God With Us | Voddie Baucham

If you have your Bibles with you, please open to the Book of Galatians, Chapter 4. My topic tonight is “God With Us: The Incarnate God, Jesus Christ, the God-Man.” This is one of the most critical yet often overlooked aspects of Christian theology. We tend to neglect it for several reasons, one of which is that people are comfortable with Jesus as long as we aren’t too clear about who He truly is.

If you need evidence of this, Christmas is the perfect example. I’m not trying to ruin the holiday, but I know many people love Christmas – it’s their favorite time of year, and that’s wonderful. But here’s something interesting to consider: Imagine, just for a moment, pastors standing up at Easter and saying, “Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season.” You’d never hear that, because unlike Christmas, no one tries to make something else the reason for Easter. However, how often do we hear, “Keep Christ in Christmas?” Why? Because, while many love the idea of Christmas, not everyone is equally enthusiastic about the true meaning of the season.

Consider this: According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the most expensive Christmas tree ever was displayed in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on December 16, 2010. This tree, valued at $11,026,900, was decorated with Rolex watches, diamond rings, and 181 pieces of jewelry. It’s ironic that a Muslim country holds the record for the most expensive Christmas tree ever, particularly in a place where converting to Christianity is illegal.

Why does this happen? Because many people are fine with Jesus as long as we don’t define who He is. If Jesus is just a good man, a teacher, or even a prophet, that’s acceptable. Muslims, Mormons, Hindus, and Buddhists can all accept Jesus in this light. But once we declare that Jesus is more than a prophet or teacher – that He is God incarnate, God with us – then things change. Those who were willing to gather with you before might start to scatter.

There are numerous Scriptures we could examine, but for now, let’s focus on Galatians 4. I’ll start at verse 1, but the main point is in verse 4: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”

This passage emphasizes that Jesus came to fulfill God’s plan and to redeem us. So, what would happen if we stood in front of that $11 million Christmas tree in Abu Dhabi, surrounded by Muslims, and explained this message? If we share the truth about Christ’s incarnation and His role as God’s Son, we could challenge the very misunderstanding that makes the tree’s lavish decorations seem so misplaced.

We must remember that people are willing to celebrate Christmas as long as the true meaning of Christ’s divinity is overlooked. When we stand for the truth of who Jesus is – not just as a teacher or prophet, but as God with us – we make a powerful statement, one that can change hearts and minds.