INCARNATION

INCARNATION MANIFESTATION

Now at last the image of the invisible God was made manifest by coming incarnate in human flesh. Paul makes reference to this event in writing to Timothy. "And without controversy great is the mystery of Godliness; He who manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, received up in glory" (1 Tim. 3:16 ASV). Some have referred to this series of clauses as one of the first creedal statements of the Church that finally was arranged in the form of a Christian hymn. Inasmuch as Asia Minor, and especially the region about Ephesus, seems to be the place where hymnology abounded, this could be true (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). On the other hand there are those who feel strongly that this arrangement of ideas, so amazingly gathering up the heart of the Christian faith, came pouring out of the great mind and heart of the Apostle Paul himself.

1. In an opening statement the apostle makes an evaluation of the central feature of the Christian faith. "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness." Even though the adjective is in the positive degree it carries the superlative sense, meaning, there is nothing greater than this. The mystery, once secret but now disclosed to the right kind of people, the secret of godliness is now revealed. Godliness is religious piety shown in relation to God. Because of the difference in language, the nearest expression to this in the Old Testament is the phrase, "the fear of the Lord" (Prov. 1:7; Isa. 11:2). The law of God was the meaning and measure of this piety, a piety almost wholly traced to the source of external compulsion. And it failed, miserably, for here was something "the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh" (Rom. 8:3).

But now at last the real secret of godliness is unveiled (Col. 1:26-27). Its source is the imparted life of God in the person of His Son (2 Pet. 1:3). It displays itself in outward conduct but it draws its life from the inner resources of Him who is godliness, like God in every respect because He is God (Col. 2:2). In an earlier epistle Paul places this secret in bold contrast with the godliness of the Old Testament. "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20 ASV). This secret now made known to men is the greatest fact of the Christian faith.

2. Having evaluated this feature, Paul now makes a declaration of the central fact of the Christian faith. "He who was manifested in the flesh" of the ASV is equivalent to the words of the KJV, "God was manifest in the flesh." The incarnation bridged the gap between the natural and the supernatural, the human and the divine, the seen with the unseen. The second person of the Godhead was clothed with flesh, so that now the image of the invisible God comes within the grasp of men. He was manifested, that is, that which previously existed but was not known is now brought out into the open and made clear and plain. And this was accomplished in flesh. Almost every expression like this in the New Testa­ment was intended to convey the impression that Christ was no mere apparition, mere semblance of humanity, who in reality deceived men. He was altogether man, the word "flesh" gathering up in its significance all that goes to make up true humanity, namely, spirit, soul, body. Christ changed the condition of His existence. Up until His incarnation He existed only in the form of God, but now He takes on humanity and exists as God-man.

Herein is the secret of godliness. By means of the incarnation Christ established a base of operations. Rut this was only the beginning. His movement and ministry from this point on was to provide a way by which He could share His life with all men who were willing to bow the knee to Him and accept His provision. In this way there could be a godliness, a godlikeness provided, the dynamic and display of which could be traced to the inner resources of the indwelling Spirit of God (Rom. 8:1b, 4a, 5, 9-10, 14). The secret is out, and it took just four words in the original language to declare it. Every other detail in the marvelous and majestic life of Christ and His Church flows from this one central fact.

3. The delineation of this central figure of the Christian faith in His march toward complete fulfillment of His purpose is drawn in five swift strokes of the pen. They mark out the path of this pioneer as He blazes the way forward to lead many sons into glory (Heb. 2:10).

(1)     He experiences vindication in spirit by His resurrection from the dead (Rom. 1:4), not only for Himself, but also for those who embrace Him as Savior (Rom. 4:25).

(2)     Attestation of the validity and veracity of His person and work derive not merely from men, but from angelic beings (Matt. 1:20; 2:13, 19: Luke 1:26f; 2:9-14; Matt. 4:11; Luke 22:43; Matt. 28:2f; Eph. 1:21).

(3)     Proclamation of this great fact centering in Christ was made among the nations within a few short years, witnessing to the value of this message (Col.  1:23).

(4)   An answering response of appropriation was made within the world of lost men, giving further evidence to the fact that the secret for which they had been searching had at last reached them (Acts 8:26-39).

(5)   The exaltation of Christ experienced at His ascension in a cloud of glory was the crowning mark of approval for His work and the final detail in making the secret of godliness available to men who believe on Him (Acts 2:33-36).