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What Christ Was Made “But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:5-6). How easy it is to forget what great things Christ has done for us and will do for us. Jesus our representative, our redeemer, our preserver, our surety, and our coming king is the grand subject of the Bible. Never has there been one who lived like the Lord Jesus Christ lived. He was compassionate, without being weak, strong without being coarse, humble without being servile, holy but never Pharisaic. He was passionate for the truth, but full of love and mercy. He never made a false step, never spoke a false word; He never had the wrong attitude or tone in his voice. There are three simple and significant words which are used or implied in the Scriptures –“He was made”- to remind us of who He was, why He came, and what He will do. First, as to his person he was made three things for us. A. He was made flesh (John 1:1-2) The Scriptures declare that “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. These words teach us that Jesus was eternal, (In the beginning), that He was equal with the Father (and the word was with God-that is existing in a face to face relationship with the Father), and that He was deity (and the Word was God). Finally, we see His preexistence (The same was in the beginning with God.) He could truthfully tell the Pharisees “Before Abraham was I am”. Yet, the Scriptures declare something even more startling to us. “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (John l: 14) “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh.” (Romans 8:3) “Made of the seed of David according to the flesh.” Romans 1:3) Here we see that the preexistent, eternal Christ who was not flesh back in the past became one of us by being made flesh. Every nerve, every bone, every muscle displayed the divine handwork. Born of the Holy Spirit, born of a woman, and made flesh for us. He had a body of real flesh which he went about doing good, doing the will his Father. He was tempted in a real body, yet He never yielded to sin, was never too weary to do the Father’s will, to help the needy, to commune with His Father. Think now of the one who went to the cross for our salvation. It was real flesh that they plucked the beard from his face, real flesh that the whip of Pilate’s soldiers tore into, real flesh that they forced the crown of thorns on his head, real flesh that they drove the nails into his hand and his feet. It was a real body of flesh which suffered there on the cross for us. He was made flesh for us. B. He was made of a woman (Gal 4:4-5) The Scriptures declare “But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” He was born of a virgin irreproachable. He was born of the Holy Spirit. He had a real birth as a baby in human flesh. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manager. He who created all things and sustains all things became a baby born of a woman. Luke writes that the angel told Mary “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy wound, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Joseph was told to take unto him Mary for his wife, but he was to have no relations with her until after the child was born. The Holy Spirit was to come upon her and the power of God was to overshadow her and that one who was to be born was to be the Son of God. Jesus, the Eternal Son, made flesh, made of a woman for us! How this elevates motherhood. How this speaks of his great love for sinners. He came as the last Adam, not born with our sinful nature, but born of the Holy Spirit, born of a woman. C. He was made under the law (Galatians 4:4-5) Paul in Galatians declares that He “was made under the law to redeem them that were under the law”. Jesus came as one of us subject to the Father. We were sinners and constantly violated God’s law and rightfully stood condemned before God. But Jesus was made under the law, that is, that He was subject to the law for our sakes that he might fulfill the law for us and redeem us from the guilt and penalty of the law. Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly; He was always obedient to the Father and did no sin nether had any sin in Him. He did not have the sin nature that every descendant of fallen Adam had; He was born of the Spirit. Yet, He was tempted in all points, like as we are, yet without sin. Second, as to his work He was made six things for us. A. He was made a curse (Galatians 3:13) Paul writes in Galatians 3:13 “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.” Think of the marvel of this verse. Jesus, the Eternal Son of the Eternal Father, the inhabitor of eternity, was “made a curse for us”. Jesus, the Teacher from God, was “made a curse for us.” Jesus the Preeminent one over every creature was “made a curse for us.” Jesus the heir of all things, the one who is altogether lovely was “made a curse for us.” He who was never a curse to anybody was made a curse for everybody. He who brought light, joy, and peace to the world’s darkness, sorrow, and strife was “made a curse for us.” He who healed the sick, raised the dead, provided for the needy, and spoke words of grace and mercy was ‘made a curse for us.” The curse that was due to fall on us full on Him. God laid on Him the iniquity of us all. The Scriptures declare that “God was in Christ” (2Corinthians 5:19). God laid our curse on one who was mighty to save. The only sinless One was made a curse for the vile and sinful ones. The punishment due to fall on me fell on Him. B. He was made sin (2 Corintians 5:21) The Scriptures declare “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who know no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Jesus Christ was the only sinless person who ever lived. He only could ask “Which of you accuses me of sin?” John the Baptist said “I have need to be baptized of you.” Pilate said “I find no fault in him.” Judas declared “I have betrayed innocent blood.” The centurion who stood by the cross declared “Surely this man was the Son of God.” Sin is the darkest, vilest thing that has entered into this universe. Tragedy upon tragedy has flowed from its entrance. Sin is the transgression of the law, missing the mark of God’s holiness, failing to do what we should, failing to fear and reverence God, and failing to give him glory and thanks. It is iniquity and rebellion against God and produces a sure fruit of sorrow, grief, and death. Jesus had no sin and did no sin at any time. Yet, He was made sin for us. God dealt with him as He must deal with sin and sinners. “The wages of sin is death.” In Christ, God sentenced sin to death. The penalty that was due to fall on us fell on Him. Jesus took all our guilt and sin upon Him and bestowed upon the believer in Him all his righteousness. He the perfect righteous one took our sin that we, the unrighteous one might be made righteous. Again, we might say that “He stood before God with all our sin upon Him that we, through faith might stand before God with none of our sin upon us”. The Father made His soul and offering for sin (Isa. 53:10). Jesus was condemned to death instead of us so that we could stand before God fully accepted in Him! He bought us with his blood (1 Peter 1:18-20): He bought out of the market place of sin and condemnation (Gal. 3:13) and loosed us and set us free. Are we thankful for what He has done? Do we give Him the love and worship He is due? Are we willing to count all things but loss for the knowledge of Him? These are sobering questions for us to contemplate. C. He was made alive (1 Peter 3:18) The Scriptures also declare that “He showed himself alive after his passion.” (Acts 1:3) Peter proclaims “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh, but quickened (made alive) by the Spirit.” We have a living Savior. He came out of the grave and is alive for evermore (Revelation 1:18). While He was here on the earth He told his disciples “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19). Through Adam we have inherited our natural bodies. Through Christ we shall inherit our spiritual bodies. The truth of the resurrection gives us the assurance that the Father has accepted the sacrifice for our sins and that one day he will give us new bodies like unto the body of his dear Son. “We shall be like him for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). D. He is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Cor. 1:27) Every thing that was necessary for our salvation God has provided in Christ. We are safe and eternally secure in Him. Every day He continually loads us with benefits and blessings and preserves our salvation. Never is there any thing needful for us is that He not able to supply. By Christ’s sacrifice the justice of God has been satisfied, the law of God has been honored, and the person of God has been glorified. Because of his sacrifice, we have been regenerated, the Holy Spirit has come to live within us and guide us, and we are being taught to love righteousness and hate iniquity. E. He was made a priest after the order of Melchisedec (Hebrews 6:5-6) He is our mediator, our intercessor, and our advocate. As our mediator He made peace with God; as our intercessor, He prays for us that our faith does not fail. As our advocate He represents us before the Father when Satan accuses us so that the Father finds no fault in us. What he purchased on earth, he maintains in heaven. F. He was made a king (Psalms 2:5) The inspired Psalmists wrote “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion” (Psalms 2:5). The Scriptures say that He has been made a King by the Father, and that He will manifest himself as King in a future time. The unbelieving world may resist, but they cannot prevent Him from reigning over this world. Because of what Christ was made we have been made “the righteousness of God in him” (2Corinthians 5:19) and sons of God and heirs of God through Christ (Galatians 4:7). How wonderful is our savior the Lord Jesus Christ to all that believe! Have you believed the gospel of Christ? Larry Windham September 2007
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