A: Bible teachers use the word,
incarnation (which means in-fleshment), to refer to the
fact that the Son of God, who was already God, also
became a man. This does not make the virgin birth
unnecessary, but rather requires it. If Jesus had been
born like other men, then He could not be both God and
man. Please consider the following scriptures:
Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name
shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
This prophecy concerning the coming of Jesus Christ says
that the "child is born." This refers to His humanity in
being born as other men. But it also states that the
"son is given." That which is given as a gift already
exists. This points to His pre-existence and alongside
the titles bestowed on him in the verse points out the
fact that He is also God.
John 1:14 - And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of
the Father,) full of grace and truth.
A simple study of the passages that use the Word as a
title proves that this is Jesus Christ. Here we see that
He was made flesh. He already existed as God the Son,
but now He is made flesh. That is exactly what the word
incarnation means. Here are some other verses that teach
the same thing:
Galatians 4:4 - But when the fulness of the time was
come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made
under the law,
1Timothy 3:16 - And without controversy great is the
mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh,
justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto
the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into
glory.
Romans 8:3 - 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:
The Son was sent (Galatians 4:4) but in His incarnation
He was made of a woman. God was manifest (made known) in
the flesh (1Timothy 3:16). God sent His Son (who already
existed) to take on the "likeness of sinful flesh"
(Romans 8:3)--His flesh was like sinful flesh but was
not sinful. But to have one who was both God and man at
the same time required a different beginning; it
required the virgin birth.
Luke 1:35 - And the angel answered and said unto her,
The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of
the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that
holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called
the Son of God.
The angel told Mary that the Holy Ghost and the Highest
(certainly a reference to the Father) would join in
power in order to bring about the birth of a son who was
the Son of God. He was not to be born of a natural birth
but of a supernatural one. This the only way such a
person could be born on the earth.
These doctrines are so complex that many books have been
written on them. I hope this short survey will be a help
to you.
Till He comes,
David F. Reagan