There are many different pictures of Christmas as we know of the tree, the star, the presents, the garland, the carols, and the eggnog of course. These are just some of the symbols we associate with like Mary and Joseph and the baby. Other pictures of three wise men on camels making a journey to Bethlehem also come to mind as we think of Christmas.
Possibly the most significant symbol of Christmas is the nativity scene, and even at the center of the nativity scene is the baby in the manger. He is the one described as "baby Jesus" or the "Christ child" and given the preeminence in the true meaning of Christmas. Ironically though some nativity scenes don't even have a picture or replica of the baby in the manger as they are modified to become symbolic of the symbol itself. But it would not be Christmas if there was no baby as he is the incarnation of God.
The doctrine of the incarnation is the teaching that God has come to the world "in the flesh" or in the body. It was recently described in a sermon that the incarnation is not the coming of God to the world as it is often understood to be. But the incarnation is the coming of God to the world as a man. It is God becoming a human being, to be one of us, from the very beginning of life, and to experience every aspect of human life, even the birth as a baby.
The incarnation is a great, wonderful, and even mysterious doctrine in many ways. It boggles the mind to even try to think of who God is in all his awesome existence and majesty. But it can be even more amazing to think that the God of the universe has become a man, the God of creation has become part of creation. And why? To relate with humanity, to identify with us, and to live a perfect life so as to provide salvation for us in faith. We know from Scripture that God has sent his only begotten Son into the world to save us from our sins, John 3:16. God himself has come at Christmas.
Clearly, without the miracle of the incarnation there could be no Christianity at all. Each year Easter is given great attention as Jesus laid down his life for us. But without Christmas there could be no Easter, without the incarnation of God as a true man there could be no justification through his sacrifice. Because Jesus lived a life without sin, in holiness, he alone is able to stand before God as our substitute. Even more, without the miracle of incarnation there would be no miracle of resurrection, and we could not experience new life in Christ and grow in faith and sanctification.
Truly the celebration of Christmas is a celebration of life, the greatest life that ever lived in Jesus who is the Christ, our Savior. This Spiritual life can also be 'incarnated' in us, that is, brought into our flesh, our lives, through our acceptance and faith in him. The Holy Spirit can bring to us the same Spiritual life that was in Jesus of Bethlehem. We will never be perfect and we will always be in need of Christ as our Savior, but we can become like Jesus through the ongoing work of the 'incarnation' of his life into ours. He has gone before us and can sympathize with our weaknesses, and he can graciously restore us to our creation image. He can change us through Spiritual growth and maturity as we live out his teachings in our lives.
The incarnation of God in Jesus was one of the most significant points of history and we celebrate this miracle at Christmas. God invaded the world to become a man and live the life we could not live by ourselves. We can experience this miraculous gift of life in Christ, and it all begins with faith in the incarnation of the Christ child at Christmas.
FAITH TODAY: Luke 2:10-11, "And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.""
Possibly the most significant symbol of Christmas is the nativity scene, and even at the center of the nativity scene is the baby in the manger. He is the one described as "baby Jesus" or the "Christ child" and given the preeminence in the true meaning of Christmas. Ironically though some nativity scenes don't even have a picture or replica of the baby in the manger as they are modified to become symbolic of the symbol itself. But it would not be Christmas if there was no baby as he is the incarnation of God.
The doctrine of the incarnation is the teaching that God has come to the world "in the flesh" or in the body. It was recently described in a sermon that the incarnation is not the coming of God to the world as it is often understood to be. But the incarnation is the coming of God to the world as a man. It is God becoming a human being, to be one of us, from the very beginning of life, and to experience every aspect of human life, even the birth as a baby.
The incarnation is a great, wonderful, and even mysterious doctrine in many ways. It boggles the mind to even try to think of who God is in all his awesome existence and majesty. But it can be even more amazing to think that the God of the universe has become a man, the God of creation has become part of creation. And why? To relate with humanity, to identify with us, and to live a perfect life so as to provide salvation for us in faith. We know from Scripture that God has sent his only begotten Son into the world to save us from our sins, John 3:16. God himself has come at Christmas.
Clearly, without the miracle of the incarnation there could be no Christianity at all. Each year Easter is given great attention as Jesus laid down his life for us. But without Christmas there could be no Easter, without the incarnation of God as a true man there could be no justification through his sacrifice. Because Jesus lived a life without sin, in holiness, he alone is able to stand before God as our substitute. Even more, without the miracle of incarnation there would be no miracle of resurrection, and we could not experience new life in Christ and grow in faith and sanctification.
Truly the celebration of Christmas is a celebration of life, the greatest life that ever lived in Jesus who is the Christ, our Savior. This Spiritual life can also be 'incarnated' in us, that is, brought into our flesh, our lives, through our acceptance and faith in him. The Holy Spirit can bring to us the same Spiritual life that was in Jesus of Bethlehem. We will never be perfect and we will always be in need of Christ as our Savior, but we can become like Jesus through the ongoing work of the 'incarnation' of his life into ours. He has gone before us and can sympathize with our weaknesses, and he can graciously restore us to our creation image. He can change us through Spiritual growth and maturity as we live out his teachings in our lives.
The incarnation of God in Jesus was one of the most significant points of history and we celebrate this miracle at Christmas. God invaded the world to become a man and live the life we could not live by ourselves. We can experience this miraculous gift of life in Christ, and it all begins with faith in the incarnation of the Christ child at Christmas.
FAITH TODAY: Luke 2:10-11, "And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.""
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