This is the third revision to the original post: Incarnation: Significant or Insignificant.
Humanity can be actively alive in their daily lives, yet dead in relationship to Divine life.
How is that possible?
Outside of Christ, mankind is dead in their trespasses and sin. Humanity is lost, estranged from their Creator, God the Father.
But, God, has not abandoned His creation.
He loves them deeply.
So, what is God the Father’s solution for His fallen creation of humanity?
What if I answered this question with one word?
Christmas.
Most people throughout the world are busily ‘hustling and bustling’ getting ready for the celebration of Christmas. If you asked a number of people what is the meaning of Christmas, no doubt you would receive a myriad of different answers? I suggest that all the answers would fall into one of two major broad categories. One, it’s the remembering of Christ’s birth; and two, it’s a day to give and receive gifts, with little or no response to Christ. I think that it is safe to say that for many people, it is a combination of both, the recognition of Christ’s birthday, and the giving and receiving of gifts. Most have heard about Christ’s birth, or formally recognize it; and they celebrate Christmas with the giving of gifts to their family and friends. It is a time of festivity. And there is nothing wrong with that.
Unfortunately, I suspect that there are a growing number of people who ignore Christmas because they have turned their back on the Church; they have turned their back on God; they have no religious upbringing in their life; and/or they deemed it irrelevant because of their political and cultural persuasion.
There is a lot that could be said about each of the above categories; however, the historical fact remains that Jesus was born.
Incredible statements surround the birth of Jesus.
Those statements are made in God’s Word, the Bible.
Some people revere God’s Word; some people denounce God’s Word; and some people embrace God’s Word as it is personally convenient for them.
I am one, who reveres God’s Word.
So, my title to this blog is ‘Christmas According to AI’.
What am I implying?
Luke 2:11 (NKJV), ” For there is born to you in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.“
Christmas According to ‘Adonai’s Incarnation’.
Adonai is the Hebrew word for Yahweh, the LORD.
What does the word incarnation mean?
John 1:14, NKJV says, “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.”
So, who is the Word of God? John 1: 1-4, NKJV says, “In the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men, and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
Paul writes in Philippians 2:5-7, NKJV, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men.” The words ‘coming in the like of men’ is referring to the incarnation. Take time to reflect upon these words. Now go back to John 1:14 and re-read that verse in light of the words, ‘coming in the likeness of men’.
How magnificent is this truth!
The time line of the Bible says that Isaiah lived 700 years prior to Christ’s birth.
Isaiah 9:6, NKJV says, “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Recently I had this thought when reading this verse. I submit it to you. The words, ‘a Child is born’ may refer to Jesus’s birth as the Son of Man, His Perfect Humanity; and the words, ‘a Son is given’ may refer to His Deity as the Perfect Son of God: Jesus is both fully Man, fully God.
Coupling this verse with Isaiah 7:14, NKJV says, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son (the Perfect Son of Man), and shall call His name Immanuel (the Perfect Son of God, God is with us). (inserts mine)
Let us turn our attention back to Paul’s writing in Philippians. Take the thoughts from the passages in Isaiah and filter them through Philippians 2:5-7. Jesus Christ, ‘being in the form of God’, ‘made of Himself no reputation, taking on the form of a bond servant’, ‘coming in the likeness of men’. Here, we have reference to Jesus Christ, in all His Deity, coming in human flesh, and becoming the Son of Man embracing humanity.
Only God could do this.
That happened with the virgin birth.
For many, the details of the birth of Christ enriches their hearts every Christmas season as they read and remember the story as told by Matthew and Luke.
I recommend that you read Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38.
In these passages the dynamics are set into motion in lives of two people, Joseph and Mary.
Surrounding these two individuals are other people and events that dramatically impact the total story of the birth of Christ.
I leave that to your reading.
Christmas is Adonai’s Incarnation. (Christmas According to AI)
Well, I given to you verses to think about regarding the coming of Christ; but I have not formally given to you a definition of the word, incarnation.
Suppose we simply look at a dictionary definition. I googled, ‘incarnation definition’. I found the following: Oxford Languages: incarnation means, a person who embodies in the flesh a deity, spirit or abstract quality.
Question: Is Jesus Christ a deity who was embodied in the flesh? As a person who reveres God’s Word, I can affirmatively say, yes. For me, that is John 1:14, which says (NKJV), “And the Word (Jesus Christ) became flesh (humanity) and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten Son of God, full of grace and truth.”
Now let’s consider if this is significant or insignificant?
What do you think? and why?
To answer this question, I would like to refer you to gotquestions.org. , “What is the meaning of the Incarnation of Christ?”.
Their answer puts forth two important reasons regarding the significance of the incarnation.
They, begin with their definition of incarnation.
They say that it means, “the act of being made flesh”. They reference John 1:14.
They substantiate this definition historically relating it to the Church’s “use of the Latin Vulgate throughout the Middle Ages”. Because of this extensive use they say that “the Latin term became standard”.
I am setting aside their Biblical support of Jesus’ humanity, and transitioning to the meaning of the incarnation.
“The Son of Man came in the flesh in order to be the Savior of mankind”.
They put forth two reasons: 1. “It was necessary (for Jesus) to be born under the law” (Galatians 4:4); and 2. “it was necessary for the Savior to shed His blood for the forgiveness of sins”. Matthew 26:28 NKJV says, “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (inserts mine)
These two requirements are the Gospel.
This is weaved throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
How do we summarize these two thoughts?
First of all, I am going to assume that most of my readers know the Lord.
Therefore, I believe you are familiar with what these two statement mean; and secondly, I will remind you of scripture that addresses each point; and finally, I am relying on the Holy Spirit to guide my thinking incorporating the thoughts from the answer to the question in gotquestions.org.
All humanity has sinned and failed to keep God’s law (See Romans 1-3).
Romans 3:23, NKJV says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Jesus, “born under the law” (Galatians 4:4) came and perfectly kept the law .
Jesus said, Matthew 5:17 NKJV says, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
He perfectly kept the Law so that He could represent humanity who did not keep the Law, meaning what?
2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV says, “For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus). (inserts mine)
At this point I would like for us to focus on a passage found in Hebrews 10.
The reality of what we are considering is the topic of the entire Letter to the Hebrews. Chapter 10 specifically addresses what we are considering.
I recommend that you read chapter 10 before proceeding.
(Pause )
We want to focus on Hebrews 10:5-7. It is a quotation from Psalms 40:6-8.
Hebrews 10:5-7 NKJV says, “Therefore , when He (Jesus) came into the world (His birth, incarnation), He (Jesus) said, “Sacrifice and offering You (God) did not desire, but a body (human flesh) You (God) have prepared for Me (Jesus). In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You (God) no pleasure. Then I (Jesus) said, ‘Behold, I (Jesus) have come (birth, incarnation)–In the volume of the book (Law and Prophets) it is written of Me (Jesus)–To do Your (God) will, O God. “” (inserts mine)
From this passage we understand that all the sacrifices of the Old Covenant served an intermediary purpose but they could not fulfill the complete purpose of the satisfaction of God’s anger and wrath against sin. So, God, the Father, undertook solving the problem Himself within the eternal counsel of the Trinity before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1)
The Father would send His Son to be born of a virgin.
That Son would be a unique human being.
There would be no one else like Him born in human form.
That Child would be a human being, fully God and fully Man, without sin.
As such, God in the flesh, in a human body, would be a perfect sacrifice to be offered for the purpose of satisfying God’s wrath and anger against sin justifying Divine Judgement.
Therefore, we can strongly state that the first significance of the incarnation is that God came in the flesh so that there would be a body that could be sacrificed for sin.
That is not a pleasant thought at Christmas, but it is what God was providing so that His grace and mercy could be freely given to as many as would receive His Son as their Savior and Lord.
This brings us to our second consideration.
In preparation for this consideration, I would like to refer you to Romans 4-5. Please take time to read it. (
Pause)
Jesus, the Son of Man/Son of God, that unique human being created by God, in a human body, is the Perfect Lamb of God, who will take away the sin of the world. (see John 1:29-36)
Referencing Jesus as being the Lamb of God, tells us what? Lamb’s were for sacrificing under the Law for the atonement of Israel’s sin.
Jesus understood this from before the foundation of the world.
He was born so that He would live in a human body that would be the means for the shedding of its blood for the remission of sin.
However, because His body was unique as a result of the Incarnation, His blood would, too, be unique because He is the Son of Man/Son of God without sin.
There is not trace of sin in Him. He is the Perfect Sacrifice.
Read Romans 5:6-11
This brings us to Hebrews 9:22b, NKJV says, “…without the shedding of blood there is no remission.” Again, I ask for your patience.
I recommend that you read Hebrews 9 in its entirety. In this chapter you will clearly understand the power of Christ’s blood and its efficacy. As the chorus says, ‘there is power, power, wonder working power in the blood of the Lamb’,(by L.E.Jones).
For blood to be shed there must be the killing of an animal.
That was first pictured in Genesis.
It is referenced in God clothing Adam and Eve, see Genesis 3:21(not stated but assumed).
However, in Genesis 4, it tells us that Abel was a keeper of sheep, and when he brought an offering before God, Genesis 4:4 NKJV says, “Abel also brought of the first born of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering”, why, because it foreshadows the type of offerings that are outlined in the Law to be brought before God.
We see the same kind of offerings being offered up by Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Book of Genesis.
The assumption is made that the sheep was killed and its blood was spilled out.
Ultimately, it foreshadows the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and the shedding of His blood as the Lamb of God.
In the article, about the Incarnation in gotquestions.org, this statement is made: “Without the incarnation, Christ could not really die, and the cross is meaningless.”
Do not read that too fast. Read it again, and consider what you have been reading about the incarnation.
The incarnation is significant. Jesus was both fully Human and fully Divine: therefore, He is the unique, Perfect Sacrifice; His body and blood is without sin; He perfectly kept the Law. He alone is Worthy of all praise, glory and honor.
In Revelation 5, we encounter the Lamb.
John records what he saw transpiring in the throne room of heaven.
John writes, Revelation 5:6 NKJV says, “And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain…Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.”
Our Ascended Lord, Jesus Christ, The Lamb of God, the One who is “…worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals”; the One who was proclaimed as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Rood of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
This same Jesus, the Lamb, to Whom was sung a new song: “Your are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
Revelation 5:2b; 5b; 9,10 (NKJV) (the titles referred to by John are titles found in prophecies recorded in the Old Testament) (insert mine)
And then there were “ten thousand times ten thousands, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” Revelation 5:11b,12 NKJV
When Jesus came into this world, the heavens declared the glory of God.
Luke 2:14 NKJV says, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
And the adoration still continues, “And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever. Then the four living creature said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.” Revelation 5:13,14 NKJV
Worship is eternal.
Let us give Glory to God in the Highest this Christmas season.
When you sing the Christmas songs, remember the importance of the Incarnation as you lift praises to God. The truth of the Incarnation is found in many of the songs, hymns, and choruses that we sing.
(Note: As I was proof reading this blog, it struck me that at Communion, when we eat the bread and drink the wine, which Jesus said symbolize His Body and Blood, we are partaking of the elements of the Incarnation that we have been studying. Jesus said, that when we take Communion, to do this in remembrance of Me. Thought: when I take communion I need to remember the Incarnation that made His death on the Cross a reality.)
In closing I would like to share something that my wife said to me that was separate from what I was doing. She said this yesterday. It summarizes what I have saying with many words; and, it expresses the same summary thought in gotquestions.org.
Christine said, “Without Christmas and the manger, there is no Calvary, No Cross.” Today she drew a picture depicting what she said, and it was posted on Facebook for 24 hours.
Thank you Father for your unbelievable grace, mercy and love.
You have given the ultimate present, Your Son, in a body, to be a Perfect Sacrifice so that we might become Your sons and daughters.
You spared no cost giving us Your Son.
Thank you Father for Your unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15)
Blessings to all, Merry Christmas
Rejoice a Child has been born, a Son has been given.
The Incarnation of Christ, the Son of God brought something else besides being the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.
The Incarnation provided a human body through which the Authority of God was revealed to a hurting world. Jesus manifested His Father’s A.I.-Authority Incarnate.
Isaiah 9:6-7 NASB20, “For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders, and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of armies will accomplish this.”
Not only was the wrath of God satisfied; our sins forgiven; but the authority that Adam forfeited to Satan was reclaimed through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
As He said to His disciples just prior to His ascension, “All authority(all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on the earth has been given unto Me.” (Matthew 28:18, Amplified Bible)
Learning to be governed by Christ’s Authority, deo
[originally published 12-19-2022, part 1, with the title, Incarnation: Significant or Insignificant?]
[edited and re-published 12-13-2024 under the same title: Christmas According to AI}
Living Words of Encouragement 