BY: Dr. John David Smith
Executive Director
BMA Missions

Welcome to this issue of mission:world, which we believe will be a blessing as you read Christmas greetings from our missionaries around the world. Please read to the end of this introductory article for some important information about mission:world. 

Some of you have heard me say, “There was a missionary in the manger,” and that is exactly why Jesus came to this earth. In theological terms we call the coming of the second person of the Trinity to earth the incarnation: 

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) 

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5) 

We know that this is not when Jesus became God, for He is eternally God. This is when God entered, in flesh, the creation He made for Himself in order to redeem that same creation that had become separated from Him by sin. Christ is 100% God and 100% man; therefore, the only One who could pay the price for sin and be the mediator between Holy God and sinful man. 

In this brief article we want to consider this essential scriptural truth of the incarnation of Christ as it is both a motive and example for global missions. Of course, we can never be like Christ in His incarnation because we are not God. However, as a model of missions, the incarnation serves us well… (Click on the image to continue reading this issue of mission:world Magazine)