The doctrine of the Incarnation is the stunning Christian claim that the eternal Son of God became fully human while remaining fully divine. Let's explore what the Bible says and why this matters.
What the Bible Says
John's Gospel gives us the most direct statement: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:14). Scholar N.T. Wright explains that "Word" (Logos) refers to God's ultimate self-expression - who was both with God and was God from the beginning. Paul's Letters reinforce this truth. In Philippians 2:6-7, Paul says Christ "emptied himself" to become human. This doesn't mean he stopped being God, but that he voluntarily set aside divine privileges to serve us.
Throughout the New Testament we find this pattern:
• Matthew calls Jesus "God with us" (1:23)
• John says confessing Jesus came in flesh proves true faith (1 John 4:2)
• Hebrews calls Jesus God's exact representation (1:3)
Why the Church Had to Define It
Early Christians struggled to explain how Jesus could be both God and man. Two key councils helped clarify:
Council of Nicaea (325 AD) said Jesus is fully God - "of same substance" as the Father.
Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) affirmed Jesus is one person with two natures - fully God and fully human, without confusion or separation.
Why It Matters Today
This isn't just ancient theology - it changes everything:
• God truly understands our human experience
• Our human bodies and lives matter to God
• Salvation comes through God entering our world
Key Takeaways
• The Incarnation means God became human in Jesus
• This is clearly taught in John 1, Philippians 2, and other key passages
• The early church defended this truth against errors
• Because Jesus is both God and human, he can perfectly represent us to God and God to us
Want to go deeper? If you have questions about how Jesus can be both God and human, consider booking a 1-on-1 Guided Conversation where we can explore this together and create a personal study plan for your journey.
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