Understanding the Nature and Incarnation of Jesus Christ

Daniel 3:25

25 He answered and said, See, I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Hebrews 5:5-10

5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said to him, You are my Son, to day have I begotten you.

6 As he says also in another place, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him;

10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 2:9-18

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

11 For both he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

12 Saying, I will declare your name to my brothers, in the middle of the church will I sing praise to you.

13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God has given me.

14 For as much 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;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

16 For truly he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

17 Why in all things it behooved him to be made like to his brothers, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.

Hebrews 7:1-3

1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like to the Son of God; stays a priest continually.

Welcome to this Bible study on the wondrous nature of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. 📖✨ The term "only begotten Son" beautifully highlights that Jesus is unique in all the universe, having existed from eternity as God, yet becoming the only human being in history to have God as His literal Father through the Holy Spirit.

The Eternal Nature of the Word

Before we look at His earthly birth, we must understand that Jesus has always existed. He did not have a beginning in time; He is the eternal "I AM."

• ** Hebrews 7:1-3:** In the record of Melchizedek, we see a representation of the Son of God. He is described as being "without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God" Hebrews 7:3. This reveals that Christ’s divine nature is uncreated and eternal.

• ** John 1:1:** This eternal Being is called the Word, who "was in the beginning with God, and the Word was God" John 1:1. All things were created by Him John 1:3.

• ** Daniel 3:25:** Even in the Old Testament, His pre-existence was revealed. When King Nebuchadnezzar looked into the fiery furnace, he saw a fourth person whose "form is like the Son of God" Daniel 3:25. This was the eternal Christ standing with His people long before His birth in Bethlehem.

The Incarnation: The Only Begotten

The title "only begotten" refers specifically to the unique way Jesus entered humanity. While Adam was created by God, and we are children of God by adoption, Jesus is the only one literally begotten of the Father in human flesh.

• ** John 3:16:** "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" John 3:16. This gift was the incarnation—God sending His Son to take our nature.

• ** Matthew 1:23:** This fulfilled the prophecy of "Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us" Matthew 1:23. His humanity was a miracle of the Holy Spirit, making Him the unique bridge between the divine and the human.

The Purpose of His Humanity

Jesus took our nature so that He could experience everything we do and ultimately die in our place.

• ** Hebrews 2:9-18:** We see that Jesus "was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death" Hebrews 2:9. It was necessary for Him to be "made like unto his brethren" in all things so He could be a merciful and faithful High Priest Hebrews 2:17.

• A Shared Nature: Because we are partakers of flesh and blood, "he also himself likewise took part of the same" so that through death He might destroy the devil Hebrews 2:14. He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin, so He knows how to help us when we are tempted Hebrews 2:18.

Our High Priest and Sure Substitute

Because Jesus is both the Son of God and the Son of man, He is the perfect mediator.

• ** Hebrews 5:5-10:** Christ did not glorify Himself to be made a High Priest; rather, the Father declared, "Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee" Hebrews 5:5. This "begotten" experience in humanity allowed Him to learn obedience by the things He suffered Hebrews 5:8.

• Author of Salvation: Having been made perfect through His life and sacrifice, He became the "author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him," called by God as a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek Hebrews 5:9-10.

A Clarification on the Godhead

In our history, some early pioneers had varied views on the Trinity, often reacting to certain creeds of their day. However, through the guidance of the Spirit, we have come to see clearly that the Godhead consists of three co-eternal, co-equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit Matthew 28:19. Jesus is not a created being; He possesses life that is "original, unborrowed, underived" John 1:4. He is the "express image" of the Father’s person Hebrews 1:3, and in Him dwells "all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" Colossians 2:9.

By beholding Jesus as the "only begotten Son"—the God-man who gave His life for us—we are transformed into His image and given power to become the sons and daughters of God John 1:12. 🌟🙏