Motive behind the effort

The Incarnation

In the first two parts we considered the riddle of Christ’s divine and human natures, as well as the challenge to maintain the messianic lineage but ruling out the hereditary sin of that lineage.

In this section, we look at the purpose of the incarnation. There must have been good reasons for God to take such extraordinary measures to put his Son into a human body.

The gospels describe the incarnation; the epistles interpret it. The apostle Paul gave several short summaries of the purpose of the incarnation. “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15).

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. He made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor. 5:17-18, 21).

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31). “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9).

“For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he may destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).

“You were redeemed … with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:18-19).

Jesus concurred: “the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28).

“God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17). “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in me has everlasting life” (John 6:47).

“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

That is the main message of the Bible: Salvation through faith in Christ. By this gift, God shows his love, mercy, and grace.

The Baby in a manger grew up to become the Saviour on the cross. He was raised from death in a new body, and took his place at the right hand of God the Father. The incarnation was gloriously completed.

Jacob Van Zyl of Lethbridge is a retired counsellor and the author of several faith-based books.