Work of the Incarnation

Christmas Series: God’s Work at Christmas

Work of Incarnation

John 1:1-5

Theme: God shows us the miraculous work of the incarnation

Welcome to Mountain View Baptist Church. As we enter the Christmas season, it is my prayer God will give you a wonderful Christmas. Thank you for attending today and we pray God will allow us to connect with you.

Last week we began a Christmas Series: God’s Work at Christmas. Just like in the first century in Bethlehem, the people did not know the powerful impact of Jesus in the manger, very few today also know very little.

Last week we looked at God’s work of adoration. This week we will see God’s work of incarnation. The incarnation is a great mystery

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16)

What is the miracle of Christmas? What actually happened at Christmas? Many want to celebrate the birth of a baby but is there more than the birth. Today’s estimates are 385,000 babies born world-wide a day which means about 140 million a year. In 2022, 181,193 babies were registered births in Israel. What made this birth so significant in human history?

This was not just a baby being born. As wonderful and special it is for the birth of a baby, this birth was a game changing event in world history. What happened that day was God became man.

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)

John recorded this for us.

“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 1:14)

The fact of the incarnation is built around the foundation of the awesome and unique person of Jesus Christ. The word incarnation is a theological term which means God became man. The dictionary defines it as a person who embodies in the flesh a deity, spirit, or abstract quality.

This means God took human form in the body of Christ. This birth was when God became man and the world should know that is what happened at Christmas. Believers around the world celebrate God’s coming to earth at this time of the year. While we don’t know the exact date of when He came to earth, at least we have a calendar day of the year where we celebrate His coming.

In the context of John’s description of the incarnation, he outlines the three relationships which proves this incarnation. Then He brings it together for us to personalize.

Relationship 1 . . .

His relationship to God vv. 1-2

Notice “in the beginning” of the world which speaks of eternal existence of Jesus Christ. He was not born on Christmas because He is forever. Before there was a world, Jesus already was. This eternal existence is only attributed to God.

We know this beginning was creation because the context takes us to creation. The earliest possible point of measured time. Gen. 1:1 speaks of the starting point of creation forward and John refers to point of creation backwards.

The verb “was” three times in v.1 and once in verse 2 confirms His eternality.

Notice the dwelling of Christ here-the Word was with God-speaks of the dwelling of the Son of God. He is with God face to face-in active communion and relation with Him.

Christ gave up the dwelling with to be incarnated for us so that we can have a relationship with God.

The statement is the Word was God means Jesus was indeed God and if this is discredited by anyone they are not saved. The perverting of this truth is a common thread of many cults and false teachers. This means when you seek to change or discredit His deity, you have attacked the very core teaching of the Bible.

Notice in verse 2 John repeats again the truth to signify its importance. It is given intentionally and God wants us to understand this incarnation is not simply a little baby in a manger but God who took on human flesh. God who came to this earth from the throne of God. God who is the creator, the beginning of all things, came to this earth to die for us.

The reason this is super important is because there are false teachers and false Messiahs.

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6–9)

Paul discussed this importance on another occasion.

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” (2 Corinthians 11:3–4)

We need to be totally locked in on the truth Jesus was God in human form and He is the God of the universe. He is not just a teacher, or a prophet or a revolutionary or a religious leader. He is God.

Relationship 2 . . .

His relationship to the galaxies v.3

To create the universe, one must have tremendous power and be greater than the universe. Christ is seen in this position since He existed before creation and God points to His ability to create.

This emphasizes the oneness of the Trinity: God the Son and the God the Father were inseparably associated in creation. He not only created the galaxies, He also maintains the galaxies and keeps them regulated and running on course. He is described as the sustaining them in

“And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:17)

Verse 16 says He created the galaxies for His glory

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” (Colossians 1:16)

The fact that Christ is involved in Creation disputes: the origin of creation and the origin of Christ as the creation and He was not created.

So when you hear on National Geographics, or History channel, or the zoo or Marine World that animals came out of evolution be assured the Bible says otherwise.

What happened that day in Bethlehem is God became man. The Creator and Sustainer of the universe left the splendors of glory to come to earth.

Relationship 3 . . .

His relationship to the Gospel vv. 4-5

This is where it becomes personal to us in that in vv. 4-5 the reason for the incarnation is outlined. John shows us: Jesus is God vv. 1-2, Jesus is Creator v3, and now Jesus is the Savior vv 4-5.

Christ is the remedy to an empty life. In him is life and light-both are the opposite of death and darkness. Men are dependent on Christ for physical and spiritual life. Christ is the Giver of life. Satan is good to make sure that there are multiple substitutes to Jesus as the Savior. The purpose of the incarnation is to provide life.

“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” (1 John 5:11)

What God is saying to the world is that man without Christ is living and walking in darkness. The world is covered in darkness because of sin and the penalty of sin is death in hell. Jesus came to pay for the penalty of sin by dying on the cross for us, was buried and rose again the third day. Christ gives life and light into our lives when we accept Him as our personal Savior. The motivation for shining is the incarnation of Christ is the give salvation to all of mankind by His grace.

Several years ago there was man who had fallen into a deep dark pit on a job site. Rescuers came to his aid. As they were trying to communicate with him, they lowered a flashlight so he could see his way to the opening. God lowered the Light of the world in Jesus Christ. If you reject the light, you will walk in darkness.

Will you turn to the Light? If you have not received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you can turn to Him today? The Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Believing means we turn from our sin and accept Him as our personal Savior.

If you are Christian, don’t let a false teacher or some cult member destroy your faith. Teenagers don’t let a friend or a school teacher tell you Jesus is not the Son of God. Our faith is firmly anchored in the Word of God.