The Meaning of the Incarnation in Christianity

The Incarnation is one of the central teachings of Christianity. It is at the foundation of our religion.

God became man. Jesus Christ is both God and man.

The word incarnation literally means "in the flesh." For Christians we use the term to refer to the unity of both divinity and humanity in Jesus Christ.

In the opening words of the Gospel of John, Jesus is introduced as "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14).

St. Paul attests to this teaching as well by quoting a hymn in his letter to the Philippians: "he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:6).

The Gospel of Luke adds the story of Christ's incarnation with the Angel's visit to Mary in the Annunciation. "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God" (Luke 1:35).

This is why in the Creed we proclaim that Jesus Christ "came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man."

Why is the Incarnation important?

In other words, why did God become man? Why did the Word become flesh?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church cites four reasons for the Incarnation (CCC, 456-460):

The Word became flesh . . .
1. in order to save us.
2. so that we might know God's love.
3. to be a model of holiness.
4. to make us partakers in the divine nature.

God loves us. God saves us. God shows us how to be holy by becoming more like him.

"For the Son of God became man so that we might become God."
—St. Athanasius

CONNECT WITH THE RELIGION TEACHER:

CONNECT WITH JARED:

ARE YOU A RELIGIOUS EDUCATOR? CHECK OUT THESE RESOURCES:

[caseymckee]

Please pray for me brothers and sisters for all the graces necessary for my salvation. Thank you!

[e.g.]

Thank you so much for all you do to evangelizing us. Many blessings going your way!

[rizs]

A God who created everything with His WORD could not FORGIVE MERE MORTAL WEAK HUMANS WITH THAT WORD BUT HAD TO HAVE A SON, THEN KILL THAT SON AS A COMPENSATION FOR HIS ACT OF CHARITY OF FORGIVING
PAYING COMPENSATION FOR
WELL WHEN WILL THAT CONCEPT BECOME UNDERSTANDABLE BY REASON AND NOT BY
When will it become UNDERSTANDABLE BY REASON AND NOT BY FAITH THAT A NEW BORN WHICH CAN DO NOTHING ON ITS OWN LEAST OF ALL SIN, BECOMES A SINNER BY FROM WHEN DID SIN OCCUR WITHOUT ANY
WHEN WILL IT BE UNDERSTANDABLE BY REASON AND NOT FAITH THAT 1+1+1=1???
WISH SOMEBODY COULD HAVE SOLVED THESE PROBLEMS IN 2000

[kiwihans]

NOT a bible word! but like 'godhead' 'trinity' e.t.c all human philosophic words! by definition it suggests falsely that 'God came down as a man ( while still being in heaven somehow, as sort of puppet show, assuming various characters like the 'punch and Judy man') This is a mockery and a denial of the REAL LOVE that our heavenly Father showed by giving up and sending his dea beloved son down to this earth to suffer & dies, just for his great love for us! Yes "God loved the world SO MUCH" Jesus said, and John said "If this is how God loved us, should we not love one another?" ( John 3:16. 1 John 4:11) True God can do anything he is all powerful! but principally he is a God of LOVE!

[tongakhan]

Christians do not believe in any incarnation.
God doesn't change forms as Jesus clearly stated at John 4:24 in conformity with Malachi 3:6.
Jesus was a TRANFER of an angelic SON OF GOD into a human form.

(Philippians 2:7) No, but he emptied himself (of his angelic spirit form) and took a slave’s form and BECAME HUMAN.

Caterpillars change into butterflies all the time.