Christmas always brings an opportunity to preach on the incarnation of Christ. What a wondrous doctrine that is. What a daring act it was that the eternal Son of God did not think "...equality with God a thing to be grasped (or held on to) but made himself nothing, talking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men." (Phil. 2:6,7). This supreme act of grace, love, mercy, and self-sacrifice was always part of the grand plan of God. So I began a preaching series on Christ in Genesis. If we really believe Jesus words that the scriptures testify of Jesus (John 5:39) then we should see him in all of scripture.
I believe that Jesus is present in the beginning of all things just as the Father and the Holy Spirit are. John 1:1-3 tells us that much. Indeed John wrote that through the Word, Jesus, the 2nd person of the Trinity, all things were made. Now the triune God is referenced in Genesis 1:26. Clearly, God is the main character of Genesis 1 and 2 even though mankind is introduced. In Genesis 3 the scene certainly shifts to the ground war between our first parents and the Tempter Satan, as he is presented for the first time as a serpent (see Rev.12:9). I would submit that nonetheless this text is about God more than man. Here at the very beginning of things Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is introduced as mankind's only redeemer. We need a divine redeemer. Jesus Christ is it. We need God for more than our physical life. We need redeeming grace.
In Genesis 3 the scene between the Tempter and our first parents is played out and our first parents, Adam and Eve, realize their sin before and their separation from God. They run and hide like we all have learned to do. Who comes? Who makes the first move to restore the broken relationship? It is God! More strikingly it is the LORD God coming in the form of one walking in the garden in the time of the evening breeze (Genesis 3:8,9). Unlike the Tempter who came in disguise and subtlety Christ comes quietly serenely calling out for man who has hid himself among the plants and trees.
Christ comes. That is the message of scripture. Throughout the Old Testament the pre-incarnate Christ is depicted in human form. He is The Angel of the LORD. He appeared in human form to the patriarchs. Why is it that mankind (male and female) is made in the image of God unlike the rest of the creatures? Why is it that Christ comes born of a woman, born under the law (Gal. 4:4)? Yes he came to redeem. He came and shared in flesh and blood (Heb. 2:14-17). It has been stated that the anthropomorphisms of God are founded on the divine condescension of God which culminated in the incarnation of God in Christ. Yet this was not just for effect. We are made in the image of God and Christ comes in our flesh and blood to be a fit substituted because God made us to have vital communion and fellowship with him!
God did not leave mankind in the self-imposed sinful condition. God in Christ comes to redeem us. God used the free sinful action of Adam to reveal himself as redeemer. The plan was set by grace. Satan set it in motion. God had Christmas, the incarnation of Christ, in the plan from the beginning.
These were some of my thoughts from scripture I preached this past Sunday. Christmas isn't just a New Testament reality. Join us for the next several weeks as we explore from God's word Christ in Genesis at Grace Fellowship OPC in Huron, OH. http://graceop.org/
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