. (Matthew 14:29) Says that “Peter walked on water.”
But still, where did Jesus get all this power? He even forgave people their sins, could a mere man do that, Forgive Sins? How could a mere man do that? Where would he get that kind of Power?
(Matthew 9:1-2) “And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee”.
dropping down to (Matthew 9:6-7) “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house.”
Yes, there is no doubt that Jesus possessed a lot of power, even the power to forgive sins, and to perform miracles. But how did Jesus acquire all that power. If He was a mere man like us, where did He get all that power?
The answer is quite clear, and it’s in the very next verse.
(Matthew 9:8) “But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such “power” unto men.”
That’s how He got all that power, it was given to Him by our Almighty Father.
Well, how about us in His church today, do we have this power? Can we have this power? Have any other mere men been given this power like Jesus was given?
In (Jn. 14:12) we are told: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” Jesus was able to perform mighty works, but not of and by Himself.
When He was in the flesh, He was just a mere man like you and I. It was the Father that gave that power to Jesus; it was the Father that did those mighty works.
And Jesus was not the only mere man that was given that power. That power was given to other mere men in the past. Even the mighty power to forgive sins has been given to other mere men in the past, and will be given to some other mere men again in the future. (John 20:21-23).
“Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22: And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit. 23: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.”
The day is coming again brethren, when our Heavenly Father will be giving that power out again to some other mere men. But there is a condition that has to be met first, before He will distribute that power. That condition or requirement is known as “belief” which has to do with conviction, conversion, and faith.
Let’s notice something in (Acts 5:12). “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.”
Solomons porch was a colonnade of upright pillars, and all the pillars were connected at the top by the “entablature”.
Now, the Entablature was another pillar that was horizontal at the top. It was the Head Pillar. And in order for all the other pillars to be connected to it, they had to be perfectly upright. And they had to be of “one accord”.
Brethren, we are approaching that time now. Many are wondering where is the church? Why so many splinters out there? When will the church come together?
The church is coming together. (The one True church.) The ones walking in truth. It’s a little lock, known as the “Bride”. And it very close to being ready. (Revelation 19:7)
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”
Brethren, don’t believe those who falsely say we cannot walk this earth like our Lord and Savior walked. Because we have been called to do just that. To be pure just like He is pure.
(1 John 3:3) “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
Let’s begin to conclude now with just a couple more Scriptures. Scriptures that should make our hair stand up.
(1 Corinthians 13:10) “When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”
That verse is speaking about the Bride, the Elect, the members of the church of God who have grown, matured. Those four words “that which is perfect” come from only one Greek word Strong’s # 5046 “Teleios” meaning – fully-grown, spiritually mature, complete.
The “Teleios” is one who has attained his moral end, the goal in which he was intended, namely, to have put on the same holy and righteous character of God Himself.
Are we amongst them brethren? We better be, because those firstfruits who have NOT matured, who have not fully-grown in that holy righteous character of our Father, will soon be “done away.”
The Greek here for “done away” is “Katargeo” (A scary word for the called of God.) Katargeo = to be (render) entirely idle (useless) – abolish, cease, destroy, vanish away, make void.
This same word is used in (Luke 13:6-9)
“He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? (Cumbereth is the same word “done away” back in (1 Corinthians 13:10).
And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.”
There was a lot here brethren. I hope you take the time to study it, and see if it is s