Why the Incarnation in 1 John?: Born to Die, Born to Destroy and Born to Save!

The Christmas message in the Gospel reveals the profound humility of Jesus, the eternal King and God, who was unexpectedly born in the insignificant town of Bethlehem, rejected by the inn, and laid in a manger—far from any royal welcome. This humble birth sets the stage for His entire mission, as 1 John clearly states that Jesus came (1) to die as the propitiation for our sins, (2) to destroy the works of the devil, and (3) to be the Savior of the world. Therefore, we are called to acknowledge our sin and desperate need for salvation, to look in faith to Jesus Christ who bore God’s judgment in our place, and—if we are Christians—to live joyfully and obediently for the One who humbled Himself to save us.