The Incarnation of the Gospel.

I heard the phrase "the incarnation of the gospel" at church on Sunday.  I wrote it down to study when I got home.  As I started delving into that phrase and "disecting" it, I looked at the phrase in a new light.

Incarnate means to represent in a visible form.  Gospel, according to the Merriam-Webster, is the basic beliefs or guiding principles of a person or group.  In this case, those beliefs and guiding principles would of God.  We need to represent HIS beliefs and guiding principles in a visible form in our lives.  One of the way to do this is to follow Mark 16:15, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature".

The word preach does not necessarily means to be a preacher/pastor.  The Merriam-Webster defines preach as follows:  to be a herald to proclaim after the manner of a herald.  Back in the medevial times, a herald was an official messenger to the king.  And he wore the coat of arms of his master.  Historically, that coat of arms was used to identify them apart from the enemy.

How fitting...we wear the coat of arms of our Master & Saviour, Jesus.  That coat of arms identifies us apart from the enemy.  As we strive to proclaim and visibly portray the beliefs and guiding principles of God...that coat of arms shows just who we belong to.   1 John 3:1 (the Message translation) says, What marvelous love the Father has extended to us!  Just look at it - we're called children of God!  That's who we really are.  But that's also why the world doesn't recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who He is or what He's up to".  It is are duty to proclaim who HE is and what HE's up to!