Page 214 - Bible Writers Theology Original

198 ♦ Bble waters'Theology Chapter Eight Christ" (Ephesians 1:12).
Now when God decreed He would redeem mankind after Adam's fall, what was His plan for achieving it? His sovereign plan of salvation is the outcome of His wise and holy counsel. In broad lines it unfolds through the ages in the following manner
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God takes the initiative to give a promise of redemption to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:15; Romans 8:28; II Corinthians 5:19; Galatians 4:4).
The Saviour is announced through the line of Abraham (Genesis 12.3; 17:9;Galatians3:16);throughthelineofDavid (IISamuel7:12-13).
Immanuel comes through the virgin birth (Isaiah 7:13-14; 9:6; 53:1-3).
• God the Father is the author of all Messianic prophecies pointing to the miracle ofBethlehem and the earthly ministry ofChrist, culminat ing in His atoning physical death and His holy resurrection. They are considered as the decrees of God, fulfilling His sovereign plan of sal vation (Isaiah 53; Luke 24:44-47).
The Humiliation of Christ
The only God, the Father who existed as Word and Spirit, became God- Man, orImmanuel when the Word became flesh (John 1:14; Matthew 1:20- 23). When the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son born of a virgin,
who although being in the form of God Qohn 1:1-14,18), emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant and being made in the likeness of men (Phihppians 2:6; Romans 8:3; Galatians 4:4; Isaiah 53: 1-6; Hebrews 2:14).
Christ had the likeness of man, but was the express image of the divine per son, God the Father incarnate.
Chnst had the form of a servant, but was Lord of lords. He also had the likenessofmanbutthatofaheavenlymanandnotamanofthedust. The first Adam shares flesh and blood with his descendants, therefore the second
Adam, Chnst Himself, became spiritual flesh and blood to make us partak ersofHisholyandgloriousbody,flesh,bloodandbones. (SeePhilipians 3:21; Ephesians 5:30; I Corinthians 15:39-50; Hebrews 2:14; II Peter 1:4; 1Peter 1:18-21,23-25; I Corinthians 10:20-22; John 6:29-69; I John 1:1-3; 1John 3:1-3;
Ephesians 3:6; Hebrews 3:14.)
The nativity accounts (Matthew 1 and 2; Luke 1 and 2) give the historical recordofGod'smanifestationintheflesh. InthenarrativeofLuke,weread the heavenly message which reached Bethlehem transcribed as follows:
"And the angel answered and said unto her. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of
God" (Luke 1:35).
The curtain was lifted on the manifestation of Immanuel in the flesh