God in Human Form

Let me ask you what many might consider an embarrassing question: “Do you love Jesus?” I don’t mean, “Do you love the miracles He did in the Gospels?” or “Do you love the example of humility and forgiveness He set for us to follow?” I mean, “Do you love Him?” Do you love the person of Jesus? Listen to what the Scriptures say about this:

“If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!” (1 Corinthians 16:22)

The word “accursed” refers to someone who is set apart for divine judgment. It’s a very serious warning, and there’s good reason for it.

Many argue that Jesus was not God in human form, despite the Bible making it very clear:

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16)

But in this one small verse about being accursed for not loving Him, we see His divinity made abundantly clear. Firstly, He is called “Lord.” That means Jesus is the Supreme Authority in the universe. That’s why He stilled the storm with His voice, raised the dead with His voice, prophesied of the future, and walked on water. He is so supreme that not one bat bats an eyelid without His say-so. Secondly, the Bible says that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength (Matthew 22:37). That’s the greatest command, and Jesus is Lord.

If we don’t love Him for giving us life and every blessing we’ve ever experienced, we should love Him because He first loved us:

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

The question of whether we love Jesus offends a proud and sinful heart. This is because the world doesn’t love Him at all; instead, it despises Him. Jesus said,

“The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.” (John 7:7)

How wonderful God’s Law is at revealing our sinful state. And how marvelous the new birth is, in that it instantly transforms us so that we can’t help but love the God who gave us life.

May He help us today to share the message of the gospel with the world, for the day is approaching when they will bow their knees to Jesus Christ as Lord:

“…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)