INCARNATION MADE HIM ABLE TO DIE FOR SINNERS & SAVE THEM FROM THEIR SINS

GOD BECAME INCARNATE IN CHRIST IN ORDER THAT HE MIGHT DIE FOR SINNERS, AND THUS SAVE THEM FROM THEIR SINS

I begin here by laying down three axiomatic propositions: First, the wages of sin is death. Second, the experience of death involves the separation of the body from the spirit. Third, the eternal God, because He is pure spirit, could not die. Therefore, in order that God might experience the reality of death in all its fullness, He must become incarnate, clothe Himself in a body of flesh and blood. The path of truth here is narrow. God could not die. But God Incarnate could die, and did die for our sins. Only an Incarnate God could be the Saviour of sinners.

Bearing these facts in mind, let us turn to the book of Hebrews. The first chapter describes the infinite glory of the Second Person of the Triune God. He is the Maker .of the worlds, the Upholder and Heir of all things. Of Him it is said, "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever."

The angels are His and worship at His feet. But now, in chapter two, we come to an amazing revelation. We see this glorious Person "made a little lower than the angels" "Why should the Eternal Son, who is above all angels, be made lower than the angels?" The answer is in the same verse: He was made thus "for the suffering of death. . .that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Heb. 2:9).

It is utterly impossible, therefore, for the wise of this world to understand the Birth of Christ as an isolated event in history. The goal of Bethlehem was the Place of the Skull. The mystery of Virgin Birth can be read only in the blazing light of Calvary. The Incarnation of our blessed Lord was the first historic step of the eternal God on His solemn march to the judgment of the Cross. The Manger and the Cross are joined inseparably in the redemptive purpose and plan of God. And "what God hath joined together let no man put asunder."

We have no right to gather people into our churches merely to talk about the birth of Jesus. The birth of Jesus cannot save the soul of a man. It is not the preaching of the Manger, but the preaching of the Cross, which is the power of God unto salvation. This does not mean that we should cease preaching the glorious good news that the "Son of God is come," made of a woman, in the likeness of men. But it does mean. that we must tell men why He came -- to save sinners from their sins by His death upon the Tree. He was born to die! Until we see this, we know nothing.