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Article 18

THE INCARNATION OF JESUS CHRIST

We confess, therefore, that God has fulfilled the promise he made to the fathers by the mouth of his holy prophets (1) when, at the time appointed by him, (2) he sent into the world his own only-begotten and eternal Son, who took the form of a servant and was born in the likeness of men (Phil 2:7). He truly assumed a real human nature with all its infirmities, (3) without sin, (4) for he was conceived in the womb of the blessed virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit and not by the act of a man. (5) He not only assumed human nature as to the body, but also a true human soul, in order that he might be a real man. For since the soul was lost as well as the body, it was necessary that he should assume both to save both.

Contrary to the heresy of the Anabaptists, who deny that Christ assumed human flesh of his mother, we therefore confess that Christ partook of the flesh and blood of the children (Heb 2:14). He is a descendant of David (Acts 2:30); born of David according to his human nature (Rom 1:3); of the womb of the virgin Mary (Luke 1:42); born of woman (Gal 4:4); a branch of David (Jer 33:15); a shoot from the stump of Jesse (Is 11:1); descended from Judah (Heb 7:14); descended from the Jews according to the flesh (Rom 9:5); of the seed of Abraham (Gal 3:16), since the Son was concerned with the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, yet without sin (Heb 2:16, 17; Heb 4:15).

In this way he is in truth our Immanuel, that is, God with us (Mt 1:23).

1. Gen 26:4; 2 Sam 7:12-16; Ps 132:11; Lk 1:55; Acts 13:23.

2. Gal 4:4.

3. 1 Tim 2:5;3:16; Heb 2:14.

4. 2 Cor 5:21; Heb 7:26; 1 Pet 2:22.

5. Mt 1:18; Lk 1:35.