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Like Adam or Like Us? The Mystery of the Incarnation Roy Adams Editor Part I N TYPICAL Eastern 5:2). He was "the mighty This is the central doctrine style, Nicodemus began God, the everlasting of the Christian Faith. his nocturnal interview Father" (Isa. 9:6). and the Without it, the whole canon with Jesus in a mouthful of astonishing claim of the of Scripture becomes a compliments: "Rabbi, we New Testament is that He meaningless document, a know that thou art a teacher did indeed enter the womb non-sense. come from God, for no man of a human mother, a part Yet many Christians can do these miracles...." of His own creation, across the centuries have Jesus gently brushed aside developed for nine months had difficulty accepting the the flatteries, and went as a regular embryo, and idea of the incarnation. directly to the point: then emerged a helpless, Some, like the Gnostics, "Except a man be born screaming baby in a could not bring themselves again, he cannot see the Bethlehem stable. to accept the real humanity kingdom of God." (John Absolutely mind boggling! of Christ. Others, like the 3:1-3). Said Ellen G. White: Ebionites (an early group of Attempting to avoid the "When we want a deep Chrisians of Jewish spiritual thrust of Jesus' problem to study, let us fix orientation) could not accept remark, Nicodemus posed a our minds on the most the real divinity of the conundrum: "How can a marvelous thing that ever Saviour. man be born when he is took place in earth or The initial debate and old: can he enter the second heaven—the incarnation of controversy which ensued time into his mother's the Son of God." (SDA from these conflicting views womb, and be born?" (vs. Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, of Christ were intense and 4). Impossible! p. 904). bitter, and lasted three That question is important The English word centuries—to the Council of for the subject before us, for "incarnation" comes from Nicea in 325 A.D. Delegates it brings into sharp focus, two latin words: in to that Council, representing albeit indirectly and (meaning "in") and caro all of Christendom, finally inadvertently, the miracle (meaning "flesh"). Thus came to an agreement on and mystery of the "incarnation" means the question of the divinity Incarnation. Nicodemus literally "in flesh" or, in and humanity of the probably did not realize at reference to Christ, "the Saviour: the time that he was seated becoming flesh." The "We believe in one God, in the presence of One who dearest affirmation of this the Father almighty . and was Himself a living doctrine is that found in in one Lord Jesus specimen of an infinitely John 1:14: "And the Word Christ. only begotten, that more complex phenomenon. became flesh, and dwelt is, from the substance of the Jesus was the One whom among us, and we beheld Father, God from Micah described when he His glory, glory as of the God. .begotten not made, wrote: "... whose goings only begotten of the Father, of one substance with the forth have been from of old, full of grace and truth." Father, through Whom all from everlasting." (Micah (NASB) things came into 2 MESSENGER/APRIL 1988 Cover photo--Meadow Flowers", Banff National Park, Alberta, by Dale Trefz An Important Subscription Reminder The Canadian Adventist Messenger is the official publica- tion of the Seventh-day Adven- tist Church in Canada. It is issued monthly. It is free (one per family) to those holding membership in a Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada. being. ..Who because of us separation; the difference of Otherwise, the annual subscrip- men and because of our natures having been in no tion price in Canada is $5.00, salvation came down and wise taken away by reason became incarnate, becoming of the union, but rather the outside Canada $10.00. man, suffered and rose again properties of each being If you hold membership in an on the third day, ascended preserved, and (both SDA Church in Canada, but do to the heavens, and will concurring into one not have the Messenger come to judge the living and Person... not parted or the dead.. ." divided into two persons..., delivered to your home, either (John N. Davidson Kelly, but one and the same Son to you or another member of Early Christian Creeds, and Only-begotten, the your family, please send your pp. 215-216.) divine Logos, the Lord Jesus name, address, and postal code, But if Christ was both Christ..." (Cited in J.L. either to your local conference, God and man, How then Gonzalez, A History of were divinity and humanity Christian Thought, I, pp. 390, or directly to the Messenger of- combined in His person? 391. Emphasis supplied.) fice at 1148 King Street East, How did they relate? Was Notice the extreme caution Oshawa, Ontario, L1H 1118. You He a schizophrenic? Was He of the language pressed into should receive your first copy in one person or was He two the service of this great persons? It was an issue of mystery. Observe the care about six weeks. Remember, immense theological taken to plug every one copy per family unit. If you complexity, and occupied loophole, and thread a way do not now hold membership in the attention of theologians through the theological an SDA Church in Canada, and philosophers for many pitfalls that have bedeviled decades, until "settled" at many through the centuries. please enclose the appropriate the council of Chalcedon in It was a ringing testimony subscription fee. 451 AD: to reverent and careful To ensure there is no break in //... we all with one scholarship. delivery when you move from voice teach .. that our And in that shining credo one address to another, send us Lord Jesus Christ is one and are the sentiments upon the same God, the same which many to this day your new address, including perfect in Godhead, the have made shipwreck: "in your postal code, as well as your same perfect in manhood, all things like unto us, sin old Messenger address label. truly God and truly man, only excepted." What does Please help us cut cost and . in all things like unto this mean? If He did in fact us, sin only excepted... become a human being, serve you better by informing us One and the same Christ, how was He able to by-pass if your household is receiving Son, Lord, Only begotten, the universal infection of more than one copy of the made known in two natures sin? Was He really like us? Messenger, and by reporting ad- (which exist) without Or was He like Adam? This dress changes promptly. confusion, without change, is the issue for our next without division, without segment. (To be continued) MESSENGER/APRIL 1988 3 Darryl was in the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario. We know that many families and chur- ches had special prayers on his behalf. The knowledge of your prayers was a constant source of strength for our family during that trying time. We know that you were all pray- ing that the Lord's will be done. In Darryl's case, the Lord's answer was that he should sleep for a while un- til Jesus comes. Darryl longed for the New Earth where he would not have More on that Christmas woman albeit misguided. She is the health problems that he ex- Editorial seeking the Lord's will by looking for perienced here. We are so thankful things to do or not to do, instead of for God's promises of an eternity Why did you ever publish that searching for what she ought to be where there will be neither suffering Christmas letter in the Feb. and become through Christ. nor sorrow. These promises sustain Messenger? Didn't you know it In retaliation for all the years the us as we face the days ahead. would make me so mad? Such letters canker worm devoured in my We thank each of you who have as that caused me to cancel the childhood, I put a Christmas tree in continued to pray for us as well as Review years back. I've never got every one of the ten rooms in my for the numerous cards, flowers and around to subscribing even though house. The grandkids come home remembrances that we have the new editors have done much and we have steady celebrations un- received. better. til Jan. 2. The high point is loading It's a puzzle why I wasn't into the back of Grampa's pick-up Ron and Polly Hosking translated 50 years ago as I was a and going 20 miles to town to see the perfect SDA child in spirit and in Nativity pageant performed by the A Response to Wally Cyrus truth. Certainly never celebrated any Lutheran Church. It is held outdoors of those dreadful pagan institutions with real sheep and cows, and llamas I wish to question my Brother like Christmas or Easter. Because we (instead of camels) and wise men Wallace C. Cyrus of the CAAA (in attended a worldly public school riding on three beautifully matched reference to his letter, Messenger, (taught by a beautiful Christian black horses, and the star, angels, March 1988.) I am thankful that he Presbyterian) we felt obligated to music! recognizes the pressing need for sing our best at the school concert. Down the street a few blocks, at equality and fairness within our But never would we think of hum- the SDA church—tell Ida—the Rem- church, and reform in the organiza- ming "Silent Night" at home—no nant gathers on Sabbath, Dec.