Why the Son of God became
the Son of Man!

Every true believer knows that the Babe Who was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem of Judea over 1900 years ago was the Eternal God become flesh. There can be no question about this among us who have been redeemed from our sins by His precious blood. Assuredly, it is a mystery which we can only faintly comprehend with our finite minds, but faith knows that God became Man.

Why did the Son of God become the Son of Man? Why the Incarnation? All who know Him will immediately answer: "He became man in order to die on the Cross for our sins." This is blessedly true. But there are also other reasons given in the Word of God as to why it was necessary for Christ to take a human body, why it was necessary for the Son of God to become the Son of Man. Let us observe from the Word the various reasons for the Incarnation of the Son of God.

1. Christ became Man in order to die on the Cross for our redemption.

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (I Tim. 1: 15). "Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matt. 20:28).

2. Christ became Man to break sin's power over the believer.

"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: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Rom. 8:2-4). "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not 1, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of .the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).

3. Christ became Man in order to defeat Satan.

"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil" (I John 3:8). "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Heb. 2:14, 15).

4. Christ became Man in order to manifest God to man.

"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him" (John 1:18). "Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?" (John 14:9).

5. Christ became Man to show believers how to walk--to be the believer's example.

"He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked" (I John 2:6). "if, when ye do well and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps" (I Pet. 2:20,21).

6. Christ became Man in order to become our High Priest.

"For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him (the nature of) the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted" (Heb. 2: 16-18).

"And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end" (Lk. 1:30-33). "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth ... and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jer. 23:5,6).

All these glorious purposes of the Incarnation will be consummated at the Second Coming of Christ. Then will our redemption be completed, when our bodies are redeemed (Rom. 8:23; Eph. 4:30). Sin will then have no more power at all over us, for we shall be like Him (I John 3:2). And though Satan was defeated at the Cross, God still permits him to reign over this world as an usurper. But his power will be completely broken at the return of the Lord Jesus (Rev. 20:1-3). At His return, our Lord shall manifest God as the God of Judgment, even as He manifested Him as the God of love at His First Coming (Isa. 30:18; Psa. 96:13). Christ is now the believer's example, but we so often fall short of following Him. Then we shall be able to follow Him perfectly, for we shall be like Him (I John 3:2). Then too, His Priesthood will be fully consummated, for He reigns, it shall be as a Priest upon His throne (Zech. 6:12, 13). Then He shall occupy His throne, the throne of His father David (Matt. 25:31).

Wonderful coming day. Joy to the world! The Lord is coming back again. "Even so, come Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22:20).

HE HAS COME! HE IS COMING!