INCARNATION

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“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  (John 1: 14)

The concept of the Incarnation is basic to the Christian faith.  It follows therefore that the doctrine of the Incarnation which reveals Christ’s “true” identity is the foundation on which all of Christian doctrine is built.

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The Incarnation of the Son of God is the terminology used to describe what happened when the second person of the Trinity, the eternal Son of God, "became flesh" as he was miraculously conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary according to the Bible. In the incarnation, the divine nature of the Son was perfectly united with human nature in one divine Person. This person, Jesus Christ, was both truly God and truly man.

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The Incarnation is often referred to as the “hypostatic union.”  It is a theological term that describes the twofold nature of Jesus.  In the one person of Jesus Christ, there are two natures:

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• Undiminished Deity

• True Humanity

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These two natures are never confused in essence or function, and Jesus will have this double nature from the day He assumed it in the manger in Bethlehem, throughout all eternity.  This is important as it helps to understand the meaning of what Jesus was saying in the New Testament.  Sometimes He referenced His deity saying that He and the Father are “one.”  At other times, He referenced His humanity saying that the Father is “greater” than Himself.

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Additional References: 1 Timothy 3:16, Galatians 4:4, Hebrews 1:3