Powerless

"For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:3-4

I know this is not the most "Christmasy" of texts, but believe it or not it does resound with Christmas truth; and here is why.

No matter how hard we try we will always fall short of living up to the law of God. Again, I believe every Christian will confess this; but I'm not quite sure if we live/act as if that statement is true.

Paul's explanation is that the Law is made weak through the flesh. If we were not lost in our own fleshly lusts and desires and Law were actually attainable, it would not be weak. In fact, we would actually benefit because we would find favor in the Lord and escape judgment.

Unfortunately, we know that is not the case. All of mankind is found sinful in the flesh. The Law can only curse and condemn us into eternal hell. Our flesh makes the Law powerless.

Thankfully, that which we could not do God has been accomplished through His Son Jesus Christ. The sovereign plan of God was to send His Son in the likeness of flesh (incarnation). Without the sending of the Son, without His being made into the flesh there is no wrath-satisfying sacrifice on our behalf.

God took on human flesh and acted on our behalf. The Law that once condemned has been fulfilled in Christ for our benefit. We are no longer powerless in the Law, but have power in the cross (1 Cor 1:18).

The doctrine of the incarnation of Christ is directly tied to the Gospel. If Jesus Christ was merely man, He too would be powerless in the flesh and at the mercy of the condemning Law. But He is not merely a man. He is God in the flesh, the true God-man. All made possible because of the event in which we profess to celebrate and commemorate this Christmas season.

If we do not celebrate the incarnation of Jesus Christ during this Christmas season we cannot celebrate the Gospel. Paul may not have had December 25 set aside in his calendar as a day to remember the incarnation of Christ, but he did understand it's importance in the Gospel message.

Praise the Lord. That which we could not do God has done through Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas everyone.

In Christ,
Mark Pakingan