The crucifixion and the resurrection of our Lord rightly occupy the central place in Christian theology. Without the cross, we have no reason to celebrate the birth of Christ. Regardless of who He is and in spite of his great act of humility in coming to earth, if Jesus does not go to the cross for us, then He may be called great, but He is only our great judge and not our great savior.
The birth of Christ should occupy a very special place in the hearts of believers. It should remind us of God’s great love for us in sending His Son to die on our behalf. It should remind us of the Son’s love for us in “taking the form of a servant,” voluntarily, because of His desire to be our Mediator and Savior. Likewise, the circumstances of His birth should remind us of His humility in coming to our world. Should we have made arrangements for His coming, we certainly would have chosen better for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But, as the Sovereign of the Universe, He chose to be born in humble circumstances. All our meditations of the coming of Christ should lead to wonder, amazement, and awe. And like the angels who announced His birth, it should provoke a spirit of great joy in all our hearts over what the Lord has done in sending His son.
This issue is dedicated to the study of the Incarnation. A. W. Pink’s article, “Christ, the Word Incarnate,” provides an excellent exposition of John 1:14. Through it, Pink supplies us with valuable insights into the importance of Christ’s two natures. He also explores the ideas of His “tabernacling among us,” His glory, and His grace. This essay also has an excellent exposition of the relationship between law and grace. No understanding of Christmas is complete without an examination of the meaning and message of “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The lead article in this issue provides a very helpful examination. In the brief article on “The Mediation of Christ,” Pink shows why our salvation is dependent upon Christ becoming man. He cannot be our Mediator unless be is one like us. The Incarnation was God’s method for allowing Jesus to be the perfect mediator between God and man.
John Owen’s “The Glory of Christ’s Humbling Himself,” furnishes a valuable treatment of the necessity of Christ’s two natures. In his essay, Owen examines the various heresies that have arisen over the nature of Christ’s deity and humanity. His treatment of this topic shows why Christ had to be both God and man to be the “mediator between God and man.”
We have also included two sermons by Spurgeon. His “The Great Birthday and our Coming of Age” is a message on Galatians 4:4-6 in which Spurgeon examines the perfect timing in the coming of Christ. This message also includes some very helpful observations about the reason for His coming and the results that it has brought to mankind. His “The First Christmas Carol” is magnificent reading! In it, Spurgeon delves into the message of the angels that appeared to the shepherds. He shows us the reasons for their great joy and provides encouragement to worship the Lord with the same type of joy that they displayed.
Finally, this issue ends with the first chapter from Octavius Winslow’s The Sympathy of Christ. This article explores the importance of Christ’s humanity, not merely from a theological perspective, but also from a practical, personal perspective. The Incarnation is not only essential for our salvation; it provides us with the confidence that we have a High Priest who can “sympathize with our weaknesses” and to whom we can go in times of trouble (Hebrews 4:15-16). Thus, we have a Savior, a Mediator, a High Priest who is like us. What a glorious truth is the Incarnation!
As you approach this Christmas season, we pray that your thoughts about the birth of Christ lead you to a season of great joy because we have a great Savior who “humbled himself and became obedient, even to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8).
By His Grace, Jim & Debbie
Copyright Jim Ehrhard, 2000. You are permitted to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that: (1) you credit the author; (2) any modifications are clearly marked; (3) you do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction; and (4) you do not make more than 100 copies without permission. If you would like to post this material to your web site or make any use other than as defined above, please contact Teaching Resources International
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