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Study 05 of 10

The Word Became Flesh

Christ took the very sinful flesh of fallen humanity, becoming our representative Brother and second Adam, so that all who are born into His new family share in what He accomplished.

Hands-free narration of this study — good for the car.

Synopsis

Prescott takes up one of the deepest themes of redemption: 'The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.' He insists, from Hebrews 2, that Christ took not the nature of angels but 'the seed of Abraham'—the same sinful flesh that fallen humanity bears, though He never sinned in it. Because Adam's sin was representative, spreading his fallen image to all his descendants, Christ as the second Adam had to meet humanity exactly where it had fallen, not where it stood before the fall, in order to genuinely rescue it. Since Christ united Himself to the human family by birth, all who are born again into His spiritual family share, by faith, in what He did as their Head—just as Levi is said to have paid tithes in Abraham though not yet born. Christ bore our griefs and carried our sorrows before we ever repented, so the price for every soul is already paid; we are simply invited to lay our sins upon Him. Now glorified in heaven as 'the man Christ Jesus,' our Elder Brother forever bears our humanity, interceding for us as the living guarantee that God 'sees Christ' instead of our sin.

Key points

  • Christ took not the nature of angels but the seed of Abraham—the same sinful flesh we bear, though He never sinned in it.
  • As the second Adam, Christ met humanity where it had actually fallen, not where it stood before sin, to fully rescue it.
  • Because Christ united Himself to us by birth, all who are born again into His family share by faith in what He accomplished as our Head.
  • Christ bore our griefs before we repented; the price is already paid, and we are simply invited to lay our sins on Him.

Key texts

  • John 1:14
  • Hebrews 2:14-18
  • 2 Corinthians 5:21

From the book

Sermon 4 · The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ · Read this chapter

  • “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” (sermon 4)
  • “For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham.” (sermon 4)
  • “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (sermon 4)

Put it into practice

  • Meditate on the truth that Christ took the very flesh of sin I struggle in, yet never sinned in it.
  • Lay a specific grief or sin upon Christ today, remembering the price for it was paid before I even repented.
  • Thank God that, because I am 'in Christ,' He sees His Son's perfect character standing in the place of my own.
  1. Comprehension

    1. What kind of flesh did Christ take, according to Hebrews 2:14-18?

  2. Doctrinal Clarity

    2. Why did Christ have to meet man where he had fallen, rather than where he stood before the fall?

  3. Scripture

    3. How is Levi's tithing to Melchizedek used to illustrate our relationship to Christ?

  4. Contrast

    4. What does Prescott mean by saying Christ's righteousness is 'representative,' just as Adam's sin was representative?

  5. Comprehension

    5. According to this sermon, when was the price for sin paid?

  6. Doctrinal Clarity

    6. What is the significance of Christ remaining 'the man Christ Jesus' in heaven today?

  7. Scripture

    7. What does 2 Corinthians 5:21 teach about the exchange that took place at the cross?

  8. Application

    8. What sin, grief, or sorrow do you need to lay on Christ today, trusting that the price is already paid?