How Could God Be Born? (Birth Of God)

            God, by definition, is uncaused. If God is uncaused, HE cannot be born. How then do we celebrate Christmas as the birth of God – the Lord Jesus Christ?

Was Christ God?

            If Christ is not God, then HIS birth need not be questioned. But every sincere Christian believes that Christ is God.

            How could we be certain of Christ’s deity (that Christ is God)?

            We may not find a verse in the Bible in which Christ acknowledges HIS deity with the simple words, ‘I am God.’ But the Jews of Jesus’ time were well aware that HE claimed to be God, “The Jewish leaders picked up rocks again to stone him to death. Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good deeds from the Father. For which one of them are you going to stone me?” The Jewish leaders replied, “We are not going to stone you for a good deed but for blasphemy, because you, a man, are claiming to be God.”” (John 10: 31-33, NET, Emphasis Mine).  There’s another instance of the Jews disputing Christ’s claim to be God, “The Jewish leaders replied, “We have a law, and according to our law he ought to die, because he claimed to be the Son of God!”” (John 19:7, NET, Emphasis Mine)

            How did Christ claim to be God?

            Although Christ may not have said the simple words, "I am God," HE did make several claims of paramount significance that only God can make:

            (1) Jesus claimed that the angels were HIS angels (Matthew 13:41). Elsewhere angels are spoken of as ‘the angels of God’ (Luke 12: 8-9, 15:10).

            (2) In the same verse (Matthew 13:41), apart from claiming that angels are HIS angels, Jesus referred to the Kingdom as HIS Kingdom.

            (3) Although God alone can forgive sins, Jesus claimed to forgive sins, “And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”” (Mark 2:5, RSV; cf. Mark 2: 1-12).

            (4) Jesus spoke of judging the world (Matthew 25: 31-46).

            (5) Jesus claimed to be one with the Father, “…The Father and I are one.” (John 10:30). To know Christ is to know the Father, HE claimed (John 14: 7-9).

            (6) Jesus claimed to be pre-existent, “Jesus said to them, “I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I am!”” (John 8:58, NET).

            (7) Jesus clearly acknowledged that HE is Christ, the Son of God, “And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:63b-64, NKJV, Emphasis Mine).

            (8) God alone has the power to kill and make alive (1 Samuel 2:6). However, Jesus claims this power to give and preserve life, “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes.” (John 5:21, NET). Elsewhere HE said, “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live…” (John 11:25, RSV).

            We could go on and on, but it is adequately clear from the Bible that Jesus is God.

How Is The Birth of God Justified?

            The New Testament identifies Jesus as both truly God and truly man, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind…Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father. John testified about him and shouted out, “This one was the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’” For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.” (John 1: 1-4, 14-18, NET).

            Jesus is described as God, who created all things. This very Jesus became man and entered earth. Thus says the Bible about the incarnation of God as a man. Therefore, Jesus Christ was truly God and truly man.

            Christ was not God, to begin with, then human being, then God again. The incarnate Lord Jesus Christ was God and man, simultaneously.

            Therefore the birth of God is not an aberration. It is perfectly logical. If Christ were truly man, then HE had to be born on earth as a human being.

Necessity Of Incarnation

            Finally, was it necessary of God to become man to save mankind?

            Yes!

            Why?

            Very minimally, sin separates God and man. Since every human being is a sinner, no man or woman can be with God forever. Therefore, the problem of sin (that separates man from God) had to be resolved.

            This problem can only be resolved by God’s initiative. Man cannot initiate any solution because he is limited/finite. Therefore, the infinite God initiated the salvation of man through the second person of the blessed Trinity, the Lord Jesus Christ.

            The consequence/wages of sin is death. Therefore, any program of salvation should include death.¹

            If Christ had to die, then HE had to be born.

Endnotes:

¹Only the sacrifice of the eternal God can save mankind of their sins – those who have died, those who are living and who will die, and those who are yet to be born.