Amazing Love: The purpose of the Incarnation
TEXT: 2 Cor. 5: 19-21; Hebrews 2:14, 17-18; Colossians 1:15-19; 2:8-10
WORD STUDY: The word “incarnation” , just like the word “rapture” is not found in the Bible. However, it is an accurate theological expression that captures valid Biblical concepts. In the case of“incarnation,” the English word is from a Latin root that means “the embodiment of deity or spirit in earthly form; an endowment of bodily human nature and form; the act of being personified; and especially the union of divinity with humanity in the person of Jesus Christ.” The word “incarnation” accurately describes what God did when He came to earth as the man Christ Jesus – He wasGOD PERSONIFIED in flesh! Jesus wasn’t just part of God, a second God, a junior God, a third part of God, another God, or a subordinate God – HE IS GOD!
INTRODUCTION
There are two streams of Old Testament prophecy that referred to Jesus’ coming. One stream spoke of His deity, while the other spoke of His humanity, and the Jewish scholars could not reconcile the two – they could not understand how the Messiah could be divine and yet human (Isaiah 9:6 & 53). So, they missed the very Messiah that their own Scriptures prophesied would come! It is only in the New Testament that we see how God reconciled these two prophetic streams. The miracle of the incarnation is God’s answer to the dilemma! Unfortunately, many so-called Christians are missing the Messiah out of ignorance and lack of revelation of His person, purpose and power revealed via the incarnation. Christmas should be about the mystery of the incarnation.
A. THE NECESSITY OF THE INCARNATION (VIRGIN BIRTH)- Isaiah 7:14;9:6; 1Tim 2:5
Ø Modernists may deny the virgin birth, scientific knowledge may not be able to account for it, and spiritual ignorance may state that it is of no real consequence, but the Biblical importance of it cannot be over-estimated! It is on the virgin birth that so many bible doctrines hang!
Ø If Jesus Christ was not virgin born, He was not sinless; if He was not sinless, then He Himself needs a Savior; if He Himself needs a Savior, then He cannot be our Savior, and the entire plan of redemption crumbles and falls. Salvation depends on the incarnation!
Ø One thing made the incarnation necessary – the fall of man! Because we sinned and therefore came under God’s eternal death penalty, we needed someone to redeem us. 2 Cor. 5: 19-21
A. MY RELATIONSHIP TO THE INCARNATION- 2 Peter 1:34; 2 Cor. 5:19-21
Ø At the incarnation, God added to His already existing divine nature a human nature. This makes it possible for us, in salvation, to add to our already existing human nature a Divine nature!
Ø Because Jesus took on my nature, I can take on His nature!
Ø To put it simply, because Jesus brought the fullness of God TO humanity, we can now experience the fullness of God IN him.
Written by Dr. Godwin Ude
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