Incarnation. A Miracle To The Max

Title: Miracle To The Max

Text: phil 2:5-11

Subject: what does the incarnation really mean theologically? - (tell us about God ...Christmas)

Complement: it means God became human...is human...remains human – and also divine.

Idea: “he came down from his glory to bring us up to his glory.”

1. Intro – examples of “presence” (1)xians at dump (2) ‘humility” - princess & door closing

2. Read text: Phil 2:5-11 ...transition ? can we grasp this miracle?

3. Divinity Of Son Of God - “Being In Very Nature God.” (v. 6)

a. Eternal being... “I AM” ...

b. Trinity....creator of all things Col 1:15 -- 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: ... 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

*** But invisible...distant... sends prophets...shows himself in part in creation

c. “gods” are made of wood and stone... are feared and placated.

d. Prophesy’s tell of a messiah being revealed... ... waiting... only prophets/torah.

4. Humanity (BIRTH) ...Made Himself Nothing... Nature Of A Servant (v. 7)

a. Reality of a baby vs. the idea of having children

b. Virgin conception - no original sin.

c. Humble surroundings... Bethlehem... (Egypt)... Nazareth (Carpentry)

5. Christological Debates:

a. Arianism – NOT FULLY HUMAN *(JW...Mormon’s...all other world religions)

b. **Athanasius – absolutely yes!

c. Nicene Creed (325) ...the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God; begotten, not made, of one substance with the Father...

CHALCEDON - The Council of Chalcedon (451) clarified 4 issues concerning Christ:

• against Arius, the full deity of Christ is affirmed.

• against Apollinarius, the full humanity of Christ is affirmed.

• against Nestorius, it is affirmed that Christ is one person.

• against Eutyches, it is affirmed that the deity & humanity of Christ remain distinct and not “blurred”

6. Extreme humility - Son of God Humbled Himself – Even on A Cross: v. 8

a. He Did This To Reach Us – He Came Down – so We Don’t Have To “Go Up”

b. he became obedient unto death – even a cross! (v. 8)

c. Only saviour – who is worthy to open the scroll?

i. Divine

ii. Human

iii. Sinless

iv. Tested & tempted.

v. Obedient to the cruelty of the cross!

d. Gal 4:4 “when the fulness of time had come...” God sent forth his son ...to redeem...

7. The Incarnate God – Now Human – Overcomes The Gt. Enemy, Death.

a. death itself is defeated -- Resurrection from death.

b. Jesus predicted his death and resurrection! “I am the resurrection and life!

c. Folded grave clothes!

d. This resurrection is the first fruits of our resurrection! ( 1 Cor 15)

8. God Exalted Him To The Highest place–Name Above Every Name (Jesus): v. 9

a. There is one mediator between God and man – the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5)

b. At that “highest place” he is high priest – intercessor. (Hebrews 2:17 & 5:15) Heb 5:7-8-9)

c. Christ's glorified humanity is the template and link for our glorification!

9. This Incarnation Is Permanent And Forever. (Needed Forever)

a. Christ’s exaltation did not abolish his humanity – it glorified it! (Packer)

b. 2nd coming - Acts 1 - This same (incarnate) Lord Jesus Christ will come again ...

c. Only Mediator for fallen humanity – there is one mediator between God and man – the man Christ Jesus.

d. Authority – he will reign over all – every knee...the govt will be on his shoulders!

e. He will never be impeached!

JI Packer ? The Incarnation, meaning "enfleshing," is the event that the Apostle John announced by saying "the Word became flesh" (Jn. 1:14). The concept is not that the Son put on a human body as one puts on an overcoat, nor that a human being and a divine person lived together under one skin, nor that a divine person came to possess two sets of powers (natures), each of which he could switch on or off as he chose. It is, rather, that first in Mary's womb, and then in this world, and now forever in heaven, the Son lives life through the mind-body complex that constitutes humanity—bypassing none of it, even when drawing directly on divine power or intuiting directly the Father's mind and will. Without diminishing his divinity, he added to it all that is involved in being human. When Jesus is hailed as one person in two natures, according to the Council of Chalcedon in 451, this is what is meant. So by incarnation the Son became more than he was before, and a human element became integral to the ongoing life of the Triune God. Being as fully human as divine became one strand of the Son's identity, destiny, and glory. Evangelicals, Orthodox, and Catholics unite in believing this.