The incarnation of Jesus Christ—the moment when God became man—is one of the greatest mysteries of the Christian faith. It is central to the account of salvation and lies at the very heart of the gospel message. The doctrine of the incarnation affirms that the eternal Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, took on human nature and entered our world as Jesus of Nazareth. This act of divine condescension reveals God’s immense love for humanity and His desire to redeem and restore creation.
But why did God become man? What was the purpose behind the incarnation? In this blog post, we will explore the theological significance of the incarnation, drawing on Scripture and theology to answer these questions. We will examine the reasons for the incarnation, its implications for salvation, and how it affects our understanding of God, humanity, and the world.
The Biblical Foundation for the Incarnation
1. The Prophetic Promise of the Incarnation
The incarnation was not an afterthought in God’s plan but was foretold by the prophets of the Old Testament. One of the clearest prophecies of the incarnation is found in Isaiah 7:14:
> “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
The name “Immanuel” means “God with us,” signifying that the child born of a virgin would be more than just a human prophet or king; He would be God Himself in human form. This prophecy pointed forward to the coming of Jesus Christ, the fulfilment of God’s promise to dwell among His people and bring about their redemption.
The incarnation is also foreshadowed in other Old Testament passages. In Micah 5:2, the prophet foretells that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem but also emphasises His eternal nature: “whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” This points to the reality that the Messiah would be both fully human, born in time and space, and fully divine, existing from eternity.
2. The New Testament Fulfilment of the Incarnation
The New Testament begins with the fulfilment of these prophecies in the person of Jesus Christ. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke record the miraculous conception and birth of Jesus, emphasising both His divine and human natures. In Matthew 1:22-23, the angel announces to Joseph that the child Mary is carrying is the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy:
“All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).”
Matthew 1:22-23
Luke’s account further emphasises the miraculous nature of Jesus’ birth. When the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will give birth to the Son of God, Mary asks how this is possible, given that she is a virgin. The angel responds:
“The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God”
Luke 1:35
These passages highlight the supernatural origin of Jesus and affirm that He is both fully God and fully man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a woman.
3. The Purpose of the Incarnation in the Writings of Apostle Paul
The Apostle Paul provides further theological reflection on the purpose of the incarnation in his letters. In Galatians 4:4-5, Paul writes:
“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”
Galatians 4:4-5
Here, Paul explains that the incarnation occurred “when the set time had fully come”—meaning that it was part of God’s sovereign plan to redeem humanity. Jesus was born of a woman, fully human, yet also sent by God, fully divine, to fulfil the requirements of the law and redeem those who were bound by sin.
In Philippians 2:5-8, Paul reflects on the humility of Christ in the incarnation:
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
Philippians 2:5-8
This passage emphasises the self-emptying nature of the incarnation. Jesus, though fully God, “made himself nothing” by taking on human flesh and living as a servant. His ultimate act of humility was His death on the cross, which was made possible by His incarnation.
Why Did God Become Man? The Reasons for the Incarnation
1. To Reveal God to Humanity
One of the primary reasons for the incarnation was to reveal God to humanity in a way that was both personal and accessible. While God had revealed Himself in various ways throughout history—through creation, through the prophets, and through the law—none of these revelations provided the fullness of God’s nature in the way that the incarnation did.
In Jesus Christ, the invisible God became visible. As John writes in his Gospel:
“No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known”
John 1:18
Jesus is the perfect revelation of God because He is God in the flesh. When we look at Jesus, we see the character, love, holiness, and mercy of God. As the author of Hebrews puts it:
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word” Hebrews 1:3
Through His words, actions, and life, Jesus reveals the heart of the Father. He shows us what God is like, not in an abstract or distant way, but in a concrete and personal manner.
2. To Provide a Perfect Sacrifice for Sin
Another key reason for the incarnation is that it made possible, the perfect sacrifice for sin. The Old Testament sacrificial system required the offering of animals as atonement for sin, but these sacrifices were ultimately insufficient to remove sin permanently. As the writer of Hebrews explains:
“It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins”
Hebrews 10:4
For sin to be fully atoned for, a perfect and sinless sacrifice was required – one that could fully satisfy the justice of God. This is why God became man. Only by taking on human nature could Jesus offer Himself as a representative for humanity and provide the perfect sacrifice for sin.
As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21:
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
2 Corinthians 5:21
Jesus, as fully God, was able to live a sinless life. As fully man, He was able to represent humanity in His death. By dying on the cross, Jesus bore the penalty for our sins and made it possible for us to be reconciled to God.
3. To Defeat Sin, Death, and Satan
The incarnation was also necessary for Christ to defeat the powers of sin, death, and Satan. In becoming man, Jesus entered into the human experience, including the experience of suffering and death. But through His death and resurrection, He conquered these forces and secured victory for all who believe in Him.
The writer of Hebrews explains that Jesus became human so that He could destroy the power of death:
“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death”
Hebrews 2:14-15
By taking on human flesh, Jesus was able to experience death and, in doing so, destroy its power. His resurrection is the proof of His victory over death, and it provides the hope of eternal life for all who trust in Him.
4. To Mediate Between God and Humanity
In becoming man, Jesus also became the perfect mediator between God and humanity. A mediator is someone who stands between two parties to bring reconciliation, and Jesus fulfils this role because He is both fully God and fully man.
Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2:5-6:
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”
1 Timothy 2:5-6
Because Jesus is both God and man, He is able to represent both parties in the work of reconciliation. He understands the holiness and justice of God, and He also understands the weakness and brokenness of humanity. As our mediator, Jesus bridges the gap between us and God, making it possible for us to be reconciled to the Father.
5. To Sympathise with Our Weaknesses
Finally, the incarnation allows Jesus to sympathise with our weaknesses and struggles. As fully human, Jesus experienced the full range of human emotions, temptations, and sufferings. He knows what it is like to be hungry, tired, rejected, and tempted. This enables Him to be a compassionate and understanding Saviour.
The writer of Hebrews highlights this aspect of the incarnation:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted
Hebrews 4:15
in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin”
Because Jesus has walked in our shoes, He is able to provide the comfort and strength we need in our own struggles. He is not a distant or detached Saviour; He is intimately acquainted with our humanity and stands ready to help us in our time of need.
Conclusion
The incarnation is the ultimate expression of God’s love and grace. In becoming man, God entered into our world, took on our flesh, and accomplished what we could never do on our own. Through the incarnation, Jesus reveals God to us, provides the perfect sacrifice for sin, defeats the powers of evil, mediates between us and God, and sympathises with our weaknesses.
The doctrine of the incarnation reminds us that God is not distant or indifferent to our struggles. He has come near to us in the person of Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, to bring about our salvation and to restore all things. As we reflect on the incarnation, let us respond with awe, gratitude, and worship, knowing that in Christ, God has truly become “Immanuel”—God with us.
Feel free to share your thoughts or questions in the comments below. How does the incarnation shape your understanding of God’s love and your relationship with Him?
In the next post, we will be having a look at “The Atonement: How Jesus Saves Us”