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Matthew 1:23 – The Incarnation and Ethics
How do we decide right and wrong? There are precepts and principles, but sometimes a picture is worth a thousand laws. I would like to suggest to you an image, a picture, but one set in time and reality, that can be used to help us see the meaning of ethics and morality – the incarnation.
The incarnation is described simplistically in the name “Immanuel” which means, “God with us.” What does this imply?
First, God cares about those who are helpless. And therefore so should we. After all, we are the helpless to God (Rom.5.6).
Second, if God became flesh (John 1:14), then the flesh is not evil. Most sins are not about the flesh, but about the abuse of the flesh, the lust of the flesh.
Third, if the incarnation is a combination of flesh and spirit, then man is also both flesh and spirit. The spirit is superior to the flesh, therefore spiritual ideas are supreme. We need to remember this in daily decisions, and how we operate both individually and congregationally (1 Cor.2.13-14).
Fourth, if God is with us, then community, togetherness, one another concepts, are paramount to our spiritual health. God created us to be social creatures, spending time with Him, and with each other. Isolationalism is to be isolated in marriage and elsewhere (1 Cor.7.5).
Fifth, what did Jesus do in the flesh? He glorified God (John 17). I should use my flesh to glorify God (Romans 12:1-2).
Therefore how do we decide between right and wrong? We look to Jesus.
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