RE: [TruthTalk] On TOE -- Relational Theology

[Jonathan Hughes]

Good morning Judy,   A quick note on how we use the word incarnation (incarnate means to embody in human form).  We should have cleared this up earlier.  You are correct in that it is often just used in association with the birth of Jesus.  When I use the word incarnation I am speaking of Jesus’s life from his birth right up to his ascension.  I am speaking of the time God spent as God incarnate.  This definitely includes (and climaxes upon) the cross.  It is when God breaks into space/time to become the Godman.  When you see us use the word incarnation please include all of the work Jesus did on earth including the magnificent cross.  This is why sometimes in my posts I make a sentence quite awkward by mentioning Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension.  To avoid the awkwardness in the next paragraph I will just use the word incarnation to describe this.  The other reason we use the word incarnation is to illustrate to people that we start before the cross and continue all the way to the cross and indeed past it.  There is a reason that the passion narratives take up so much scripture but we cannot ignore that which went on before.  By beginning at His birth (actually by beginning as the eternal Son) we can be sure we do not miss any of it.  I hope this helps.   JBH   From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Judy Taylor Sent: Saturday, November 20, 2004 6:11 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] On TOE -- Relational Theology       On Fri, 19 Nov 2004 23:14:41 -0700 "Bill Taylor" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: "Unfortunately my lunch break is over :)"   You're amazing, Jonathan. You do on lunch break what takes me a snow day to consider.   Judy asked, Why is it important? For this reason we also ... do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ... giving thanks to the Father who ... has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. -- (See Col 1.9-20)   jt: Thanks for your response Bill - My next question is. Why focus on the 'incarnation' when scripturally focus is on the cross? We are baptized into His death, and not on His birth.  Notice the scripture above "having made peace through the blood of His Cross" judyt   --- Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.797 / Virus Database: 541 - Release Date: 11/15/2004 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.797 / Virus Database: 541 - Release Date: 11/15/2004