The Doctrine of the Incarnation (God becoming flesh) is either the greatest con ever conceived in the mind of man, or the greatest miracle given to mankind.
This child Jesus comes by way of a virgin birth, later professes to be the Jewish Messiah, further claims to be part of the Triune God, dies on a cross for the sins of mankind, and promises to return later to destroy the world, and bring his elect home to a new world that has been created especially for them.
The Apostle Paul would later proclaim that Jesus Christ was "a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles".
How are we to believe these testimonies from 2,000 years ago?
To me, you must take a look at the whole of God's revealed word. When you consider Jesus at creation, the calling of Abraham to become a nation, and then the whole of the Old Testament pointing towards Messiah, and you give consideration to this birth, it will certainly make you scratch your head.
Is this in fact the Jews long awaited Messiah? Born from a virgin, as the prophets proclaimed?
How can we believe this?
To make this mystery all the more complex, Jesus would later proclaim "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day." (John 6:44)
In other words, you aren't going to believe unless God gives you eyes to see. Yet, at the same time, this seeing is available to all who ask.
Here is Dr. Wayne Grudem's conclusion on the Incarnation, from his Systematic Theology:
"It is by far the most amazing miracle of the entire Bible - far more amazing than the resurrection and more amazing even then the creation of the universe. The fact that the infinite, omnipotent, eternal Son of God could become man and join himself to a human nature forever, so that infinite God became one person with finite man, will remain for eternity the most profound miracle and the most profound mystery in all the universe."
The most profound miracle, and the most profound mystery. That about sums it all up!
Grudem further describes a general statement of systematic theologians when thinking about the incarnation:
"Remaining what he was, he became what he was not."
What about you? Will you let our culture overshadow this birth with its trappings, or will you give this matter the serious attention that it deserves?
Do you believe that this baby was God incarnate, sent to seek and save the lost? (Luke 19:10)
