The Doctrine of the Incarnation
Notes
Transcript
Preliminary & Review
Preliminary & Review
We have recently been discussing the importance of DOCTRINE
16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
We’ve been using the term “doctrine” as an acronym to share what I see to be the eight most important doctrines.
D= Deity of Christ
0 = Original Sin
C = Canon
T = Trinity
R= Resurrection
I = Incarnation
N= New Creation
E = Eschatology
Read: John 1:14
Read: John 1:14
14 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.
I know this is Spring time and we just had Resurrection Sunday last week, but I want to talk tonight about one of the most important doctrines within Christianity - The Incarnation.
Now I have been using that word tonight but what does it mean?
The doctrine expressed in the Nicene Creed…
that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God,
begotten before all the ages and of one substance with the Father,
was made flesh through the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,
making Him truly God and truly human,
possessing two natures, which are not confused, changed, divided, or separated.
Although the term “incarnation” does not appear in the Bible, Christian tradition has long held that Jesus is God incarnate: The Second Person of the Trinity descended from heaven and became human. The Gospels state that Jesus became flesh through the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary (Matt 1:18–21; Luke 1:30–35). With Scripture as its foundation, the incarnation was formalized into a creed at the Council of Nicaea in ad 325 and further defined at the Council of Chalcedon in ad 451.1
1 Lisa Woicik, “Incarnation,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).
Simply put Incarnation means “in the flesh” and it means the time Jesus assumed a permanent fleshly body.
Our text: John 1:14
14 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.
Is the classic passage for the doctrine of the Incarnation.
I want to remind you that Jesus was not created, formed, or begun at the incarnation. John is very clear on this...
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1. Virgin Birth
1. Virgin Birth
We are told that The Word became flesh by Virgin Birth -
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
We are told the agent of conception was the Holy Spirit
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
2. Kenosis
2. Kenosis
Part of the putting on flesh required a laying aside of other things. Paul talks about that in Philippians.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Where is says in Phil 2:7 “Made Himself of no reputation” it doesn’t mean what I use to think it did - that He didn’t care what people thought about him when he ate with publicans and sinners (although He didn’t seem to mind what they thought) It means this.
That word “made” is Greek word “kevow” {kin-o} meaning literally to empty out
Of what did He empty Himself of? He emptied Himself of all self-rights and interests (prestige and privileges) that he rightly deserved as God’s Son. HE DID NOT EMPTY HIMSELF OF ANY DEITY ATTRIBUTES
He did lay aside the display of the glory of His deity
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
The Purpose
The Purpose
To Reveal the Father - Zacharias calls Him “The Dayspring from on high.
78 Through the tender mercy of our God; Whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.
John says this of Jesus
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
To Save From Sin It was in the name: Matthew 1:21
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Simeon sees this great truth Luke 2:30
30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
The Angels Declared it to the Shepherds: Luke 2:11
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Dominion - ruler
“And He will reign over the house of Jacob fore ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1:33)
He was born a King (Mat. 2:2)
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
This threefold purpose lay deeply imbedded in the consciousness of our Lord also, and is reflected in his teaching. One can know the Father truly and fully only as the Son reveals him (Mt. 11:27). He knew he had come to minister and to give his life a ransom for many (Mk. 10:45). He foresaw a glorious consummation despite his rejection by his own nation (Mk. 13:26; 14:62). Harrison, E. F. (1968). A Short Life of Christ. United States: Eerdmans Publishing Company.
He came down to us because we couldn’t get to Him Psalm 136:23-26
23 Who remembered us in our low estate: For his mercy endureth for ever: 24 And hath redeemed us from our enemies: For his mercy endureth for ever. 25 Who giveth food to all flesh: For his mercy endureth for ever. 26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: For his mercy endureth for ever.
Look at Notebook - Life of Christ and tags Incarnation
14 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.