4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT 2011

Incarnation &Formation

4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT 2011

Incarnation &Formation

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and

the power of the Most High will overshadow

you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God . . . For

nothing is impossible with God.”

Luke 1:35,37 (NLT)

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and

the power of the Most High will overshadow

you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God . . . For

nothing is impossible with God.”

Luke 1:35,37 (NLT)

THE INCARNATION:The second member of the Trinity, the Son

of God, becomes human in Jesus of

Nazareth.

THE INCARNATION:The second member of the Trinity, the Son

of God, becomes human in Jesus of

Nazareth.

THE INCARNATIONincludes: the body, the mind,

the emotions, the will,

the spirit.

THE INCARNATIONincludes: the body, the mind,

the emotions, the will,

the spirit.

Why did the Son of God become

human?What did this entail?

To answer these questions we must first

understand God’s intention for all humans.

Why did the Son of God become

human?What did this entail?

To answer these questions we must first

understand God’s intention for all humans.

Human infants are created by God to

be formed into mature adults:

the body, the mind, the emotions, the

will, the spirit.

Human infants are created by God to

be formed into mature adults:

the body, the mind, the emotions, the

will, the spirit.

Un-formed

Fully-formed

De-formed

We are born un-formed

By sin we are being

de-formed

We are born un-formed

By sin we are being

de-formed

In Christ God aims to

trans-form us

(= salvation)

In Christ God aims to

trans-form us

(= salvation)

Paul to the church in Galatia:

“My dear children, for whom I am again

in the pains of childbirth until Christ

is formed in you”(Galatians 4:19)

Paul to the church in Galatia:

“My dear children, for whom I am again

in the pains of childbirth until Christ

is formed in you”(Galatians 4:19)

Paul to the church at Rome:

“Let God transform you into a new

person . . .”(Romans 12:2)

Paul to the church at Rome:

“Let God transform you into a new

person . . .”(Romans 12:2)

Paul to the church at Corinth:

And we all . . . are being transformed

into his image with ever-increasing

glory(1 Corinthians 3:18)

Paul to the church at Corinth:

And we all . . . are being transformed

into his image with ever-increasing

glory(1 Corinthians 3:18)

Being in-formed is important,

but not enough –it addresses only

part of the human

person, unlike THE INCARNATION.

Being in-formed is important,

but not enough –it addresses only

part of the human

person, unlike THE INCARNATION.

God’s provision for trans-forming us:

CROSSRESURRECTIONINCARNATION

God’s provision for trans-forming us:

CROSSRESURRECTIONINCARNATION

THE INCARNATIONof the Son of God

THE INCARNATIONof the Son of God

“So the Word became human”

John 1:14 (NLT)

“So the Word became human”

John 1:14 (NLT)

What did the Word becoming human

entail?

What did the Word becoming human

entail?

A costly gift of love from the Father

“God so loved the world that he gave . .

.”

A costly gift of love from the Father

“God so loved the world that he gave . .

.”

The Son of God experiencing the full

depths of human life:

body, mind, emotion, will, spirit.

The Son of God experiencing the full

depths of human life:

body, mind, emotion, will, spirit.

Why did the Word become human?

Why did the Word become human?

“What has not been assumed has not

been healed . . . it is what is united to his

divinity that is saved.”

Gregory of Nazianzus (4th c. AD)

“What has not been assumed has not

been healed . . . it is what is united to his

divinity that is saved.”

Gregory of Nazianzus (4th c. AD)

In Jesus, God brought healing to humanity: body,

mind, emotions, will, spirit.

In Jesus, God brought healing to humanity: body,

mind, emotions, will, spirit.

We become fully-formed by

participating in Jesus’ life:

body, mind, emotions, will, spirit.

We become fully-formed by

participating in Jesus’ life:

body, mind, emotions, will, spirit.

My old self has been crucified with

Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ

lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by

trusting in the Son of God, who loved me

and gave himself for me.

(Galatians 2:20)

My old self has been crucified with

Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ

lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by

trusting in the Son of God, who loved me

and gave himself for me.

(Galatians 2:20)

And this is the secret:

Christ lives in you. This gives you

assurance of sharing his glory.

(Colossians 1:27)

And this is the secret:

Christ lives in you. This gives you

assurance of sharing his glory.

(Colossians 1:27)

Fully-formed

Incarnational faith –cultivating Christ in

us

The “Virtuous Circle”(N. T. Wright)

Incarnational faith –cultivating Christ in

us

The “Virtuous Circle”(N. T. Wright)

Scripture

CommunityStories

PracticesExamples

Scripture

CommunityStories

PracticesExamples

Confessing our Faith:Our only hope is

Jesus Christ.After we refused to live in the image of God, he was born of

the virgin Mary, sharing our genes and our instincts,

entering our culture,

Confessing our Faith:Our only hope is

Jesus Christ.After we refused to live in the image of God, he was born of

the virgin Mary, sharing our genes and our instincts,

entering our culture,

speaking our language, fulfilling the law of our God.

Being united to Christ’s humanity, we know ourselves when

we rest in him. Jesus Christ is the

hope of God’s world.

speaking our language, fulfilling the law of our God.

Being united to Christ’s humanity, we know ourselves when

we rest in him. Jesus Christ is the

hope of God’s world.

“No Sweeter Name”©2004 Gateway Create Publishing

“Unchanging” by Chris Tomlin© 2002 worshiptogether.com songs|sixsteps music (ASCAP – Adm. by EMI CMG)

“In Christ Alone” by Stuart Townend©2003 EMI Christian Music Publishing

“Forever Reign” by Jason Ingram & Reuben Morgan©2009 SHOUT! Publishing – Sony/ATV Timber Publishing – Windsor Hill Music

“This is Our God” by Chris Tomlin/Jesse Reeves©2007 Worshiptogehter.com songs (Adm. By EMI CMP)

“Highest” by Hillsong ©2007 Hillsong Publishing (Adm. by Integrity’s Hosanna! Music)

“Remedy” by David Crowder©2007 Worshiptogehter.com songs (Adm. By EMI CMP)

“We Will Dance” by David Ruis ©1993 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing (Adm. By Music Services)

All Songs CCLI License #1022684

“No Sweeter Name”©2004 Gateway Create Publishing

“Unchanging” by Chris Tomlin© 2002 worshiptogether.com songs|sixsteps music (ASCAP – Adm. by EMI CMG)

“In Christ Alone” by Stuart Townend©2003 EMI Christian Music Publishing

“Forever Reign” by Jason Ingram & Reuben Morgan©2009 SHOUT! Publishing – Sony/ATV Timber Publishing – Windsor Hill Music

“This is Our God” by Chris Tomlin/Jesse Reeves©2007 Worshiptogehter.com songs (Adm. By EMI CMP)

“Highest” by Hillsong ©2007 Hillsong Publishing (Adm. by Integrity’s Hosanna! Music)

“Remedy” by David Crowder©2007 Worshiptogehter.com songs (Adm. By EMI CMP)

“We Will Dance” by David Ruis ©1993 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing (Adm. By Music Services)

All Songs CCLI License #1022684