What Does It Mean for God to Become Human? At first glance, one of the more problematic parts of understanding Christian belief is this whole concept that Jesus is God and man at the same time. How does that work? What does it mean? In one of the Gospels, the writer tells us, “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” Who is this Word? This passage tells us that he is God, and that everything derives its existence from him. Okay, that’s cool. We can handle this. The living Word is God, was with God, and everything derives its existence from him. What gets tricky is in verse 14 where it says, “the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” So God became human and people saw him, talked to him, touched him, laughed with him, cried with him, and ultimately saw him die. This idea is called the incarnation. The term itself comes from the Latin and literally means “in flesh.” The verses quoted above are the words of John, who wrote the fourth Gospel found in the New Testament. Since the word gospel simply means “good news,” this idea of the Word becoming human was exciting enough that four writers devoted their energies to recording this good news. What is the significance? God loved us so much and wanted us to know him so much that he came to us. In non-Christian stories such as Greek mythology, you occasionally find gods that come to earth. But they do it to conquer or to achieve some purpose that fits their overall power struggle with the other gods in the universe. In this story—the Bible story, this good news—God becomes human because he wants us to be able to enter into relationship with him. So Jesus was born and he was completely God and—at the exact same time—completely a man as well. That is, in Jesus we have two hundred percents (one-hundred percent God and one-hundred percent man) that equal one hundred percent. It’s a dichotomy that has to be held in logical tension: he had to be man to identify with us and for us to identify with him, and he had to be God to save us. For the Scripture in this article, see John 1:1-14.
Are you ready to give an answer to someone who asks what you believe? In order to do so you would have to know what you believe. Do you know what you believe? Are you convinced beyond any doubt of what your belief in the Word of God entails? If you cannot answer an emphatic yes or you find yourself questioning this, then you should take a long hard look at your walk and decide.
Throughout my Christian walk I have had the benefit of hearing many different teachings. Some of these I agreed with completely, some left me scratching my head wondering, but all led to one thing, they helped me to know what I believe and what I don’t.
By learning to study scripture, to use the various tools available to me (concordances, lexicons, books) I become better versed in God’s word. Then I was able to apply the Word to what I heard or was taught to see how the teaching measured up to God’s word. This with the help of the Holy Spirit helped me to distinguish what teachings were of God and which weren’t. But something else happened during this time. I developed faith and a belief system. You see, all that time I spent trying to find out what not to believe or what was false, helped me to figure out what I did believe.
Now, we all have what I call foundational beliefs. It is this faith you used to make the decision to believe in Jesus and the gift of salvation. I believe it is at this time that Christians are most vulnerable, because in the early stages of the Christian walk we rely totally on the beliefs of others. In our desire to know more about God and his will we are vulnerable to any “wind of doctrine” that we hear. The danger is that we are all to ready to accept the good stuff like prosperity, and healing but are all to quick to reject the hard lessons that come with the walk.
Some Christians have gone for years just believing what they are told without looking up the answers for themselves. They rely on the faith and beliefs of others to sustain them. Now, if they just went along like this for their own benefit the only harm would be to them, however, these same Christians, well meaning I’m sure, go around teaching what they have been told without comparing it to scripture to see that it is in accordance with God’s word. They are not teaching what they believe or are convinced of they are teaching what someone has told them to believe. “2Co 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak”
Is it so bad to teach what someone else is teaching? That depends. It depends on whether or not you know for a fact that what you’re speaking is in agreement with the word of God. If you are not sure then you should not be teaching it. Some of you may say, “Well I trust my Pastor, he would never lie.” I know many people that probably believed that about many cult leaders and false teachers. And these people could have been spared the pain and anguish they suffered had the only taken the time to search things out for them selves.
Now, let me get to the point. We are called to share the gospel. This involves sharing our beliefs. How can we share what we are unsure of or have not determined for ourselves? We can’t. “Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” We are responsible for knowing how to answer when asked a question regarding our faith. It is essential to know what you personally believe. You need to know that what you are saying agrees with God’s word so that you don’t lead someone down the wrong path or impart an inaccurate teaching.
Another important aspect of knowing and being thoroughly convinced in what you believe about the bible is that it quenches the fires of strife over doctrines and ideologies. When you have a thorough conviction about the word of God you don’t need to argue about who’s right and who’s wrong. You know the word of truth and you allow that to be your guide. And you’re confidence in it enables you to speak confidently yet gently. “1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” You no longer have to dispute because you have confidence that in speaking the truth in love you have Your able to trust God to do His part in opening the eyes and heart of those you witness to. And you pray for those who appear to have rejected your words.
I think what Paul said to Timothy in the preceding passages gives an example of what I am trying to say. I have quoted both the king James and Message bible because I think each has some insight to offer:
King James
“1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 1Ti 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 1Ti 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 1Ti 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 1Ti 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 1Ti 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 1Ti 4:9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. 1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. 1Ti 4:11 These things command and teach. 1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1Ti 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 1Ti 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 1Ti 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”
Message Bible
1Ti 4:1 The Spirit makes it clear that as time goes on, some are going to give up on the faith and chase after demonic illusions put forth by professional liars. 1Ti 4:2 These liars have lied so well and for so long that they've lost their capacity for truth. 1Ti 4:3 They will tell you not to get married. They'll tell you not to eat this or that food--perfectly good food God created to be eaten heartily and with thanksgiving by Christians! 1Ti 4:4 Everything God created is good, and to be received with thanks. Nothing is to be sneered at and thrown out. 1Ti 4:5 God's Word and our prayers make every item in creation holy. 1Ti 4:6 You've been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the Christians there, and you'll be a good servant of Jesus. 1Ti 4:7 Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God--no spiritual flabbiness, please! 1Ti 4:8 Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. 1Ti 4:9 You can count on this. Take it to heart. 1Ti 4:10 This is why we've thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We're banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers. 1Ti 4:11 Get the word out. Teach all these things. 1Ti 4:12 And don't let anyone put you down because you're young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. 1Ti 4:13 Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. 1Ti 4:14 And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed--keep that dusted off and in use. 1Ti 4:15 Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! 1Ti 4:16 Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don't be diverted. Just keep at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation.
Paul was clear in his message to follow sound teaching, what to teach and to keep studying the word. He also instructed him to be an example. To let his life be a part of his witness, I think we could all benefit from following that advice.
The important thing is to know what you believe before you go out trying to get someone else to believe. Don’t be quick to voice another’s teaching before you confirm for your self that it is biblically accurate. And never put someone else words into your own words. If you are going to relay someone else’s message, do it word for word. Because one word changed can change the entire meaning of the message you are trying to relate.
