Jesus the Messiah, the Christ (John 1:41, 4:25) .... came to the earth as flesh, like us .... and lived with us:
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Jesus was partaker of flesh and blood, like us. He was made like us:
Heb 2:14-18 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
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.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour (to help, to bring aid) them that are tempted.
Jesus understands our weaknesses and temptations .... but when He experienced them (also see 2 Cor 13:4) like us, He never yeilded to them:
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
God designed for His Son to have a body like us, and die for us. By His death, to sanctify us (also see Rom 8:15-16; 1 Cor 6:11; Heb 2:11, 13:12), He dissolved the old testament, and set up the new testament, of which we are able ministers (2 Cor 3:6):
Heb 10:5-10 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.
He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Jesus came into the world through a virgin woman ....
to deliver out from the old covenant and bring in the new covenant:
Gal 4:4-5 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law,
that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Jesus became like us as a servant to others. He willingly laid down his life for us (1 John 3:16), and endured shameful crucifixion (Heb 12:2):
Phil 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Jesus became like us .... so that when He appears from heaven .... we will be changed (1 Cor 15:51-54) and glorified (Rom 8:17,30; 2 Thess 1:10-12) .... like Him:
Phil 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
John said basically the same thing as Paul said (John 1:12; Rom 8:14, 19; Phil 2:15-16; Gal 4:6):
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
‘Mid-Acts-hyper-dispensationalists’ refuse to see the continunity between Paul and John .... but we just read verses where they describe the same event. The saints will receive glorified bodies .... of flesh and bones .... like Jesus had after He was risen from the dead:
Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
How gracious! He became like us .... that we may become like Him:
2 Cor 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
"Oh! To be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer!"
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
.
