The Incarnation

The Incarnation

1. What is it?

It’s a Latin word, meaning “in flesh.” It refers to the miraculous conception of Jesus in the womb of His mother, Mary. It was miraculous because the conception was without any sexual activity (Matt. 1:25). Mary became pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35). Therefore, Joseph was Jesus’

foster father. He was a righteous man who was going to secretly divorce Mary but was persuaded by the Lord that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit and was going to give birth to Jesus, the Savior (Matt. 1:20-21).

2. Why was it necessary?

A. All humans are sinners (Rom. 3:23).

B. God loves all humans (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8).

C. Jesus had no sin and thus came to take away our sins (1 John 3:5). No on else could take away our sins because no one else is sinless (1 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 1 Pet. 2:22).

Jesus is God who came into the world 2,000 years ago by physical conception and birth but He “being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery (hold on to it) to be equal with God (because He knew His identity), but made Himself of no reputation,

taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of

death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and

given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:6-11).

That’s why the Incarnation was necessary.

3. What if a person does not believe it?

Here’s why a person must believe in the Incarnation as previously explained:

If Jesus was conceived by a sexual relationship between two sinners (Joseph and Mary), He would have inherited their sins, just as we inherited our parents’ sins. Then, He would not qualify to be the Savior of sinners.

If a person does not believe in Jesus, that person is “already condemned” (John 3:18) and will die in his/her sins (John 8:24).

Most believers, including me, weren’t taught about the Incarnation when they came to faith in Christ. But, they were persuaded by the Holy Spirit to believe it once they were taught it. That was my experience.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). What makes that statement true is the fact that Jesus was born of a virgin,

the Incarnation.

I hope this is enlightening.

Blessings!