The Incarnation: Jesus as the Heart of Christianity
Summary
In reflecting on the essence of Christianity, it is crucial to emphasize that it is not merely a set of teachings or a philosophy. At its core, Christianity is about the person of Jesus Christ. This distinction is vital because while teachings can be given, a person comes. The Apostle John deliberately uses the word "came" to highlight that grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ, not as abstract concepts, but embodied in a person. This is a profound truth that sets Christianity apart from other religions and philosophies, which often focus on teachings or moral codes.
The uniqueness of Christianity lies in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Unlike Moses, who was a man through whom the law was given, Jesus is the embodiment of grace and truth. He is not just another religious teacher among many; He is the divine Word who existed from the beginning, face to face with God. This eternal Word became flesh, entering our world as a helpless baby in a manger, yet He is the Creator of all things. This mystery of the incarnation is the heart of the Christmas message: the eternal God taking on human nature to dwell among us.
The significance of Jesus' coming is not just in His teachings but in His very being and actions—His life, death, resurrection, and ascension. These events are not merely historical facts but are central to the Christian faith because they reveal the character and purpose of God. Jesus is the perfect expression and revelation of God, showing us the fullness of grace and truth. In Him, we see the glory of God, the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Understanding this profound truth calls us to a deeper relationship with Jesus, recognizing Him not just as a teacher but as the living embodiment of God's grace and truth. This relationship transforms our lives, as we are invited to experience the fullness of life that He offers.
Key Takeaways:
- Christianity is centered on the person of Jesus Christ, not merely His teachings. This distinction is crucial because it emphasizes the relational aspect of faith, where grace and truth are embodied in Jesus, who came into the world. [14:16]
- The incarnation of Jesus is a profound mystery where the eternal Word became flesh. This act of God entering human history as a baby in a manger reveals the depth of God's love and His desire to be with us. [22:38]
- Jesus is the perfect expression and revelation of God. As the Word, He reflects the mind and character of God, offering us a glimpse into the divine nature and inviting us into a relationship with Him. [24:39]
- The uniqueness of Jesus lies in His eternal existence and His role in creation. He is not just a historical figure but the Creator of all things, who chose to enter His creation to bring life and light to humanity. [30:10]
- The Christmas message is about the Word becoming flesh, highlighting the significance of Jesus' coming into the world. This event is central to the Christian faith, as it reveals God's grace and truth in a tangible way. [33:48]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[14:16] - The Essence of Christianity
[14:53] - The Person of Christ
[15:29] - Grace and Truth in Jesus
[16:18] - The Misunderstanding of Christianity
[17:20] - Jesus Among Religious Teachers
[18:12] - The Uniqueness of Jesus
[19:08] - The Eternal Word
[21:23] - In the Beginning
[23:23] - The Word as Expression
[25:02] - The Revelation of God
[26:13] - Face to Face with God
[28:05] - The Mystery of the Trinity
[29:49] - The Creator in the Manger
[31:28] - Life and Light in Christ
[33:25] - The Christmas Message
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 1:1-14
2. Hebrews 1:1-3
3. Genesis 1:1
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#### Observation Questions
1. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the word "came" in relation to Jesus Christ? [14:33]
2. How does the sermon describe the difference between the law given through Moses and grace and truth coming through Jesus Christ? [18:48]
3. What does the sermon say about the eternal existence of Jesus before His incarnation? [21:58]
4. How is Jesus described as the "Word" in the sermon, and what does this term convey about His relationship with God? [23:23]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does the sermon suggest about the relational aspect of Christianity when it emphasizes Jesus as the embodiment of grace and truth? [15:10]
2. How does the sermon explain the mystery of the incarnation, and why is it central to the Christian faith? [22:38]
3. In what ways does the sermon highlight the uniqueness of Jesus compared to other religious figures? [17:20]
4. How does the sermon interpret the phrase "the Word was with God" in terms of Jesus' relationship with the Father? [26:29]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the idea that Christianity is centered on a person, not just teachings. How does this perspective change your approach to your faith? [15:29]
2. The sermon emphasizes the incarnation as a profound mystery. How can you embrace the mystery of faith in your daily life without needing all the answers? [22:38]
3. Jesus is described as the perfect expression of God. How can you seek to know God more deeply through your relationship with Jesus? [24:39]
4. Consider the uniqueness of Jesus' eternal existence and role in creation. How does this understanding impact your view of His authority in your life? [30:10]
5. The Christmas message is about the Word becoming flesh. How can you keep the significance of Jesus' coming at the forefront of your celebrations this season? [33:48]
6. How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with Jesus, recognizing Him as the living embodiment of God's grace and truth, in your daily routine? [15:10]
7. In what ways can you share the message of Jesus' incarnation and its significance with others during the Christmas season? [33:25]
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus as the Embodiment of Grace and Truth
Christianity is not just a collection of teachings or philosophies; it is centered on the person of Jesus Christ. This distinction is crucial because it emphasizes the relational aspect of faith, where grace and truth are embodied in Jesus, who came into the world. Unlike abstract concepts, Jesus' coming is a personal encounter with grace and truth. The Apostle John highlights this by using the word "came" to describe how grace and truth have entered the world through Jesus Christ. This sets Christianity apart from other religions and philosophies, which often focus on teachings or moral codes. Jesus is not just a teacher; He is the living embodiment of God's grace and truth, inviting us into a transformative relationship with Him. [14:16]
John 1:14 (ESV): "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Reflection: In what ways can you invite Jesus, the embodiment of grace and truth, into your daily life today? How might this change your interactions with others?
Day 2: The Mystery of the Incarnation
The incarnation of Jesus is a profound mystery where the eternal Word became flesh. This act of God entering human history as a baby in a manger reveals the depth of God's love and His desire to be with us. Unlike Moses, who was a man through whom the law was given, Jesus is the embodiment of grace and truth. He is not just another religious teacher among many; He is the divine Word who existed from the beginning, face to face with God. This eternal Word became flesh, entering our world as a helpless baby in a manger, yet He is the Creator of all things. This mystery of the incarnation is the heart of the Christmas message: the eternal God taking on human nature to dwell among us. [22:38]
Philippians 2:6-7 (ESV): "Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."
Reflection: How does the mystery of the incarnation challenge your understanding of God's love and humility? What steps can you take to reflect this humility in your own life?
Day 3: Jesus as the Revelation of God
Jesus is the perfect expression and revelation of God. As the Word, He reflects the mind and character of God, offering us a glimpse into the divine nature and inviting us into a relationship with Him. The significance of Jesus' coming is not just in His teachings but in His very being and actions—His life, death, resurrection, and ascension. These events are not merely historical facts but are central to the Christian faith because they reveal the character and purpose of God. In Jesus, we see the glory of God, the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Understanding this profound truth calls us to a deeper relationship with Jesus, recognizing Him not just as a teacher but as the living embodiment of God's grace and truth. [24:39]
Colossians 1:15-16 (ESV): "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him."
Reflection: How does seeing Jesus as the revelation of God change your perception of Him? What practical steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Him today?
Day 4: The Eternal Creator in Human Form
The uniqueness of Jesus lies in His eternal existence and His role in creation. He is not just a historical figure but the Creator of all things, who chose to enter His creation to bring life and light to humanity. This act of God entering human history as a baby in a manger reveals the depth of God's love and His desire to be with us. Jesus is the divine Word who existed from the beginning, face to face with God. This eternal Word became flesh, entering our world as a helpless baby in a manger, yet He is the Creator of all things. This mystery of the incarnation is the heart of the Christmas message: the eternal God taking on human nature to dwell among us. [30:10]
Hebrews 1:2-3 (ESV): "But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power."
Reflection: How does acknowledging Jesus as the Creator influence your understanding of His authority and power in your life? What area of your life do you need to surrender to His creative power today?
Day 5: The Christmas Message of God with Us
The Christmas message is about the Word becoming flesh, highlighting the significance of Jesus' coming into the world. This event is central to the Christian faith, as it reveals God's grace and truth in a tangible way. The incarnation of Jesus is a profound mystery where the eternal Word became flesh. This act of God entering human history as a baby in a manger reveals the depth of God's love and His desire to be with us. Unlike Moses, who was a man through whom the law was given, Jesus is the embodiment of grace and truth. He is not just another religious teacher among many; He is the divine Word who existed from the beginning, face to face with God. This eternal Word became flesh, entering our world as a helpless baby in a manger, yet He is the Creator of all things. [33:48]
Isaiah 7:14 (ESV): "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
Reflection: How does the reality of "God with us" through Jesus impact your daily life and interactions with others? What is one way you can embody this message of presence and love in your community today?
Quotes
Christianity is essentially the person of Christ himself. This is not just another teaching that's been given; it is a teaching, but it's much more than that. And before we even consider the teaching, we've got to consider this person. It came. Now, a teaching doesn't come; a teaching is given, but a person comes. [00:14:04]
Grace and truth have come, and unless you and I are clear about this person, it doesn't matter how Christian our ideas may be. The world has adopted many of the ideas and the teachings of Christianity. A man like the late Mr. Gandhi, who died a non-Christian and who said he wasn't a Christian and never pretended to be a Christian, he borrowed a lot of the New Testament teaching. [00:15:56]
Grace and truth came. It's this person that matters. It isn't his teaching primarily; it is he himself and what he's done. He's being born, he's living as a boy, his work as a carpenter, he's coming out at the age of 30, and his preaching and proclamation, his miracles, yes, his death upon the cross, his burial, the grave, the end. [00:17:38]
Grace and truth, as John reminds us, have come through Jesus Christ. But wait a minute, I want to open out this word "come," and perhaps the best way of opening out the word "come" is to take the other contrast that we have in the text. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ. [00:18:22]
Moses is but a man like other men, as I've already been reminding you. Moses, born of a human father and mother like everybody else, Moses, a man amongst men, a sinful man, a man like all other men in every other respect. Through Moses is John, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. [00:19:42]
In the beginning was the word. He was there existing before the beginning while the Holy Spirit brooded over that chaos, and before it, he was everlasting, eternal, without beginning of days. In the beginning, before anything was made that was made, before creation ever began, he existed. [00:22:40]
The meaning of words is to convey and to express and to reflect our minds. We express our minds through our words. The business of a word is to express a mind or an outlook. The business of words is to reveal what we think and what we are. As a man speaks, so he is expression and revelation. [00:23:35]
He expresses and reflects perfectly the mind of God. He is a perfect and complete revelation of God as he is and of the mind of the everlasting and eternal God. The word now then, this is just another way of saying that he is a perfect expression and revelation of God. [00:24:24]
In the beginning was the word, and the word was face to face with God. He's talking about this person, and he says that from eternity, this blessed person was face to face with God. What does that convey? Well, being face to face with always suggests friendship and fellowship and intimacy. [00:26:15]
All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. You know, when God acts, he reverses all our standards and all our ideas and all our thoughts. Is there anything more helpless than a babe? They wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and they put him there to lie in the manger. [00:29:34]
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. What does this mean? Well, John is, in a sense, just repeating his own phrases. In him was life, yes, the full life of God. All the divine essence, as it were, is in him. It's in the Father, it's in the Son, it's in the Holy Spirit. [00:31:32]
The Christmas message is just this: that this person whom I've been trying to describe in terms of John's prologue came into this world. If you like it in a phrase, it's all here in verse 14, and the word was made flesh. What does that mean? It means that he was born as a man, took human nature. [00:33:25]
Chatbot
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