Our PRESENT Heavenly Residence Part 4C
John's Gospel tells us that Jesus, referred to as the Word of God, was very God, from all eternity (John 1:1-2; see Micah 5:1-2 KJV). As eternal God, He is co-equal with God the Father, and possessed all the attributes of God, including omnipresence.
However, God, the Son willingly laid aside the attributes and prerogatives of divinity to take on human flesh (PhilippIans 2:5-8; John 1:14; I Timothy 3:16 KJV). He purposely took on the form of a man for several important reasons:
1) To take our place on the Cross and "taste death for every man," purchasing our redemption (Hebrews 2:9)
2) To fully identify with mortal man in his frailty, suffering the things men suffer; learning what it costs a man to walk in obedience with God; leaving us an example of how to walk the path of faith to the end (Heb. 2:9-18; 4:15; 5:7-9; 12:1-3), and to enable Him to truly be a "merciful and faithful" High Priest (Heb. 2:17-18; 5:3).
3) To win back as a man the greatest privilege God gave mankind; SHARED DOMINION OVER GOD'S CREATION (Genesis 1:26, 28; Psalm 8:3-8; Hebrews 2:5-10).
Yes, as Eternal Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, of His own volition, gave up the place of highest majesty, dignity and sovereign authority to perfectly perform the will of the Father, and provide a full-orbed, "so great salvation" for fallen man. For Sovereign God to yield up such glory and honor and take the place of weakness and frailty is often referred to as His "humiliation."
But, because AS A MAN He performed the will of the Father to absolute completion, He "won back" the Glory He had voluntarily given up. This is very important; that, though the place of highest honor and authority was His by right as God, HE WON IT BACK THROUGH PERFECT OBEDIENCE AS A MAN (Heb. 1:3; 5:5-9; 10:5-13).
And it is crucial to realize it is AS A MAN that the Lord Jesus sits in the very Presence of God, the Father, in Heaven. And it is AS A MAN the Lord Jesus still retains the one limitation of a human body; though His Body now is a body that has conquered death; a resurrection body, fit for the Presence of God, in Heaven; a body that is not representative of Adam's fallen race, but the first-fruits of "the New Creation of God" (I Cor. 15:23; II Cor. 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Revelation 3:14).
More later, Lord willing.