1. 4 TH S UNDAY OF A DVENT 2011 Incarnation & Formation 4 TH S UNDAY OF A DVENT 2011 Incarnation & Formation

2. 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)

3. T HE I NCARNATION : The second member of the Trinity, the Son of God, becomes human in Jesus of Nazareth. T HE I NCARNATION : The second member of the Trinity, the Son of God, becomes human in Jesus of Nazareth.

4. T HE I NCARNATION includes: the body, the mind, the emotions, the will, the spirit. T HE I NCARNATION includes: the body, the mind, the emotions, the will, the spirit.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. Un-formed

8. Fully-formed

9. De-formed

12. We are born un-formed By sin we are being de-formed We are born un-formed By sin we are being de-formed

13. In Christ God aims to trans-form us (= salvation) In Christ God aims to trans-form us (= salvation)

14. 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)

15. 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)

16. 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)

17. Being in-formed is important, but not enough – it addresses only part of the human person, unlike T HE I NCARNATION. Being in-formed is important, but not enough – it addresses only part of the human person, unlike T HE I NCARNATION.

18. God’s provision for trans-forming us: C ROSS R ESURRECTION I NCARNATION God’s provision for trans-forming us: C ROSS R ESURRECTION I NCARNATION

19. T HE I NCARNATION of the Son of God T HE I NCARNATION of the Son of God

20. “So the Word became human” John 1:14 (NLT) “So the Word became human” John 1:14 (NLT)

21. What did the Word becoming human entail? What did the Word becoming human entail?

22. 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...”

23. 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.

24. Why did the Word become human? Why did the Word become human?

25. “What has not been assumed has not been healed... it is what is united to his divinity that is saved.” Gregory of Nazianzus (4 th 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 (4 th c. AD)

26. In Jesus, God brought healing to humanity: body, mind, emotions, will, spirit.

27. 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.

28. 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)

29. 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)

30. Fully-formed

31. Incarnational faith – cultivating Christ in us The “Virtuous Circle” (N. T. Wright) Incarnational faith – cultivating Christ in us The “Virtuous Circle” (N. T. Wright)

32. Scripture Scripture Community Stories Practices Examples Scripture Scripture Community Stories Practices Examples

33. 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,

34. 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.

35. “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