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.