There are several scriptures, both Old Testament and New Testament which indirectly teach incarnation. Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, an shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 9:6 – “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” I John 4:2 – “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.”
There are other scriptures which directly teach that Jesus Christ is the incarnate God. John 1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.” Romans 8:1-3 – “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” Philippians 2:5-8 – “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” I Timothy 3:16 – “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
I don’t think that any unbeliever can honestly say that the Bible doesn’t teach that Jesus is the incarnate God. As always, the quarrel goes back to whether or not the Word of God can be trusted. When it comes to the subject of apologetics, every aspect interlinks with every other aspect. For example, the Bible is proven by the fulfilment of its prophecies. Christ Jesus proved His deity by the fulfilment of prophecy which is contained in the Bible. The Bible is the record of both the prophecy and the fulfilment. It is imperative that Christians be able to explain and defend the Bible. The veracity of the Scriptures is one of the primary targets of the Devil.
Assuming our initial statement this morning is true: One of the things which sets Christianity apart from all other religions is our doctrine of the incarnation, Then we would expect to find certain things to be true as well. And we would expect the Bible to declare and prove (at least to the believer) that they are true. This morning we will briefly outline some of those things.
In the case of Christ Jesus, we find His birth both unique and profoundly simple and common. Why didn’t King Herod know about the birth of Jesus? Was there any fanfare at the birth of Jesus? Yes, there was, but it was localized. Why wasn’t Jesus born in a hospital? Why wasn’t Jesus born in a palace?
What made the birth of Jesus Christ unique? He was virgin born; He had no human father. What did this miraculous birth accomplish? He was born without a sin-nature.
Is there any prophetic significance to Jesus’ unique birth? Genesis 3:15 – “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, an shall call his name Immanuel.”
There is the testimony of Jesus’ disciples – people who knew Him well. I Peter 1:18-19 – “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” I Peter 2:21-22 – “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” I John 3:5 – “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.”
There is the testimony of Paul, one of the Word’s inspired pen-men. II Corinthians 5:20-21 – “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Hebrews 4:14-16 – “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
The testimony of Judas may be more valuable than those of Christ’s friends. Matthew 27:3-4 – “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. “
And then there is the indirect or unwilling testimony of Jesus’ avowed enemies. John 8:44-50 – “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.” Luke 23:39-41 – “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.”
Even the testimony of Islam’s Koran is that Jesus was sinless.
It was the testimony of the Father in Heaven that Jesus was righteous.
And finally there is the testimony of Christ Himself. John 8:25-30 – “Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. As he spake these words, many believed on him.”
Jesus performed miracles over nature. Water to wine – John 2. Stilling the storm – Matthew 8. Supernatural catch of fish – Luke 5. Multiplying food, Walking on water – Matthew 14. Money in the fish mouth – Matthew 17. The Fig tree drying up – Matthew 21.
Raising the dead. Jairus’ daughter – Matthew 9. Widow’s son – Luke 7. Lazarus – John 11.
John 7:45-46 – “Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.”