SEMESTER 4
453 – The Incarnation of Christ #1 (His Deity)
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: BIBLE SURVEY IV LESSON # 53
THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST – #1 (HIS DEITY)
Read Mat. 1:1-23
and Lk. 1:1-2:39.
INTRODUCTION:
1. A major foundation stone of all Bible doctrine is the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
2. Unless we understand who He was, as well as why and how He was born of a woman, we shall never get at the true theme of the Bible.
3. In this lesson we shall touch briefly upon the purpose and means of His incarnation.
I. THE PROPHECIES OF CHRIST’S BIRTH
1. He was to be born of a virgin. (Isa. 7:14 compared to Mat. 1:18-25)
2. He was to be born without reputation, and without political or social stature. (Isa. 53:1-3 compared to Luke 2:1-7)
3. He was to be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:1-3 compared to Luke 2:3-4 and Mat. 2:1-6)
4. He was to be born to die for the sins of His people. (Isa. 53:6-12, Mat. 1:21, Heb. 10:4-10, Jn. 6:37-39)
5. He was to be the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham of a spiritual seed. (Gen. 13:14-18, Gen. 17:17-21 compared to Gal. 3:16-18)
II. THE DIVINITY OF JESUS CHRIST
1. Without faith in this doctrine Jesus’ birth would become no more than an account of a normal baby’s birth, fraught with sentiment and tall tales.
III: Humanly speaking, a virgin birth is an absolute impossibility, and only believed through grace.
2. Jn. 1:1-14 states His deity more fully and concisely than any other place in Scripture:
i. He (the Word) was in the beginning. (Jn. 1:1)
ii. He was eternally God; i.e., what He was, He was in the beginning. (Jn. 1:2)
iii. He was made flesh. (Jn. 1:14)
3. He also stated His deity in Jn. 8:58, Jn. 13:16-17, Jn. 17:5, and in many other Scriptures.
III. THE PURPOSE OF THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST
1. To redeem creation, in general, from the curse under which Adam brought it by transgression. (Gen. 3:17-19, Rom. 8:17-23) This is not to be confused with personal redemption.
2. To fulfill the law of God on the believer’s behalf. (Mat. 5:17)
3. To ransom those who believed on Him from sin. (Mat. 20:28)
4. To take out a people for His names’ sake. (Acts 15:13-18)
5. To save His people from their sins. (Mat. 1:21)
6. Ultimately, to destroy death, and deliver up the kingdom to God. (I Cor. 15:20-25)