Why the Incarnation?

 

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”

Hebrews 2:14-15 ESV

 

The Christmas story is one that is known by most everyone. It’s known not only by those who believe in him. It’s known also by those who reject what Scripture says of him.  However, even though believers and unbelievers alike know the story and get caught up in the celebration of Christmas, many objections are raised to its message.

 

One such objection involves the incarnation itself. Besides wondering how it’s possible, some wonder why God had to become man in the first place. They wonder why he took on flesh and lived among his creation.

 

We find the answer to this question in the above passage. The author of Hebrews tells us, first of all, that Jesus became like us. He partook of flesh and blood. And the reason he did this is that he might accomplish our salvation.

 

As most of us know, this was accomplished by Jesus’ death on the cross. In this way, he paid the penalty of our sin. He died on our behalf and satisfied the wrath of God.

 

However, one of the things that stands out as we consider the nature of God is that he cannot die. God is not mortal. He’s immortal, eternal, and unchanging.

 

If he, then, was to pay the penalty of our sin, he had to become man. If he was to die on our behalf, he had to take on flesh. If he was to satisfy the righteous requirement of God’s justice, he had to take on our nature.

 

In this way, by taking on human flesh and dying on the cross, he destroyed the devil. He destroyed the one who accuses us before God. And he delivers us from our slavery to the fear of death.

 

In other words, because of Jesus, we no longer have to live in fear of death. Because he took on flesh, we’re no longer held in bondage by our fear of death. And because he died on our behalf, we know that life eternal is ours.

 

Some will object that none of this was necessary. They tell us that God could have forgiven us apart from Christ’s sacrifice. And they tell us that he could simply overlook our sin. Nothing, however, is further from the truth.

 

Because he is righteous, God cannot allow sin into his presence. Because he is holy, he cannot tolerate wrongdoing. And because he is just, the penalty of our sin has to be paid.

 

By the incarnation, you see, the nature and the character of God were upheld. They were in no way violated. And, at the same time, our salvation was realized.

H - E - Double Hockey Sticks

 

“They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.”

2 Thessalonians 1:9-10

 

If you talk to people in society today, most seem to believe that they’ll spend eternity in heaven. And this is true not only of believers in Jesus. It’s true of most everyone.

 

Although most people seem to believe in the existence of hell, it’s generally believed that it’s for only the worst offenders. Few seem to believe that they will spend eternity in hell. And if it is acknowledged, it’s usually in done in lighthearted fashion.

 

Among those who do so, it’s sometimes suggested that hell is a party. The implication is that it’s appealing because it means spending eternity having a good time with your friends. It means having a good time with your friends in an atmosphere that is anything but God-pleasing.

 

However, as Paul talks about hell in the passage above, we see clearly that it’s not a good time. We see clearly that it’s not an appealing option. And we’re given a clear picture of who will be there.

 

Just prior to this passage, in verse 8, Paul speaks of those who do not know the Lord and those who do not obey the gospel of Jesus. In this way, Paul describes those who are lost. He describes those without faith in Jesus.

 

In this way, he refers to those who have yet to encounter the gospel, as well as to those who have refused the gospel. After all, we are born into this world in a lost state, and stand condemned from the beginning of life. And to refuse the gospel is to refuse both life and salvation.

 

It’s they, he says, who will suffer the torments of hell. And this punishment is described as that of eternal destruction. However, Paul is not suggesting that these people will be annihilated, or that they’ll cease to exist.

 

He goes on to say that they’ll suffer this destruction away from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his might when he comes to be glorified. In other words, they’ll be forever separated from the Lord’s presence. And they’ll be forever separated from his blessings.

 

We see, in verse 8, that this is an act of vengeance on his part. It’s an act of retribution. It’s an act of judgment as these people, who have not received the benefits of Jesus’ atonement, pay the penalty of their sin.

 

It’s clear to us, then, that hell is no joke. It’s not an appealing option for ourselves or for others. And, for this reason, we ought do all that we can to make the gospel known.

Indispensable Doctrine

 

“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.”

Titus 2:1 ESV

 

As we look at the church of today, we find that all kinds of things are being taught. We find that there are all kinds of crazy things that are portrayed as Christian teaching. We find that much of what is being passed off as Christian teaching is very different from what we find in Scripture and from that of the historic Christian Church.

 

The same thing was true in the days of Paul. As we look at the end of the first chapter of Titus, Paul points out what some of them were. He refers to Jewish myths and to the commands of people who turn away from the truth.

 

However, as Paul writes to this young pastor, named Titus, he tells him that he is to teach what accords with sound doctrine. He is to teach what was consistent with sound teaching. He is to speak things that are fitting or appropriate to sound doctrine.

 

In the day in which we live, doctrine is thought to be a dirty word. Doctrine is synonymous with dry and boring. It’s also synonymous with dead and lifeless.

 

For this reason, people will choose a church with which to identify and worship based not upon its doctrine. So often, we look instead to the entertainment value.  We look to the emotional response that a church is able to generate.  And we look to the programs that are offered.

 

However, while we go to a church that gives us the “feels,” we receive teaching that contradicts Scripture. While we go to a church that appeals to our taste, we receive teaching that sets itself above Scripture. And while we go to a church that offers the programming we desire, we receive teaching that leads us not to life and salvation, but to death and judgment.

 

No matter the common perception of our day, doctrine is essential. In fact, it should be first and foremost in our consideration when it comes to the church with which we associate. Doctrine literally means “right teaching.” And it should be clear to us why right teaching is so important.

 

Right teaching offers to us what is true. It offers to us a proper explanation of the Word of God. It provides to us the correct understanding of the faith taught to us in Scripture.

 

While it may be possible for us to find a church that appeals to our taste while offering sound doctrine, and while it may be possible for us to find a church that offers right teaching and the programming we desire, a church’s doctrine must always be our main priority. If we’re to make sacrifices, it’s better for us to sacrifice our preferences and desires rather than right teaching. If we’re forced to choose, a church’s doctrine should guide our choice.

Counted Worthy

 

“This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

2 Thessalonians 1:5-8 ESV

 

As we read about the suffering and persecution of the church, whether it be in times past or even today, we consider it to be a horrible thing. And indeed, it is. None of us enjoy the sight of others suffering.  And none of us like the thought of suffering ourselves.

 

This is especially true when the suffering is unjust. It’s especially true when that suffering is undeserved. And it seems clear to us that suffering because of our faith, suffering for what we believe, is certainly undeserved.

 

For this reason, we count ourselves blessed. We feel fortunate that, up to this point, we’ve avoided suffering for our faith. We’re happy to live in a place where, for the most part, the church has been able to freely live out our faith.

 

However, Paul tells the Thessalonians that their faithfulness, in the face of persecution and affliction, is an indication of God’s righteous judgment. It’s evidence of God’s righteous judgment. In other words, it’s an indication that, in God’s righteous judgment, they are worthy of his eternal blessing.

 

Perseverance and faith are tried in the course of persecution. They are proven as persecution is experienced. And, in the case of the Thessalonians, their unshaken faith was evidence of the blessing they were to receive.

 

The same is true, of course, of those who are suffering for our faith today. The same is true of those who remain faithful in the face of persecution today. And the same will be true of us, if we ever find ourselves being persecuted for the sake of the gospel.

 

That being said, the opposite is true of their persecutors. Those who inflicted this misery would suffer on account of it. God considered it just, Paul says, to repay them for what they’ve done.

 

And they will be repaid in the end, at the final judgment. This will take place when Jesus is revealed from heaven with his angels. It will take place when Jesus inflicts vengeance on those who have not received the gospel.

 

In this way, their roles are reversed. In this way, the tables are turned. Those who have been afflicted will find relief, and those who have afflicted the people of God will themselves be afflicted.

 

In this sense, suffering can serve as a blessing for us. As we persevere in the face of suffering and affliction, we’re assured that we are counted worthy of God’s salvation. We’re assured that we will receive the blessing Jesus has promised to all who believe in him.