God incarnate among us

Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God (1 Peter 3:18).

The Bible teaches that Jesus was made incarnate by the Holy Spirit in the virgin Mary.  The word ‘incarnate’ means to take something intangible and give it physical form.  Turning a blueprint into a house that you can live in illustrates the principle.  Incarnation allows you to touch the untouchable.

The Son of God was a spirit, just like His father—a being with no body as we understand the term.  But to save us from being condemned as sinners, Christ became incarnate—the Holy Spirit made a virgin pregnant, and Jesus stepped out of her womb in the body of a child.  Despite the fact that Mary was a sinner like you and me, her first born son retained His eternal holiness—the righteous Son of God cannot be overpowered by sin. 

Jesus became a man because it was necessary that He suffer and die.  God hates sin and punishes it severely.  But the Lord who made us is gracious to His wayward children; Jesus came to take the responsibility for our transgressions and shoulder God’s punishment in our place.  He was sentenced to death by crucifixion at the order of Pontius Pilate, a corrupt official who held power in Judea some 2,000 years ago.  Jesus suffered and died publicly, because what He accomplished that day would change the entire world forever.  On the cross, dressed in the body of a man, God’s Son died.  And when His life ended, so did the punishment of God on human sin—your sin and mine. 

On the third day of His death, Christ rose from the grave physically alive, just as the Old Testament had predicted.  After proving that death held no power over Him, Jesus ascended into heaven, where He has the place of highest respect and honor—He is seated at the Father’s right hand.  From His throne, our Savior bestows forgiveness on all who love Him, because He has been given the Father’s own authority to be our Judge.

When Christ left us for heaven, only a chosen few were privileged to see Him go.  But the Son of God is coming back, and when He returns His glory will light up the earth.  All the dead will rise to stand before Him.  He will put an end to everything dark and corrupt, punishing evil in a place from which there is no escape.  Then the Son of God will bless the faithful with a special place in His kingdom that will never come to an end.