Lyrical Theology: In Christ Alone (Part 4)
In Christ Alone – Newsboys (see full lyrics here)
In Christ alone, who took on flesh / fullness of God in helpless babe / this gift of love and righteousness / scorned by the ones he came to save
What powerful words fill these lyrics! The reality of Christ’s incarnation is one the many facets of the Christian faith that sets it apart from other world religions. Jesus is God in the flesh, a truth that is more than a technicality. In fact, it really shows the nature of God. In the incarnation we see that:
- God comes to us instead of us going to him
- God is willing to humble himself and experience life on broken earth
- God is not distant and removed but intimately acquainted with sinful man
- God’s love is so intense that he was willing to suffer at the hands of his own creation in order to save them
These are just a few profound truths that display who God is and what he cares about. Jesus, who is fully God, became a man through the virgin birth of his mother Mary. How can the fullness of Almighty God dwell in the helpless form of an infant baby? It is a mystery no one can truly grasp.
Jesus, as God in the flesh, truly is to be called a “gift of love and righteousness”. He is a gift in that the Father has offered the Son and his salvation free of charge. It is a gift of love in that the salvation Jesus brings is not earned or deserved, but rather an act of love and mercy and grace. This gift too is righteous in that Jesus is the sinless Son of God, perfect in righteousness…a righteousness that was to be offered for any sinner who calls on the name of Christ.
We must be painfully aware that the amazing love demonstrated by God is met by sickening sinfulness on the part of mankind. Those who killed Jesus – and we, as sinners, by extension – have mocked and scorned Jesus through our words and deeds. Each time we reject God and turn our own way, we “scorn” the One who made us and saves us. What is truly amazing is that Jesus, as God, knew this is how his love would be received…and yet he still chose to come and suffer and die! Truly there is no one like Christ, none who look into the eyes of those who hate him with forgiveness and love.
Thank you God for sending your Son to be a holy sacrifice for our sins!
Canadian Bible Guy 
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