Lesson #22—Christ Became Man

Shorter Catechism Q & A # 22

Q. How did Christ, the Son of God, become man?

A. Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin.

Memorize Q & A—Exposition

The Incarnation was divine in nature whereby the Second Person took upon himself the nature of man by being conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary, born as any child was born, yet without sin; enabling Christ Jesus to take our place before the judgment seat of God to pay the penalty which we deserved.

What does it mean?

Define “Christ,” [Messiah] and “Son of God” [His Deity]. (Matt. 16:16)

Discuss Luke 1:27, 35, 42; John 1:14; Gal. 4:4; Heb. 4:15, 7:26. What do these verses tell us about the nature and work of the Savior, Christ Jesus?

What is our practice?

1. To learn more about the Christ who was sent by the Father
2. To be encouraged to testify of the Gospel of Christ
3. To know the love of God in Christ
4. To bear the fruit of the love of God in our home, etc.

Quotes for thought and discussion: The Incarnation!

“It was for that purpose that He became Incarnate, so that, as God dwelling in a human body, God clothed in human flesh, He might assume man’s place before the law and satisfy Divine justice.” (Loraine Boettner, Studies in Theology)

“As Christ being clothed with our flesh makes the human nature appear lovely to God, so he makes the divine nature appear lovely to man. The pure Godhead is terrible to behold, we could not see it and live; but Christ clothing himself with our flesh, makes the divine nature more amiable and delightful to us. We need not be afraid to look upon God through Christ’s human nature. It was a custom of old among shepherds to clothe themselves with sheepskins, to be more pleasing to the sheep; so Christ clothed himself with our flesh, that the divine nature may be more pleasing to us. The human nature is a glass, through which we may see the love and wisdom and glory of God clearly represented to us. Through the lantern of Christ’s humanity we may behold the light of the Deity. Christ being incarnate makes the sight of the Deity not formidable, but delightful to us.” (Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity)

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