Justin Appel

Dear Beloved in Christ,

Today is the eve of the great and glorious feast of Christ’s Nativity.

Today we celebrate the solid truth that, as St Athanasius said in the 4th century, in his work On the Incarnation: “God became man so that man might become God.” (54:3)

This sentence beautifully expresses the glory of God’s incarnation and the nature of our salvation in Christ.

One biblical image that illuminates our salvation is that of adoption as sons and daughters of the Father, and of becoming brothers and sisters of Christ. We are made to be a part of God’s divine family through the incarnation of Christ, the Son of God, the family into which we enter at baptism.

The truth of Christ’s incarnation manifests itself in the possibility of our growth in Christlikeness. We become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4) and thus, the possibility of our growth is limitless. We do not merge with God, for God is infinite and we are finite creatures; however, salvation does not simply mean becoming better persons but becoming like Christ. This is a profound truth.

The incarnation makes Christianity what it is—it reveals the substance of Christian life. The purpose of our lives is to be in God’s presence, to be close to him, to become like him, and this reality has ramifications for my efforts to pray, worship, and be present to God. It means that our models are Christ himself and those holy men and women who have become most like Christ, and who show us how to grow.

So, today, we have the opportunity to go to church, not only to be soothed by beautiful lights and music, but especially to be close to Christ, and to celebrate his marvelous feast.

Christ is Born!

—Justin