Lord's Day 10

Devotion

No other religion or faith makes the bold statement that Christianity makes: In His love for us, knowing that we were unable to save ourselves, God sent His only begotten Son, “so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Or, as Paul writes, “In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself…” (2Cor 5:19). There is no other savior who could make this claim; neither, then, is there any other way to God. The apostle Peter says, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Furthermore, we are reminded again today that Jesus is the eternal Son of God, begotten, not made, and that He shares one essence with God the Father. R.C Sproul writes, “As the Word Incarnate, Christ is revealed as being not only preexistent to creation, but eternal. He is said to be in the beginning with God and also that He is God.”

We also learn today that Christ was fully man, having a true body and soul, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary. Early heresy in the Church denied that Jesus had a physical body, insisting that such a union of God and man was impossible. But the teaching of scripture is clear, Christ was fully man, like us in every way, yet he was without sin (Heb 4:15). One scholar wrote, “That which was not incarnate, was not reconciled.”

Why did God become man, why was the incarnation of Christ necessary? One church father answered saying only an incarnate God/Man could adequately and fully repay the debt we owed to God. Elsewhere it has been said, God became one with man, so that man might become one with God.

Prayer

Gracious God, we thank you, that in your love and mercy, you sent your Son to redeem and save us. As we dwell upon your incarnate Word, may we grow in faith and love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Question 21

Q. 21. Who is the Redeemer of God’s elect?

A. The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, for ever.

Scripture Proofs

1 Tim. 2:5-6;

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

John 1:14;

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Gal. 4:4;

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

Rom. 9:5;

To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

Luke 1:35;

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy— the Son of God.

Col. 2:9;

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

Heb. 7:24-25.

but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Question 22

Q. 22. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?

A. Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin.

Scripture Proofs

Heb. 2:14;

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

Heb. 2:16;

For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.

Heb. 10:5;

Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;

Matt. 26:38;

Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”

Luke 1:27;

to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.

Luke 1:31;

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

Luke 1:35;

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy— the Son of God.

Luke 1:42;

and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

Gal. 4:4;

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

Heb. 4:15;

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Heb. 7:26.

For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;