Reflections on the Significance of the Incredible Incarnation!

Christmas is when God became man. This is the meaning of "incarnation." But why did God become man? The whole Bible is the answer; this morning, we look at Hebrews 2 for part of the answer.

The eternal salvation of human souls is of paramount importance to God.

Hebrews 2:9-18 heaps multiple implications of the Incarnation one on top of the other. The message is overwhelming: God places great value on the eternal destiny of your soul. It necessitates acceptance of God's character and His irrefutable love. God is not the chargable cause and author of any suffering. He loves you and goes to breathtaking lengths to restore the relationship with us.

Jesus had a common human origination with the people He came to save (Hebrews 2:11). He shared in our flesh and blood (verse 14) and was made like us in all things (verse 17). This was a necessity for the atonement, in order for Jesus to make payment for our sin. He also shared in our temptation and suffering (verse 18). This unique type of temptation is a result of living in a sin-cursed world. This includes death, reversals, difficulty in relationships, and every other type of hardship in life.

Hebrews 2:9-18 draws our attention to the following implications of the Incarnation:

• God dies for everyone (verse 9).
• God fulfills His desire for you to enjoy glory (verse 10).
• Man becomes God's brother (verse 11). This doesn't make us divine, but creates a wonderful relationship for us with God.
• The devil is rendered ultimately powerless (verse 14).
• Those who are in Christ are able not to sin (verse 15). Our lives can transform from chaos to clarify, confusion to simplicity. We are able to enjoy freedom from the fear of death and slavery to sin.
• Humanity has a qualified priest before God (verse 17). God's wrath for sin is satisfied.
• We have an experienced and masterful helper to aid us in temptation (verse 18).

The book of Hebrews was written to believers. Inattention and neglect was threatening their spiritual health (Hebrews 2:1, 3). Many distractions can control how we make decisions and live our lives. Even in severe persecution which the original audience experienced, focusing on who Jesus is and what He has done for us gives us what we need to live life.

Application Points

• Is the salvation of your soul of paramount importance to you? God loves your soul and wants you to be eternally safe with Him in Heaven.

• If you are a believer, what is drawing your attention away from your Savior? Use this season to focus again on who Jesus is and what He has done for you.

A Hymn to Encourage: "Angels We Have Heard on High"

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

See Him in a manger laid
Jesus Lord of heaven and earth;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
With us sing our Savior’s birth.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!