Incarnation And Justification

Order of Service

• Call to Worship — Psalm 24:7-10
• Hymn — Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Faith — Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 29
• Scripture Reading — Micah 5:1-5
• Hymn — O Little Town of Bethlehem
• Pastoral Prayer
• Offering
• Prayer of Dedication
• Hymn — O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
• Sermon
• Hymn — Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
• Benediction

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Sermon Title: Incarnation and Justification

Scripture: Hebrews 2:14-18

I. Our Need for Justification

A. The diagnosis: mankind is born into a desperate spiritual predicament

1. Romans 3:10-12 — none is righteous, no one does good
2. All have sinned and fall short; all are liable before God for judgment
3. Adam's sin as federal head brings condemnation upon all men

B. Two responses to guilt illustrated in Genesis 3

1. Adam and Eve's self-made coverings of fig leaves — mankind's perpetual attempt to self-justify
2. God's provision of garments from animal skins — only God can provide a covering that truly atones

C. Every attempt at self-justification is faulty from the start; we remain condemned before God as long as we look to ourselves

II. The Necessity of Christ's Incarnation to Become the Justifier

A. Christ takes to himself full humanity

1. Hebrews 2:14 — since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise partook of the same things
2. Hebrews 2:17 — he had to be made like his brothers in every respect
3. Hebrews 2:18 — he himself suffered when tempted
4. He was born a baby, grew in wisdom, and was subject to weakness — made like us in every way, yet without sin

B. Christ takes to himself fully the cup of God's wrath

1. Hebrews 2:17 — as merciful and faithful high priest he makes propitiation for the sins of the people
2. Propitiation: reconciliation with God by atoning for sin — putting away sin and restoring right relationship with God
3. Isaiah 51:17 — God takes the cup of staggering, the bowl of his wrath, from his people's hand
4. In Gethsemane Christ prays that the cup pass, yet submits: not my will but yours be done
5. Upon the cross Christ drinks the cup of God's just wrath to the dregs
6. Isaiah 53:4-5 — he bore our griefs, was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities

C. Christ had to be made like us in every way so that he might be the justifier of his people

III. The Necessity of Faith for Justification in Christ Incarnate

A. What is accomplished must be applied — a balm left unapplied does no good to the wound

1. Westminster Shorter Catechism definition: justification is an act of God's free grace wherein he pardons all our sins and accepts us as righteous in his sight only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us and received by faith

B. The target of Christ's work — Hebrews 2:16

1. He does not help angels but the offspring of Abraham
2. Christ himself is called the offspring of Abraham
3. The offspring of Abraham are a covenant people marked by faith — an elect, foreloved people
4. Galatians 3:7-9 — it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham, blessed along with Abraham the man of faith

C. Justification is received by faith alone in Christ alone

1. God regenerates the heart, adopts the sinner as his child, and works saving faith into him
2. By faith the believer takes hold of Christ and the benefits of his priestly ministry flow through union with him
3. Christ is the vine; believers are the branches — his righteousness is imputed to those who trust in him

D. Practical application: justification delivers from bondage to the fear of death — Hebrews 2:14-15

1. Through death Christ destroyed the devil who had the power of death
2. Through death Christ delivers all who were subject to lifelong slavery through fear of death
3. The believer's debt for sin has been paid; death holds nothing over them
4. 1 Corinthians 15:55 — O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?
5. In Christ: no more condemnation, no more fear of death