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20131218 Jesus become man

by Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope* Jesus

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS (Matthew 1:21)

At this time of year many ask, “how did God become a man?  What happened to make it possible for Jesus to be born of a woman?”

The Bible doesn’t really give much information about how the incarnation of Jesus took place.  We are told that the Holy Spirit came upon Mary and that the power of the Highest overshadowed her.  

Luke 1:35  And the angel answered and said to her [Mary], “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 

That’s really all we know about how Jesus became a man, and it might not be a sufficient answer to those who raise this question.  However, if you’re confronted with such questions, don’t avoid them.  Give the true answer: we don’t fully understand how God became a man.  Then follow that statement by reminding the questioner that what we do know is that God, who created the earth and all that is in it, is capable of such a miraculous act.  Then begin to open a conversation about the most important understanding of the incarnation of Jesus Christ,  why did Jesus have to become a man?

Don’t let this holiday season go by without witnessing to a non-believer about the saving grace of Jesus Christ…and strengthening and encouraging a believer to better understand and share the gospel.

Seven Points to Explain Why  Jesus Had to Become a Man

  1. God created the earth and all that is in it, including man, to be perfect and at peace (Genesis 1:1, 31).
  2. God revealed His will to man (Genesis 2:16-17), but man sinned against God by disobedience (Genesis 3:6).
  3. God judged man’s sin by pronouncing the wages of sin is death (Genesis 3:14, Romans 6:23a), by cursing the earth (Genesis 3:17) and expelling him from the place of perfect harmony with Himself (Genesis 3:23-24).
  4. But God, in His mercy, gave hope.  Immediately after man sinned, God promised to send a rescuer. He promised the Seed of the woman would come and conquer sin and death (Genesis 3:15, Romans 6:23b).
  5. Scripture clearly tells that “without shedding of blood there is no remission [of sin]” (Hebrews 9:22). Animal blood could not sufficiently pay for human sin.  It had to be human blood, and it had to be pure blood.  Pure blood could only come from a completely sinless, perfect man.  No man, born of Adam, is without sin… “no not one” (Romans 3:10,12).  So God sent His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:16).  
  6. Jesus had to be born as a human baby and He had to live in a human body, experiencing all that we experience (Hebrews 2:17-18), and yet never sinning.  He was then able to offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice, the Passover Lamb whose pure blood was shed to pay the penalty for the sin of man and open the way to eternal life (John 3:16, John 14:6).  
  7. When someone repents and trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross, Jesus saves that person from the penalty of sin—death.  Jesus also imputes to the new believer His righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Corinthians 5:21) and sonship (Galatians 3:26, 1 John 3:2), and gives His child eternal life (John 10:28, Romans 6:23b), along with the gift of the Holy Spirit to teach them (John 14:26) and to guide them (John 16:13) in God’s will and ways.

So the next time you hear, “How did God become man?”  rephrase the question and explain WHY God had to become a man.  Testify to the goodness and faithfulness of God in His promise and provision of sending His Son.  Explain the faithfulness of Jesus to the Father’s will, understood in His fulfillment of God’s purpose and plan to redeem man from sin and death. 

Share the gospel with those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and for those who do belong to Jesus remind them to be bold in their testimony and witness.    

Remember…without the cradle we would not have the cross.   

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)

 

Give thanks this Christmas for the little baby born in Bethlehem.  

Share the good news of Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection with someone today!  

 

Because He lives…we live!!!

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