The Meaning of Incarnation in biblical Christianity

The term incarnation literally means, "being made flesh". The biblical doctrine of the incarnation of Christ is a central belief in Christianity which is non negotiable. It is an essential creed of our Christian faith. The bible teaches that at a point in human history, God took upon himself a human nature into union with himself. He willingly condescended to take upon himself the likeness of sinful flesh and tabernacled among us. It is important to know that Jesus Christ did not set aside his divine nature, when he dwelt among us. He was and still is perfect in Godhood, and Manhood with each nature retaining it's attributes peculiar to it. The reason why Jesus was still God when he became human is because, God cannot cease to be God, not even for a second.

 There are certain unlearned men who are of the view, that Jesus Christ laid aside his divine nature in his incarnation. But such a view is absurd and in direct antithesis to the holy writ. Jesus was fully God and fully Man in his Incarnation. Apostle Paul wrote in his epistle to the Philippians: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men (Philippians 2: 6-7). According to the apostle, before the incarnation of Christ, he was in his glory as God. But for the sake of our salvation, he made himself of no reputation, which means that he emptied himself. The apostle employed the Greek word "kenosis" which speaks of self emptying. This means that Christ emptied himself not of his divine nature, but of his privileges and prerogatives as God for a while, in order to take on human flesh. This is the height of God's love for us, he descended from heaven to live among us. Apostle John also wrote: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth (John 1:1,14).

 The apostle teaches us that Jesus, being the Word was with God and is God, and that he (the word) became flesh and pitched his tent among us. This tells us that God became flesh, and this is what we call the "incarnation of Christ" in biblical terms. How Jesus is both God and Man at the same time in itself is a mystery which transcends all human understanding. Sound biblical theologians have wrestled, they have employed all their powers just to have a complete understanding of the truth of the two natures of Christ. How the divine nature and the human nature constitute one person without any mixture, but with each nature retaining it's attributes peculiar to it. But since it is a biblical truth, let us accept it as true without any iota of doubt.

 I love what our brother Charles Wesley wrote: Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord: Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity! Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus our Immanuel. The question we are to ask ourselves is why did God became Incarnate? Why did God became a human being? Jesus who is God incarnate, became a human being for a good reason. The primary reason for the incarnation of the Son of God was to act as a Mediator between us and God the father. The bible says: For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1Timothy 2: 5). We have sinned against God and transgressed against his holy laws.

 We have fallen deep into sin, we could not draw nigh to God, nor save ourselves, for this cause Jesus came into the world to save us and restore us into fellowship with our father. Without the incarnation of Jesus Christ, we would still be in our sins and be forever separated from God. Without the incarnation of Christ, there will be no redemption and justification for us, we would have suffered eternal damnation. But God showed us unfailing love by sending forth his Son Jesus Christ to take on flesh and to save us with an eternal salvation (Hebrews 5; 9). The highest manifestation of God's love can be seen in the incarnation and triumphant death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in our stead. The cross of Calvary upon which our blessed Lord bled and died is a symbol of God's love for us. God bless you

               A thought to ponder

The highest manifestation of God's love can be seen in the incarnation and triumphant death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in our stead 

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