24. God Joins Humanity - The Incarnation Series

[IN GOD’S IMAGE 24 – GOD JOINS HUMANITY, THE INCARNATION]

This message is part of a series of 90 sermons based on the title, “In God’s Image – God’s Purpose for humanity.” This series of free sermons or the equivalent free book format is designed to take the reader through an amazing process beginning with God in prehistory and finishing with humanity joining God in eternity as His loving sons and daughters. It is at times, a painful yet fascinating story, not only for humanity, but also for God. As the sermons follow a chronological view of the story of salvation, it is highly recommend they be presented in numerical order rather than jumping to the more “interesting” or “controversial” subjects as the material builds on what is presented earlier. We also recommend reading the introduction prior to using the material. The free book version along with any graphics or figures mentioned in this series can be downloaded at www.ingodsimage.site - Gary Regazzoli

Last time we took an overview of the Trinity’s counterattack on the forces of evil that want to disrupt God’s plan to make man in His image.

• God’s plan of redemption revolves around three main steps if it is to overcome the broken relationship between God and mankind.

• These are, 1) the Incarnation, 2) the Atonement, and 3) Reconciliation.

• We also saw each person of the Trinity bring their own unique aspects to the process.

• Paul spells out each of these roles in his benediction in 2 Corinthians 13:14.

• 2 Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

• The love of God flows from the Father to His Creation, Jesus embodies the grace of God through the Incarnation and the Atonement, and the Holy Spirit draws us into the fellowship of love that is the Trinity.

We have already seen how the shadows of this plan have been hinted at throughout the Old Testament, but now with the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem we begin to see the reality-taking place.

• Important in the context of the earthly birth of Jesus is the heavenly message the angels brought with them from God as it gives us an interesting insight into the mind of God and His faithful commitment to His wayward and rebellious children.

• This was the divine message delivered to the shepherds on the outskirts of Bethlehem.

• The shepherds were settling down for the night, wrapped in their blankets drifting off to sleep when suddenly all heaven breaks loose.

• Luke 2:8-14 (NKJV) 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

• We have talked about the Word of God coming to Israel through human prophets, but here at this critical point in salvation history, in order to give the message additional authority, the Word of God is delivered by a holy angel.

• V.10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.”

• The first words God has for mankind after the birth of Jesus is, “You no longer need to be afraid.”

• Granted they had just received an almighty scare, but there is a deeper message in that statement because up until this point in human history, mankind needed to be afraid.

• This is in contrast to the first beginning, when the words echoing in Adam and Eve’s ears as they were being marched out of Eden by God’s angels were, “Be afraid”!

• Because of our sin, because of our self-will and because of our stubbornness to live independently of God, humanity has been living under the curse of the law which leads to God’s righteous judgment which in turn leads to spiritual death.

• Because as we will see, our acceptance is no longer contingent on our works or our self-salvation but on God’s salvation.

• Up to this point in salvation history God’s people lived under the law and the upshot of that little exercise was to show that when we try to make ourselves right with God (self-salvation) it ends up in total and utter failure.

• So God says, and this was His plan from the beginning, you cannot make yourselves presentable to participate in the life and love of God on your own merits so I am going to do it for you.

• Now with the coming of Jesus this whole bad news scenario has been turned on its head.

• V.10 …for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.