INCARNATION FOR PURPOSE OF SHARING LIFE WHICH IS ETERNAL AND HIS

GOD BECAME INCARNATE IN ORDER THAT HE MIGHT SHARE WITH MEN HIS OWN ETERNAL LIFE

 

At first thought it might seem a very simple thing for God to share His life with men The modernistic thinkers of our day are inclined to take this view of the matter. Is not God a God of love? Is He not the Great Giver? Is He not sovereign in His ways? Why then must His bestowal of spiritual life wait for such a metaphysical mystery as an incarnation by Virgin Birth? The answer is clearly indicated in scripture. From John's Gospel, I chose- two verses, both from the lips of our Lord Himself:

 The first is John 10:10, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Perhaps we have read this blessed Scripture many times, heard much preaching upon it, even memorized it. But how many of us have ever noticed the close connection. with the verse that follows it? Let us look at them together:
"I am come that they might have life," our Lord says. But how is this: Life of God made accessible to sinners? Here is the answer: "I am the Good Shepherd," He continues, "The Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep." The Divine Shepherd must first give His life for the sheep, in order that He may give His life to the sheep. The way of life for us was the way of death for Him. Now we are able to trace the connection between the incarnation of God and abundant life for sinners: If no Incarnation, no death upon the Cross; If no death, no atonement for sin; if no atonement, no abundant life for sinners.

 The second passage even more clearly declares this connection. John 6:51, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever." Our Lord said that. Have you ever noticed that God the Father is never called the Bread of Life? Nor is the Holy Spirit. Only the second Person of the Godhead is named the Bread of Life. And even He is named thus only after He enters the world by Virgin Birth. Why is this? Let us read on for the answer: "And the Bread that I will give," He says, "is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." Here is the reason why our Lord points to Himself alone as the Bread of Life: Only an incarnate God could give His flesh in atoning death for the world. No incarnation, no death; no death, no atonement; no atonement, no Bread of life for dying men. Without a God made flesh, no eternal life for sinners.