“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Perhaps one of the most important terms in our Christian vocabulary is “incarnation.” This term is not found in the Bible, but comes to us from the Latin phrase “in-carnis”; which has the literal meaning “in flesh,” or “in body.” Nowhere in the Bible is this important point of theology expressed more concisely, more succinctly, or more emphatically, than in our text verse, where we learn that “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”

The very heart of the Christian faith is centered on Who Jesus Christ is. He is God Who became incarnate to dwell among us. Because we believe this, we worship Jesus Christ as the Incarnate God in fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures. Let’s examine this point.

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

This verse is referenced in the New Testament concerning Jesus Christ:

“Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:22-23)

Isaiah’s prophecy reveals two essential truths about Christ: (1) He would be born of a virgin with no human father; and (2) His birth would usher in a new era of God’s relationship to man. In the first case, the Incarnation would be a complete act of God’s Sovereignty, and un-attributable to human means. In the second case, God revealed to His people our special place of position in knowing Him as “God with us.”

The Doctrine of the Incarnation reveals God without us (the Father) became “God with us” (the Son) through the virgin birth, as He was conceived in Mary’s womb by the Holy Spirit (God within us). Everyone ever born was born of a woman. Therefore, to be truly human, Jesus Christ must also to have been born of a woman in order to experience life and death as a human. (See Luke 1:26-35; Galatians 4:4-7.)

Why is the Incarnation absolutely important to being a true follower of Christ? This doctrine forms a very distinctive element of our faith. World religions are based on man’s attempt to reach God; Christianity is based on God’s act of grace in reaching toward us. This He did in the Person of Jesus Christ. He identifies with us, and so draws us to Himself. Praise the Lord!