The document describes the incarnation of Jesus Christ through the story of Joseph and Mary in the Gospel of Matthew. It then summarizes the key points about Joseph as a just man who obeyed God, and Mary as the chosen mother who said yes to God's call. Finally, it analyzes the passage in Colossians 1:15-20 which describes Jesus as the image of God, the creator and sustainer of all things, the head of the Church, and the fullness of God dwelling in him to reconcile all things.

1. My Relation to the Incarnation
Colossians 1:15-20

2. Introduction
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this
way. When his mother Mary had been
betrothed to Joseph, before they came together
she was found to be with child from the
Matthew 1:18–25 2

3. Introduction
Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a
just man and unwilling to put her to shame,
resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he
considered these things, behold, an angel of
Matthew 1:18–25 3

4. Introduction
the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,
“Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary
as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is
from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son,
Matthew 1:18–25 4

5. Introduction
and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will
save his people from their sins.” All this took
place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the
prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and
Matthew 1:18–25 5

6. Introduction
bear a son, and they shall call his name
Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When
Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of
the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,
Matthew 1:18–25 6

7. Introduction
but knew her not until she had given birth to a
son. And he called his name Jesus.
Matthew 1:18–25 7

8. My Relation to the Incarnation
Colossians 1:15-20

9. A Faithful Man
Joseph
A just man
Right family
Contemplative
Receptive
Namer
9

10. Chosen Mother
Mary
Willing
Brave
Involved
Faithful
10

11. A Sign and Prophecy
Therefore the Lord himself will give
you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall
conceive and bear a son, and shall call
his name Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14 11

12. The Name
Immanuel
12

13. My Relation to the Incarnation
Colossians 1:15-20

14. Text
He is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of all creation. For by him all
things were created,
Colossians 1:15-20 14

15. Text
in heaven and on earth, visible and
invisible, whether thrones or
dominions or rulers or authorities
Colossians 1:15-20 15

16. Text
all things were created through him and
for him. And he is before all things, and in
him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:15-20 16

17. Text
And he is the head of the body, the
church. He is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead,
Colossians 1:15-20 17

18. Text
that in everything he might be
preeminent. For in him all the fullness
of God was pleased to dwell,
Colossians 1:15-20 18

19. Text
and through him to reconcile to himself all
things, whether on earth or in heaven,
making peace by the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:15-20 19

20. My Relation to the Incarnation
Colossians 1:15-20

21. Lyrical
Song or poem
Three parts
Tied together
21

22. He is
He is the image of the
invisible God, the firstborn
of all creation.
Colossians 1:15 22

23. He is what we were intended to be
Let us make man in our image and likeness
God’s family
The image of the Divine
23

24. Image of God
 Reproduction and manifestation
 Images the invisible
 Firstborn
24

25. Our Relationship
He is the
model we
are the
imitators
25

26. Uncreated Jesus
For by him all things were created, in heaven
and on earth, visible and invisible, whether
thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—
all things were created through him and for him.
Colossians 1:16 26

27. All types of things
Uncreated
Created
27

28. Your Relationship
You were created for Him
28

29. He is
And he is before all
things, and in him all
things hold together.
Colossians 1:17 29

30. Put another way
Before any created thing
I AM
30

31. Scriptures combined
The creator is the sustainer
31

32. An Evangelistic Message
In him we live and move and have
our being…For we are indeed his
offspring.
Acts 17:28 32

33. Our Relationship
We are
because
HE is!
33

34. He is
And he is the head of the body, the
church. He is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead, that in
everything he might be preeminent.
Colossians 1:18 34

35. The foundation
of The Church
The Head
The Beginning
The Firstborn
Preeminent
35

36. Our Relationship
We submit to Him as
our authority
36

37. Poetic Restatement
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to
dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself
all things, whether on earth or in heaven,
making peace by the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:19–20 37

38. Restated a third time
For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells
bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is
the head of all rule and authority.
Colossians 2:9–10 38

39. Remember the Bookends principle?
He is the image of the invisible God…
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell…
For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily…
39

40. This has to be true
Jesus is God physically upon the earth by
the will of the Father.
Reconciliation is only possible by that!
40

41. Our Relationship
Beneficiaries of
that restorative
work
41

42. Our Take-Away
1. Relationship is paramount!
2. Who we are is defined by relationship.
3. We are in a family relationship
4. Our Lord and Savior is also our God
42

43. My Relation to the Incarnation
Colossians 1:15-20