Why Did Jesus Come Into the World?
Christmas is the time of the year in which Christians remember the advent of Christ into the world. Satan, of course, adds confusion to this season, by spurring on the idolatry of materialism. Christmas is Jesus’ birthday (Lk 1–2). God has given us an indescribable gift (2 Cor 9:15). If we are to understand Christmas aright, we must know why Jesus Christ came into the world. Our source, of course, is the Bible, God’s Word of special revelation, for knowing the truth about God and His eternal plan, for the redemption of His people. Our presuppositions include: Jesus’ eternal existence; the virgin conception; and the virgin birth. In other words, we are not answering the questions who, or what, or when, or where, but why? Here are a few reasons why Christ, the Messiah of God, left the heavenly throne of God, to come into the world.
First, Jesus came into the world to do the will of Him who sent Him (Jn 6:38). Jesus always did what was pleasing to His Father (Jn 8:29). Doing the will of God is an act of obedience, and Jesus was perfectly obedient to do God’s will (Mt 5:17). The will of God for Christ Jesus was for Him to accomplish what sinful man could not do, to be reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:19).
When Christ appeared as our high priest (Heb 9:11), He offered up Himself as an acceptable, unblemished, substitutionary, sacrifice as the Lamb of God (Jn 1:29). God’s will for Christ was accomplished when the cup of divine wrath was transformed into a cup of suffering (Mt 20:22; Jn 18:11; Rev 14:10). Jesus drank the cup of wrath and suffering with the names of His people on it, according to the will of God (Mt 26:39; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:24).
Second, Jesus Christ came into the world to destroy the works of the devil (1 Jn 3:8). The Cross of Calvary is both an instrument of judgment and salvation. Jesus triumphed over the devil at the Cross. Therefore, the Cross represents the judgment/destruction of Satan’s works. Lucifer is a defeated foe. What are the works of the devil?
Satan rules from his throne (Rev 2:13), as god of this world (2 Cor 4:4). Satan tempts people into sin, directly (Mt 4; Lk 4) and indirectly (Mk 8:33). Satan is a liar and a murderer, and the father of all who practice these sins (Gen 3:4; Jn 8:44; 2 Cor 11:3; Rev 20:10). He deceives the nations (Rev 20:7). He poses as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14). He schemes evil against people (2 Cor 2:11; Eph 6:11), ensnaring them (2 Tim 2:26) in the practice of sin (1 Jn 3:8). He blinds the minds of those who hear the Gospel (2 Cor 4:4). He gains spiritual control over people (Lk 11:18; Jn 13:27; Acts 5:3) and mercilessly plagues some of them (Lk 13:16), while empowering others to do his evil will (2 Thess 2:9). Many follow Satan (1 Tim 5:15) and form synagogue gatherings (Rev 3:9), as his children (1 Jn 3:10). God uses Satan to test people (Job 1 Lk 22:31; 2 Cor 12:7). He hinders the work of the saints (2 Cor 12:7; 1 Thess 2:18), even casting them into prison (Rev 2:10). He prowls around like a roaring lion looking to devour people (1 Pet 5:8).
Satan was defeated by Jesus at the Cross, but he has been given a degree of latitude in God’s purposes. He is exposed, and his pending doom is clearly explained in Scripture (Is 14; Ezek 28; Rev 20:10). He is restrained, but His activities are very apparent, through the network of roaming rebel spirits waiting for the day of judgment (Mt 8:29), in the place created for them (Mt 25:41).
Third, Jesus Christ came into the world to judge the world (Jn 9:39). Many are unaware they will be judged by Jesus Christ (Acts 10:42; 2 Tim 4:1), at His judgment seat (2 Cor 5:10), on the day of the Lord (1 Thess 5:1–2; 2 Pet 2:9). He will judge the world in righteousness (Ps 9:8; 96:13; 98:9); and His judgment has already begun (Jn 8:26). For instance, the ruler of this world has been judged (Jn 16:11), and the people of the world stand condemned (Jn 3:18). There is a judgment still to come, a day fixed by God’s decree (Acts 17:31) and taught by Jesus (Mt 25:31–46).
Fourth, Jesus Christ came into the world to serve, and to give His life, a ransom for many (Mt 20:28; Mk 10:45). Serving God is the joy of His Son and His obedient creatures. Rebels despise God’s command for them to obey and serve Him (Rom 1:18–32). Jesus’ joy was always to do what was pleasing to God His Father. There was even a joy factor in enduring the Cross (Heb 12:2).
A ransom is paid for the benefit of those held captive. He came to set the captives free (Is 61:1; Lk 4:18), and to bring many sons to glory (Heb 2:10). He gave His own life, laying it down for His sheep (Jn 10:15), His church (Eph 5:25), His people (Mt 1:21). All of His people have been ransomed (1 Tim 2:6). Jesus Christ has served God and man, by bringing salvation to the world (Tit 2:11), and it is the Lord Christ whom we serve (Col 3:24).
Fifth, Jesus Christ came into the world to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21; Jn 3:17; 1 Tim 1:15; Tit 2:11; 3:4–5 1 Jn 3:5). Sin is the problem between God and the world of men (Eph 2:1–3). Sin has separated man from God (Gen 3), and man has failed to reconcile with God, who is holy. Innumerable religions occupy the spiritual landscape, with their man-made plans on how to be right with God. There is, however, only one name under heaven, given among men, where a man must be saved (Acts 4:12). The name of God’s salvation is “Jesus.”
God has not saved all men (universalism), nor has He made salvation possible for all men (Arminianism); but He has actually accomplished salvation for His people (Tit 3:5). Every elect soul (Eph 1:4–5), whose name is written in the Lamb’s book of life from before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8; 17:8), receives the precious blood of Christ (1 Pet 1:19), through the sprinkling work of the Holy Spirit (1 Pet 1:2), who baptizes God’s people through regeneration (Tit 3:5). God the Father decreed salvation (Ps 2:7). Jesus Christ saved His people at the Cross (1 Cor 1:18). The Holy Spirit appropriates Christ’s blood to every elect believer. Believers are those who receive faith in Christ (Phil 1:29), according to His own purpose and grace, which was granted to us, in Christ Jesus, from all eternity (2 Tim 1:9).
Forgiveness of sin is only found in one acceptable payment method. Christ died for our sins (Rom 5:8; 1 Cor 15:3). He bore our sins in His body on a tree (Is 53:12; 1 Pet 2:24). He died and sin with Him (Rom 6:7, 10). He was raised for our justification (Rom 5:24). Christians have right standing with God because of our risen Savior, Jesus Christ, who ever lives to make intercession for us (Heb 7:25), as the One Mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5).
Christians are called with a holy calling (2 Tim 1:9). It is a call for them to be transferred from darkness to marvelous light (1 Pet 2:9), from the domain of darkness, to the kingdom of His beloved Son (Col 1:13). The point is that salvation, for us, is a revelation. Peter wrote, “…but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Tim 1:10).”
The voice of preachers, crying in the wilderness of this world, can be heard by some and not others. Faith comes by hearing. Hearing comes by the Word of Christ (Rom 10:17). The Word of God is preached to all creation (Mk 16:15), but only those who have their ears (Is 35:5; 42:20; Mk 7:35) and hearts opened, actually respond to Bible preaching (Acts 16:14). Those appointed to believe (Acts 13:48) respond with the common faith given to them (Phil 1:29; 2 Pet 1:1), by the grace of God (Eph 2:8–9).
Sixth, Jesus Christ came into the world that His people might have life (Jn 10:10). God gives His chosen people new life in Christ (Rom 6:4). The old is fading because the new has come (2 Cor 3:6). This new life is abundant. It is filled with all of the spiritual blessings in Christ (Eph 1:3). He who has the Son has eternal life (Jn 3:36; 1 Jn 5:12). Jesus Christ is the tree of life (Gen 2:9; Rev 2:7; 22:1), the true vine (Jn 15), and His people eat of this tree (Rev 2:7). This is an indestructible life (Heb 7:16), lived by Christ in us (Gal 2:20), and with our life hidden in Him (Col 3:3). Eternal life is knowing Christ (Jn 17:3)
Seventh, Jesus Christ came into the world to give us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true (1 Jn 5:20). There are some who know Jesus Christ (Jn 4:25; 17:3), and there are some who do not know Him (Jn 7:26–27). Paul refrained from philosophy and other knowledge with the Greeks, but he determined to know nothing among them, except Jesus Christ (1 Cor 2:2). God makes the knowledge of Christ as an aroma in every place (2 Cor 2:14). The Spirit shines the light of God in our hearts to see the face of Christ, which is how we know God (2 Cor 4:6). Christ was seen in the flesh (2 Cor 5:16), but now He is seen in the light of God’s Word (2 Tim 3:15). God is true, and every man a liar (Rom 3:4); therefore, man schemes against the knowledge of God (2 Cor 10:5), by suppressing the truth of God (Rom 1:18).
The wisdom of God is Christ Jesus (1 Cor 1:24, 30), and God willed to make Him known (Col 1:27). Knowing Christ, holds surpassing value (Phil 3:8) because it surpasses all knowledge (Eph 3:19), and fills us up with the fullness of God (Eph 1:17), until we become mature people of God (Eph 4:13), knowing His love and holding every thought captive to Christ (2 Cor 10:5), having the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16). The knowledge of Christ is the knowledge of the truth (Tit 1:1) because Jesus Christ is the truth (Jn 14:6). Jesus promised, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (Jn 8:32).” This is your best life now and forever.
In summary, we have considered seven reasons why Jesus Christ came into the world. We acknowledge this to be a sample survey, but it gives Christians great encouragement to know why Christ condescended and how we benefit from His actions. Jesus Christ came into the world to do His Father’s will, to destroy the works of the devil, to judge the world, to save His people from their sins, to give up his own life, so that we might receive His life, and to give us understanding of all these things.
In conclusion, we must take time to rejoice in these revelations from God’s Word. We must also give thanks to God, for sending His only begotten Son into the world. We must remember our plight, were it not for His gracious gift of so great a salvation. We must also consider how little of what has been written here is known by others. Christmas as we know it is mere distraction; but Jesus Christ has come into the world, and this is life breaking news. It is bad news for rebels, but good news for the repentant. Let us recommit to our stewardship to herald this news to the nations, and let the nations be glad that Jesus Christ has come into the world. Happy birthday to Jesus and Merry Christmas to you!
David E. Norczyk
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
December 22, 2020
