“And without controversy, great is the mystery of Godliness: God was manifest in the flesh…”“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”“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: (4) that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us – who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”“But when — the fulness of the time was come – God sent forth His Son – made of a woman, made under the law, (5) to redeem them that were under the law – that we might receive the adoption of sons. (6) And because ye are sons – God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” [1Ti.3:16; Jn.1:14; Ro.8:3-4; Ga.4:4-6]

Each one of these scripture references descriptively declares the single most significant and most wonderful occurrence in the whole of the history of fallen-in-sin humanity! An event that would be completely constructed and perfectly performed by the eternal, all-powerful and all-constraining love and grace of God! For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son[Jn.3:16] This marks the historical event that would be God’s fulfillment of His promise that there would come into fallen humanity the Seed of the woman – who would crush the head of the Serpent. The revelatory reality of the incorruptible Seed of the Word of the Truth of the everlasting gospel is that this Seed of the woman would be the holy incarnation into the likeness of sinful flesh of the eternal and almighty Son of God! We know Him from our sin-poisoned history as the holy Savior — our Lord Jesus Christ! 1Jn.3:8 announces unto us: For this purpose the Son of God was manifestedthat He might destroy the works of the devil.”

It was the wicked evil plan and purpose of the subtlety of Satan to surreptitiously corrupt – and thereby kill — along with Adam and Eve – all their children as well! And, at first sight, it seemed  that he had successfully done it! For the Word of God says: For as in Adamall die[1Co.15:22] For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God[Ro.3:23] And, For the wages of sin is death…” [Ro.6:23]  Therefore, do each of these descriptive declarations include every single fallen-in-sin person that makes up the whole progeny of Adam and Eve!

Nevertheless, 700+ years before the actual birth of Christ, the same Word of God foretold these words: But thou BethlehemEphratah(!) – though thou be little among the thousands of Judah yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been of oldfrom everlasting!” [Mic.5:2] The word, Ephratah  means: Fruitful. The announcement that the Holy Spirit makes through His prophet, Micah, is that in the little town of Bethlehem there would be born and come forth — the eternal Fruit of the incarnation into the likeness of sinful flesh – the eternal Son of God. He would be the promised Seed of the woman who would also be the eternal sovereign Savior Son of man. He would come from eternity into the history of fallen humanity in the fullness of time to fulfill God’s perfect purpose. He is the one whom we know as the Lord Jesus Christ – the King of kings and the Lord of lords! He is the one whom we also come to know as being our sovereign, Savior Substitute! His life and death and resurrection has made for us a holy and perfect redemptive propitiation for our sinful souls! The Word of God descriptively declares: But of Him are ye in Christ Jesuswho, of Godis made unto uswisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemptionthat according as it is written: he that gloriethlet him glory (only) in the Lord.” [1Co.1:30-31] If it’s not all Christ – it’s all wrong! Praise His Holy all-glorious Name!

For Christ’s Glory Only!

–John Carpenter

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