Series: The Incarnation
God came near
John 1:14; Luke 1:26-37
The inclusion in early creeds, the debate at church councils and the Roman calendar all show the importance the early Christians placed on the birth of Jesus.
Incarnation
The Latin word incarnation = to become flesh
John 1:14
Christians believe that Jesus is both God and Man.
It is easy to emphasize one nature and neglect the other.
The early church struggled to understand how these truths related to each other. At the Council of Ephesus in 421 AD, the church came to an agreement: Jesus had 2 natures, but He was only one essence.
Jesus is 100% God and 100% Man.
the Virgin Birth
Luke 1:26-37
The sinful nature of man is present at birth. The Virgin Birth circumvented the transmission of the sin nature and allowed the eternal God to become a perfect man.
Christians affirm that God can do the supernatural.
why Incarnation?
Jesus did not come to earth so God could understand man; Jesus came to earth so man could understand God.
Hebrews 1:3
Through Jesus’ earthly life, we know what God is like and that God cares for us.
Hebrews 4:15
Jesus left the glory of heaven for the purpose of saving sinful man.
1 Timothy 2:5-6
Today’s Takeaways
The Incarnation assures us God will always be with us.
No matter what we are going through, we can know that Jesus can help us—He has been there.
In the life of Jesus, we have an example of how to live
and treat others.
Because of Jesus’ incarnation, we have hope of forgiveness.
