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Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

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Reason, in reference to the incarnation, can at least proceed thus: "I<br />

have an immortal spirit; it dwells in and actuates my mortal body; as,<br />

then, my soul can dwell in my body, so could the Deity dwell in the man<br />

Christ Jesus."<br />

He who can believe that Isaiah, or any of the prophets spoke by<br />

inspiration, that is, "as they were moved by the Holy Ghost," must believe<br />

in the possibility of the incarnation of Christ. And he who can believe it<br />

possible that Christ can dwell in the hearts of his followers, can as easily<br />

believe that the Messiah or Logos, which was in the beginning with God,<br />

and was God, "was made flesh, and dwelt among us full of grace and<br />

truth," John i, 14. Reason says, If the one were possible, so is the other;<br />

and as one is fact, so may the other be also. The possibility of the thing<br />

is evident: God says the fact has taken place: that, therefore, which faith<br />

saw before to be possible and probable, it sees now to be certain; for<br />

God's testimony added puts all doubts to flight. The Lord Jesus, the<br />

Almighty's Fellow, was incarnated of the Holy Ghost, and was made<br />

man; and by being God and man was every way qualified to be <strong>Media</strong>tor<br />

between God and man.<br />

But while we distinguish the two natures in Jesus Christ, we must not<br />

suppose that the sacred writers always express these two natures by<br />

distinct and appropriate names: the names given to our blessed Lord are<br />

used indifferently to express his whole nature: Jesus Christ, Jesus the<br />

Christ, the Messiah, Son of man, Son of God, beloved Son, only begotten<br />

Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour, &c., &c., are all repeatedly and<br />

indiscriminately used to designate his whole person as God and man, in<br />

reference to the great work of human salvation, which, from its nature,<br />

could not be accomplished but by such a union.<br />

THE OFFICES OF CHRIST.—No person ever born could boast, in a<br />

direct line, a more illustrious ancestry than Jesus Christ. Among his<br />

progenitors, the regal, sacerdotal, and prophetic offices existed in all their<br />

glory and splendour.

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