I come from that part of the world where religious debates often converge on the assertion that Muslims, Jews, and Christians worship the same God, given their shared lineage from Abraham. While it is true that these faiths share a common ancestry, the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation sets Christianity apart in a profound and undeniable way. This central belief—that God took on human form in Jesus Christ—is exclusive to Christianity and fundamentally differentiates it from Judaism and Islam. Simply tracing their roots to Abraham does not mean these faiths understand or worship the same God. To understand this distinction, let’s explore the doctrine of the Incarnation.
Once, a preacher was walking with his young son along a village road. As they strolled, the preacher accidentally stepped on an anthill, crushing the tiny home of the ants. His son noticed and exclaimed, “Father, you’ve destroyed their home!”
The preacher, realizing what had happened, apologized and said, “I didn’t see them. I’d like to fix their home.”
But the boy, in his innocence, replied, “How can you? You’re too big to live among them or talk to them. You’d have to become one of them to truly help.”
The preacher paused, reflecting deeply. His son’s words captured the essence of the incarnation: God, infinite and mighty, became human in Jesus Christ to dwell among us, understand our struggles, and restore what was broken.
This imperfect story illustrates the perfect truth of the Incarnation. Unlike the father in the above story, God never makes mistakes that need correction. However, in the Garden of Eden, humanity fell into sin through Adam’s disobedience. In response, God, in His infinite love and mercy, took on human flesh and came into this world in the person of God the Son (Jesus Christ). He came in the form of the Son, not as a newly created being, but as the eternal Word who existed with God before the foundation of the world (John 1:1-2). The Son is not part of creation but is Himself the Creator, working in perfect unity with God the Father and the Holy Spirit (Colossians 1:16-17). Out of His boundless love for His people, He humbled Himself, taking on the form of a servant and becoming fully human while remaining fully God (Philippians 2:6-8). This profound act of humility demonstrates the depths of God’s love and His desire to dwell among us to redeem and restore humanity. He came to accomplish what Adam failed to do: Christ’s perfect obedience to God’s will. Through His life, death, and resurrection, God the Jehova incarnate in Jesus to save the people Whom He had chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, fulfilling the divine plan of redemption.
I remember during my school days in Pakistan, I often faced harsh criticism about the doctrine of the Incarnation. My Muslim friends and teachers, who believed Jesus was a prophet and a perfect human being, became furious and mocked when the conversation turned to Jesus as the Son of God, that God incarnate into God the Son (Jesus Christ). They would call me a heretic and criticize the Bible, claiming that it is not in its original form, which they believed is the reason Christians consider Jesus as God.
The truth remains unchanged: whether one believes it or not, Jesus Christ is eternal the Son of God, equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. There is only one God, existing in three persons and this is the way God revealed Himself to us.
Understanding and accepting the doctrine of the Incarnation is not something that can be grasped by human reasoning alone; it is a gift and grace of God. It is only through His grace that He blesses people to truly understand and believe in this profound truth about who Jesus is.
Jesus is Eternal and Shares the Same Divine Nature as the Father
Jesus is not a created being, but is eternal and fully God. In John 1:1-3, it is clear that Jesus, referred to as “the Word,” existed from the beginning and was fully divine.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:1-3, NIV)
Jesus and the Father are One
Jesus clearly identifies Himself as one with the Father, sharing the same divine essence. This oneness is not just in purpose, but in nature, indicating their shared divinity.
“I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30, NIV)
Jesus affirms that He is not separate from the Father in essence, making Him co-equal with God.
Jesus’ Authority to Forgive Sins (A Divine Prerogative)
Only God has the authority to forgive sins. In Mark 2:5-7, when Jesus forgives the sins of a paralytic man, the religious leaders accuse Him of blasphemy, recognizing that only God can forgive sins. Jesus’ action confirms His divine identity.
“When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’… ‘Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?'” (Mark 2:5-7, NIV)
Jesus is Worshiped as God
Throughout the New Testament, Jesus accepts worship, a privilege reserved for God alone. In John 20:28, Thomas, after seeing the risen Christ, calls Jesus “My Lord and my God,” and Jesus does not correct him, affirming His divine nature.
“Thomas said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'” (John 20:28-29, NIV)
Jesus is the Creator of All Things
The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus, as the Son of God, was involved in creation. In Colossians 1:16-17, it states that all things were created through Him and for Him, establishing His divinity and eternal existence alongside God the Father.
“For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16-17, NIV)
Sacred Scripture clearly demonstrates that Jesus is the incarnation of Jehovah, truly God and truly man. He shares the same eternal nature as God the Father and is fully involved in creation, forgiveness, and receiving worship. Understanding these truths helps solidify the belief that Jesus is not merely a prophet or a great teacher, but the eternal Son of God, the divine incarnate.
