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I. CHRIST CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN.

1. How does it appear that He was originally in heaven? (vers. 33, 51, 62).

(1) He had a real existence before He was born (chap. John 1:15; 8:58).

(2) He was before the world (Hebrews 1:8); for He made the world (Hebrews 1:2, 8, 10; Colossians 1:14-16; John 1:1, 2).

(3) The existence He had before was purely Divine (Philippians 2:6-7; Acts 20:28).

(4) The Divine nature was communicated to Him from the Father (chap. John 5:26; 7:29; 16:15; Hebrews 1:3).

(5) Hence He is said to be in heaven by reason of His Divine essence, which He always had from and with the Father (John 6:62).

2. What are we to understand by His coming down from heaven? His assuming our human nature, and in it conversing upon earth (John 1:14; 1 Timothy 3:16).

II. As Christ came from heaven, so HE CAME NOT TO DO HIS OWN WILL, BUT HIS THAT SENT HIM.

1. Christ's will as He is God is no way different from the Father's.

2. As man His will was distinct from the Father's, but still subordinate to it (Luke 22:42); and therefore though He had a will of His own as man, yet He came not to fulfil that.

3. But our Saviour speaks not here of Himself, either as God or man, but as God-man, Mediator, one sent from the Father to do His will.From hence it follows —

1. That God's will only is the fountain of man's happiness and salvation. For —

(1)  God made man upright and happy (Ecclesiastes 7:29).

(2)  Man made himself sinful and miserable (Hosea 13:9).

(3)  But he cannot make himself happy again (Jeremiah 10:23).

(4)  And as man cannot, so none but God can. None else could find out a way, and none else effect it when found.

(5)  God hath no other motive but His own will and pleasure to save man (Ephesians 1:5).

(a)  Man himself could be no motive (Deuteronomy 7:7, 8).

(b)  Neither could the hope of glory be so, God receiving nothing thereby (Job 22:2, 3; Psalm 16:2).

2. That Christ came to accomplish the will of God.

(1)  By acquainting us with what is necessary to be known or done in order to be saved (John 14:2).

(2)  By giving us, in His own person, a perfect example. (1 Peter 2:21; Matthew 11:30).

(3)  By enabling us sincerely to perform whatsoever is enjoined us (chap. John 15:5; Philippians 4:13).

(4)  By dying for us (Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:16).

(5)  By continuing to intercede for us (Hebrews 7:25; John 1:1, 2).

III. USES.

1. Give God the glory of your salvation.

2. Bless Him for all the means of it.

(1)  For sending His Son to die for us.

(2)  For sending His Spirit to live within us.

(3)  For vouchsafing to us the means of grace.

3. Trust Him only for the accomplishment of your salvation.

(1)  By the pardon of your sins.

(2)  The strengthening of your graces (Philippians 2:13).

(3)  Power to persevere (Matthew 10:22).

4. Hence learn also of your Saviour —

(1)  To submit your wills to God's (1 Samuel 3:18).

(2)  To do the will of Him who sent you hither.And it is His will —

(1)  That you repent (Acts 17:30).

(2)  That you turn from your sins (Ezekiel 18:30; Ezekiel 33:11).

(3)  That you love the Lord with all your hearts (Matthew 22:37).

(4)  That you earnestly endeavour to work out your salvation (Philippians 2:12).

(Bp. Beveridge.)

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KJV: For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

WEB: For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.