In the Likeness of Sinful Flesh

“For what the law could not do in that it was powerless through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh . . . .” Rom. 8:3.

Those who have not received light over this great and glorious and effective mystery, Christ manifested in the flesh, and who thought to do God a great service by resisting this truth, have attempted to support their opposition through the word likeness in the Norwegian translation of Romans 8:3 and Philippians 2:7, thinking that this would prove that Christ’s flesh was not like our flesh, but that it only appeared to be so. (In other words, this was supposed to prove that Hebrews 2:14 and 17 was a false teaching.) But they are utterly mistaken.

In the Danish Bible translation of Romans 8:3 it reads likeness. The word also means: “that which is assimilated,” but it does not mean “imitated.”

Besides, it is clearly evident from what it says before and after the word “likeness” in the same verse what it really means. The law was unable to deal with this flesh. Therefore God sent His own Son and let Him put on this flesh and thus deal with it, so that He could condemn sin in the flesh. Sin had to be condemned (overcome), where it is.

This is in complete harmony with Hebrews 2:14 and 17 and with all the other words regarding Christ manifested in flesh, even though it does not agree with religious preachers’ understanding, or better yet, with their lack of understanding.

The word itself is sufficiently clear. The problem arises only because you cannot force yourself to an understanding with your “smart” brain. However, if a person is God-fearing, he will receive light over it by believing the Word. Hebrews 2 speaks its own language about likeness according to the flesh with such plain words that, from a Scriptural point of view, there isn’t the least reason for doubting.

If we were to try and get the word likeness (in the sense of “resemblance”) to fit in, then this is how it would have been written: “Then He also, in a similar manner, partook of a flesh that certainly looked like but which, nevertheless, was totally unlike ours.” “Therefore He had to be made in all things, but not in reality, like His brethren.”

However, Christ’s battle and victory—the fact that sin was condemned in the flesh—did not just resemble the real thing. It was not play-acting but reality! Praise be to His holy name!