The Incarnate God: With Us

Introduction

The Incarnation. Its a fancy term to some. It is in fact a theological term, and like most theological terms it can be too high fluent for most people to use regularly in their everyday speech. I understand, But I believe that we have to sometimes not be afraid to embrace terms that sum up biblical truth. After all the Incarnation simply means this: the God of the universe and creator of all life came down and wrapped himself up in flesh. The Incarnation is the first Advent, its is the virgin birth, it is the story of Christmas!

This event, that would change the history of all mankind was not a accident, it was planned and foretold, as Isaiah chapter 7:14 tells us,

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

This is quoted by the Angel in both the Gospels of Matthew and Luke when Mary and later Joseph is told of the arrival of Jesus. The prophecy would become a reality as Mary gave birth to Jesus and gave the world Immanuel - God with us!

So today the question is what does it truly mean to have God with us! God with with us makes our relationship with him different from anything else, for starters its. . .

One of a Kind

It is not hyperbole or arrogance to say that Christianity is distinct and unique from all other religions in the world, its a fact. Because of our incarnate God Jesus, we are distinct as most gods in other religions are either too disengaged to even care about humanity such as deism, or is far to powerful and mighty to get down on our level so to speak with its creation as it is in Islam. Our God is indeed holy and mighty but he is a God that cares about his creation and desires to restore us back into a relation with him. Actually more that desires, he give his life for it!

One the other hand there are religions that teach the divine is near and with us. Animistic religions, such as those practice by Native Americans and other peoples believes that all things, rocks, soils, trees, animals, all have a interconnected divine spirit. This is of course similar to Eastern religions and the fictional Star Wars religion of the force. In this believe, the divine is near us but it is not personal as it is not a distinctive personhood, instead, it’s just a “thing” With Jesus we have both a God who dwells with us and is a personal caring holy and distinct entity!

Christian apologist Francis Schaeffer once gave the answer to why Christianity was so unique,

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Jesus shows us the most intimate view of the father, and only through Jesus can we have access to the father as Peter plainly puts it in ,

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

The primary emphasis of biblical Christianity is the teaching that the infinite-personal God is the ultimate reality, the Creator of all else, and that an individual can come openly to the holy God upon the basis of the finished work of Christ and that alone.

Francis Schaeffer once gave the answer to why Christianity was so unique,

The primary emphasis of biblical Christianity is the teaching that the infinite-personal God is the ultimate reality, the Creator of all else, and that an individual can come openly to the holy God upon the basis of the finished work of Christ and that alone.

The incarnation of Christ is certainly one of a kind. God with with us makes our relationship with him is

The incarnation of Christ is certainly one of a kind. God with with us makes our relationship with him is

Intimate

Because our God is both personal and with us we can call him father, and we can know the father and have access to the father through his incarnate son Jesus. ,

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Don’t overlook this fact we can call our God father, he has not decided to separate himself so far as to alienate us, nor does he have any weaknesses that would allow us not to honor him. Most religions have to invent a mane for their god(s), and the Jews would never dare address God as (abba) dad or father - but Jesus could and did and opens up the way for us to be in the family of God with a loving father who leads us. This brings a story to mind (Bob Russell and Kyle Idleman)

When Kyle Idleman joined the teaching team at Southeast Christian, he was twenty-six years old. Kyle asked Bob if he could preach without wearing a coat and tie because doing so made him feel hypocritical and he feared he wouldn’t relate to his generation. Bob responded, “Kyle, we’re worshiping Almighty God here.  If you were going to visit the President of the United States don’t you think you’d wear a suit?”  He gently responded, “Probably not, if the President were my dad.”  I couldn’t think of a Biblical response! So I gave Kyle permission to eliminate the coat and tie.

Sometimes we need to find a biblical balance between reverence and a personal relationship with God!

Jesus incarnate changed the game. We know can know God personally through him. As Jesus shows us the most intimate view of the father, He also is teh only one who can grant restoration with father as Peter plainly puts it in ,

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Only through the incarnation do we find a personal relationship with God and salvation! Finally, having God with us sets the standard, especially in all other relationships.

Sets the Standard

Imagine if we passionately drew near to others as God draws near to us? Imagine if we desired restoration with broken friendships and family members as much as God desires to restore us to a relationship with him that was once broken by our sin? Christian author Mark Moore breaks this thought down,

Be Present. When a Husband comes home, spending five minutes in conversation with his wife can alter the evening. Five minutes of prayer in the morning with your family can change the trajectory of the day. Being honest with a roommate, confessing sins to a friend, or simply listening deliberately to a child has a huge impact on how strong and satisfying our relationships are.

The primary emphasis of biblical Christianity is the teaching that the infinite-personal God is the ultimate reality, the Creator of all else, and that an individual can come openly to the holy God upon the basis of the finished work of Christ and that alone.

The catalyst for all of that Mark just listed is found first in a relationship with Jesus! God reached out for us through Jesus incarnation. This is our model for the best relationships we can possible have. And don't forget, when others see how we treat each other they can see Jesus in our words and actions, so let the incarnation set the standards for all our relationships.

The incarnation of Christ is certainly one of a kind. God with with us makes our relationship with him is

Conclusion

The Christmas story is the story of God with us. The all powerful and eternal creator of the universe choose t come down and put himself in weak mortal flesh. This was done to to save us and put back together the relationship that was smashed into pieces by our rebellious and sinful behavior.

The Christmas story which is the story of the incarnation is a story that is one of a kind, no other religion has a all-powerful God who stoops down to get on our level to save us. Its a story that's is very intimate, Jesus connects us to the father so that we too may call him our Heavenly Father. In this story we see what sets the standard for all our relationships, the love and desire god has to restore us to him, inspires us to do the same in this life.

The first lesson of how we should appreciate the incarnation every Christmas season is thank our heavenly father that he sent his Son to be with us so that he could teach us, lead us, die for us and rise up for us! Christmas is God with us!