The Wonder of the Incarnation

By John Mitchell

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. . . . and the Word became 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 1:1-2, 14, New King James Version used throughout). With this magnificent declaration, the gospel of John begins. John’s statement that the Word became flesh succinctly sets forth the Christian doctrine of the incarnation. 

The word incarnation literally means “en-fleshment” or “embodiment in flesh,” and is derived from the Latin incarnatio, meaning “take on flesh.” For the Christian, it is the gracious voluntary act of the Son of God in assuming a human body and human nature. The doctrine of the incarnation is that the Lord Jesus Christ is one person with two natures. One nature is that of the eternal Son of God. The other is that of man, in that Jesus Christ was in all aspects fully human. Furthermore, these two natures are indissolubly united. 

As Andy Williams sang in his 1963 Christmas song, Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year. The holidays are marked by family reunions, sparkling displays, presents under the tree, and precious childhood memories. For the Christian, however, it is also a time to reflect upon the greatest gift ever given to man, namely God’s gift of his Son to mankind. As the much beloved John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Let’s pause and reflect upon the wonders and blessings of the incarnation: God’s Son came in the flesh. 

Redemption 

The birth of Jesus is a fascinating account indeed. First, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary (Luke 1:26ff) and informed her that she would conceive and bring forth a son whose name would be Jesus. At this time, Mary is only betrothed to Joseph, not married. Confused as to how this could be since Mary did not “know a man,” Gabriel told her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the one born to her would be called the Son of God. Then Joseph, finding that Mary was with child, was also visited by a heavenly messenger. The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and revealed, “She will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Here we learn of the first great blessing of the incarnation, salvation from sin. 

The apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:7, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” The word redemption conveys the idea of the release from a captive condition by the paying of a ransom. Sin is a cruel taskmaster inflicting pain and destruction on both individuals and societies. Thankfully, the redeeming work of Jesus on the cross brings freedom from such captivity. 

First, we are set free from the power of sin. In Romans 6-8, Paul paints a word picture of sin as a vicious tyrant leading people to act in ways in which they are now ashamed. In Romans 6, Paul teaches that when we are baptized into Christ we are risen to new life and sin no longer reigns over us. Instead, we are to present ourselves as servants to God and are to be used as instruments of righteousness. In addition, when we are baptized into Christ, we receive the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit. One purpose of this indwelling presence is for moral power as seen in Romans 8:13 where Paul exhorts us to use the Spirit to put to death the deeds of the flesh. 

Next, we are set free from the punishment of sin. One of the greatest blessings of the incarnation is Jesus’ substitutionary death, in that he died in our place for our sins. Peter states clearly in 1 Peter 2:24 that Jesus “Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree.” As far back as the Garden of Eden, animal sacrifices were offered for sin. However, it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Mercifully, Jesus—the sinless, perfect man—offered himself as the suitable sacrifice and thus paid the penalty of death for our sins. 

Finally, we are set free from the pain of sin. An often-neglected aspect of our salvation in Christ is that the blood of Christ cleanses our conscience from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14). The blood of Jesus provides complete freedom from the pain and anguish of past sins. It is no wonder he proclaimed that “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). 

Remission 

Another blessing resulting from the incarnation is the remission of sins. Sin involves the captivity of an individual’s mind and body, but forgiveness is freedom. The word remission literally means “the loosing of a person from that which binds.” Furthermore, Hebrews 8:12 teaches that one of the blessings of the new covenant is that God “will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Biblically, the idea of remembrance is the recalling of something to mind with the intent of taking action. When we learn that God will remember our sins no more, we see that God will never recall our past sins with an intent to use them against us. What a profound blessing, indeed. 

Reconciliation 

Yet another comforting blessing of the incarnation is that in Christ we have been reconciled to God. One of the consequences of sin is that it fractures the relationship between man and God, creating an enmity or hostility between the two parties. In Christ, however, this enmity is put to death resulting in reconciliation. This carries the idea of “to transfer from a certain state to another which is quite different; hence, to reconcile, restore to favor.” It is truly humbling to pause and consider what God has done for us through the incarnation and work of Jesus. Through our own efforts and devices, we would never have bridged the gulf created by sin. Thus, we marvel at Paul’s statement that, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Colossians 1:13). 

Renewal 

One of the most interesting encounters in the life of Christ was his interaction with the Pharisee Nicodemus as recorded in John 3. It is here that Jesus affirmed that “unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” The idea of being born again is without a doubt one of the most fascinating aspects of Christianity. It’s hard to overstate the impact of the fresh start we have in Christ. In describing this rich blessing, the New Testament piles up the phrases: new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), begotten again (1 Peter 1:3), new man which was created according to God (Ephesians 4:24), regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5), made alive together with Christ (Ephesians 2:5), and raised with Christ (Colossians 3:1). Our former life had left us dead in trespasses and sins, but God in his rich mercy sent his only begotten Son to offer us new life. 

Reign 

When the angel Gabriel made his announcement to Mary, he also included the coming reign of Jesus. Specifically, he told her, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:32-33). It’s common at Christmastime to hear preachers remind listeners that the baby Jesus would become King Jesus. This reminder is certainly true and appropriate. Through his death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus has been seated at God’s right hand, given the name, which is above every name, and has all things placed under his feet. The Lord Jesus is indeed King of kings and Lord of lords. 

Jesus’ reign is of great practical value. Over the course of human history, man has repeatedly demonstrated an inability to properly order his life, as we clearly see today. Jesus in his sovereignty and through his Word has provided us clear instructions for basic Christian living. From personal holiness to family structure, to workplace conduct, to interaction with governing authorities, etc., the reign of Jesus provides the stability and structure to live a God honoring life. 

Revelation 

In the life and ministry of Christ, God the Father is revealed. David was without a doubt correct when he exclaimed, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). David’s point (Paul makes the same observation in Romans 1) is that simply by looking up and observing creation, one can tell that God exists. However, the wonders of heaven fail to disclose the nature of God. Without revelation, we would be at a loss to comprehend God’s love, grace, mercy, holiness, etc. In the life of Jesus, as recorded in the gospel narratives, God’s nature is revealed (see John 14:7-9). 

Reservation 

Lastly, the incarnation secures us a reservation in heaven where we will have the immense privilege to spend eternity with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter describes this inheritance as incorruptible, undefiled, and one that does not fade away. He goes on to say that this eternal salvation is reserved in heaven for you (1 Peter 1:4). As we celebrate the birth of Jesus this season, what a comfort to know that one day we will be with him for eternity. 

When we reflect upon the incarnation, the words of Psalm 8:3-4 seem apropos, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” The very idea that God would humble himself to become a man, live a sinless life revealing the character of the Father, and ultimately offer himself as a perfect sacrifice for our sins leaves one speechless. During this holiday season, let’s renew our commitment to glorify God in all we do, grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord, and especially go and tell others of the wonders of Jesus. 

John Mitchell is the Executive Director of the Christian Restoration Association and Editor of the Restoration Herald. He lives in Mason, OH, with his wife, Renee, and 14-year-old daughter, Madison.