Written by: John Sernaque
Call to Worship
Hebrews 2:17
2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto [his] brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
By His obedience to all the commandments of God, Christ wrought out a redemption for men. This was not done by going out of Himself to another, but by taking humanity into Himself. Thus Christ gave to humanity an existence out of Himself. To bring humanity into Christ, to bring the fallen race into oneness with divinity, is the work of redemption. Christ took human nature that men might be one with Him as He is one with the Father, that God may love man as He loves His only-begotten Son, that men may be partakers of the divine nature, and be complete in Him. {1SM 250.3}
Philip said to Jesus Lord show us the Father. Jesus answered him saying, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Show us the Father? Christ Jesus took on humanity so that men might be one with Him as He is one with the Father. Men were now partakers of the divine nature. Believe me that I [am] in the Father, and the Father in me. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Christ met man as a man. He came to the world to show us the character of the Father. As a man, He was the perfect example for us. He was to bear all the trials and afflictions of man. He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin. Christ took on humanity but not the sinfulness of man. As our advocate in heaven, He presents our prayers to the Father. Jesus is the great sinless propitiation, and through Him, we can speak with the Father. Jesus stands before God as our representative, ready to clothe us with the wedding garment of His righteousness and declare us worthy. In Christ, humanity is united with divinity.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
We thank You dear Lord for the great love You have for Your children, as the love You have of Your only-begotten Son, that men may be partakers of the divine nature, and be complete in You. To have come to earth on such an expensive errand. For exchanging divinity for humanity that we may know Your character first hand, being the perfect example for us. For living and dying as a man in our place and be the God of the living and the dead as our substitute and surety. For making it possible for us to have eternal life and attain to immortality if we believe on You. By Your death, destroying him who had the power of death. By Your death, overcoming death. By Your stripes, we are healed. For being the resurrection and the life as the world’s redeemer. The redeemer shall come to Zion. By Your blood paying the price of redemption in conquering sin, becoming our Advocate and Intercessor. For being our merciful and faithful High Priest to make reconciliation for the sins of the people to bring the fallen race into oneness with divinity. For giving us the privilege and power of prayer as our lifeline to heaven. For Your promise that whatsoever we ask in Your name, that will You do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. For standing before God as our representative, ready to clothe us with the wedding garment of Your righteousness and declare us worthy. For uniting humanity with divinity. For sending us the comforter, dwelling in us that we may dwell in You. But when the Comforter is come, whom You will send unto us from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of You: we also shall bear witness, because we have been with You from the beginning. Praise be and glory in Your name. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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