The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 1

II. Transcendent Scope and Significance of Incarnation

The incarnation of the Son of God was the most stupendous event in the history of the world—yes, of the universe—to that time. God then became man. Through this mysterious means Christ became identified with the human race. The plan of redemption, conceived in the inscrutable wisdom and infinite power of God from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8), was formulated to meet the contingency of sin’s tragic entrance into the newly created earth, and the fatal fall of man. The incarnation, then, is the core of God’s redemptive method for the recovery of lost man and his forfeited life. It is the center, the essential, the transcendent heart of Christianity (John 3:16). CFF1 185.2

1. MASTER KEY TO ALL REDEMPTIVE HISTORY

The incarnation was not a strange isolated event, breaking suddenly into human history. Everything before led up to it; and all that followed after—the cross and the resurrection, the ascension and heavenly ministry, and the final restitution of all things— grew out of it and were dependent upon it. It was the initial step, and thus constitutes the master key to all redemptive history. CFF1 185.3

Everything moved toward the incarnation until its accomplishment. The messages of prophets and seers all forecast and led up to it. The Gospels are the record of its accomplishment, and the New Testament is the unfolding of its wonders. It was the mysterious “secret,” held in silence through eternal times (1 Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 3:3-5; Colossians 1:26). And it was in this chosen way that Christ “brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10). CFF1 186.1

To effect the restoration of man, God became man and dwelt among men. And the supreme purpose of this entrance of the Eternal Son into our nature was to accomplish man’s redemption, to save him from destruction, and to restore the endless life he had forfeited. The incarnation invasion of human history was to snatch the scepter from the malign usurper and effect his overthrow. In this divine plan Christ’s humanity was representative, for He became the “second Adam,” the head of a new race, and thus provided the way back to God. So it was that God adopted humanity in the person of His Son. CFF1 186.2

2. BECOMING MAN, HE RETAINS HUMANITY FOREVER

In the incarnation, eternity entered into the conditions of time. At His incarnation Christ became what He was not before. He accepted the limitation of a human bodily life as the mode of His existence while on earth. And upon His ascension He carried His glorified body into highest Heaven (Acts 1:9-11; Acts 7:56; cf. Daniel 7:13), there to retain it forever, for when He returns at the Second Advent He comes as the Son of man (Matthew 24:39; Matthew 25:13, 31; Matthew 26:64; Mark 8:38; Mark 13:26; Luke 21:36; Revelation 14:14). CFF1 186.3

Thus the incarnation is the most stupendous event that human thought can conceive—whether in itself or in its consequences, which have no limit. It was actual union of the Creator with the creature, effected in the person of the Eternal Son of God. When He became man He did not cease to be God, but became the one and only God-man. He bridged the gulf between God and man. Through this means He assumed the headship of the human race, and became the “second man,” the “last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45-47). CFF1 186.4

Christ did not choose between dying at one time instead of at another. Rather, He chose between dying and not dying. His death was a death for sin, and sin is rebellion against God. His death canceled the curse, lifted the ban, purchased our pardon, and restored lost man and his forfeited life. That is why the incarnation is of such transcendent significance. CFF1 187.1

Jesus Christ united Heaven and earth in one person—God and man—and since His return to Heaven He has not ceased to be man. In His own body He will bear the only scars of sin left in eternity—the scars on His hands, His side, and His feet. Sin’s ugly scars on man will be healed forever. When Christ returned to the throne He carried with Him the manhood He had assumed, and bore it into the glory in which the Eternal Word had dwelt from the beginning. He is thus identified with man forever. That was the price of our redemption. That was the cost of our recovery of the life lost in Eden. That is the wonder of His love and grace. CFF1 187.2

4. PURPOSE OF INCARNATION WAS FIVEFOLD

Summarizing, we may say that the purpose of Christ’s incarnation was CFF1 188.1

(1) To reveal God to the world (John 1:14, 18; John 17:6, 26; 1 Timothy 3:16). CFF1 188.2

(2) To redeem man by bearing the sin of man (Isaiah 53:4-16; John 1:29, margin; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 3:16). CFF1 188.3

(3) To bring God and man together (Genesis 28:12; Matthew 1:23; John 1:51; 1 Peter 3:18). CFF1 188.4

(4) To bring back endless life to dying man (John 3:15, 16; John 4:14; John 5:24; John 10:28; John 11:25, 26; John 14:19; John 17:3). CFF1 188.5

(5) To destroy the devil and his works (John 12:31; John 16:33; Romans 8:1-4; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8). CFF1 188.6