One of the Bible’s greatest mysteries is unveiled in the Christmas story: “Immanuel—God with us.” But the greater mystery was not fully known until Paul received a superlative New Testament revelation.
The Old Testament prophet Isaiah was given the first clue: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isa.7:14). Some who oppose the virgin birth argue that the Hebrew word for virgin—almah—means “a young unmarried woman who is of marriageable age.” But in all seven places it is used in the OT, “virgin” is meant. Furthermore, Matthew’s gospel, written in Greek, uses the Greek word parthenos, which explicitly means “virgin.” Matthew 1:21-23 declared that the virgin birth of Jesus fulfilled Isaiah 7:14:
“And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
It was the father’s right to name the child, and the angel named Jesus, because He is God’s Son. This takes in the dual nature of Jesus: divine and human. God would dwell with us through His Son Jesus. How amazing!
The Word became Flesh
“And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh.” (1Tim.3:16). In Greek, “manifest” means to show openly, to make known, and the Greek mysterion, which is transliterated into English, refers to something previously hidden. It does not mean that it could not be known, but that it was hidden up to now. What was hidden in the OT that God has now made known in the NT? Jesus is Emmanuel— He is God manifest in the flesh!
In his Gospel, John declared: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt amongst us…” (Jn.1:1,14).
“Was made” is erroneous. He was not made anything—He made everything (Jn.1:2-3). Rather, He became—He took upon Himself the body and nature of humanity. And He came as a newborn baby!
“For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore, in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren…” (Heb.2:16-17). This includes facing the same temptations we face. This means He can understand us and be a true mediator to God on our behalf. This means He could die in our place to save us and reconcile us to God.
In order for Him to pay the death penalty for our sins, He had to die as a man, so “He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil.2:6-8).
He had to die on the despised cross. The law of Moses stated that if any man had committed sin worthy of death, he had to hang on a tree: “For he that is hanged on a tree is accursed of God” (Deut.21:21-23). We all have committed sin worthy of death (Rom.3:23, 6:23). Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us (Gal.3:13).
Satan Miscalculated!
Satan did not know that the cross was not a human tragedy, but rather, a divine triumph! He didn’t know “the cross was the power of God unto salvation” (1Cor.1:18). His human pawns had no idea the power the cross would produce: “Which none of the rulers of this world knew: for had they had known they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1Cor.2:7-8). The devil doesn’t know everything! If he had known the cross was going to become our chariot to Heaven and his ride to Hell, he would not have pushed for His crucifixion.He doesn’t know how God is going to bring you through your fiery trial to your place of blessing and promotion—if he did, he would leave you alone!
The Greatest Mystery!
Nor could he have known the greatest mystery of all: “Even the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col.1:26-27).
The qualification is to be a “saint.” The Greek word hagios means “holy ones,” those who are relationship with God, partaking of His divine nature, which is evidenced by His character, produced in godly fruits. “I am crucified with Christ: Nevertheless, I live: yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal.2:20).
This richly glorious mystery was never seen by the OT prophets. There were approximately 456 prophecies of the Messiah, with 333 speaking of His first coming. They had an idea—an inkling of Immanuel—God with us: God coming down in human flesh, and living among us. Even His sacrificial death on the cross is prophesied in the Psalms and prophets. But they never saw the glory of Christ in us! They knew He would come, but did not know He would live in us by His Spirit. That by the new birth, we would be begotten again by the seed of His living Word (John 3:3-6, 1Pet.1:27, 2Pet.1:4).
This is why we can live a clean, holy life in the midst of a filthy, vile, godless world—“among the Gentiles”—unbelievers. They can see Christ IN us. We are the real deal. We walk the talk. We bear the fruit. It is the only way this world is ever going to see Christ—they have to see Him IN us!
On that holy night, the angel Gabriel appeared unto Mary and told her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and the power of the Most High would overshadow her, and she would conceive in her womb the Son of God (Lk.1:35). When the Holy Spirit came upon us and conceived in the womb of our spirits the precious seed of God’s Word, we were born again. Just as Mary carried the Word of God made flesh in her womb, we carry the incorruptible seed of God’s Word in our spirits, and it produces His righteousness in us.
It was awesome to have God with us, but we have received an upgrade: It is now Christ in us!
“Merry Christ-in-us!”
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