What Is the Incarnation?

Jesus Christ Course

Document # TX001250

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

(John 1:1)

And the Word became fleshand made his dwelling

among us.(John 1:14)

What Is the Incarnation?

The Word (Logos) became flesh.• That is Incarnation.• The word incarnation comes from the Latin in,

meaning “in,” and caro, meaning “flesh.”• Incarnation refers to the central Christian belief

that the Son of God assumed human nature.

The Incarnation

• A mystery.• The divine and the

human come together in Jesus Christ.

• The union of Jesus Christ’s divine and human natures in one Divine Person is known as Hypostatic Union.

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What Is the Incarnation?All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,

and they shall name him Emmanuel.”

(Matthew 1:22–23)

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What Is the Incarnation?

• “Emmanuel” is a Hebrew word that means “God with us.”

• We celebrate this great mystery of the Incarnation at Christmas.

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What Is the Incarnation?

Why did God (the Word, the Son) become a human person?• So that we can know God• So that we can know how to

live• So that we can know God’s

great love for us

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What Is the Incarnation?

Jesus, a person who lived in history . . .• showed us how to be

human.• reconciled us with God.• overcame sin and death.

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Mary’s Role in the Incarnation

• In order for the Incarnation to to occur, Jesus needed a human mother – Mary.

• In order to fulfill her role, Mary was conceived without Original Sin.

• We celebrate this reality on the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Original Sin & Personal Sin

• Original Sin -The sin by which the first humans disobeyed God and thereby lost their original holiness. Original Sin is transmitted to every person born into the world, except Mary and Jesus.

• Personal Sin - Any deliberate offense, in thought, word, or deed, against the will of God

By the Power of the Holy Spirit

• Luke’s Gospel tells us how the Incarnation occurred through the power of the Holy Spirit.

• The angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus is known as the Annunciation.

Fulfillment, Not Replacement

• Jesus says: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law, but to fulfill.

• Fulfill means that Jesus perfects the law, but does not replace it.

• His way is the way of love.

Jesus, the Mediator

• Jesus is the mediator between humanity and God.

• He is a bridge that connects earth and Heaven.

• Communion: Sharing in the divine life of God with the Trinity through our Baptism, the Eucharist, and other Sacraments of the Church.

Sharing in the Divine Life

• Because Jesus shared in our life, we are able to share in God’s life.

• During our life after death, we will experience the Beatific Vision, enjoying God’s presence and glory forever.