Christ Wesleyan Church
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John 1:14 ESV
A. We believe in the incarnation...
John 1:1-5, 14 NLT
1. The word incarnation means “the act of being made flesh.”
“So the Word became human…”
2. It was the beginning of Jesus becoming human, not the beginning of Jesus! Prior to the incarnation, He was like the Father and the Spirit with no material substance.
“In the beginning the Word already existed.”
3. Jesus humbled Himself and became man.
Philippians 2:6-8 NLT
4. Jesus fulfilled prophecy when being born.
Isaiah 9:6 NLT
5. The incarnation is one of the mysteries of God.
“Here are two mysteries for the price of one—the plurality of persons within the unity of God, and the union of Godhead and manhood in the person of Jesus...Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as is this truth of the Incarnation.”
- J. I. Packer
Deuteronomy 29:29 NLT
6. Jesus took on human nature with flesh, body, mind, emotions, and will.
Hebrews 2:17 NLT
Hebrews 4:15 NLT
7. Jesus’ primary purpose was to bring salvation to man through forgiveness.
Hebrews 9:22 NLT
Hebrews 10:5 NLT
1 Peter 1:9 NLT
B. The incarnation made Jesus 100% human...
1. He needed sleep.
Luke 8:23 NLT
2. He needed food.
Matthew 4:2 NLT
Matthew 21:18 NLT
3. He needed protection.
Matthew 2:13 NLT
4. He perspired.
Luke 22:44 NLT
5. He bled.
John 19:34 NLT
6. He expressed joy.
John 15:11 NLT
7. He expressed sorrow.
Matthew 26:37 NLT
8. He expressed anger.
Mark 3:5 NLT
9. He referred to Himself as a man.
John 8:40 NIV
C. The early church fathers' belief in the incarnation...
The early church considered the Incarnation to be one of the most important truths of our faith. Because of this, they formulated what has come to be called the Chalcedonian Creed, a statement which sets forth what we are to believe and what we are not to believe about the Incarnation. This creed was the fruit of a large council that took place for October 8 to November 1, 451, in the city of Chalcedon and has been taken as the standard, orthodox definition of the biblical teaching on the person of Christ sine that day by all the major branches of Christianity. There are five main truths with which the creed of Chalcedon summarized the biblical teaching on the Incarnation:
1. Jesus has two natures – He is God and man.
2. Each nature is full and complete…He is fully God and fully man.
3. Each nature remains distinct.
4. Christ is only one person.
5. Things that are true of only one nature are nonetheless true of the Person of Christ.
D. As we think of the incarnation, I believe*...
1. I believe God is near us.
John 1:14 NLT
James 4:8 NLT
2. I believe God is love to us.
Romans 5:8 NLT
3. I believe God suffered for us.
Isaiah 53:5 NLT
E. How does your belief affect your behavior?
James 1:22 NLT
1. God is near. He made Himself available to us. How are you demonstrating availability to those in your world? Your family, your friends, your coworkers? Be present!
2. God loved sacrificially. How are you demonstrating your love to those in your world? Giving, listening, volunteering, sacrificing, modeling Jesus to your world? Let love guide you!
3. God suffered. Remember, your greatest growth and character building come during times of suffering. Be ready to trade success for significance and pleasure for purpose!
Philippians 4:9 NLT
*Core52 pages 215-219