"For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” – Romans 15:8-9
The incarnation of Christ anchors our lives in God’s faithfulness and mercy, giving us reason to celebrate His coming during this Advent season.
"Advent" means “the coming” and marks the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. This season invites us to celebrate the profound truth of the incarnation – Jesus coming in the flesh. The incarnation is not just a doctrine to defend but a truth to celebrate.
Reasons to Celebrate the Incarnation
1. The Incarnation Anchors Your Life in the Faithfulness of God
"For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs." – Romans 15:8
Paul reminds his readers that Christ’s coming fulfilled God’s promises to the Jewish people, affirming His truthfulness. Jeremiah 33:14-16 foretold the coming of a righteous branch from David’s line, and Christ’s birth fulfilled this very prophesy. In fact, Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament about the Messiah.
Peter Stoner in Science Speaks calculated the probability of one man fulfilling eight of the prophecies of the Old Testament for the Messiah to be 1 in 10 to the 17th power – that is, 1 with 17 zeros (100,000,000,000,000,000).
Peter Stoner then considered the possibility of any person fulfilling 48 of the prophecies by chance. Here, the odds jumped to 1 in 10 to the 157th power. That number would look something like this:
1 out of 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.
This astronomical number demonstrates that Jesus’ incarnation was no coincidence but the deliberate fulfillment of God’s faithfulness.
In seasons of doubt, remember that God keeps His promises. Reflect on Isaiah 46:9-10, which declares God’s sovereignty and His commitment to accomplishing His purposes.
Take time during Advent to meditate on how Christ's coming fulfilled promises for you personally.
"The incarnation is not just a doctrine to defend but a truth to celebrate." – Pastor Bob Moya
2. The Incarnation Anchors Your Life in the Mercy of God
"…and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, 'Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.'” – Romans 15:9
The Roman church was diverse – Jews, Gentiles, rich, poor, slaves, and free people. Paul highlights the fact that in the Incarnation, God extended His mercy to all nations and broke down ethnic and social barriers.
Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus includes Gentiles (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth) and women with controversial pasts. This unconventional lineage emphasizes God’s mercy and inclusivity. As Charles Spurgeon said, “Jesus is the heir of a line in which flows the blood of the harlot Rahab … He is akin to the fallen and to the lowly.”
Reflect on how the mercy of God has reached you and extended to others.
Celebrate that in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, but all are one in Him (Galatians 3:28).
Reflection and Celebration
During Advent, we can pause from defending the faith and instead celebrate what Jesus has done. C.S. Lewis reminds us, “A man or woman can’t be always defending the truth; there must be a time to feed on it.”
Practical Steps for Celebration:
Reflect on God’s faithfulness by meditating on fulfilled prophecies.
Express gratitude for God’s mercy by extending kindness to others, regardless of their background.
Read Romans 15:13 and pray for joy and peace as you trust in God’s promises.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." – Romans 15:13
May our hope in Jesus fill your heart and home this Christmas Season,
Pastor Bob Moya
About Pastor Bob Moya, DMin.
Pastor Bob Moya has served as the lead pastor with his wife Candace at City Chapel in Arlington, Texas for over 22+ years. He recently graduated with a doctorate degree in Spiritual Renewal and Leadership in the spring of 2024. When not serving at the church, you'll find Bob enjoying a good read at Barnes & Noble, sipping a nitro cold brew or black coffee from Starbucks, or spending time with his family.
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